Patents by Inventor Fabian Kutter

Fabian Kutter 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: 11364784
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM1), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), at least two planetary gear sets (P1, P2), and at least four shift elements (A, B, C, D). Different gears are selectable by selectively actuating the at least four shift elements (A, B, C, D). In interaction with the electric machine (EM1), different operating modes are implementable. A drive train for a motor vehicle that includes such a transmission (G) and to a method for operating same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Uwe Griesmeier, Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Viktor Warth, Michael Roske, Fabian Kutter
  • Publication number: 20220185095
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement for a motor vehicle drive train (10) includes a first input shaft (12), a second input shaft (24), a countershaft (40), a first sub-transmission (26), which includes a first plurality of engageable gear sets (30, 32) for establishing a number of gear steps, a second sub-transmission (28), which includes a second plurality of engageable gear sets (34, 36) for establishing a number of gear steps, and a bridge clutch (S3), which is configured for coupling the first sub-transmission (26) and the second sub-transmission (28) in order to establish at least one winding-path gear step (V1, V6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Michael Wechs, Thomas Martin, Max Bachmann, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Oliver Bayer, Thomas Kroh, Fabian Kutter
  • Publication number: 20220185093
    Abstract: A transmission assembly for a motor vehicle drive train may include a first input element, a second input element, a first sub-transmission associated with the first input element and including a first plurality of engageable gear-step gear sets, and a second sub-transmission associated with the second input element and including a second plurality of engageable gear-step gear sets. The transmission assembly may further include a first electric machine connected to the second input element and a second electric machine. Moreover, the transmission assembly may include a first clutch, the first input element being connectable to the second input element via the first clutch. Additionally, the transmission assembly may include a second clutch, the second electric machine being connectable to the first input element via the second clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Thomas Martin, Johannes Kaltenbach, Max Bachmann, Michael Wechs, Martin Brehmer, Thomas Kroh, Peter Ziemer, Oliver Bayer
  • Publication number: 20220176798
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission assembly for a motor vehicle powertrain may include an input shaft arrangement including a first input shaft of a first sub-transmission and a second input shaft of a second sub-transmission. The assembly may further include a first electric machine axially parallel and connected to the first input shaft, and a second electric machine axially parallel and connected to the second input shaft. The input shaft arrangement, viewed axially, is in a center of four quadrants. An axis of the first electric machine is in the first quadrant and, or alternatively, an axis of the second electric machine is in the fourth quadrant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Johannes Kaltenbach, Fabian Kutter, Michael Wechs, Thomas Martin, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Oliver Bayer, Thomas Kroh, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220176795
    Abstract: A drive train (10) for a motor vehicle includes a dual-clutch assembly (14) with a first clutch (K1) and a second clutch (K2), which include a shared input element (EG). The dual-clutch assembly (14) is connectable to an internal combustion engine (12). The first clutch (K1) includes a first output element (AG1), and the second clutch (K2) includes a second output element (AG2). A first actuating unit (S1) is associated with the first clutch (K1), and a second actuating unit (S2) is associated with the second clutch (K2). A transmission arrangement (16) includes a first sub-transmission (32) and a second sub-transmission (34). An input shaft (24) of the first sub-transmission (32) is connected to the first output element (AG1), and an input shaft (26) of the second sub-transmission (34) is connected to the second output element (AG2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Kaltenbach, Peter Ziemer, Martin Brehmer, Oliver Bayer, Thomas Kroh, Michael Wechs, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220176800
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement (10) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (14) arranged in a first housing part (12). A second housing part (16) is configured for accommodating a component (18) of an internal combustion engine. The electric machine (14) and the internal combustion engine are connectable to an output shaft by a transmission (20). The first and second housing parts (12, 16) are connected to each other and form a common interior space (30). An intermediate wall (34) delimits a subspace (36) from the remaining interior space (30). The electric machine (14) is arranged in the subspace (36). At least one planetary gear set includes at least one element supported at the intermediate wall (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Fabian Kutter, Stefan Beck, Uwe Griesmeier, Matthias Horn, Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Publication number: 20220176794
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission device (3, 56, 60, 64) may include a first transmission input shaft (12), a second transmission input shaft (14) mounted on the first transmission input shaft, at least one drive device (EM2), and precisely one connecting clutch (K3). Particularly, the connecting clutch (K3) may selectively rotationally fix the first transmission input shaft (12) to the second transmission input shaft (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Michael Wechs, Thomas Martin, Martin Brehmer, Fabian Kutter, Peter Ziemer, Oliver Bayer, Thomas Kroh, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220169106
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid transmission device (3) with two electric motors (EM1, EM2), a first transmission input shaft (7) and a second transmission input shaft (9) mounted on the first transmission input shaft (7), wherein at least one gearwheel (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) for forming a forward gear (V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, E1, E2, E3, E4, E5) is arranged on each of the transmission input shafts (7, 9), characterized in that the first electric motor (EMI) is connected to a gearwheel (18) on the first transmission input shaft (7) and the second electric motor (EM2) is connected to a gearwheel (10) on the second transmission input shaft. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Johannes Kaltenbach, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Thomas Kroh, Oliver Bayer, Max Bachmann
  • Patent number: 11345228
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM1), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), two planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), and at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E). Different gears are implementable by selectively actuating the at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM1), different operating modes are implementable. A drive train for a motor vehicle with such transmission (G) and to a method for operating such transmission (G) are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Uwe Griesmeier
  • Publication number: 20220163097
    Abstract: A shiftable planetary transmission (1) includes a planet carrier (2), a plurality of planet gears (3) rotatably arranged at the planet carrier (2), a sun gear (4), and a ring gear (5). The sun gear (4) and the ring gear (5) mesh with the planet gears (3). The planet carrier (2) includes at least one connecting element (6), which is axially displaceable therein. The at least one connecting element (6), on a first side of the planet carrier (2), is at least indirectly connected to an actuator (7) and, on a second side of the planet carrier (2), is at least indirectly connected to a first dog element (8). The first dog element (8) is displaceable, by an actuator actuation, between a first shift position and at least a second shift position due to an axial displacement of the at least one connecting element (6) in the planet carrier (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Uwe Griesmeier, Thomas Martin, Peter Ziemer
  • Publication number: 20220163110
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a first planetary gear set and a second planetary gear set. A first dog element is axially between the second and third dog elements and is rotationally fixed to the first ring gear. A first shift element shiftable to rotationally fix the first dog element to one or both of the first sun gear and the first planet gear carrier and a second shift element shiftable to rotationally fix the first shift element to one of the rotary elements of the second planetary gear set. A second dog element is rotationally fixed to the second sun gear and is rotationally fixable by the first shift element to one or both of the first sun gear and the first planet gear carrier. A third dog element is rotationally fixed to the second sun gear and connectable to the first ring gear by the second shift element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Fabian Kutter, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Uwe Griesmeier, Stefan Beck
  • Patent number: 11338661
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM1), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), three planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), and at least six shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F). Different gears are implementable by selectively actuating the at least six shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM1), different operating modes are implementable. A drive train for a motor vehicle with such a transmission (G) and to a method for operating same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Johannes Kaltenbach, Uwe Griesmeier, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Publication number: 20220153125
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission device includes at least one drive device (EM2) and a gear change transmission (4) having multiple forward gear steps (G1, G2, G3, G4, GE2). The forward gear steps (G1, G2, G3, G4, GE2) are distributed onto at least one first sub-transmission (36) and one second sub-transmission (38). At least one even forward gear step (G2, G4) and at least one odd forward gear step (G3) are arranged in the first sub-transmission (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Michael Wechs, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Peter Ziemer, Thomas Martin, Oliver Bayer, Martin Brehmer, Thomas Kroh, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220153123
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement (16) for a motor vehicle drive train (10) includes a first input shaft (24) connected or connectable to an internal combustion engine (12), a second input shaft (26) arranged coaxially to the first input shaft (24), an output shaft connected to the first input shaft (24) via a first plurality of engageable first gear-step gear sets (38, 42, 44) and connected to the second input shaft (26) via a second plurality of engageable second gear-step gear sets (36, 52), a first electric machine (56) connected to the second input shaft (26), a second electric machine (60) connected to the first input shaft (24), and a first clutch (K1) via which the first input shaft (24) and the second input shaft (26) are connectable to each other. The second gear-step gear sets include two alternately engageable gear-step gear sets (36, 52), via each of which an electric motor-driven operation is establishable by the first electric machine (56).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Michael Wechs, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Peter Ziemer, Thomas Martin, Oliver Bayer, Martin Brehmer, Thomas Kroh, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220153122
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement (16) for a motor vehicle drive train (10), includes a first shaft arrangement (24, 26) and a second shaft arrangement (28), a plurality of engageable gear sets (36, 38, 42, 48, 50), which connect the first shaft arrangement (24, 26) and the second shaft arrangement (28) in order to establish at least one appropriate plurality of gear steps (1-5), and a plurality of at least three gearshift clutches (B, D, C) for engaging at least some (38, 48, 50) of the gear sets (36, 38, 42, 48, 50). Two (B, D) of the three gearshift clutches (B, D, C) form a gearshift clutch assembly (52), which is arranged at one (28) of the shaft arrangements (24, 26; 28). One gearshift clutch (C) of the three gearshift clutches (B, D, C) is arranged at the other shaft arrangement (24, 26) and, with the gearshift clutch assembly (52), is arranged in a gearshift clutch plane (E2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Michael Wechs, Johannes Kaltenbach, Martin Brehmer, Thomas Kroh, Oliver Bayer, Peter Ziemer, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220153124
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission of a countershaft design for a motor vehicle powertrain having an internal combustion engine, a first electric prime mover, and a second electric prime mover has a transmission drive shaft drivingly connected to the second electric prime mover, a first sub-transmission having a first transmission input shaft, and a second sub-transmission having a second transmission input shaft, the second transmission input shaft being drivingly connected to the first electric prime mover. The transmission further has a first coupling element, the transmission drive shaft being connectable to the internal combustion engine via the first coupling element. Moreover, the transmission has a second coupling element, the first transmission input shaft being connectable to the second transmission input shaft via the second coupling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Fabian Kutter, Michael Wechs, Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Thomas Kroh, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Oliver Bayer, Max Bachmann
  • Patent number: 11331996
    Abstract: A transmission has an input shaft, an output shaft coaxial to the input shaft, an intermediate shaft, a differential gear, and only one electric machine for driving a hybrid vehicle. The rotational axes of the input shaft, the intermediate shaft, the differential gear, and a rotor of the electric machine are axially parallel. The differential gear includes torque-transmitting interfaces to drive shafts connected to driving wheels of the hybrid vehicle. Torque is transmitted between the output shaft and the differential gear via the intermediate shaft. The rotor is permanently connected, via a constant gear ratio, to either the input shaft or a further shaft of the transmission. The rotational axis of the intermediate shaft is arranged spatially below a connection line between the rotational axes of the input shaft and the differential gear, and the rotational axis of the rotor is arranged spatially above the connection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Oliver Bayer, Martin Brehmer, Leschek Debernitz, Christian Michel, Fabian Kutter, Peter Ziemer
  • Publication number: 20220144073
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission device (3) includes a first transmission input shaft (7), a second transmission input shaft (9) mounted on the first transmission input shaft, at least one electric motor (EM1, EM2), and a connecting clutch (K3) is configured for forming a rotationally fixed connection of the first transmission input shaft (7) and the second transmission input shaft (9). The connecting clutch (K3) is configured as part of a two-sided engagement device (S1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Johannes Kaltenbach, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Thomas Kroh, Oliver Bayer, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220144069
    Abstract: A clutch assembly for a motor vehicle drive train includes a first clutch having a first output element, where the first clutch is a friction-locking clutch. The clutch assembly further includes a second clutch having a second output element, where the second clutch is a form-locking clutch, and where the first clutch and the second clutch have a shared input element. Additionally, the clutch assembly includes a single sliding element associated with the first clutch and the second clutch, the sliding element being movable by a single actuating unit between a first engagement position and a second engagement position axially offset from the first engagement position. The first clutch is engaged when the sliding element is in the first engagement position and the second clutch is engaged when the sliding element is in the second engagement position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Thomas Martin, Oliver Bayer, Thomas Kroh, Johannes Kaltenbach, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220136589
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission device (3) may include at least one drive device (EM1, EM2), a first transmission input shaft (7), a second transmission input shaft (9) mounted on the first transmission input shaft (7), at least one countershaft (22), a plurality of gearwheels (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 24, 26, 30, 32, 34), and at least two engagement devices (S1, S2, S3, S4). At least one first gearwheel is arranged on the first transmission input shaft (7), at least one second gearwheel is arranged on the second transmission input shaft (9), and at least one third gearwheel is arranged on the at least one countershaft (22). The engagement devices (S1, S2, S3, S4) are arranged on precisely two axes of rotation (A1, A2), including a first axis (A1) defined by the input shafts (7, 9) and a second axis (A2) defined by the at least one countershaft (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Johannes Kaltenbach, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Thomas Kroh, Oliver Bayer, Max Bachmann