Patents by Inventor Friedrich Kittel

Friedrich Kittel 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: 5161295
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of assembling a friction clutch, wherein the clutch housing is centered with a cylindrical portion on a cylindrical guide of the flywheel and the axially correct position is found by axial application and measurement of the initial tension of the clutch main spring and the clutch housing and flywheel are rigidly connected to one another in this state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Holger Westendorf, Andreas Krause, Friedrich Kittel
  • Patent number: 5143190
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus of and a method of assembling a friction clutch structural unit wherein the clutch housing is centered with a cylindrical portion on a cylindrical guide of the flywheel and the axially correct position is found by axial application and measurement of the initial tension of the clutch main spring and the clutch housing and flywheel are rigidly connected to one another in this state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Holger Westendorf, Andreas Krause, Friedrich Kittel
  • Patent number: 4852419
    Abstract: The control device for a motor-vehicle friction clutch incorporates an electric motor which drives an output member in a substantially translational motion through a motion conversion crank gear unit designed as a worm gearing. This axis of a worm of the crank gear unit and the resultant drive force exerted on the output member by the assigned worm gearwheel lie in a common plane normal to the axis of rotation of the worm gearwheel. A spring-type energy accumulator supports the drive motion of the electric motor in the release direction of the clutch and is tensioned in the engagement direction by the electric motor. In this way a comparatively small-sized electric motor can also be used for rapid release movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Sachs Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich Kittel, Dieter Lutz, Franz Nagler, Horst Oppitz, Gerhard Gasper
  • Patent number: 4811826
    Abstract: The friction clutch comprises a flywheel and a clutch cover which encloses a clutch disc and a presser plate pressed by a clutch main spring through the clutch disc against the flywheel. The clutch cover is fixed axially on the flywheel after the style of a bayonet catch. For this purpose the bayonet catch comprises interengaging radial projections on the flywheel and tabs which form ring groove sections on the clutch cover. The fixing of the clutch cover in the radial direction and in the circumferential direction is effected by resilient clamp elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Kittel, Dieter Kolb
  • Patent number: 4782718
    Abstract: In a fly-wheel unit of any desired construction type including two separate fly-wheel members, the torsion springs are housed in a liquid receiving chamber which is at least partially filled with a lubricant or with a coolant. In this way inherent noises and excess wear can be damped and heat generation can be uniformly distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Franz Hartig, Friedrich Kittel, Manfred Caspar, Bernhard Schierling, Norbert Pieper, Alfred Schraut, Werner Wiesner, Wolfgang Grosspietsch
  • Patent number: 4732252
    Abstract: The thrust plate unit for a motor vehicle friction clutch comprises a clutch cover of annular pot form which comprises an annular face wall part and a side wall part standing axially away from the face wall part. An annular presser plate arranged in the clutch cover is guided nonrotatably but axially displaceably through several leaf springs on an annular retaining element arranged axially between a diaphragm spring and the presser plate. The retaining element for its part is secured through several axially protruding distance elements on the clutch cover. The retaining element and/or the distance elements at the same time fix the diaphragm spring on the clutch cover. The annular retaining element expediently extends within the external circumference of the diaphragm spring, so that the clutch cover can be constructed simply and stably with circular cross-section and without piercings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventor: Friedrich Kittel
  • Patent number: 4592460
    Abstract: The clutch disc for a motor vehicle friction disc clutch comprises a hub part and a disc part mounted rotatably on the hub part. The disc part carries clutch friction linings and is supported through springs with a multi-stage rotational elasticity characteristic on the hub part. Between a side disc of the disc part and a hub disc, an axially resilient control disc is braced. The control disc is supported through a first friction face pair radially within the space defined by the springs on the hub part and through a second friction face pair radially outside this region on the side disc of the disc part. A tab of the control disc couples the control disc with limited rotational play with the hub part. The friction face pairs determine friction torques of different magnitudes and are effective in alternation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventor: Friedrich Kittel
  • Patent number: 4579212
    Abstract: A friction clutch comprises a hub (1) and a friction lining carrier (5) mounted rotatably on the hub (1). A friction damper (27) includes a friction ring (29) between a hub disc (13) of the hub (1) and an axially adjacently arranged cover disc (9) of the friction lining carrier (5). A presser plate (33) is guided non-rotatably but axially displaceably on the friction lining carrier (5) between a further cover disc (7) of the friction lining carrier (5) and the axially opposite side of the hub disc (13). Between the cover disc (7) and the presser plate (33) a spring arrangement (37) is provided. Between the hub disc (13) and the presser plate (33) an oblique face thrust device (45, 47) is arranged which initially stresses the spring arrangement (37) in dependence upon the relative angle of rotation of the hub (1) and the friction lining carrier (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventor: Friedrich Kittel
  • Patent number: 4537295
    Abstract: A clutch disc assembly particularly suited for a motor vehicle including a hub having a radially projecting annular flange with annular friction pads coaxially arranged with the hub for torque transmission therebetween. A pair of annular plate members are arranged on axially opposite sides of the friction pads and of the annular flange and an annular disc member is arranged axially adjacent the annular flange and between the annular flange and one of the annular plate members. The annular plate members and the annular disc member are rotatably mounted relative to the hub, and coupling members are provided to rotatively connect together the annular plate members and the annular disc member with the coupling members being arranged in rotative driving engagement with the hub with angular play provided therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Kurt Fadler, Friedrich Kittel
  • Patent number: 4386585
    Abstract: A liquid friction coupling is provided for driving a fan wheel in connection with the cooling system of an internal combustion engine. The liquid friction coupling is manufactured as a pre-assembled unit. The unit comprises a shaft, a rotor fastened on the shaft and a shear liquid housing rotatably mounted on the shaft and enclosing the rotor. A partition wall defines two working spaces within the housing. This partition wall is provided with an opening. A valve lever is associated with said opening for selectively closing or clearing said opening so as to vary the torque transmission between the rotor and the housing. The valve lever is actuated, e.g. by a bi-metallic actuator member, subject to external temperature. The shaft is provided with a central bore. A fastening screw passes said central bore for fastening said shaft to a rotating member driven by the engine. The end of the screw which is remote from the engine is easily accessible for a tightening key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Kittel, Kurt Fadler, Peter Anders