Patents by Inventor Frank Scheper
Frank Scheper 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).
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Patent number: 11780495Abstract: Wheel suspension has a steering knuckle support with two hole openings opposed to one another in an axial direction and form openings of a mounting hole, two axle pins spaced apart axially, extend in axial direction and engage in the mounting hole through the hole openings, and a chassis component supported at axial end portions of the axle pins to be swivelable relative to the steering knuckle. A first contact area at the hole openings has a conical inner circumferential surface. The conical inner circumferential surfaces of the first contact areas narrow in diameter toward one another in axial direction. The axle pins have a second contact area with a conical outer circumferential surface that narrow in diameter toward one another in axial direction and contact the conical inner circumferential surfaces of the first contact areas.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Günter Reddehase, Janina Altmeppen, Frank Scheper
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Publication number: 20220258798Abstract: Wheel suspension has a steering knuckle support with two hole openings opposed to one another in an axial direction and form openings of a mounting hole, two axle pins spaced apart axially, extend in axial direction and engage in the mounting hole through the hole openings, and a chassis component supported at axial end portions of the axle pins to be swivelable relative to the steering knuckle. A first contact area at the hole openings has a conical inner circumferential surface. The conical inner circumferential surfaces of the first contact areas narrow in diameter toward one another in axial direction. The axle pins have a second contact area with a conical outer circumferential surface that narrow in diameter toward one another in axial direction and contact the conical inner circumferential surfaces of the first contact areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2020Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Günter REDDEHASE, Janina ALTMEPPEN, Frank SCHEPER
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Patent number: 9630470Abstract: A method of producing a stabilizer (10) of a motor vehicle, such that the stabilizer includes a torsion bar (11) and longitudinal links (12, 13). The longitudinal links (12, 13) are in each case connected to the torsion bar (11) by welding, and the longitudinal links (12, 13) and the torsion bar (11) are heat-treated before welding. Each longitudinal link (12, 13) is welded at one end to the torsion bar (11) on both sides, in each case, by a respective multilayer weld seam (14), and each weld seam (14) is made with unequal widths such that the width of the weld seam (14) adjacent to the torsion bar (11) is shorter than its width adjacent to the respective longitudinal link (12, 13).Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Frank Scheper, Stefan Holtz, Xiaocen Wang
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Patent number: 9511642Abstract: A motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle (UV), with a vehicle frame (2) and at least one vehicle axle (5) supported relative to the vehicle frame (2) by one or more connecting rods (6; 7). The connecting rod or rods (6; 7) is/are linked to the vehicle axle (5) by at least one articulated arrangement (8) which is connected, by connecting elements (11) that pass through contact surfaces (10; 10a), to a support block (12) fixed on the axle (5). The axis (13) of each connecting element (11) extends through the contact surface (10; 10a), through which the respective connecting element (11) passes, at an angle (?) different from 90°.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2013Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Frank Scheper, Jens Eismann, Friedhelm Langhorst, Sören Knopp
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Publication number: 20160193891Abstract: A method of producing a stabilizer (10) of a motor vehicle, such that the stabilizer includes a torsion bar (11) and longitudinal links (12, 13). The longitudinal links (12, 13) are in each case connected to the torsion bar (11) by welding, and the longitudinal links (12, 13) and the torsion bar (11) are heat-treated before welding. Each longitudinal link (12, 13) is welded at one end to the torsion bar (11) on both sides, in each case, by a respective multilayer weld seam (14), and each weld seam (14) is made with unequal widths such that the width of the weld seam (14) adjacent to the torsion bar (11) is shorter than its width adjacent to the respective longitudinal link (12, 13).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2014Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Frank SCHEPER, Stefan HOLTZ, Xiaocen WANG
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Publication number: 20160185172Abstract: A motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle (UV), with a vehicle frame (2) and at least one vehicle axle (5) supported relative to the vehicle frame (2) by one or more connecting rods (6; 7). The connecting rod or rods (6; 7) is/are linked to the vehicle axle (5) by at least one articulated arrangement (8) which is connected, by connecting elements (11) that pass through contact surfaces (10; 10a), to a support block (12) fixed on the axle (5). The axis (13) of each connecting element (11) extends through the contact surface (10; 10a), through which the respective connecting element (11) passes, at an angle (?) different from 90°.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2013Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Frank Scheper, Jens Eismann, Friedhelm Langhorst, Soren Knopp
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Patent number: 9352781Abstract: A motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle (UV), with a vehicle frame and/or a sub-frame (2; 2a) that has contact surfaces (10; 10a) extending transversely and/or longitudinally relative to the driving direction (F) and are connection surfaces to other structural units (6; 7; 8; 12). The structural units are connected by connecting elements (11) that pass through the contact surfaces (10; 10a). The connecting elements each define an axis (13) and are aligned such that the axes of the connecting elements extend through the contact surface (10; 10a) at an angle different from 90°.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2013Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Frank Scheper, Jens Eismann, Friedhelm Langhorst, Soren Knopp
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Publication number: 20150175206Abstract: A motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle (UV), with a vehicle frame and/or a sub-frame (2; 2a) that has contact surfaces (10; 10a) extending transversely and/or longitudinally relative to the driving direction (F) and are connection surfaces to other structural units (6; 7; 8; 12). The structural units are connected by connecting elements (11) that pass through the contact surfaces (10; 10a). The connecting elements each define an axis (13) and are aligned such that the axes of the connecting elements extend through the contact surface (10; 10a) at an angle different from 90°.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Frank Scheper, Jens Eismann, Friedhelm Langhorst, Soren Knopp
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Patent number: 8651504Abstract: The invention relates to a transverse link (1) having a main body (2), which has at least one first fixing region (3) for pivotal attachment to a vehicle frame element and at least one further fixing region (6) for pivotal attachment to a hub carrier, the main body (2) having at least one wheel limb (8). In order largely to avoid destruction of the journal connection of the transverse link to a hub carrier if the wheel hits a curbstone, for example, the proposal is to provide a transitional region (19), which is arranged between the wheel limb (8) and the further fixing region (6), the transitional region (19) being embodied in such a way that a deformation zone (21) acting in the longitudinal direction (Y) of the wheel limb (8) is formed.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2009Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbHInventors: Thomas Gerhards, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Marc Simon, Wolfgang David, Martina Beyer, Karsten Sander, Frank Scheper, Karsten Klostermeier, Jens Wohlers
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Publication number: 20130298726Abstract: A link element for coupling two assemblies with one another. The link has rod-shaped sections that are connected by an overload protection but are able to move axially relative to one another if subjected to an overload. The overload protection comprises a shear element which rigidly connects the link sections, in a form locking manner, and has a stop for limiting relative axial movement of the link sections, if subjected to an overload. The link element provides a defined deformation path, in the event of failure, and remains functional to a limited extent even once an overload occurs. The link element, when used on a chassis of a vehicle, signals to the driver damage or overload in the chassis, without further components or devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2011Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Jens Diekhoff, Cord Fricke, Frank Scheper, Frank Nachbar, Alfons Nordloh
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Patent number: 8434770Abstract: A transverse link (1) has a main body (2), which has at least one first fixing region (4) for pivotal attachment to a vehicle frame element. The first fixing region (4) has a journal (9) surrounded by a bearing bush (23). A stop region (19) is arranged proximate the first fixing region (4). The stop region is interrupted when viewed in the circumferential direction, resulting in the formation of diametrically opposite thickened portions (21, 22), which are arranged between the main body (2) and the journal (9) and are embodied in such a way that only forces acting in the lateral and vertical vehicle directions are absorbed when the main body (2) is twisted out of the neutral position thereof, about a vertical axis (Y) of a second fixing region (3).Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2010Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Gerhards, Michael Johannes Franzten, Marc Simon, Wolfgang David, Martina Beyer, Karsten Sander, Frank Scheper, Karsten Klostermeier, Jen Wohlers, Andreas Rodenberg
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Publication number: 20120091681Abstract: The invention relates to a transverse link (1) having a main body (2), which has at least one first fixing region (4) pivotal attachment to a vehicle frame element, the first fixing region (4) having a journal (9), which is surrounded by a bearing bush (23). The proposal is to arrange in the region of the first fixing region (4) a stop region (19), which is interrupted when viewed in the circumferential direction, resulting in the formation of diametrically opposite thickened portions (21, 22), which are arranged between the main body (2) and the first fixing region (4) and are embodied in such a way that only forces acting in the lateral and vertical directions are absorbed when the main body (2) is twisted out of the neutral position thereof, about a vertical axis (Y) of a second fixing region (3), and the respective thickened portion (21, 22) strikes against corresponding stop elements (27, 28) of the bearing bush (23) by means of the respective stop surface (24, 26) thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Inventors: Thomas Gerhards, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Marc Simon, Wolfgang David, Martina Beyer, Karsten Sander, Frank Scheper, Karsten Klostermeier, Jens Wohlers, Andreas Rodenberg
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Publication number: 20110272911Abstract: The invention relates to a transverse link (1) having a main body (2), which has at least one first fixing region (3) for pivotal attachment to a vehicle frame element and at least one further fixing region (6) for pivotal attachment to a hub carrier, the main body (2) having at least one wheel limb (8). In order largely to avoid destruction of the journal connection of the transverse link to a hub carrier if the wheel hits a curbstone, for example, the proposal is to provide a transitional region (19), which is arranged between the wheel limb (8) and the further fixing region (6), the transitional region (19) being embodied in such a way that a deformation zone (21) acting in the longitudinal direction (Y) of the wheel limb (8) is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2009Publication date: November 10, 2011Inventors: Thomas Gerhards, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Marc Simon, Wolfgang David, Martina Beyer, Karsten Sander, Frank Scheper, Karsten Klostermeier, Jens Wohlers
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Publication number: 20080213035Abstract: A joint and/or bearing arrangement (1; 101; 201; 301; 401) with a joint or bearing body, which includes a joint pivot (2; 102; 202; 302; 402) and which can be held in a fixed manner in a mounting opening (6), for example, a pressing-in opening of a suspension arm (7), and has for this purpose at least one section (8) tapering in the direction of the pivot end (9) for support at least in some areas on a ring body (10; 10a; 110; 210; 310), especially a conical disk. The tapering section is joined towards the pivot end (9) by a parallel-walled or more weakly tapering area (11). A transition (14) is provided between the tapering section supported on the ring body (10; 10a; 110; 210; 310) and the section (11) that tapers more weakly towards the pivot end (9) or is cylindrical. The transition (14) is located outside the axial extension of the ring body (10; 10a; 110; 210; 310).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2006Publication date: September 4, 2008Inventor: Frank Scheper