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).
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Patent number: 11028874Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 16, 2017Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Bernd Grannemann, Lutz Pydde, Martin Rechtien, Jinghong Yu
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Patent number: 10247228Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Jinghong Yu, Peter G. Langseth, III, Todd Fitz, Eric J. Walker, James W. Post, II, Bernd Grannemann, Martin Rechtien
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Publication number: 20190055983Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2017Publication date: February 21, 2019Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Bernd GRANNEMANN, Lutz PYDDE, Martin RECHTIEN, Jinghong YU
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Patent number: 9545828Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 19, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Bernd Grannemann, Martin Rechtien
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Publication number: 20160369837Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2015Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: Jinghong Yu, Peter G. Langseth, III, Todd Fitz, Eric J. Walker, James W. Post, II, Bernd Grannemann, Martin Rechtien
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Publication number: 20150098749Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Bernd Grannemann, Martin Rechtien
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Patent number: 8118314Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 28, 2008Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Metin Ersoy, Jens Vortmeyer, Bernd Grannemann
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Patent number: 7726666Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 20, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Bernd Grannemann, Andreas Hartmann, Jens Vortmeyer, Mauro Zanella
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Publication number: 20090058020Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Jens Vortmeyer, Bernd Grannemann
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Publication number: 20080203694Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2006Publication date: August 28, 2008Inventors: Andreas Gartner, Jens Vortmeyer, Bernd Grannemann, Mauro Zanella, Metin Ersoy
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Publication number: 20080191430Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2006Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventors: Bernd Grannemann, Andreas Hartmann, Jens Vortmeyer, Mauro Zanella
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Publication number: 20080189454Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2005Publication date: August 7, 2008Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Felix Haeusler, Michael Klank, Bernd Grannemann, Armin Mueller, Joachim Spratte
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Publication number: 20080000710Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2005Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventors: Jens Vortmeyer, Andreas Hartmann, Bernd Grannemann, Mauro Zanella, Stefan Beetz, Torsten Baustian, Gerald Festner
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Patent number: 7045999Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 6, 2004Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Metin Ersoy, Joachim Spratte, Bernd Grannemann
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Publication number: 20040190805Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2004Publication date: September 30, 2004Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Joachim Spratte, Bernd Grannemann