Patents by Inventor Dirk Hillbring

Dirk Hillbring 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).

  • Publication number: 20240001944
    Abstract: A method determines a defect state of a drive train of a vehicle having a drive axle with a drive wheel and a reference axle with a reference wheel. A drive torque generated by a drive is transferrable to an underlying surface by the drive train via the drive wheel and cannot be transferred to the underlying surface via the reference wheel of the reference axle. The method includes: reading-in a drive variable which is dependent on a motor revolution rate of the drive; reading-in a reference variable which is dependent on a reference wheel revolution rate of the reference wheel; determining whether there is a deviation between the read-in drive and the read-in reference variables to determine whether the reference wheel revolution rate is related to the motor revolution rate of the drive. If there is a deviation, a defect state of the drive train is concluded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Dirk Hillbring, Mark Schaper
  • Patent number: 11835039
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the functioning of a compressor, which is switchable into a delivery mode and, when in the delivery mode, delivers compressed air via a dryer line of a compressed-air preparation unit into at least one main supply line, from which multiple supply lines of compressed-air consumer circuits branch off, wherein a pressure sensor is connected at each of at least some of the supply lines, is disclosed. The method results in outputting a warning message if a weighted pressure gradient grd_pV_W has not exceeded a gradient limiting value grd_pG_W within a predefined monitoring time period TM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Hannover GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Brinkmann, Dirk Hillbring, Heinrich Diekmeyer
  • Patent number: 11794713
    Abstract: A method for leakage monitoring of a compressed air system of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The compressed-air system has a compressed air supply system, a compressor, and a plurality of compressed-air consumer circuits. The method includes: a) successive detection of a supply pressure via a pressure sensor in a main supply line or in a supply line of at least one compressed air consumer circuit at a predefined time interval; b) successive calculation of pressure gradients of the supply pressure from at least two consecutively detected pressure values; c) comparison of the determined pressure gradients with a predefined gradient limit value; and d) output of a warning signal when the pressure gradient within a predefined monitoring time period which comprises a plurality of delivery pauses of the compressor has not exceeded the gradient limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Hannover GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Brinkmann, Heinrich Diekmeyer, Dirk Hillbring
  • Patent number: 11320007
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring the functions of a friction clutch which is arranged in a vehicle between a drive motor and a compressor of a compressed air supply system and which can be disengaged and engaged pneumatically. In a delivery mode of the compressor, at least one operating parameter is detected by sensor and evaluated in an electronic control unit. When a slipping condition of the friction clutch is identified, a value for a cut-off pressure of the compressor stored in the electronic control unit is reduced. When a slipping condition has been identified, the delivery mode of the compressor is ended by disengagement of the friction clutch, and a warning signal and/or warning information is outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS HANNOVER GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Brinkmann, Dirk Hillbring, Konrad Feyerabend, Volker Gniesmer, Ralf Stoffels
  • Publication number: 20220097668
    Abstract: A method for leakage monitoring of a compressed air system of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The compressed-air system has a compressed air supply system, a compressor, and a plurality of compressed-air consumer circuits. The method includes: a) successive detection of a supply pressure via a pressure sensor in a main supply line or in a supply line of at least one compressed air consumer circuit at a predefined time interval; b) successive calculation of pressure gradients of the supply pressure from at least two consecutively detected pressure values; c) comparison of the determined pressure gradients with a predefined gradient limit value; and d) output of a warning signal when the pressure gradient within a predefined monitoring time period which comprises a plurality of delivery pauses of the compressor has not exceeded the gradient limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan BRINKMANN, Heinrich DIEKMEYER, Dirk HILLBRING
  • Publication number: 20210381560
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring the functions of a friction clutch which is arranged in a vehicle between a drive motor and a compressor of a compressed air supply system and which can be disengaged and engaged pneumatically. In a delivery mode of the compressor, at least one operating parameter is detected by sensor and evaluated in an electronic control unit. When a slipping condition of the friction clutch is identified, a value for a cut-off pressure of the compressor stored in the electronic control unit is reduced. When a slipping condition has been identified, the delivery mode of the compressor is ended by disengagement of the friction clutch, and a warning signal and/or warning information is outputted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan BRINKMANN, Dirk HILLBRING, Konrad FEYERABEND, Volker GNIESMER, Ralf STOFFELS
  • Publication number: 20210323529
    Abstract: A control module for an air treatment system of a utility vehicle comprises the following: a first and second pneumatic magnetic valve having a first or second coil, connecting pins, and armatures accommodated in the coils, a circuit carrier, and a module housing that is cast from a plastic material, into which housing the coils are cast. The connecting pins project from a first side of the module housing and are electrically connected to the circuit carrier. A plug-in connection for receiving a connection plug is formed in the module housing, wherein the plug-in connection has plug-in pins, which extend through the module housing and are electrically connected to the circuit carrier. The module housing has a mounting surface having pneumatic connections for installation on an air dryer housing of an air dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Heinrich DIEKMEYER, Joachim HEIDER, Dirk HILLBRING, Andreas TEICHMANN
  • Publication number: 20210164465
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the functioning of a compressor, which is switchable into a delivery mode and, when in the delivery mode, delivers compressed air via a dryer line of a compressed-air preparation unit into at least one main supply line, from which multiple supply lines of compressed-air consumer circuits branch off, wherein a pressure sensor is connected at each of at least some of the supply lines, is disclosed. The method results in outputting a warning message if a weighted pressure gradient grd_pV _W has not exceeded a gradient limiting value grd_pG_W within a predefined monitoring time period TM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan BRINKMANN, Dirk HILLBRING, Heinrich DIEKMEYER
  • Patent number: 9951897
    Abstract: An elastic seal element seals a fluid passage between a first component and a second component from the surroundings, the fluid passage passing through the seal element. The seal element has a first bead, which provides a sealing line to sealingly contact the first component around the fluid passage. The seal element further has a second bead, which provides a second sealing line to sealingly contact the second component around the fluid passage. The seal element has a tubular shape, a tubular casing extending between the first bead at the first end of the seal element and the second bead at the second end of the seal element, wherein the tubular casing allows a transversal offset of the second bead relative to the first bead to seal the fluid passage by the seal element even when the second component is offset transversely relative to the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Diekmeyer, Yves Hansen, Joachim Hein, Dirk Hillbring, Hauke Kraus
  • Publication number: 20150345675
    Abstract: An elastic seal element seals a fluid passage between a first component and a second component from the surroundings, the fluid passage passing through the seal element. The seal element has a first bead, which provides a sealing line to sealingly contact the first component around the fluid passage. The seal element further has a second bead, which provides a second sealing line to sealingly contact the second component around the fluid passage. The seal element has a tubular shape, a tubular casing extending between the first bead at the first end of the seal element and the second bead at the second end of the seal element, wherein the tubular casing allows a transversal offset of the second bead relative to the first bead to seal the fluid passage by the seal element even when the second component is offset transversely relative to the first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Heinrich Diekmeyer, Yves Hansen, Joachim Heim, Dirk Hillbring, Hauke Kraus