Patents by Inventor Christoph Ruchardt
Christoph Ruchardt 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: 10648521Abstract: A method for controlling a pneumatic actuator (1) of a transmission having at least one sealing element (6, 7) that is arranged between two elements (2, 3) of the actuator (1) that move relative to one another, and within a specifiable operating temperature range in which a leakproofness of the actuator (1) is ensured. The pneumatic actuator is acted upon with compressed air from an air supply system for actuating a transmission component. When a temperature of the actuator (1) is below a glass transition temperature of the at least one sealing element (6, 7), the actuator (1) is acted upon with pre-heated compressed air from the air supply system to warm up the at least one sealing element (6, 7) above the glass transition temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Christoph Rüchardt, Thomas Jäger
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Patent number: 10520047Abstract: A method for controlling a pneumatic actuator (1) of a transmission having at least one sealing element (6, 7), arranged between two elements (2, 3) of the clutch actuator (1) that move relative to one another, and within a specifiable operating temperature range in which leakproofness of the clutch actuator (1) is ensured. The clutch actuator (1) is acted upon with compressed air from an air supply system for actuating a shifting and/or starting clutch arranged between a drive aggregate and a transmission. In order to warm up the clutch actuator (1), if a temperature of the clutch actuator (1) is lower then a glass transition temperature of the at least one sealing element (6, 7), the drive aggregate is operated at a higher rotational speed compared to the idling speed of the drive aggregate.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Christoph Rüchardt, Thomas Jäger
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Publication number: 20190186562Abstract: A method for controlling a pneumatic actuator (1) of a transmission having at least one sealing element (6, 7), arranged between two elements (2, 3) of the clutch actuator (1) that move relative to one another, and within a specifiable operating temperature range in which leakproofness of the clutch actuator (1) is ensured. The clutch actuator (1) is acted upon with compressed air from an air supply system for actuating a shifting and/or starting clutch arranged between a drive aggregate and a transmission. In order to warm up the clutch actuator (1), if a temperature of the clutch actuator (1) is lower then a glass transition temperature of the at least one sealing dement (6, 7), the drive aggregate is operated at a higher rotational speed compared to the idling speed of the drive aggregate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2018Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Christoph RÜCHARDT, Thomas JÄGER
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Publication number: 20190186564Abstract: A method for controlling a pneumatic actuator (1) of a transmission having at least one sealing element (6, 7) that is arranged between two elements (2, 3) of the actuator (1) that move relative to one another, and within a specifiable operating temperature range in which a leakproofness of the actuator (1) is ensured. The pneumatic actuator is acted upon with compressed air from an air supply system for actuating a transmission component. When a temperature of the actuator (1) is below a glass transition temperature of the at least one sealing element (6, 7), the actuator (1) is acted upon with pre-heated compressed air from the air supply system to warm up the at least one sealing element (6, 7) above the glass transition temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2018Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Christoph RÜCHARDT, Thomas JÄGER
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Patent number: 8282528Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle drive train (1) comprising a combustion engine (2), a turbo charger (22) assigned to the combustion engine, a mechanism for the injection of additional compressed air into an air intake system (8) of the combustion engine (2), a start and shift clutch (60), and a transmission (62). To optimally prepare and execute a start procedure of such an equipped vehicle, additional compressed air is only injected into the air intake system (8) of the combustion engine (2) if, depending upon the actual operating situation of the vehicle, the injection of additional compressed air benefits the safety of the driver, fuel consumption, drive comfort and/or the clutch wear.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Thomas Jager, Christoph Ruchardt, Roland Mair
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Publication number: 20100331143Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle drive train (1) comprising a combustion engine (2), a turbo charger (22) assigned to the combustion engine, a mechanism for the injection of additional compressed air into an air intake system (8) of the combustion engine (2), a start and shift clutch (60), and a transmission (62). To optimally prepare and execute a start procedure of such an equipped vehicle, additional compressed air is only injected into the air intake system (8) of the combustion engine (2) if, depending upon the actual operating situation of the vehicle, the injection of additional compressed air benefits the safety of the driver, fuel consumption, drive comfort and/or the clutch wear.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Thomas Jager, Christoph Ruchardt, Roland Mair
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Publication number: 20100318268Abstract: A method to operate a vehicle drive train comprising a combustion engine, a turbo charger assigned to the combustion engine, a mechanism for injecting additional compressed air into an air intake system of the combustion engine and a transmission. The method enables practical use of a compressed air injection mechanism, in the drive train, and comprises the step of controlling the time, the duration, the pressure and/or the volume of the additional compressed air, to be injected into the air intake system of the combustion engine, depending upon the performance request of the driver, the actual rotational speed and load condition of the combustion engine, the speed of the vehicle, and the procedures of the gear ratio change of the transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2009Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Thomas Jager, Christoph Ruchardt, Roland Mair
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Patent number: 7474950Abstract: A method is proposed for determining a clutch application point in a transmission of a vehicle having a spring-actuated clutch system in which the clutch application point is adapted according to at least one adequate regulated quantity of the clutch system.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Andreas Schwenger, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Rüchardt, Marcus Gansohr, Thomas Knoblauch
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Publication number: 20080275614Abstract: A method is proposed for determining a clutch application point in a transmission of a vehicle having a spring-actuated clutch system in which the clutch application point is adapted according to at least one adequate regulated quantity of the clutch system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Andreas SCHWENGER, Otto EBNER, Klaus SCHWEIGER, Matthias WINKEL, Christoph RUCHARDT, Marcus GANSOHR, Thomas KNOBLAUCH
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Patent number: 7419456Abstract: A known device for increasing the functional reliability for a hydraulic circuit of a hydraulic clutch having a pressure reservoir (25) and a release cylinder (5) which comprises a primary piston (14) and a secondary piston (16). A compensation volume is developed in the sense that when the vehicle is at a standstill and the parking brake released, an unintentional release of the clutch is prevented. A pressure-monitoring/pressure-supply device (28) is used for determining a reference operating pressure and establishes a static pressure which, in case of any system error, only allows displacement of the secondary piston (16) such that the contact pressure of the clutch discs, against one another, is still sufficient to maintain the vehicle at a standstill.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2003Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Thomas Knoblauch, Christoph Rüchardt, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr
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Patent number: 7169081Abstract: A method for clutch actuation at low temperatures for a motor vehicle having a hydraulically actuatable clutch, below a predetermined temperature a situation-dependent pre-opening of the clutch is executed when a braking is probable.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2002Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Matthias Winkel, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Christoph Rüchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr, Thomas Knoblauch
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Patent number: 7159399Abstract: A device for rendering a hydraulic actuating device operational. A motor vehicle clutch with an emitter-receiver system located in the transmission path of the actuating device comprising two pistons whose positions, relative to one another, can vary as a function of the desired operating behavior of the actuating device and is developed further such that in relation to the emitter-receiver system that is to be filled with fluid, operationality can be established comparatively quickly and by simple way. A fluid supply unit (24) comprises one impulse valve (25) that serves to release an essentially constant volume flow, acted upon by an impulse valve control device (26) which is constructed such that the fluid volume flow released by the fluid supply unit (24) and flowing into the emitter-receiver system (5) does not exceed a limiting volume flow QK.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2003Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Andreas Schwenger, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Christoph Rüchardt, Marcus Gansohr
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Publication number: 20060116237Abstract: A known device for increasing the functional reliability for a hydraulic circuit of a hydraulic clutch having one pressure reservoir and one release cylinder which comprises a primary piston, a secondary piston and a compensation volume is to be further developed in the sense that when the vehicle is at a standstill and the parking brake released, an unintentional release of the clutch is prevented. According to the invention there is used for the purpose a pressure-monitoring/pressure-supply device (28) which determines a reference operating pressure and establishes a static pressure which in case of system errors allows only a displacement of the secondary piston (16) such that the contact pressure of the clutch discs against each other is still sufficient to hold the vehicle at a standstill.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2003Publication date: June 1, 2006Inventors: Thomas Knoblauch, Christoph Ruchardt, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr
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Patent number: 7003429Abstract: An operating time is determined by an approximation method within the scope of the method for determining the actual operating time of a hydraulic, electrohydraulic or electric component of a motor vehicle or of a working machine within a reference time or a monitoring period.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Marcus Gansohr, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Rüchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Thomas Knoblauch
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Publication number: 20050279087Abstract: A device for rendering a hydraulic actuating device operational. A motor vehicle clutch with an emitter-receiver system located in the transmission path of the actuating device comprising two pistons whose positions, relative to one another, can vary as a function of the desired operating behavior of the actuating device and is developed further such that in relation to the emitter-receiver system that is to be filled with fluid, operationality can be established comparatively quickly and by simple way. A fluid supply unit (24) comprises one impulse valve (25) that serves to release an essentially constant volume flow, acted upon by an impulse valve control device (26) which is constructed such that the fluid volume flow released by the fluid supply unit (24) and flowing into the emitter-receiver system (5) does not exceed a limiting volume flow QK.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2003Publication date: December 22, 2005Inventors: Andreas Schwenger, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Christoph Ruchardt, Marcus Gansohr
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Publication number: 20050247538Abstract: One vehicle clutch (6) is situated in a vehicle between a prime mover (2) and a transmission (4) and is controlled according to the rotational speed of the prime mover (2). As centrifugal clutch, the vehicle clutch (6) has elements (26, 32) which cause a variable torque transmission according to the rotational speed of the prime mover (2). The vehicle clutch (6) is actuatable without an externally actuated actuator, is the only clutch located between prime mover (2) and transmission (4) and is provided as starting clutch without possibility of interruption of traction during shifting operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2003Publication date: November 10, 2005Inventors: Bernd Dobele, Wilhelm Hardtle, Karl-Fritz Heinzelmann, Christoph Ruchardt
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Publication number: 20050051408Abstract: A method is proposed for determining a clutch application point in a transmission of a vehicle having a spring-actuated clutch system in which the clutch application point is adapted according to at least one adequate regulated quantity of the clutch system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2002Publication date: March 10, 2005Inventors: Andreas Schwenger, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Ruchardt, Marcus Gansohr, Thomas Knoblauch
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Publication number: 20050033552Abstract: An actual operating time is determined by an approximation method within the scope of the method for determining the actual operating time of a hydraulic, electrohydraulic or electric component of a motor vehicle or of a working machine within a reference time or a monitoring period.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2002Publication date: February 10, 2005Inventors: Marcus Gansohr, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Ruchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Thomas Knoblauch
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Publication number: 20050002796Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a pressure supply device in a hydraulic circuit, especially in a hydraulic circuit in an automatic gearbox which comprises an hydraulic pump, a pressure control valve and a consumer. The hydraulic pump is controlled if the system pressure falls below a specific lower threshold value and is switched off if a specific higher threshold value of the system pressure is reached or exceeded. In the data on the system pressure is not available, the current system pressure is calculated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2002Publication date: January 6, 2005Inventors: Thomas Knoblauch, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Rüchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr
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Publication number: 20040235618Abstract: A method for clutch actuation at low temperatures for a motor vehicle having a hydraulically actuatable clutch, below a predetermined temperature a situation-dependent pre-opening of the clutch is executed when a braking is probable.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventors: Matthias Winkel, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Christoph Ruchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr, Thomas Knoblauch