Patents by Inventor Falk Hecker

Falk Hecker 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: 20200172073
    Abstract: An electric-parking-brake for a utility-vehicle, including: a feed-line for brake-pressure air; a discharge-line for brake-pressure air for a pneumatic-brake-device; a first-valve and a second-valve, each being switchable between a stable-state and an activated-state in response to electrical control-signals; and a valve-device which is connected between the feed-line and the discharge-line and exhibits a control-input, the valve device being switchable between a stable-state and an activated-state in response to control signals at the control-input, the feed-line being connected to the discharge-line in the activated-state, in which the first-valve in the stable-state or in the activated-state connects the control-input of the valve-device to the discharge-line, to retain a current-state of the valve-device when the brake-pressure air is applied to the discharge-line, and in the activated or stable state connects the control-input to the second-valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Gerhard Wieder, Friedbert Röther, Frank Schwab, Falk Hecker, Michael Herges
  • Patent number: 10661774
    Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the operational safety of at least one thermally stressed functional part of at least one vehicle brake, in particular of a commercial vehicle and/or a trailer, and/or for reducing brake wear and/or drive power, wherein the method has the following steps: inputting a temperature signal of the at least one brake, which temperature signal represents at least one temperature of the brake and/or of a functional part of the brake detected by at least one sensor, and inputting a brake request signal and/or brake pressure signal for the at least one brake; determining a thermal error condition by using the temperature signal and the brake requirement signal and/or brake pressure signal; and providing an adapted brake requirement signal and/or adapted brake pressure signal using the determined thermal error condition in order to increase the operational safety of the at least one functional part of the at least one vehicle brake exposed to thermal stress, and/or to reduce the brake
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Falk Hecker, Werner Koch, Mathias Mayr, Robert Theil, Alexander Werth
  • Patent number: 10654462
    Abstract: In a method for avoiding an overheating of a brake of a vehicle, in particular of a commercial vehicle and/or a trailer, a first temperature signal and at least a second temperature signal are read in, with the first temperature signal representing a temperature of the brake and/or of a functional part of the brake, and the at least second temperature signal representing at least one additional temperature of at least one additional brake of the vehicle. An error state of the brake is detected using the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal in order to avoid an overheating of the brake. A control device for carrying out the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Falk Hecker, Werner Koch, Mathias Mayr, Robert Theil, Alexander Werth
  • Patent number: 10647350
    Abstract: A steering gear for a vehicle includes a linear drive having at least one displacement element, which is displaceable substantially along a vehicle longitudinal axis of the vehicle and which is fastenable to a steering drag link of the vehicle, in which the linear drive is configured to convert a rotational movement of a steering column of the vehicle into a movement of the displacement element substantially along the vehicle longitudinal axis. Also described is a related vehicle having the steering gear, a method for actuating the steering gear, and a method for steering the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Falk Hecker, Michael Herges, Christian Staahl, Rainer Lang
  • Publication number: 20200031295
    Abstract: A power supply unit for a utility vehicle, including: an electrical energy store; a generator; an interface to at least one electrical load of the utility vehicle; a power line unit to connect the energy store and the generator to the interface, wherein the power line unit includes a switch for electrically isolating the generator from the interface; and a sensor unit to detect a fault in the electrical energy store and/or in at least one line of the power line unit and/or in the generator and to respond to the detected fault by actuating the switch to isolate the generator from the interface, in particular wherein the electrical energy store remains electrically connected to the interface. Also described are a related method, controller, utility vehicle and computer readable medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Bernhard Miller, Falk Hecker
  • Patent number: 10399550
    Abstract: A method for controlling a pneumatic or electro-pneumatic service brake device of a vehicle is provided. In the method a driver brake request occurs by actuating a service brake actuating element of a service brake valve device of the braking device. In response to actuating the service brake actuating element, at least one control piston of the service brake valve device is loaded with a first actuating force in order to generate a pneumatic brake pressure or brake control pressure in at least one pneumatic service brake circuit of the service brake device. The control piston directly or indirectly controls at least one double-seat valve of the service brake valve device. The at least one double-seat valve includes an inlet seat and an outlet seat. The at least one control piston of the service brake valve device in addition is loaded by a second actuation force additionally or instead of the first actuation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Falk Hecker, Friedbert Roether, Thilo Schmauider
  • Publication number: 20190256064
    Abstract: A method, device and control system for controlling vehicle movement, including: reading-in the specification data from an interface with a generating apparatus, the vehicle having a vehicle movement control system having the generating apparatus for generating specification data for the vehicle movement, at least one providing apparatus for providing vehicle property(s) and an actuator element for influencing the vehicle movement, the specification data representing a driving corridor/speed profile for a route section, and the at least one vehicle property from an interface with the at least one providing apparatus; determining vehicle guide data using the specification data and the vehicle property(s), the guide data being for controlling the vehicle movement while complying with the specification data; acquiring at least one manipulated variable for the at least one actuator element using the guide data; and outputting the at least one manipulated variable to an interface with the actuator element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Falk Hecker, Jan Meyer, Oliver Jundt, Ulrich Guecker, Adnan Mustapha, Juergen Steinberger
  • Patent number: 10377357
    Abstract: A method and computer program for electronically regulating the brake force distribution in a pressure medium-operated brake system of a vehicle having at least one front axle brake circuit, associated with a front axle, and at least one rear axle brake circuit, associated with at least one rear axle, in which when the brake system is operated, a rear axle brake pressure, acting in the at least one rear axle brake circuit, is regulated to prevent locking of the rear wheels before locking of the front wheels, and in which the brake pressure at the rear axle is limited only while a pressure value which acts in the rear axle brake circuit is below a prespecified pressure threshold value, but the brake pressure at the rear axle is not limited if the pressure value acting in the rear axle brake circuit is not less than the prespecified pressure threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme Fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Wieder, Adnan Mustapha, Andreas Schaefers, Falk Hecker, Christian Weber
  • Publication number: 20190241164
    Abstract: An electric system of a vehicle including an electronically controlled braking system. The electric system has a steering angle sensor unit, at least one control module, at least one first inertia sensor and an electronic braking system central control unit EBS ECU. The at least one control module is external to the steering angle sensor unit. The at least one control module is also external to the EBS ECU. At least one of the at least one control module has mounted within it one of the at least one first inertia sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Huba Nemeth, Levente Balogh, Csaba Horvath, Falk Hecker
  • Publication number: 20190203863
    Abstract: A hydraulic connecting part for connecting to a hydraulic counterpart to form a hydraulic flow path between the hydraulic connecting part and the counterpart, including: a hydraulic connecting duct having a connection opening which faces the counterpart during the connection; a closure for the connection opening to keep a hydraulic liquid in the hydraulic connecting duct at a minimum pressure; and a fastening arrangement to fasten the connecting part to the counterpart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Bernhard Miller, Falk Hecker
  • Publication number: 20190071118
    Abstract: A device for maintaining a hydraulic pressure, which can be set by a pressure generator, including: an inlet for coupling to the pressure generator; an outlet for providing the hydraulic pressure; at least a first check valve, which is configured to open a flow path from the inlet to the outlet when a first opening pressure is exceeded and to prevent flow in the opposite direction; and a switching apparatus between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the switching apparatus is configured to hold the hydraulic pressure at the outlet if a pressure produced by the pressure generator is greater than a switching pressure, and to reduce the hydraulic pressure at the outlet if a pressure produced by the pressure generator is less than the switching pressure, wherein the switching pressure is less than the first opening pressure. Also described are a hydraulic system, a power-steering system, vehicle, and method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Bernhard Miller, Falk Hecker, Klaus Peterrreins
  • Publication number: 20190061812
    Abstract: A steering gear for a vehicle includes a linear drive having at least one displacement element, which is displaceable substantially along a vehicle longitudinal axis of the vehicle and which is fastenable to a steering drag link of the vehicle, in which the linear drive is configured to convert a rotational movement of a steering column of the vehicle into a movement of the displacement element substantially along the vehicle longitudinal axis. Also described is a related vehicle having the steering gear, a method for actuating the steering gear, and a method for steering the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Falk Hecker, Michael Herges, Christian Staahl, Rainer Lang
  • Patent number: 10214194
    Abstract: A service brake device for vehicles is provided which permits rapid venting of a service brake pressure chamber. The service brake device includes at least one pneumatic service brake device with at least one piston and/or a diaphragm. The piston and/or diaphragm delimits the service brake pressure chamber on one side which can be supplied with compressed air from a brake line for applying the service brake and can be purged of compressed air for releasing the service brake, delimits a spring chamber on the other side which receives a spring that prestresses the piston and/or the diaphragm in the release position of the service brake. The pressure chamber includes a pressure connection communicating with the brake line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Falk Hecker, Michael Herges, Gerhard Wieder, Jacques Lanquetot, Vincent Boehler
  • Publication number: 20190043277
    Abstract: A method and related apparatus for determining an orientation of a sensor unit in a vehicle, the sensor unit having at least one acceleration sensor, including: capturing a first sensor signal from the acceleration sensor in an acceleration-free state of the vehicle; capturing a second sensor signal from the acceleration sensor in response to a linear acceleration of the vehicle; and ascertaining the orientation of the sensor unit relative to the vehicle based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Oliver Jundt, Michael Herges, Falk Hecker, Martin Vorreiter
  • Patent number: 10137875
    Abstract: A braking system and a method of operating such a braking system are provided for a vehicle having at least partly electric braking, a steering device containing an electric or electromechanical steering device, an electronic steering controller and an electric steering adjuster and containing a service brake device. The system includes an electropneumatic service brake device containing an electropneumatic service brake valve device, an electronic brake controller, electropneumatic modulators, pneumatic wheel brake actuators, a service brake actuating element, and at least one electric channel (130) with at least one electric brake value transmitter which senses activation of the service brake actuating element. The at least one electric brake value transmitter produces actuation signals which are relayed to the electronic brake controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Falk Hecker, Michael Herges, Frank Schwab
  • Publication number: 20180170340
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a service brake for a vehicle is provided. The service brake includes at least one linear path detection device for each service brake unit. The method includes reading a position signal of a service brake component from the path detection device over time or a time period, reading a pressure signal, a control signal and/or a lining wear signal, evaluating the position signal in order to determine at least one condition parameter of the service brake determined using the pressure signal, the control signal and/or the lining wear signal, and providing the condition parameter of the service brake to an interface for use in subsequent brake applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Falk Hecker, Robert Theil, Alexander Werth
  • Publication number: 20180170330
    Abstract: A method and computer program for electronically regulating the brake force distribution in a pressure medium-operated brake system of a vehicle having at least one front axle brake circuit, associated with a front axle, and at least one rear axle brake circuit, associated with at least one rear axle, in which when the brake system is operated, a rear axle brake pressure, acting in the at least one rear axle brake circuit, is regulated to prevent locking of the rear wheels before locking of the front wheels, and in which the brake pressure at the rear axle is limited only while a pressure value which acts in the rear axle brake circuit is below a prespecified pressure threshold value, but the brake pressure at the rear axle is not limited if the pressure value acting in the rear axle brake circuit is not less than the prespecified pressure threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Gerhard Wieder, Adnan Mustapha, Andreas Schaefers, Falk Hecker, Christian Weber
  • Publication number: 20180072224
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for triggering an automatic emergency braking process in a vehicle to avoid a tail-end collision with an obstacle, wherein a warning to the driver is triggered if at least one warning condition is satisfied, wherein the satisfaction of the warning condition specifies that owing to the instantaneous driving situation of the vehicle relative to the obstacle the automatic emergency braking process should be triggered, wherein the automatic emergency braking process is not triggered until after the warning to the driver is triggered and a warning time period has subsequently expired, wherein the warning time period is set as a function of the relative movement situation between the vehicle and the obstacle and/or is adapted as a function of a relative movement, which changes over time, between the vehicle and the obstacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Falk Hecker, Ulrich Gücker, Matyas Krabot, Markus Klein, Csaba Doczy, Gergely Jozsa, Tamas Rozsa
  • Publication number: 20180037210
    Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the operational safety of at least one thermally stressed functional part of at least one vehicle brake, in particular of a commercial vehicle and/or a trailer, and/or for reducing brake wear and/or drive power, wherein the method has the following steps: inputting a temperature signal of the at least one brake, which temperature signal represents at least one temperature of the brake and/or of a functional part of the brake detected by at least one sensor, and inputting a brake request signal and/or brake pressure signal for the at least one brake; determining a thermal error condition by using the temperature signal and the brake requirement signal and/or brake pressure signal; and providing an adapted brake requirement signal and/or adapted brake pressure signal using the determined thermal error condition in order to increase the operational safety of the at least one functional part of the at least one vehicle brake exposed to thermal stress, and/or to reduce the brake
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Falk HECKER, Werner KOCH, Mathias MAYR, Robert THEIL, Alexander WERTH
  • Publication number: 20180037209
    Abstract: In a method for avoiding an overheating of a brake of a vehicle, in particular of a commercial vehicle and/or a trailer, a first temperature signal and at least a second temperature signal are read in, with the first temperature signal representing a temperature of the brake and/or of a functional part of the brake, and the at least second temperature signal representing at least one additional temperature of at least one additional brake of the vehicle. An error state of the brake is detected using the first temperature signal and the second temperature signal in order to avoid an overheating of the brake. A control device for carrying out the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Falk HECKER, Werner KOCH, Mathias MAYR, Robert THEIL, Alexander WERTH