Patents by Inventor Daniel Meckenstock

Daniel Meckenstock 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: 10597085
    Abstract: A vehicle has a transmission and a brake booster disposed rearward of the transmission. A generally C-shaped lever is pivotingly mounted to the transmission and immediately adjacent to the brake booster such that a first arm of the lever is disposed forward of the brake and a second arm of the lever is disposed beneath the brake booster. The lever is configured such that rearward movement of the transmission due to a vehicle collision urges the first arm into contact with the brake booster and thereby rotates the lever such that the second arm urges the brake booster upwardly relative to the transmission. The upward movement of the brake booster thereby prevents the brake booster from being trapped between the transmission and structure of the vehicle such that it may cause undesirable intrusion of a brake pedal into the vehicle passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Istvan Somogyvari, Daniel Meckenstock
  • Patent number: 10596893
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission apparatus, for an automotive vehicle that has a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, is contained within an engine compartment of the vehicle and includes a vehicle transmission and a roll initiator operable to rotate the vehicle transmission about the lateral axis of the vehicle. The roll initiator is attached to vehicle transmission and has a projecting portion that is arranged to engage with a structure within the engine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Simon Jesse, Herbert Gonska, Dongpeng Kou, Wayne Vinh Lam
  • Patent number: 10589704
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a foot-supporting safety device of a motor vehicle. The foot-supporting safety device includes a foot mat, which is provided so as to be arranged on a foot-space floor of the vehicle. The foot mat has a supporting surface and at least one hollow space that receives at least one fluid. The at least one hollow space is arranged in a direction perpendicular with respect to the supporting surface and with a major portion below the supporting surface. In accordance with the disclosure, the at least one hollow space is permanently filled with a predetermined quantity of the at least one fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Martin Salz-Breuer
  • Patent number: 10549784
    Abstract: An exemplary brake booster device includes, among other things, a brake booster mounted on a vehicle component, and an actuator that, in response to a force applied to the actuator by a gearbox housing, pivots to move the brake booster upward. The actuator includes at least two pivot elements spaced from each other, and a displacement mounted in a jointed manner between the at least two pivot elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Istvan Somogyvari, Michael Spurling
  • Publication number: 20190351945
    Abstract: A chassis for a motor vehicle includes a longitudinal axis, at least one longitudinal member, and a front bumper fastened to the longitudinal member. The front bumper includes a region protruding over the longitudinal member in the lateral direction (y-direction). The chassis includes a support which has a transverse limb and a longitudinal limb. The longitudinal member has an outer face and the support is fastened at the transverse limb to the outer face of the longitudinal member. The transverse limb extends laterally to the outer face. The longitudinal limb adjoins the transverse limb laterally on the outside and extends in the longitudinal direction away from the front bumper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Schneider, Dominik Mueller, Marius Sawatzki, Daniel Meckenstock
  • Patent number: 10449854
    Abstract: A mounting unit for a motor vehicle, comprising a drive shaft bracket fastening a drive shaft to a mounting component of the motor vehicle. The drive shaft bracket is fastened to the mounting component of the motor vehicle by a fastening portion. The drive shaft bracket, in the event of a front force on the drive shaft, is supported by a contact portion of the bracket via a contact point on a supporting component of the motor vehicle, which causes a rotation of the drive shaft bracket around the contact point. The rotation causes a joint between the fastening portion and the mounting component to be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Meckenstock
  • Publication number: 20190315238
    Abstract: A high voltage battery has at least two battery modules that each have a module housing and an electrical connection element to electrically connect the battery modules. A battery module has a prestressing element which is arranged within the respective module housing and is connected to the respective electrical connection element. The electrical connection element connected to the prestressing element is arranged on the battery module such that it is movable between a connection position, in which the electrical connection element is guided through a through-hole in the module housing, and a protective position, in which the electrical connection element is arranged completely within the module housing. The prestressing element prestresses the electrical connection element in a direction of the protective position. The connection element in the connection position is connected to another battery module via at least one connecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Joergen Hilmann, Marius Sawatzki
  • Publication number: 20190319248
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to safety plugs for a battery of an electrified vehicle. An example battery includes a first battery module adjacent a second battery module, with each battery module having a respective housing. Further, the first battery module includes a first electrical contact and the second battery module includes a second electrical contact configured to electrically connect to the first electrical contact in a normal operating condition. The first and second electrical contacts are biased away from one another in a first direction, and the first and second electrical contacts are held together by a positive locking arrangement in the normal operating condition. Additionally, the first and second electrical contacts are configured to move out of contact with one another upon relative movement of the first and second battery modules in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Marius Sawatzki, Daniel Meckenstock, Joergen Hilmann
  • Publication number: 20190319233
    Abstract: A battery for an electrified vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of this disclosure includes, among other things, a battery housing, a battery module within the battery housing and extending in a transverse direction of the electrified vehicle, a plurality of battery arrays arranged within the battery module, the battery arrays arranged in a floating manner within the battery module, and a plurality of deformable supports, some of which are arranged in transverse spaces between adjacent ones of the plurality of battery arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Marius Sawatzki, Daniel Meckenstock
  • Publication number: 20190312247
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a battery arrangement for an electrified vehicle. In particular, the battery arrangement includes modules which are configured to move relative to one another in a transverse direction. For instance, an example battery arrangement includes a guide, and first and second battery modules. The guide is arranged at least partially between adjacent surfaces of the battery module housings and is configured to permit the first and second battery modules to slide relative to one another in a transverse direction of the electrified vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Joergen Hilmann, Marius Sawatzki, Dominik Mueller, Daniel Meckenstock
  • Publication number: 20190312246
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a battery arrangement for an electrified vehicle. Among other things, the battery arrangement includes first and second battery modules, each of which includes a battery module housing. Adjacent surfaces of these battery module housings are interlocked such that that the first and second battery modules are configured to slide relative to one another in a transverse direction of the electrified vehicle. Accordingly, this disclosure increases safety while saving space and without requiring undue reinforcements of the chassis structure, which would increase the weight of the vehicle and reduce the energy efficiency the vehicle. These and other benefits will be appreciated from the following description.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Marius Sawatzki, Dominik Mueller, Daniel Meckenstock, Joergen Hilmann
  • Publication number: 20190277191
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for one or more deflector elements coupled to an engine. In one example, a system includes a deflector element physically coupled to an interface at which edges of an engine head and an engine block join, wherein the deflector element extends around a portion of the edge and a screw boss, where the screw boss bulges out from the edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki
  • Publication number: 20190210444
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward a vehicle transmission apparatus for an automotive vehicle having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. The apparatus is contained within an engine compartment of the vehicle, and includes a vehicle transmission and a roll initiator operable to rotate the vehicle transmission about the lateral axis of the vehicle. The roll initiator is attached to vehicle transmission and has a projecting portion that is arranged to engage with a structure within the engine compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Spurling, Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Simon Jesse, Herbert Gonska, Dongpeng Kou, Wayne Vinh Lam
  • Publication number: 20190210652
    Abstract: An assembly for an electrified vehicle having a housing containing a transmission, and a vehicle component positioned in a longitudinal direction between the housing and a passenger compartment, includes a deflector configured for mounting to the housing and having a deflection face configured to deflect the vehicle component and/or the housing away from the passenger compartment during a frontal collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Marius SAWATZKI, Daniel MECKENSTOCK, Michael SPURLING, Bradley STAINES, Kriste TOMOVSKI, Mansoor MALIK
  • Publication number: 20190176891
    Abstract: A motor vehicle (10) having a passenger compartment (12) and a front compartment (13) arranged in the direction of a longitudinal axis (X) in front of the passenger compartment (12) is provided. Here, the passenger compartment (12) is surrounded by a body (14) comprising a slope (16). In the front compartment (13), an auxiliary frame (17) is arranged. As claimed in the disclosure, a spacing (22) is formed between the auxiliary frame (17) and the slope (16) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (X) and a spacer piece (19) is arranged in this spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marius Sawatzki, Dominik Mueller, Stefan Schneider, Daniel Meckenstock
  • Publication number: 20190061508
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a motor vehicle with an exhaust silencer arranged at a rear axle. At least one battery receptacle is arranged adjacent to and at least partially at a side and/or rear of the vehicle component on a rear floor, and formed as a tray. At least one battery is arranged at least partially in the battery receptacle. At least one deflector element is arranged between the battery receptacle and the vehicle component. and the deflector element is configured such that the vehicle component, standing in contact with the deflector element due to a sideways and/or forward displacement of the vehicle component, is pressed downward by the exhaust silencer in a floor direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Marius SAWATZKI, Hauke WEBER, Jozsef TOTH, Daniel MECKENSTOCK
  • Publication number: 20190039588
    Abstract: A vehicle has a transmission and a brake booster disposed rearward of the transmission. A generally C-shaped lever is pivotingly mounted to the transmission and immediately adjacent to the brake booster such that a first arm of the lever is disposed forward of the brake and a second arm of the lever is disposed beneath the brake booster. The lever is configured such that rearward movement of the transmission due to a vehicle collision urges the first arm into contact with the brake booster and thereby rotates the lever such that the second arm urges the brake booster upwardly relative to the transmission. The upward movement of the brake booster thereby prevents the brake booster from being trapped between the transmission and structure of the vehicle such that it may cause undesirable intrusion of a brake pedal into the vehicle passenger compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Istvan SOMOGYVARI, Daniel MECKENSTOCK
  • Publication number: 20190009768
    Abstract: An exemplary brake booster device includes, among other things, a brake booster mounted on a vehicle component, and an actuator that, in response to a force applied to the actuator by a gearbox housing, pivots to move the brake booster upward. The actuator includes at least two pivot elements spaced from each other, and a displacement mounted in a jointed manner between the at least two pivot elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Istvan Somogyvari, Michael Spurling
  • Publication number: 20190009766
    Abstract: A brake booster is mounted on a forward bulkhead of a motor vehicle having two elements, a first element being securely connected to the brake booster whilst a second element is securely connected to the bulkhead. The two elements are restrained against vertical movement relative to one another by at least one connector which is deformed or fails upon a movement of the brake booster upward relative to the bulkhead. An actuator is movably mounted to the bulkhead below the brake booster and rearward of a gearbox housing such that rearward movement of the gearbox housing during a frontal collision presses against the actuator and moves the actuator upward to apply pressure to the brake booster, the pressure causing the brake booster to move upward relative to the bulkhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel MECKENSTOCK, Marius SAWATZKI, Michael SPURLING
  • Publication number: 20190009767
    Abstract: An exemplary brake booster device includes a brake booster mounted on a vehicle component, and an actuator lever that, in response to a force applied to the actuator by a gearbox housing, pivots to move the brake booster upward. An exemplary method includes pivoting an actuator lever about a pivot axis under a force effect in an X direction resulting from a gearbox housing, and, during the pivoting, using the actuator lever apply a force in a Z direction to a module mounted on a bulkhead to alter a position of the module mounted on the bulkhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Meckenstock, Marius Sawatzki, Istvan Somogyvari, Michael Spurling