Patents by Inventor Bernd Grannemann

Bernd Grannemann 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).

  • Patent number: 11028874
    Abstract: A ball joint with variable friction resistance for a vehicle, the joint having a stud with a joint ball which is held in a housing so as to articulate relative thereto. The housing comprises movable and static housing parts that are movable relative to one another and engage on opposite sides of the ball. A transmission is moved by one housing part so as to exert a variable pressure on the ball. The transmission has axially aligned transmission elements, each of which has a helical ball track. The transmission elements axially rest against one another via balls that are guided between the ball tracks of the transmission elements. A first transmission element can move axially and contact the movable housing part. A second transmission element can rotate about the rotational axis which causes the first transmission element to move axially and exert an axial force on the movable housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernd Grannemann, Lutz Pydde, Martin Rechtien, Jinghong Yu
  • Patent number: 10247228
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a housing at least partially defining a cavity. A ball stud includes a head portion positioned within the cavity and a shaft extending from the head portion. A ball race having an inner surface is positioned within the cavity to define an interface between the inner surface of the ball race and an outer surface of the head portion. A solid friction coating is positioned within the interface. The solid friction coating is coupled to the inner surface of the ball race and/or the outer surface of the head portion of the ball stud. A piston can also be positioned within the cavity, wherein at least one gap is defined between the ball race and the piston and/or between the ball race and the housing. Methods of assembling a ball joint assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Jinghong Yu, Peter G. Langseth, III, Todd Fitz, Eric J. Walker, James W. Post, II, Bernd Grannemann, Martin Rechtien
  • Publication number: 20190055983
    Abstract: A ball joint with variable friction resistance for a vehicle, the joint having a stud with a joint ball which is held in a housing so as to articulate relative thereto. The housing comprises movable and static housing parts that are movable relative to one another and engage on opposite sides of the ball. A transmission is moved by one housing part so as to exert a variable pressure on the ball. The transmission has axially aligned transmission elements, each of which has a helical ball track. The transmission elements axially rest against one another via balls that are guided between the ball tracks of the transmission elements. A first transmission element can move axially and contact the movable housing part. A second transmission element can rotate about the rotational axis which causes the first transmission element to move axially and exert an axial force on the movable housing part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernd GRANNEMANN, Lutz PYDDE, Martin RECHTIEN, Jinghong YU
  • Patent number: 9545828
    Abstract: A ball joint for a vehicle, with a ball pin that has a joint ball, a joint housing that encloses the joint ball and is provided with a pin opening, in which the joint ball of the ball pin is fitted and able to move. The ball pin extends out of the joint housing through the pin opening. An actuator can press a pressure element, in an axial direction, against the joint housing in such a manner that pressure can be exerted by the joint housing and the pressure element onto the joint ball. The actuator acts upon a spring which acts upon the pressure element. The length of the spring can be measured by a displacement sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Grannemann, Martin Rechtien
  • Publication number: 20160369837
    Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a housing at least partially defining a cavity. A ball stud includes a head portion positioned within the cavity and a shaft extending from the head portion. A ball race having an inner surface is positioned within the cavity to define an interface between the inner surface of the ball race and an outer surface of the head portion. A solid friction coating is positioned within the interface. The solid friction coating is coupled to the inner surface of the ball race and/or the outer surface of the head portion of the ball stud. A piston can also be positioned within the cavity, wherein at least one gap is defined between the ball race and the piston and/or between the ball race and the housing. Methods of assembling a ball joint assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Jinghong Yu, Peter G. Langseth, III, Todd Fitz, Eric J. Walker, James W. Post, II, Bernd Grannemann, Martin Rechtien
  • Publication number: 20150098749
    Abstract: A ball joint for a vehicle, with a ball pin that has a joint ball, a joint housing that encloses the joint ball and is provided with a pin opening, in which the joint ball of the ball pin is fitted and able to move. The ball pin extends out of the joint housing through the pin opening. An actuator can press a pressure element, in an axial direction, against the joint housing in such a manner that pressure can be exerted by the joint housing and the pressure element onto the joint ball. The actuator acts upon a spring which acts upon the pressure element. The length of the spring can be measured by a displacement sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Bernd Grannemann, Martin Rechtien
  • Patent number: 8118314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switchable stabilizer device for the axle of a motor vehicle. Herein, the actuating device comprises a roll stabilizer and an actuatorically switchable coupling device (6) with two clutch devices (7, 8) and a locking sleeve (9). According to the present invention, the stabilizer device is characterized by a shifting device for shifting the locking sleeve (9) by means of mechanical power transmission. Herein, the shifting device has a servo-electric transmission drive element (4). The present invention provides a robust and compact switchable roll stabilizer, which can be produced cost-efficiently. At the same time, the present invention allows for the actuatoric support of the opening movement as well as the locking movement of the stabilizer coupling with very short shifting times. The switchable stabilizer according to the present invention is suitable for motor vehicles, for example, which are employed off-road as well as on the road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Jens Vortmeyer, Bernd Grannemann
  • Patent number: 7726666
    Abstract: An actuator is provided for a two-part stabilizer, which builds up a spring rate in its opened position. A hydraulic absorbing unit (9) is arranged on the axle of the switchable coupling unit (8). The absorbing unit is connected to one stabilizer part (4), on the one hand, and to the other stabilizer part (5), on the other hand. The absorbing unit forms at least one pressure chamber (32) and a suction chamber (33) and assumes a blocked position in the locked position of the switchable coupling (8) and counteracts the relative twisting motion between the two stabilizer parts (4, 5) at a hydraulic spring rate in the opened position of the switchable coupling (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Grannemann, Andreas Hartmann, Jens Vortmeyer, Mauro Zanella
  • Publication number: 20090058020
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switchable stabilizer device for the axle of a motor vehicle. Herein, the actuating device comprises a roll stabilizer and an actuatorically switchable coupling device (6) with two clutch devices (7, 8) and a locking sleeve (9). According to the present invention, the stabilizer device is characterized by a shifting device for shifting the locking sleeve (9) by means of mechanical power transmission. Herein, the shifting device has a servo-electric transmission drive element (4). The present invention provides a robust and compact switchable roll stabilizer, which can be produced cost-efficiently. At the same time, the present invention allows for the actuatoric support of the opening movement as well as the locking movement of the stabilizer coupling with very short shifting times. The switchable stabilizer according to the present invention is suitable for motor vehicles, for example, which are employed off-road as well as on the road.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Jens Vortmeyer, Bernd Grannemann
  • Publication number: 20080203694
    Abstract: Vehicle with a vehicle body (7); at least two wheels (3, 4), which are connected to the vehicle body (7) and are movable in relation thereto; a stabilizer (10), which has two legs (11, 12) connected mechanically to one another via a torsion spring (13); two actuators (16, 17), via which the legs (11, 12) are coupled with the wheels (3, 4); and a control means (21), by means of which the coupling characteristic of the actuators (16, 17) can be varied, wherein an additional spring (8, 9) each is led around each of the actuators (16, 17) on the outside, and wherein the legs (11, 12) are additionally connected to the wheels (3, 4) via the additional springs (8, 9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Gartner, Jens Vortmeyer, Bernd Grannemann, Mauro Zanella, Metin Ersoy
  • Publication number: 20080191430
    Abstract: An actuator is provided for a two-part stabilizer, which builds up a spring rate in its opened position. A hydraulic absorbing unit (9) is arranged on the axle of the switchable coupling unit (8). The absorbing unit is connected to one stabilizer part (4), on the one hand, and to the other stabilizer part (5), on the other hand. The absorbing unit forms at least one pressure chamber (32) and a suction chamber (33) and assumes a blocked position in the locked position of the switchable coupling (8) and counteracts the relative twisting motion between the two stabilizer parts (4, 5) at a hydraulic spring rate in the opened position of the switchable coupling (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Bernd Grannemann, Andreas Hartmann, Jens Vortmeyer, Mauro Zanella
  • Publication number: 20080189454
    Abstract: A device for data transmission for a motor vehicle is presented, which has sensors used for generating data. The sensors are arranged on or in chassis components occupying a variable position relative to the body of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the device for data transmission has components or assembly units provided as rigid parts of the body for processing and/or evaluating the data generated in or on the chassis components occupying a variable position and a means for transmitting the data supplied by the sensors to said components, which are arranged as rigid parts of the body. The transmission means is designed according to the present invention as a plastic film web, which is provided with strip conductors and whose strip conductors establish a connection between interfaces provided on the chassis side and on the body side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Felix Haeusler, Michael Klank, Bernd Grannemann, Armin Mueller, Joachim Spratte
  • Publication number: 20080000710
    Abstract: A switchable stabilizer is provided as a compact assembly unit. The hydraulic system of the hydraulic and control part (9) may form a closed circuit with the piston-and-cylinder unit of the switchable coupling unit (3)and the hydraulic and control part (9) may be integrated in the cylindrical housing (10) of the switchable coupling (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Jens Vortmeyer, Andreas Hartmann, Bernd Grannemann, Mauro Zanella, Stefan Beetz, Torsten Baustian, Gerald Festner
  • Patent number: 7045999
    Abstract: A bearing for a control arm of a wheel suspension of a vehicle has at least one sensor (18, 28, 38, 48, 58) arranged in or at the bearing (11, 21, 31, 41). The sensor determines the relative movement of the vehicle parts connected to each other by the bearing (11, 21, 31, 31, 41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Joachim Spratte, Bernd Grannemann
  • Publication number: 20040190805
    Abstract: A bearing for a control arm of a wheel suspension of a vehicle has at least one sensor (18, 28, 38, 48, 58) arranged in or at the bearing (11, 21, 31, 41). The sensor determines the relative movement of the vehicle parts connected to each other by the bearing (11, 21, 31, 31, 41).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Joachim Spratte, Bernd Grannemann