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).

  • Patent number: 8465371
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Carsten Zuehl, Michael Scordino, Vikas Sinha, Ryan Brookshire, Erwin Wack
  • Patent number: 8448763
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Carsten Zuehl, Mike Scordino, Claus Umnus, Juraj Cuperka, Bernd Reinhardt, Ray Hamblin, Oliver Walter, Matthias Münch
  • Patent number: 8172054
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Scordino, Matt Winhold, Carsten Zuehl
  • Publication number: 20100193314
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Carsten ZUEHL, Mike Scordino, Claus Umnus, Juraj Cuperka, Bernd Reinhardt, Ray Hamblin, Oliver Walter, Matthias Münch
  • Publication number: 20100022312
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Carsten Zuehl, Michael Scordino, Vikas Sinha, Ryan Brookshire, Erwin Wack
  • Publication number: 20090311040
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Carsten Zuehl, Michael Scordino, Juraj Cuperka, Bernd Reinhardt
  • Publication number: 20090159388
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael SCORDINO, Matt Winhold, Carsten Zuehl
  • Patent number: 7201261
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Carsten Zuehl
  • Patent number: 7093701
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Carsten Zuehl, Jason Kehrer, Claus Umnus
  • Publication number: 20050199461
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventor: Carsten Zuehl
  • Publication number: 20050039998
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Carsten Zuehl, Jason Kehrer, Claus Umnus