Patents by Inventor Armin Lang
Armin Lang has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 5582264Abstract: A power assisted steering system, in particular, for motor vehicles, contains a servomotor (2), a servopump (3), a tank (4), a control valve (1) with a controllable feedback device (5), and a control member (46) whose choke cross section can be altered as a function of the vehicle speed. Control valve (1) is made as a four-way valve and has a supply connection (22, 23), a feedback connection (7), and two working connections (8, 10) for the lines (11, 12) that lead to the two working chambers of servomotor (2). Between feedback device (5) and supply connection (22, 23), there is arranged a device (13) for piling up the pressure medium stream and the device is made according to one practical example as a choke (50, 51). With the help of this choke (50, 51), one can achieve a hydraulic centering component in addition to a mechanical centering component.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1995Date of Patent: December 10, 1996Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG.Inventor: Armin Lang
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Patent number: 5529137Abstract: In a servo steering unit which is designed particularly for motor vehicles, a pinion in a steering housing meshes with a steering rack. A steering valve which serves to control the pressure medium for the servo steering unit has two inlet seat valves (10, 11) and two outlet seat valves (12, 13) whose closing members (14, 18) are displaced by actuating tappets (16, 17) depending on the rotation of a steering spindle. The outlet seat valves (12, 13) are open in the neutral position of the steering valve. The inlet seat valves (10, 11) can be actuated by the force of pressure springs (15) in the closing direction and are not opened until after closing of the associated outlet seat valve (12, 13). The pressure springs of both inlet seat valves (10, 11) on one side press against the actuating tappets (16, 17) and on the other side press constantly on the closing member (14).Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1995Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Armin Lang
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Patent number: 5530614Abstract: Auxiliary power steering for motor vehicles with an electromagnetically activated proportional valve whose magnetic coil is regulated as a function of a pulsed voltage frequently produces whistling sounds. The invention remedies this in that the starting sides of the voltage pulses commence at different time intervals with respect to each other. The resultant negligible "white noise" is not disturbing in the general noise level of a motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1994Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Armin Lang, Walter Cerny
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Patent number: 5509494Abstract: In an auxiliary power steering intended especially for motor vehicles, a pinion (2) positioned in a steering housing (1) engages a steering rack (9). A steering valve (14) that is used to control the pressure medium for the auxiliary power steering provides two inlet-seat valves (15, 16) and two outlet-seat valves (17, 18) whose closing bodies (20, 21, 35, 36) can be shifted in the axial direction by a rotary movement of a steering spindle. Closing bodies (20, 21) of inlet-seat valves (15, 16) can be biased in the closing direction by the force of pressure springs (22, 23). In the process, pressure springs (22, 23) bias the closing bodies (20, 21) of inlet-seat valves (15, 16) only if the particular outlet-seat valves (17, 18) are in their neutral position. Each pressure spring (22, 23)--when steering valve (14) is in the neutral position--keeps closing body (20, 21) of the particular inlet-seat valve (15, 16) resting against a valve seat (26, 27) that is fixed on the housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: April 23, 1996Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Armin Lang
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Patent number: 5509493Abstract: In a steering-rack-equipped auxiliary power steering which is intended particularly for motor vehicles, a pinion (2), positioned in a steering housing (1), engages a steering rack (6). A servomotor (11) is operationally connected with steering rack (6) for auxiliary power support. Pinion (2) is positioned swingably in a fixed bearing (3) and a loose bearing (4). In the area of loose bearing (4), there are arranged two control valves (26, 27) whose axes are essentially perpendicular to the axis of pinion (2). Loose bearing (4) is guided in a movable fashion in steering housing (1), perpendicularly with respect to its axis only in the direction of the axes of the two control valves (26, 27). In this steering-rack-equipped auxiliary power steering, one can make sure that to activate the control valves, one will not use the axial forces that act upon pinion (2) but rather the lateral forces. As a result, the activation of the control valves is independent of the helix angle or slope angle of the pinion gearing.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1994Date of Patent: April 23, 1996Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Armin Lang, Helmut Knodler
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Patent number: 5506085Abstract: A new type of thermal imaging element containing a thermally degradable polymer and a radiation to heat converting substance is disclosed. The invention further comprises several methods for the formation of a heat mode image after image-wise exposure of the thermal imaging element to intense laser radiation.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 1995Date of Patent: April 9, 1996Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert N.V.Inventors: Marc Van Damme, Joan Vermeersch, Johan Lamotte, Oskar Nuyken, Brigitte Voit, Armin Lang, Cliff Scherer, Andreas Baindl, Jurgen Stebani, Alexander Wokaun, Andrej Stasko
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Patent number: 5217813Abstract: In novel polyethyleneimine and polyvinylamine derivatives, the polyethyleneimines contain the structural elements Ia and/or Ib ##STR1## and the polyvinylamines contain the structural elements II.sub.a, II.sub.b and II.sub.c ##STR2## where, for the degrees of polymerization n, m and p, n.gtoreq.1, m.gtoreq.0 and p.gtoreq.0, and X.sup.1 is CR.sup.1 R.sup.2 PO.sub.3 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 or CR.sup.1 R.sup.2 SO.sub.3 R.sup.3, X.sup.2 independently of X.sup.1 is hydrogen, CR.sup.1 R.sup.2 PO.sub.3 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 or CR.sup.1 R.sup.2 SO.sub.3 R.sup.3, Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 independently of one another are each one or more CHR.sup.1 PO.sub.3 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 or CHR.sup.1 SO.sub.3 R.sup.3 groups or hydrogen, Y.sup.3 and Y.sup.4 independently of one another and of Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are each hydrogen, CHR.sup.1 PO.sub.3 R.sup.3 R.sup.4 or CHR.sup.1 SO.sub.3 R.sup.3, and Z.sup.1 -Z.sup.4 are identical or different inorganic and/or organic radicals, wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently of one another are each hydrogen, C.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1991Date of Patent: June 8, 1993Assignee: BASF AktiengesellschaftInventors: Joachim Roser, Juergen Mohr, Armin Lange, Knut Oppenlaender, Walter Denzinger, Thomas Loerzer
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Patent number: 5113172Abstract: A potentiometer for the redundant measurement of the angle of rotation of a shaft compared with a fixed member has two resistance paths located concentrically with each other on a fixed disk. Two collector paths having the shape of circular rings are located concentrically with each other on a disk situated parallel to the fixed disk and rotating together with the shaft. Two slide contacts connected with the collector paths are in contact with the two resistance paths. Two redundant measured values are tapped at two terminal contacts fastened to the fixed disk that are in contact with the collector paths through two slide contacts.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1989Date of Patent: May 12, 1992Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AGInventor: Armin Lang
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Patent number: 5040631Abstract: In an electrically-assisted rack and pinion auxilliary steering mechanism, an electric motor is controlled in accordance with a signal from a torque-measuring device. To prevent faulty control messages, a safety switching device is provided that contains two switches capable of being activated by a lever. A ball nut that is connected with a threaded spindle by a ball diversion channel is connected with the steering rack of the rack and pinion steering gear. The threaded spindle is connected via a spring bellows, with an output part of a coupling that can be coupled with or uncoupled from the electric motor. The threaded spindle is connected, axially movable and rotatable, opposite the fixed housing by two elastic intermediate rings and two axial bearings. If the axial movement does not coincide with the torque at the steering wheel in case of a malfunction, the coupling is disengaged by one of the two switches.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1989Date of Patent: August 20, 1991Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.Inventors: Armin Lang, Helmut Knodler
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Patent number: 5009110Abstract: A torque sensor for measuring the torque being transmitted by a torque bar comprises a pair of coaxial input elements carried on a torque bar and secured thereto, and being connected by a lost motion coupling. Each such input element has flexible spokes fixed to respective sides of an output collar. Steering torque stress applied to the torque bar in either direction effects rotation of a respective input element depending on direction of rotation. Thus, such directional rotation causes flexing of the flexible spokes between an input element and the output collar. Linear longitudinal movement of the output collar is thus caused in a direction depending on the direction of rotation of a respective input element. The direction and degree of movement of the output collar serves to vary a magnetic field to which an electrical measuring circuit is responsive for torque measurement. Two torque sensors can be connected in series with respect to the same torque bar to achieve various measurement effects.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1989Date of Patent: April 23, 1991Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.Inventors: Armin Lang, Bernhard Schweizer
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Patent number: 4913249Abstract: In an electrically-assisted auxiliary power steering mechanism an electric motor (11) is controlled by a control circuit (9) according to an output signal X1) from a torque-measuring device (8). To prevent instances of faulty control a redundant safety circuit (14) with a safety device (15) and a switching device (16) controls a disconnecting element (13, 27) located between the electric motor (11) and the steering gear (1) that switches the electric motor (11) on and off. A second torque-measuring device (17) for measuring the torque of the electric motor (11) is disposed between the electric motor (11) and the steering gear (1). The switching device (16) of the safety circuit (14) activates the disconnecting element (13, 27) when the torques measured by the two torque-measuring devices (8, 17) have different directions.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 1988Date of Patent: April 3, 1990Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.Inventor: Armin Lang
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Patent number: 4815551Abstract: A Servosteering system especially for motor vehicles utilizes a piston type of control valve having reaction chambers for simulating steering resistance in the course of a turn. Communication for pressure flow to the reaction chambers is via fixed throttle in series with a speed responsive variable throttle which at low speeds reduces the simulated steering resistance to low or nonexistent, as in parking, but varying to higher steering resistance at higher speeds. Additionally, a pressure reduction valve is series connected with the fixed throttles. Reaction chamber pressure is thus held to a maximum so that simulated steering resistance, is comfortable in a tight turn.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1986Date of Patent: March 28, 1989Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AGInventor: Armin Lang
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Patent number: 4811806Abstract: In a servosteering arrangement, a control mechanism combines a pressure operated valve responsive to servomotor chamber pressure, and a solenoid and plunger responsive to speed of the vehicle by means of a proportional magnet solenoid for controlling reaction chamber pressure and thus the manual force required to be exerted by a driver for steering a vehicle. Thus, a variable throttle pressure responsive valve combined with a speed responsive solenoid responsive inversely to speed, controls the manual steering force necessary to effect steering at various speeds, particularly in tright curves at low speeds with high servomotor pressures. An important safety feature in the event of failure of solenoid current is the maintenance of openness of the pressure operated valve with consequent high resistance to steering.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 1986Date of Patent: March 14, 1989Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.Inventor: Armin Lang
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Patent number: 4784041Abstract: A steering control piston valve has reaction chambers and respective fixed restrictor orifices having an interconnector conduit. The reaction chambers have respective inlet and outlet flow control valving which serve to permit flow from either reaction chamber to bypass the respective restrictor orifice during a steering maneuver if the steered wheels receive a road jolt. The arrangement provides for very rapid flow from the reaction chamber being decreased in volume due to the jolt force on the valve piston causing it to move oppositely to the steering direction. The flow from such reaction chamber passes to the interconnecting conduit for storage. An additional storage tank can be connected to the interconnecting conduit to increase the storage capacity if necessary. The bypassing is likewise advantageous in the event a vehicle swerves and rapid steering correction is necessary.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1986Date of Patent: November 15, 1988Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.Inventor: Armin Lang
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Patent number: 4763091Abstract: A device for setting the air gap between an armature and an energizable electromagnet, which utilizes a pin that can be force fitted in the armature by a tool forcing it against spring bias for a distance limited to the thickness of a collar on the pin. In so doing, the spring is transformed from an unstressed to a stressed condition so that upon return movement of the spring the collar, pin, and armature are actuated a distance equal to the thickness of the collar thereby setting the air gap.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1987Date of Patent: August 9, 1988Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.Inventor: Armin Lang
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Patent number: 4699231Abstract: A compact power steering device is provided wherein the power steering valving is actuated by axial movement of a pinion having helical teeth engaging a rack in a steering housing. The valving utilizes head and seat valves with valve heads and coacting valve seats which are actuated on axes parallel to the pinion axis within the housing and requiring no more than the overall distance occupied by axial movement of the pinion as effected by rotation of a steering wheel during steering. Opposed springs effect a centered position for the pinion in neutral position of the valving for straight ahead steering. Thus, a centering spring is dominant and limited in movement to fix the valving as biased by other springs to a precise neutral position.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1985Date of Patent: October 13, 1987Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.Inventors: Armin Lang, Helmut Knodler
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Patent number: 4593718Abstract: A booster steering valve control of the kind that comprises a pair of valve pistons reciprocal in a rotative valve body are driven by a fork shaped member at the end of a steering spindle. The fork shaped member comprises a pair of spaced actuator pins which engage in openings of the respective valve pistons. Thus, the valve body and the fork shaped member have a common axis about which the actuator pins rotate. A particular construction of the invention resides in the displacement of the actuator pins such that their axes are not in a common plane with the steering spindle axis but offset so that the surfaces of engagement between the actuator pins with the respective valve pistons and the spindle axis are coplanar. Engagement is maintained by spring bias acting on the valve pistons.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1985Date of Patent: June 10, 1986Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AGInventors: Armin Lang, Helmut Knodler
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Patent number: 4590965Abstract: A booster steering valve control device of the kind having a rotative valve body within a steering housing with a pair of piston valves operative upon rotation of a steering spindle is provided with reaction chambers at corresponding ends of the piston valves. The reaction chambers are isolated from an inlet chamber within the steering housing by means of closure caps. The closure caps are secured in place by a resilient clamp held by a bolt carried in a bore of the valve body in which the valve pistons are reciprocal.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1985Date of Patent: May 27, 1986Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.Inventors: Armin Lang, Helmut Knodler
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Patent number: 4557344Abstract: A servosteering control valve is provided with fluid reaction chambers which are pressued responsive to the speed of a vehicle for effecting a simulated steering resistance wherein at low speed, as in parking, there is no steering resistance and resistance increases with speed via feedback from the chambers of a double acting servomotor. The novel feature of the arrangement herein utilizes a coaction between the inlet flow control passage and return flow control passage of a steering control spool or piston valve, one such valve for each chamber. This is in conjunction with throttle passages disposed between the manually shiftable piston valves and a valve housing. Such passages are created by portions of the shiftable valves having elements slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the housing bore or bores in which the valves are shiftable. A single bore is used where the valves are coaxially integral and respective bores are used where the valves are separably movable.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1984Date of Patent: December 10, 1985Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.Inventor: Armin Lang
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Patent number: 4555975Abstract: A hydraulic power steering system having an unbalanced piston servomotor and a pair of identical control valve pistons controlling flow of pressurized fluid to the servomotor for balanced directional displacement of the servomotor piston and to separately control depressurization of feedback chambers acting on the control valve pistons. Pressurized fluid is supplied directly to the feedback chambers from the servo-steering pump through flow restrictors, one of which is externally adjusted to select the degree of road sensing feedback generated to oppose manual actuation of the control valve pistons.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1982Date of Patent: December 3, 1985Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.Inventors: Armin Lang, Helmut Knodler