Patents by Inventor Dirk Burkhart

Dirk Burkhart 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: 8381889
    Abstract: A dual clutch, which has a first friction clutch pulled by a first lever actuator and a second friction clutch pushed by a second lever actuator. The lever actuators each have a lever that is spring-loaded on one side and lever tips which are moved by a bearing block. The bearing block can be moved radially with along a profile of the lever to set a variable contact point of the lever between a rigid base plate and the lever to act on actuating bearings of the friction clutches. The bearing block is actuated by force application in one of the radial directions of motion by a drive controlled by a control unit in an automated manner. The drive of both lever actuators is formed by a pneumatic controller. In each drive a piston is movable in a housing and is connected to the bearing block by a piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dirk Burkhart
  • Publication number: 20120175213
    Abstract: A dual clutch, which has a first friction clutch pulled by a first lever actuator and a second friction clutch pushed by a second lever actuator. The lever actuators each have a lever that is spring-loaded on one side and lever tips which are moved by a bearing block. The bearing block can be moved radially with along a profile of the lever to set a variable contact point of the lever between a rigid base plate and the lever to act on actuating hearings of the friction clutches. The bearing block is actuated by force application in one of the radial directions of motion by a drive controlled by a control unit in an automated manner. The drive of both lever actuators is formed by a pneumatic controller. In each drive a piston is movable in a housing and is connected to the bearing block by a piston rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dirk BURKHART
  • Patent number: 8201679
    Abstract: An actively closed friction clutch actuated by a lever actuator and having an adjusting means, the lever actuator taking the form of a roller displaced radially by a spindle, which roller acts on a unilaterally suspended lever, the latter being displaced axially and acting axially on a clamping means such as a lever, lever spring or diaphragm spring. The adjusting means for compensating friction lining wear is enabled by an end stop position widened axially relative to a stop position of the lever, which end stop position is enabled by means of an engageable/disengageable stop. To distinguish the two stop positions, the force/travel characteristic line of the lever actuator is detected by the controller of the lever actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Burkhart, Alexander Dreher
  • Patent number: 8100812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for controlling an automated friction clutch with a wear adjustment device that adjusts extended clutch stroke by a discrete magnitude through the wear of friction lining at maximum transmittable torque of the friction clutch. To guarantee safe self-adjustment, also during a long operation period under the maximum clutch torque, under specified preconditions, for instance, during the start of the internal combustion engine and without gear engagement, the friction clutch is closed for maximum clutch torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Laszlo Man, Alexander Dreher, Dirk Burkhart
  • Publication number: 20090258757
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for controlling an automated friction clutch with a wear adjustment device that adjusts extended clutch stroke by a discrete magnitude through the wear of friction lining at maximum transmittable torque of the friction clutch. To guarantee safe self-adjustment, also during a long operation period under the maximum clutch torque, under specified preconditions, for instance, during the start of the internal combustion engine and without gear engagement, the friction clutch is closed for maximum clutch torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
    Inventors: Laszlo Man, Alexander Dreher, Dirk Burkhart
  • Publication number: 20090223772
    Abstract: An actively closed friction clutch actuated by a lever actuator and having an adjusting means, the lever actuator taking the form of a roller displaced radially by a spindle, which roller acts on a unilaterally suspended lever, the latter being displaced axially and acting axially on a clamping means such as a lever, lever spring or diaphragm spring. The adjusting means for compensating friction lining wear is enabled by an end stop position widened axially relative to a stop position of the lever, which end stop position is enabled by means of an engageable/disengageable stop. To distinguish the two stop positions, the force/travel characteristic line of the lever actuator is detected by the controller of the lever actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Dirk Burkhart, Alexander Dreher
  • Patent number: 7124871
    Abstract: A lever system for actuating a clutch or a brake for a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle. The actuating force for the clutch or transmission brake is changeable by displacing a fulcrum with respect to a lever. An energy storage mechanism may act at one end portion of the lever and a pressure plate of a clutch or a transmission brake may act, directly or indirectly, on the other end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Oswald Friedmann, Wolfgang Reik, Dirk Burkhart, Wolfgang Haas, Christian Scheufler, Laszlo Man, Christoph Raber, Dirk Reimnitz, Markus Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20040173429
    Abstract: A lever system for actuating a clutch or a brake for a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle. The actuating force for the clutch or transmission brake is changeable by displacing a fulcrum with respect to a lever. An energy storage mechanism may act at one end portion of the lever and a pressure plate of a clutch or a transmission brake may act, directly or indirectly, on the other end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: LUK LAMELLEN UND KUPPLUNGSBAU BETEILIGUNGS KG
    Inventors: Oswald Friedmann, Wolfgang Reik, Dirk Burkhart, Wolfgang Haas, Christian Scheufler, Laszlo Man, Christoph Raber, Dirk Reimnitz, Markus Schaefer