Patents by Inventor Carsten Zuehl
Carsten Zuehl 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: 8465371Abstract: A torsional vibration damper assembly for a hydrodynamic coupling device, in particular a torque converter, comprises a primary side having a plurality of cover disk elements, a secondary side which is rotatable with respect to the primary side about an axis of rotation against the action of a plurality of damper springs, a central disk element engaging between the cover disk elements, and a turbine wheel having a turbine wheel shell. The plurality of cover disk elements are fixedly connected to one another on the radial outer side of the damper springs, and a cover disk element located directly adjacent to the turbine wheel shell is fixedly connected to the turbine wheel shell on the radial inner side of the damper springs by connection elements of a first set of connection elements. The connection elements of the first set of connection elements do not produce a fixed connection between the cover disk elements on the radial inner side of the damper springs.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Carsten Zuehl, Michael Scordino, Vikas Sinha, Ryan Brookshire, Erwin Wack
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Patent number: 8448763Abstract: A housing-piston assembly for a coupling device, especially a wet-running, multi-plate clutch or a bridging clutch of a hydrodynamic coupling device, wherein the piston (4) is attached to a housing (2) by means of connecting elements (8) in such a way that it has a certain freedom of movement, and rivets (10, 12) are provided as fastening elements between the piston (4) and the connecting elements (8) and/or between the connecting elements (8) and the housing (2), and wherein at least one support element (20, 36, 70, 86) can be positioned in a riveting position between the piston (4) and the connecting elements (8) and/or between the connecting elements (8) and the housing (2) in such a way that anvil sections (18, 44, 74, 92) of the support element (20, 36, 70, 86) lie behind the set heads (14) of their associated rivets (10, 12). A method of assembling a housing-piston assembly is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Carsten Zuehl, Mike Scordino, Claus Umnus, Juraj Cuperka, Bernd Reinhardt, Ray Hamblin, Oliver Walter, Matthias Münch
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Patent number: 8172054Abstract: A clutch arrangement includes a clutch device for transmitting torque between a clutch housing and a takeoff, wherein a pressure element and an opposing pressure element cooperate to establish and release a working connection between at least one drive-side clutch element and at least one takeoff side clutch element. The opposing pressure element is mounted nonrotatably and without freedom of axial movement on the clutch housing, and is connected to at least one drive-side clutch element by axially acting energy storage devices. A takeoff-side clutch element is located between a drive-side clutch element and the opposing pressure element, and between any adjacent drive-side clutch elements. Alternatively, the axially acting energy storage devices can connect the drive-side clutch elements to the clutch housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Michael Scordino, Matt Winhold, Carsten Zuehl
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Publication number: 20100193314Abstract: A housing-piston assembly for a coupling device, especially a wet-running, multi-plate clutch or a bridging clutch of a hydrodynamic coupling device, wherein the piston (4) is attached to a housing (2) by means of connecting elements (8) in such a way that it has a certain freedom of movement, and rivets (10, 12) are provided as fastening elements between the piston (4) and the connecting elements (8) and/or between the connecting elements (8) and the housing (2), and wherein at least one support element (20, 36, 70, 86) can be positioned in a riveting position between the piston (4) and the connecting elements (8) and/or between the connecting elements (8) and the housing (2) in such a way that anvil sections (18, 44, 74, 92) of the support element (20, 36, 70, 86) lie behind the set heads (14) of their associated rivets (10, 12). A method of assembling a housing-piston assembly is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Carsten ZUEHL, Mike Scordino, Claus Umnus, Juraj Cuperka, Bernd Reinhardt, Ray Hamblin, Oliver Walter, Matthias Münch
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Publication number: 20100022312Abstract: A torsional vibration damper assembly for a hydrodynamic coupling device, in particular a torque converter, comprises a primary side having a plurality of cover disk elements, a secondary side which is rotatable with respect to the primary side about an axis of rotation against the action of a plurality of damper springs, a central disk element engaging between the cover disk elements, and a turbine wheel having a turbine wheel shell. The plurality of cover disk elements are fixedly connected to one another on the radial outer side of the damper springs, and a cover disk element located directly adjacent to the turbine wheel shell is fixedly connected to the turbine wheel shell on the radial inner side of the damper springs by connection elements of a first set of connection elements. The connection elements of the first set of connection elements do not produce a fixed connection between the cover disk elements on the radial inner side of the damper springs.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2009Publication date: January 28, 2010Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Carsten Zuehl, Michael Scordino, Vikas Sinha, Ryan Brookshire, Erwin Wack
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Publication number: 20090311040Abstract: A drive plate for connecting the housing of a coupling device, especially a hydrodynamic torque converter, to a drive element such as a flexplate fixed to a drive shaft, wherein the drive plate has a substantially disk-shaped drive plate body formed from sheet metal. A first coupling formation is formed in a radially outer area of the drive plate body, the first coupling formation including a plurality of circumferentially spaced first axial elevations for connecting to a drive element. A second coupling formation is formed in a radially inner area of the drive plate body for connecting to the housing of a coupling element. A test drive formation is formed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced second axial elevations on the drive plate body, each second axial elevation having an essentially flat axially facing end surface and a pair of circumferentially facing lateral surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Carsten Zuehl, Michael Scordino, Juraj Cuperka, Bernd Reinhardt
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Publication number: 20090159388Abstract: A clutch arrangement includes a clutch device for transmitting torque between a clutch housing and a takeoff, wherein a pressure element and an opposing pressure element cooperate to establish and release a working connection between at least one drive-side clutch element and at least one takeoff side clutch element. The opposing pressure element is mounted nonrotatably and without freedom of axial movement on the clutch housing, and is connected to at least one drive-side clutch element by axially acting energy storage devices. A takeoff-side clutch element is located between a drive-side clutch element and the opposing pressure element, and between any adjacent drive-side clutch elements. Alternatively, the axially acting energy storage devices can connect the drive-side clutch elements to the clutch housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Michael SCORDINO, Matt Winhold, Carsten Zuehl
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Patent number: 7201261Abstract: A bridging clutch for a hydrodynamic clutch device includes a housing comprising a cover having a friction surface; a piston which can move axially with respect to the housing, the piston having a friction surface which faces the friction surface of the cover; a first pretensioning element mount fixed to the cover and having a first support section; a second pretensioning element mount fixed to the piston and having a second support section; and a pretensioning element supported axially between the first and second support sections for actuating the piston in a predetermined axial direction. A slide device located between the pretensioning element and the second support section permits sliding movement of the pretensioning element with respect to the second pretensioning element mount.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2005Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventor: Carsten Zuehl
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Patent number: 7093701Abstract: A bridging clutch for a clutch apparatus which has a hydrodynamic circuit in a clutch housing. The bridging clutch may have a piston which is arranged on a hub and which is connected to a piston mount, which is mounted on the clutch housing, such that it can be moved axially via axial force stores. The piston mount has cutouts between radial extensions in the circumferential direction for projections which are provided on the piston and which pass through the piston mount. Axial force stores engage behind the piston mount on its side facing away from the piston and are attached to the piston at one connecting end and have lever ends which act on contact surfaces of the piston mount with predetermined prestressing in the direction of the piston.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Carsten Zuehl, Jason Kehrer, Claus Umnus
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Publication number: 20050199461Abstract: A bridging clutch for a hydrodynamic clutch device includes a housing comprising a cover having a friction surface; a piston which can move axially with respect to the housing, the piston having a friction surface which faces the friction surface of the cover; a first pretensioning element mount fixed to the cover and having a first support section; a second pretensioning element mount fixed to the piston and having a second support section; and a pretensioning element supported axially between the first and second support sections for actuating the piston in a predetermined axial direction. A slide device located between the pretensioning element and the second support section permits sliding movement of the pretensioning element with respect to the second pretensioning element mount.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2005Publication date: September 15, 2005Inventor: Carsten Zuehl
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Publication number: 20050039998Abstract: A bridging clutch for a clutch apparatus which has a hydrodynamic circuit in a clutch housing. The bridging clutch may have a piston which is arranged on a hub and which is connected to a piston mount, which is mounted on the clutch housing, such that it can be moved axially via axial force stores. The piston mount has cutouts between radial extensions in the circumferential direction for projections which are provided on the piston and which pass through the piston mount. Axial force stores engage behind the piston mount on its side facing away from the piston and are attached to the piston at one connecting end and have lever ends which act on contact surfaces of the piston mount with predetermined prestressing in the direction of the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2004Publication date: February 24, 2005Inventors: Carsten Zuehl, Jason Kehrer, Claus Umnus