Patents by Inventor Gerd Frotscher

Gerd Frotscher 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: 7836988
    Abstract: A method for operating a parallel hybrid drive train of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric engine and an output. The electric engine being located in the power drive between the output and the internal combustion engine. A second shifting element is located between the internal combustion engine and the electric engine and a first shifting element between the electric engine and the output. Output torque driving the output can be adjusted according to the transmitting capacities of the first and second shifting elements and according to the input torque of the electric engine and/or internal combustion engine. These adjustments are corrected according to standards derived from divergences found in parameters during operation of the drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Gromus, Stefan Blattner, Bernd Allgaier, Stefan Kilian, Peter Schiele, Friedrich Tenbrock, Gerd Frotscher
  • Patent number: 7762922
    Abstract: A method is described for operating a parallel hybrid device train (1) of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine (2), an electric engine (3) and an output (5) wherein the electric engine (3) is disposed in the power train between the output (5) and the internal combustion engine (2) and both between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric engine (3) and between the electric engine (3) and the output (5) is respectively provided a frictionally engaged shifting element (7, 8). In addition, a nominal output torque abutting on the output (5) can be adjusted according to the transmitting capacity of the first shifting element (8) located between the electric engine (3) and the output (5). According to the invention, the transmitting capacity of the first shifting element (8) is adjusted under control according to the nominal input torque required so that the first shifting element (8) has a transmitting capacity needed for producing the nominal output torque on the output (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Gromus, Stefan Blattner, Bernd Allgaier, Stefan Kilian, Peter Schiele, Friedrich Tenbrock, Gerd Frotscher
  • Patent number: 7469169
    Abstract: A method for controlling and regulating the input power distribution of prime movers in a power train (1) of a motor vehicle which has one internal combustion engine (2), at least one electric machine (6, 14), at least one clutch (4, 11), the same as one transmission (12), and in which there is at least one control and regulation unit which, on the basis of predetermined, measuring and calculated values, controls and regulates the input power distribution between the internal combustion engine (2) and at least one electric machine (6, 14) with regard to power dynamics of the vehicle, the same as its energy consumption, its emission and its driving comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Friedrich Tenbrock, Gerd Frotscher, Johannes Kaltenbach, Markus Kaindl, Jürgen Gebert, Joachim Fröschl
  • Publication number: 20080016599
    Abstract: A method for operating a parallel hybrid drive train of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric engine and an output. The electric engine being located in the power drive between the output and the internal combustion engine. A second shifting element is located between the internal combustion engine and the electric engine and a first shifting element between the electric engine and the output. Output torque driving the output can be adjusted according to the transmitting capacities of the first and second shifting elements and according to the input torque of the electric engine and/or internal combustion engine. These adjustments are corrected according to standards derived from divergences found in parameters during operation of the drive train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Gromus, Stefan Blattner, Bernd Allgaier, Stefan Kilian, Peter Schiele, Friedrich Tenbrock, Gerd Frotscher
  • Publication number: 20070207892
    Abstract: A method is described for operating a parallel hybrid device train (1) of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine (2), an electric engine (3) and an output (5) wherein the electric engine (3) is disposed in the power train between the output (5) and the internal combustion engine (2) and both between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric engine (3) and between the electric engine (3) and the output (5) is respectively provided a frictionally engaged shifting element (7, 8). In addition, a nominal output torque abutting on the output (5) can be adjusted according to the transmitting capacity of the first shifting element (8) located between the electric engine (3) and the output (5). According to the invention, the transmitting capacity of the first shifting element (8) is adjusted under control according to the nominal input torque required so that the first shifting element (8) has a transmitting capacity needed for producing the nominal output torque on the output (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Gromus, Stefan Blattner, Bernd Allgaier, Stefan Kilian, Peter Schiele, Friedrich Tenbrock, Gerd Frotscher
  • Patent number: 6929580
    Abstract: The method for control of an automated starting element such as a starting clutch or starting brake according to the thermal load of the starting clutch, which method regulates the control parameters according to a determined driving state, a tractional resistance and/or an actual clutch temperature, has one control module (1) which, below a critical control parameter limit starting from which an increased thermal load or an increased wear appears, reduced the friction work of the starting element. The reduction takes place by a reduction of the slipping time by regulating the slip in the starting element and/or by influencing at least one of the parameters (?, proportional/integral or differential parts, M_Control, p_Gradient or n_Nominal), the number of steps simultaneously used for reducing the friction work increasing with the temperature of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Gerd Frotscher
  • Publication number: 20050169773
    Abstract: An oil pump for a motor vehicle automatic transmission comprising a gear housing (2), a pump housing (1) and a pump rotor (3) that can be driven by a motor of the motor vehicle. In order to improve the application possibilities in a motor vehicle, in this pump the pump housing (1) can be driven such that the relative rotational speed between the pump rotor (3) and the pump housing (1) can be modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Josef Schwarz, Gerd Frotscher, Thilo Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20050038577
    Abstract: A method for controlling and regulating the input power distribution of prime movers in a power train (1) of a motor vehicle which has one internal combustion engine (2), at least one electric machine (6, 14), at least one clutch (4, 11), the same as one transmission (12), and in which there is at least one control and regulation unit which, on the basis of predetermined, measuring and calculated values, controls and regulates the input power distribution between the internal combustion engine (2) and at least one electric machine (6, 14) with regard to power dynamics of the vehicle, the same as its energy consumption, its emission and its driving comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Friedrich Tenbrock, Gerd Frotscher, Johannes Kaltenbach, Markus Kaindl, Jurgen Gebert, Joachim Froschl
  • Publication number: 20030022759
    Abstract: The method for control of an automated starting element such as a starting clutch or starting brake according to the thermal load of the starting clutch, which method regulates the control parameters according to a determined driving state, a tractional resistance and/or an actual clutch temperature, has one control module (1) which, below a critical control parameter limit starting from which an increased thermal load or an increased wear appears, reduced the friction work of the starting element. The reduction takes place by a reduction of the slipping time by regulating the slip in the starting element and/or by influencing at least one of the parameters (&mgr;, proportional/integral or differential parts, M_Control, p_Gradient or n_Nominal), the number of steps simultaneously used for reducing the friction work increasing with the temperature of the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Gerd Frotscher
  • Patent number: 6366843
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automatic transmission driven by an internal combustion engine is proposed in which a shift from a first to a second transmission ratio occurs as a pull upshift by a first clutch opening and a second clutch closing and electronic transmission control unit controls via electromagnetic valves the pressure curve of the first and of the second clutch during the shifting operation. The shifting operation is divided into different shifting phases, an engine intervention taking place within the gradient-adjustment (GE), the sliding (GL), the gradient-reduction (GA) and the closing (S) phases, an engine torque being reduced by an engine intervention factor (mdzegs) being transferred from the transmission control device to an engine control device of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Martin Vohmann, Gerd Frotscher
  • Patent number: 6101438
    Abstract: A process is proposed for automatically coordinating the filling and feeding operation of hydraulically operated and hydraulically or electronically individually commanded shift elements. The filling and feeding operation is divided into a rapid filling phase and a filling equalization phase and has as parameters at least one rapid filling period, one rapid filling pressure, one filling equalization period and one filling equalization pressure. To optimize said parameters two of the four are preset and for the other two, an optimal value is determined for the first parameter to be optimized on the basis of a preset, time-dependent pressure curve in which a pressure increase phase follows the rapid filling phase and equalization phase. To this end, based on an initial value presettable in each case, the first parameter is gradually adjusted until a speed change occurs at or before the start of the pressure increase phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: ZF Friedirchshafen AG
    Inventors: Kai Staiger, Ralf Dreibholz, Gerd Frotscher
  • Patent number: 6081760
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of monitoring the gearshift process in an automatic transmission. In order to be able to recognize fault conditions, the invention proposes in one embodiment that the actual change in transmission ratio is compared with a required change in transmission ratio. In another embodiment the change in the difference in the speed of the rotation of the engaging shift element is examined. It is also possible to analyze the gradient of the difference in the speed of rotation of the engaging shift element. A further possibility is to monitor the gradient of the transmission input speed. In addition, the gradient of the speed at the transmission output can be monitored. As result of the analysis, the transmission ratio is either retained or a predetermined safety condition is brought about.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Gerd Frotscher, Kai Staiger
  • Patent number: 5911648
    Abstract: A method of controlling and regulating an automatic transmission with overlapping gearshifts. The change from the control mode to the regulating mode for the disengaging clutch (11) is made here when a defective engagement of the engaging clutch (12) is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Gerd Frotscher, Thomas Schober, Martin Vohmann
  • Patent number: 5795265
    Abstract: A process is proposed for controlling an automatic transmission where changing from one gear speed to another is brought about as a result of a first clutch (11) opening and a second clutch (12) closing. It is further proposed to apply the process to a group transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hans-Jorg Domian, Ralf Dreibholz, Gerd Frotscher, Thomas Schober