Patents by Inventor Eduard Span

Eduard Span 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: 12552443
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering device for steering a vehicle, having a housing and having a rack. The rack is movable in the longitudinal direction of the rack and in relation to the housing. The rack has a detection installation for detecting an ingress of water. In order to be able to detect an ingress of water at an early stage, in a reliable manner and/or by an ideally cost-effective detection installation. The steering device includes that the detection installation has at least one friction installation which reacts to an ingress of water. The friction installation, upon reacting to the ingress of water and in the event of a movement of the rack, causing an increase in friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Eduard Span
  • Publication number: 20260008095
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a push rod (2) for a motor vehicle steering system (1), wherein a guide section (11) of the push rod (2) is formed with a non-circular and/or polygonal contour (12) for sliding guidance in the longitudinal direction of a central longitudinal axis (13) of the push rod (2) and for securing against rotation about the central longitudinal axis (13) of the push rod (2), by producing the contour (12) of the guide section (11) by means of a single manufacturing step in a provided blank. In order to enable a greater variety of contours when producing the contour (12) of the guide section (11) by means of the single manufacturing step, the method is characterized in that the contour (12) of the guide section (11) is formed by means of a warm forming or a cold hammer rolling forming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2025
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Ralf Völkl, Angelo Piantoni, Jacopo Francesco Zini, Christian Wassmer, Heinz-Dieter Heitzer, Rainer Engel
  • Publication number: 20250368263
    Abstract: A steering angle sensor device (12) in a steering system (10) of a motor vehicle has a rotation angle sensor (34) which is connected to a gear (30) via a shaft (28) and detects a rotation of the gear (30), wherein the gear (30) is designed to mesh with a thread (20) on a steering rod (14). The steering angle sensor device (12) is designed as a pre-assembled unit with its own outer housing (24) to be mounted on a steering housing (22), in which the rotation angle sensor (34), the shaft (28) and the gear (30) are received. In the steering system (10), the outer housing (24) of the steering angle sensor device (12) can be inserted into a sensor receptacle (26) in such a way that the gear (30) meshes with the thread (20) of the steering rod (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Inventors: Rainer ENGEL, Heinz-Dieter HEITZER, Andreas DE MOLL, Eduard SPAN
  • Patent number: 12485957
    Abstract: A steering gear apparatus for a steer-by-wire steering system of a motor vehicle has a sliding rod, which has a rack with a toothing, a gear section, which has a worm gear with a worm wheel and a drive pinion extending in an axial direction (A), a motor and a steering angle sensor. The motor is connected here to the drive pinion via the worm gear so as to transmit torque, and the drive pinion is in toothed engagement with the toothing. The steering angle sensor is coupled here to the drive pinion, in particular so as to transmit torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2025
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Gregor Watzlawek, Frank Jaehde, Yavuz Demir, Ali Al-Jabri
  • Patent number: 12384447
    Abstract: An electrically driven rack and pinion steering system of a motor vehicle has an axially displaceably mounted rack which transmits a steering movement for steered wheels of the motor vehicle, has an electric drive which provides a steering force and interacts with the rack, and has a housing which receives the rack and a drive element of the drive. The drive element is in engagement with a toothing system of the rack. A bearing assembly is arranged on a section of the rack without a toothing system axially on each side of the drive element, with a carrier cylinder, on the outer shell face of which an outer contact seal is arranged and on the inner shell face of which an inner contact seal is arranged, the contact seals sealing the housing with respect to the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Yavuz Demir, Rainer Engel, Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Publication number: 20250027554
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for pressing a rack against a pinion, having a thrust piece, having a bearing element, and having a preloading element which acts in the axial direction of a central longitudinal axis of the device, and having a readjustment installation for compensating wear, and having an axial play installation for defining a maximum play of the thrust piece in the axial direction to the central longitudinal axis, the axial play installation being disposed between the readjustment installation and the bearing element, and the axial play installation having an elastic spring element which acts in the axial direction to the central longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Inventors: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer, Frank Jaehde, Matthias Kaussen, Eduard Span, Dominik Streeck, Christian Wutzler, Roger Hooke, Angelo Piantoni, Luca Tabaglio, Pradeepkumar Thandapani, Jacopo Cabassi, Alessio Lo Coco
  • Patent number: 12065202
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electromechanical rack and pinion steering system for a motor vehicle with an input shaft which is connected to a pinion shaft, wherein a torsion bar is arranged between the input shaft and the pinion shaft, and is directly connected to the input shaft, and the pinion shaft has a steering pinion section for interacting with a rack, and with an electric motor for driving the pinion shaft. The electric motor is connected to the pinion shaft by a transmission. An intermediate shaft piece is arranged between the pinion shaft and the input shaft. The intermediate shaft piece is connected directly to the pinion shaft and connected directly to the torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GMBH
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Frank Jaehde
  • Publication number: 20240157998
    Abstract: A steering gear for a steer-by-wire steering system of a motor vehicle has a slide rod which extends in an axial direction (Z) and which has a recirculating ball spindle and a rack with a toothing system, a drive portion which has a belt drive and a ball nut which is coupled to the recirculating ball spindle, a rotary supporting part which is configured to support a torque of the rack, and a sensor device which has a steering angle sensor and a sensor pinion which is coupled to the steering angle sensor. The sensor pinion is in toothed engagement with the toothing system in a portion which is arranged in the axial direction (Z) between a first axial end of the rotary supporting part and an opposite second axial end of the rotary supporting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventor: Eduard Span
  • Publication number: 20240149944
    Abstract: A steering system of a motor vehicle comprises a sensor device comprising a rotational angle sensor, which is connected to a toothed wheel and detects a rotation of the toothed wheel is disclosed. The toothed wheel is fitted on a steering tie rod such that it meshes with a spindle thread on the steering tie rod which is part of a ball screw drive of a servo drive of the steering system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Rainer Engel, Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Publication number: 20240149938
    Abstract: A steering gear apparatus for a steer-by-wire steering system of a motor vehicle has a sliding rod, which has a rack with a toothing, a gear section, which has a worm gear with a worm wheel and a drive pinion extending in an axial direction (A), a motor and a steering angle sensor. The motor is connected here to the drive pinion via the worm gear so as to transmit torque, and the drive pinion is in toothed engagement with the toothing. The steering angle sensor is coupled here to the drive pinion, in particular so as to transmit torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Gregor Watzlawek, Frank Jaehde, Yavuz Demir, Ali Al-Jabri
  • Patent number: 11731685
    Abstract: A rack-and-pinion gear is described, which is suitable in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle. In this a pinion is supported in a pinion housing and meshes with a rack inside this pinion housing. The rack here projects from the pinion housing through at least one housing aperture. A stop ring, which serves to limit a rack longitudinal movement and/or a tilting of the rack, is moreover held in the housing aperture by means of a press fit. In addition, a steering gear having such a rack-and-pinion gear and a steering system for a motor vehicle comprising such a steering gear are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Timm Leuerer, Rolf von Laar, Sridharan Krishnan, Robert Kolloch
  • Patent number: 11691661
    Abstract: A device for a steering system of a motor vehicle for pressing a toothed rack against a drive pinion is specified, the device having a housing and a thrust piece which is mounted displaceably in the housing and which has a circumferential wall which is in contact with the housing, the thrust piece having, on its circumferential wall, at least one depression which runs in a circumferential direction at least in certain portions and which delimits a hollow chamber arranged between thrust piece and housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Sridharan Krishnan, Robert Kolloch, Eduard Span
  • Patent number: 11613302
    Abstract: A steering system (10) for a motor vehicle, which steering system (10) is configured as a steer-by-wire steering system, comprises a rack (14), an electric drive (16) for the longitudinal displacement of the rack (14), and a rotatably mounted supporting element (20) which is spaced apart from the electric drive (16) along the longitudinal axis of the rack (14), and the rotatably mounted supporting element (20) being in toothed engagement with the rack (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Yavuz Demir
  • Publication number: 20230074605
    Abstract: An electrically driven rack and pinion steering system of a motor vehicle has an axially displaceably mounted rack which transmits a steering movement for steered wheels of the motor vehicle, has an electric drive which provides a steering force and interacts with the rack, and has a housing which receives the rack and a drive element of the drive. The drive element is in engagement with a toothing system of the rack. A bearing assembly is arranged on a section of the rack without a toothing system axially on each side of the drive element, with a carrier cylinder, on the outer shell face of which an outer contact seal is arranged and on the inner shell face of which an inner contact seal is arranged, the contact seals sealing the housing with respect to the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Yavuz Demir, Rainer Engel, Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Publication number: 20230034783
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering device for steering a vehicle, having a housing and having a rack. The rack is movable in the longitudinal direction of the rack and in relation to the housing. The rack has a detection installation for detecting an ingress of water. In order to be able to detect an ingress of water at an early stage, in a reliable manner and/or by an ideally cost-effective detection installation. The steering device includes that the detection installation has at least one friction installation which reacts to an ingress of water. The friction installation, upon reacting to the ingress of water and in the event of a movement of the rack, causing an increase in friction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventor: Eduard Span
  • Patent number: 11485412
    Abstract: A drag link guide assembly for guiding a drag link comprises a slide bushing and a housing enclosing the slide bushing. The housing comprises a socket portion, into which the slide bushing is inserted. The slide bushing comprises a locating area for the drag link having a substantially circular cylindrical periphery with at least one plane torsional locking face. The slide bushing comprises an outward-pointing structure, which interacts with a mating structure that is provided on the internal surface of the housing. A method for producing a drag link guide assembly is furthermore described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Sridharan Krishnan, Robert Kolloch
  • Publication number: 20220315094
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electric power steering system having a rack for steering wheels of a vehicle and having a pinion shaft. The pinion shaft meshes with a row of teeth of the rack in an assembled state. The rack has an assembly portion for an initial assembly of the pinion shaft, with one end of the row of teeth transitioning into the assembly portion. On the one hand, to facilitate initial assembly for establishing a connection between the pinion shaft and the row of teeth of the rack and, on the other hand, to prevent the connection between the pinion shaft and the row of teeth of the rack from breaking during repair measures carried out after the initial assembly, the electric power steering system is arranged such that first teeth of the row of teeth each have a first tooth height and the assembly portion has second teeth for interacting with the pinion shaft, the second teeth each having a second tooth height that is less than the first tooth height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Timm Leuerer, Eduard Span, Jens Petersen, Gregor Watzlawek, Frank Jaehde, Yavuz Demir, Frederick Wilms, Ali Al-Jabri
  • Publication number: 20220281514
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electromechanical rack and pinion steering system for a motor vehicle with an input shaft which is connected to a pinion shaft, wherein a torsion bar is arranged between the input shaft and the pinion shaft, and is directly connected to the input shaft, and the pinion shaft has a steering pinion section for interacting with a rack, and with an electric motor for driving the pinion shaft. The electric motor is connected to the pinion shaft by a transmission. An intermediate shaft piece is arranged between the pinion shaft and the input shaft. The intermediate shaft piece is connected directly to the pinion shaft and connected directly to the torsion bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Frank Jaehde
  • Publication number: 20220212714
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering system for a motor vehicle, which is designed as a steer-by-wire steering system and comprises a rack, an electric drive for longitudinal displacement of the rack, a worm gear and a drive shaft which is in toothed engagement with the rack. The electric drive is connected to the drive shaft by the worm gear so as to transmit torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Clemens Krueger
  • Publication number: 20210221427
    Abstract: A steering system (10) for a motor vehicle, which steering system (10) is configured as a steer-by-wire steering system, comprises a rack (14), an electric drive (16) for the longitudinal displacement of the rack (14), and a rotatably mounted supporting element (20) which is spaced apart from the electric drive (16) along the longitudinal axis of the rack (14), and the rotatably mounted supporting element (20) being in toothed engagement with the rack (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Yavuz Demir