Patents by Inventor Dirk Hofmann

Dirk Hofmann 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: 6598944
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic device, in particular for a slip-controlled, hydraulic vehicle brake system, having at least a first magnet valve which is closed in its currentless basic position and having at least a second magnet valve which is open in its currentless basic position, the first and second magnet valves being received in receiving bores of a valve block. The invention provides that the first and second magnet valves have structurally identical, one-piece valve housings, in each of which all the magnet valve components are received essentially without any axial protrusion, and that the total length of each of the first and second magnet valves is recessed in the receiving bores of the valve block, and that a nonferromagnetic spacer ring is disposed between a face end, pointing toward the valve seat, of at least one magnet coil and a dividing plane between this magnet coil and the associated pole piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Wolff, Friedrich Megerle, Martin Oehler, Dirk Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20020179874
    Abstract: The valve (10) has a seat valve (27) comprising a hollow cone-shaped valve seat (24) and an hemispherical shutoff element (26). An afflux bore (23) having contact with a pressure-medium inlet (19) discharges centrically into the valve seat (24). A solenoid armature (30) acting upon the seat valve (27) in opening fashion grips a push rod (25) comprising the shutoff element (26), which said solenoid armature cooperates with a pole body (42) according to the flat-type armature principle. A preloaded return spring (39) acting on the seat valve (27) in closing fashion is arranged between the pole body (42) and the solenoid armature (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Dirk Hofmann, Hans-Friedrich Schwarz, Gerhard Hahl, Valentin Schubitschew
  • Patent number: 6416137
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic vehicle brake system (10), having a hydraulic pump (12) and a high-pressure hydraulic reservoir (22) for external-force braking, as well as a conventional master cylinder (28), which serves as a set-point brake force transducer for the external-force braking and serves the purpose of muscle-powered secondary braking if the external-force service brake system fails. To embody the vehicle brake system (19) with an active pedal travel simulator, the invention proposes connecting the master cylinder (28) to a low-pressure hydraulic reservoir (26) via a disconnecting valve (30) and to the high-pressure hydraulic reservoir (22) via a return valve (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Hofmann, Martin Pfau
  • Patent number: 6322049
    Abstract: A tubular valve housing includes a guide body for pressure fluid that is disposed between a valve body having a hollow-conical valve seat and a chamber of the valve housing, in which actuating means of the valve are received in the chamber. The guide body is penetrated by a closing body of the valve which divides the chamber from an annular conduit. The annular conduit carries the pressure fluid and communicates with the valve seat and has circumferential outlet openings of the valve housing. The guide body is braced on the valve body, with a face end contacting the valve body, and has guide conduits, fitting over an outline of the valve seat, which on the outlet side discharge into the annular conduit. The face end of the closing body, which cooperates with the valve seat, is a spherical portion that makes a transition with sharp edges to the cylindrical shaft of the closing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Rosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Hofmann, Guenther Hohl, Massimo Ambrosi, Christian Laier
  • Publication number: 20010022254
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic vehicle brake system (10), having a hydraulic pump (12) and a high-pressure hydraulic reservoir (22) for external-force braking, as well as a conventional master cylinder (28), which serves as a set-point brake force transducer for the external-force braking and serves the purpose of muscle-powered secondary braking if the external-force service brake system fails. To embody the vehicle brake system (19) with an active pedal travel simulator, the invention proposes connecting the master cylinder (28) to a low-pressure hydraulic reservoir (26) via a disconnecting valve (30) and to the high-pressure hydraulic reservoir (22) via a return valve (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Hofmann, Martin Pfau
  • Patent number: 6149247
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic vehicle brake system with a hydraulic pump and a high pressure hydraulic accumulator for external power braking and a conventional master cylinder that is used as a braking power set point adjuster for external power braking and is used to actuate the brake system by muscle power in the event of a failure of the external power brake system. The system connects an intake side of the hydraulic pump to a low pressure hydraulic accumulator into which brake fluid travels from the wheel brake cylinders when the wheel brake pressure decreases. The system has the advantage that no connections of the hydraulic pump to a reservoir of the master cylinder are necessary, which in the event of a leak, would jeopardize the function of both the external power service brake system and the muscle power auxiliary brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Hofmann, Juergen Binder, Martin Pfau, Eberhardt Schunck
  • Patent number: 6017099
    Abstract: The vibration damper has a sleevelike shaped part comprising an elastomer as a diaphragm. The shaped part is received tightly on the opening end of a bore of a housing and surrounds an extension of a support body disposed in the bore. Provided on a side face of the extension is a groove, which communicates with a chamber in the extension. The shaped part, which on its outside is exposed to the brake fluid, with the inside of its jacket wall defines a hollow chamber, formed toward the extension of the support body and having atmospheric pressure. The vibration damper can be used in a slip-controlled hydraulic brake systems of motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Schneider, Norbert Alaze, Dirk Hofmann, Ulrich Pechtold, Egon Stratmann, Juergen Haecker, Hans-Friedrich Schwarz, Norbert Mittwollen