Patents by Inventor Carsten Weifels

Carsten Weifels 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: 9073522
    Abstract: A parking lock control element has an actuator coupled to a parking lock pawl, and a retaining device which works with the actuator to secure the parking lock pawl in the disengaged position. The connecting device is characterized in that the retaining device has a blocking slide connected to the actuator, and a blocking actuator having a slider gap, the width of the slider gap being modified in an actuating manner, wherein the blocking slide can move into the slider gap—when the slider gap is open—releasing the actuator. The connecting device reduces structural complexity and related costs. At the same time, the control element is comparatively robust with respect to manufacturing tolerances, acceleration forces, vibrations, and temperature stress. With minimal auxiliary energy, high holding forces can be achieved to secure the parking lock pawl. An emergency unlocking actuation can also be integrated in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Carsten Weifels
  • Publication number: 20140151180
    Abstract: A parking lock control element has an actuator coupled to a parking lock pawl, and a retaining device which works with the actuator to secure the parking lock pawl in the disengaged position. The connecting device is characterized in that the retaining device has a blocking slide connected to the actuator, and a blocking actuator having a slider gap, the width of the slider gap being modified in an actuating manner, wherein the blocking slide can move into the slider gap—when the slider gap is open—releasing the actuator. The connecting device reduces structural complexity and related costs. At the same time, the control element is comparatively robust with respect to manufacturing tolerances, acceleration forces, vibrations, and temperature stress. With minimal auxiliary energy, high holding forces can be achieved to secure the parking lock pawl. An emergency unlocking actuation can also be integrated in a simple manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Carsten WEIFELS
  • Patent number: 8678160
    Abstract: A parking lock control element having an actuator coupled to the parking lock pawl, and a retaining device which works with the actuator to secure the parking lock pawl in the disengaged position. The retaining device has a blocking slide connected to the actuator, and a blocking actuator having a slider gap, the width of the slider gap being modified in an actuating manner, wherein the blocking slide can move into the slider gap—when the slider gap is open—releasing the actuator. The connecting device reduces structural complexity and related costs. The control element is comparatively robust with respect to manufacturing tolerances, acceleration forces, vibrations, and temperature stress. With minimal auxiliary energy, high holding forces can be achieved to secure the parking lock pawl. An emergency unlocking actuation can also be integrated in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Carsten Weifels
  • Patent number: 8347752
    Abstract: An actuating device for transmitting shift commands to an automatic gearbox of a motor vehicle. The actuating device comprises a selector lever which is movable in a selector lane between an automatic shift lane and a sequential shift lane, a shift carriage for transmitting the shift commands to a gearbox transmission element, a separating device for separating the force transmission between the selector lever and the shift carriage, and a locking device for blocking the selector lever in at least one selector lever position. The locking device is set up to block the shift carriage. The shift carriage can be blocked not only in the shift-lock positions but also in the position of the shift carriage which corresponds to the selector lane position of the selector lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Carsten Weifels
  • Publication number: 20110226079
    Abstract: An actuating device for transmitting shift commands to an automatic gearbox of a motor vehicle. The actuating device comprises a selector lever which is movable in a selector lane between an automatic shift lane and a sequential shift lane, a shift carriage for transmitting the shift commands to a gearbox transmission element, a separating device for separating the force transmission between the selector lever and the shift carriage, and a locking device for blocking the selector lever in at least one selector lever position. The locking device is set up to block the shift carriage. The shift carriage can be blocked not only in the shift-lock positions but also in the position of the shift carriage which corresponds to the selector lane position of the selector lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Carsten Weifels
  • Publication number: 20110203899
    Abstract: The invention relates to a parking lock control element (1), particularly for an automatic transmission. The control element (1) has an actuator (6) which is coupled to the parking lock pawl, and a retaining device (8, 10, 11, 12) which works with the actuator (6) to secure the parking lock pawl in the disengaged position. According to the invention, the connecting device is characterized in that the retaining device (8, 10, 11, 12) has a blocking slide (8) connected to the actuator (6), and a blocking actuator (11) having a slider gap (10), the width of the slider gap being modified in an actuating manner, wherein the blocking slide (8) can move into the slider gap (10)—when the slider gap is open (10)—releasing the actuator (6). The connecting device according to the invention reduces structural complexity and related costs. At the same time, the control element is comparatively robust with respect to manufacturing tolerances, acceleration forces, vibrations, and temperature stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Carsten Weifels