Patents by Inventor Gerhard Hofer

Gerhard Hofer 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: 20260217332
    Abstract: A drive assembly for a bicycle has: a crankshaft; crank arms; a traction motor operatively connected to the crankshaft; a planet carrier rotating relative to the crankshaft; a first sun or ring gear driven by the crankshaft; at least one first planet gear connected to the planet carrier, the first sun or ring gear engaging and driving the at least one first planet gear; at least one second planet gear rotationally connected to the planet carrier and driven by the at least one first planet gear; a second sun or ring gear rotating relative to the crankshaft, the at least one second planet gear engaging and driving the second sun or ring gear; a drive sprocket driven by the second sun or ring gear; and a control motor operatively connected to the planet carrier for driving the planet carrier about the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2026
    Publication date: July 30, 2026
    Inventors: Gerhard HOFER, Walter HINTERBERGER
  • Patent number: 12289033
    Abstract: A motor assembly including an annulus gear including an annulus gear body having a hollow cylindrical form, and a plurality of annulus gear teeth disposed on an inner surface of the annulus gear body; at least one first outrunner motor disposed in an interior of the annulus gear, the at least one first motor being arranged to drive the annulus gear; a carrier disposed at least partially in the interior of the annulus gear, the carrier including a plurality of carrier gears rotationally connected to the carrier body, the carrier gears being engaged with the annulus gear; a center gear disposed in the interior of the annulus gear, the carrier gears being engaged with the center gear; and at least one second outrunner motor disposed in the interior of the annulus gear, the at least one second motor being arranged to drive the center gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: BRP-ROTAX GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Hofer, Sebastian Igel, Gereon Pusch, Wolfgang Schweiger, Martin Bloder
  • Publication number: 20250079934
    Abstract: A motor assembly including an annulus gear including an annulus gear body having a hollow cylindrical form, and a plurality of annulus gear teeth disposed on an inner surface of the annulus gear body; at least one first outrunner motor disposed in an interior of the annulus gear, the at least one first motor being arranged to drive the annulus gear; a carrier disposed at least partially in the interior of the annulus gear, the carrier including a plurality of carrier gears rotationally connected to the carrier body, the carrier gears being engaged with the annulus gear; a center gear disposed in the interior of the annulus gear, the carrier gears being engaged with the center gear; and at least one second outrunner motor disposed in the interior of the annulus gear, the at least one second motor being arranged to drive the center gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Gerhard HOFER, Sebastian IGEL, Gereon PUSCH, Wolfgang SCHWEIGER, Martin BLODER
  • Patent number: 11273707
    Abstract: A vehicle having a longitudinal engine and permanent rear axle drive is proposed, which vehicle has an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, a transfer gearbox distributing drive torques as required to two drive axles, the transfer gearbox having three shafts, a main shaft serving as a drive shaft of the rear axle, a secondary shaft serving as a drive shaft for the front axle, and an intermediate shaft applying a torque, a shifting unit being installed between the reduction gear-box and the power summation gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Sven Gasparovic, Andreas Rudolf Hafner, Simon Kaimer, Daniel Lindvai-Soos, Daniel Prix, Gerhard Hofer, Dominik Schober, Franz Wallner, Alexander Hehenberger, Martin Bloder
  • Patent number: 11247558
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement for the controllable distribution of a drive torque from an input element to at least one output element in an all wheel drive train of an all wheel drive motor vehicle, comprising an additional drive unit, a first transmission part region, the first transmission part region being drive-connected directly or indirectly to the additional drive unit, a second transmission part region, the first transmission part region being connected indirectly via the second transmission part region to the output element, and a selector element, it being possible for the selector element to be moved into three shifting positions, namely a first shifting position, in which the first transmission part region is drive-connected to the input element, a second shifting position, in which the first transmission part region is drive-connected to the second transmission part region, and a third shifting position, in which the first transmission part region is drive-connected neither to the input element nor
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventor: Gerhard Hofer
  • Patent number: 11167634
    Abstract: A drive train for a hybrid vehicle, in particular for a temporarily four-wheel-driven motor vehicle, wherein the drive train comprises a first partial drive train assigned to a primary axle and a second partial drive train assigned to a secondary axle, and wherein the first partial drive train comprises a first drive unit configured as an internal combustion engine and a second drive unit configured as an electric machine and a change transmission, is refined in that the hybrid drive train is inexpensive to produce, has low CO2 emissions in operation, and may be used in a drive train of a temporarily four-wheel-driven motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Hofer, Hansdieter Wiedner, Stefan Tischlinger
  • Patent number: 10870367
    Abstract: A storage system provides electrical power for driving a vehicle. The storage system has a first and a second storage module for storing electrical energy. The storage system includes a switching unit which is configured for connecting the first storage module and the second storage module in series for a charging operation and in parallel for driving the vehicle. The storage system includes a control unit which is configured to implement measures in order to reduce a difference between a state of charge of the first storage module and a state of charge of the second storage module in preparation for a parallel connection of the first storage module to the second storage module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Knobel, Gerhard Hofer, Daniel Gleyzes
  • Patent number: 10720766
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a storage device for electrical energy that can be recharged from an external power supply and with a body which has at least one body opening that can be closed by a body flap, wherein a charging cable is provided, connected or connectable in an electrically conducting manner to the storage device and running at least partly inside the body. The body opening is a luggage-compartment opening or a door opening of the vehicle and the body flap is respectively a luggage-compartment lid or a door of the vehicle. The charging cable is formed as a flexible ribbon cable or has at least one flexible ribbon cable portion. The flexible ribbon cable or the at least one flexible ribbon cable portion can be led through a body gap present between a periphery of the body opening and the body flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Krammer, Gerhard Hofer
  • Patent number: 10682915
    Abstract: A method is provided for charging an electrical energy store on an electric vehicle at a socket providing a power supply, particularly a single-phase 230 V or 120 V domestic socket. The charging current used to charge the electrical energy store after failure and subsequent restoration of the power supply is automatically reduced over the charging current prior to failure of the power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Hofer, Detlef Von Reusner
  • Patent number: 10641362
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement (1) for the controllable distribution of drive torque from an input element (2) to at least one output element (3), comprising a first transmission part region (4), namely a planetary gear mechanism, and an additional drive unit (5), the first transmission part region (4) being drive-connected directly or indirectly to the input element (2) and to the additional drive unit (5), and the first transmission part region (4) being drive-connected directly or indirectly to the output element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Werner Brendl, Gerhard Hofer, Klaus Nenninger, Peter Pisek, Manfred Rahm, Jan Wiechmann, Hansdieter Wiedner
  • Publication number: 20200114757
    Abstract: A vehicle having a longitudinal engine and permanent rear axle drive is proposed, which vehicle has an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, a transfer gearbox distributing drive torques as required to two drive axles, the transfer gearbox having three shafts, a main shaft serving as a drive shaft of the rear axle, a secondary shaft serving as a drive shaft for the front axle, and an intermediate shaft applying a torque, a shifting unit being installed between the reduction gear-box and the power summation gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Sven GASPAROVIC, Andreas Rudolf HAFNER, Simon KAIMER, Daniel LINDVAI-SOOS, Daniel PRIX, Gerhard HOFER, Dominik SCHOBER, Franz WALLNER, Alexander HEHENBERGER, Martin BLODER
  • Publication number: 20200114751
    Abstract: A drive train for a hybrid vehicle, in particular for a temporarily four-wheel-driven motor vehicle, wherein the drive train comprises a first partial drive train assigned to a primary axle and a second partial drive train assigned to a secondary axle, and wherein the first partial drive train comprises a first drive unit configured as an internal combustion engine and a second drive unit configured as an electric machine and a change transmission, is refined in that the hybrid drive train is inexpensive to produce, has low CO2 emissions in operation, and may be used in a drive train of a temporarily four-wheel-driven motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Gerhard Hofer, Hansdieter Wiedner, Stefan Tischlinger
  • Publication number: 20190366842
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement for the controllable distribution of a drive torque from an input element to at least one output element in an all wheel drive train of an all wheel drive motor vehicle, comprising an additional drive unit, a first transmission part region, the first transmission part region being drive-connected directly or indirectly to the additional drive unit, a second transmission part region, the first transmission part region being connected indirectly via the second transmission part region to the output element, and a selector element, it being possible for the selector element to be moved into three shifting positions, namely a first shifting position, in which the first transmission part region is drive-connected to the input element, a second shifting position, in which the first transmission part region is drive-connected to the second transmission part region, and a third shifting position, in which the first transmission part region is drive-connected neither to the input element nor
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Gerhard HOFER
  • Patent number: 10443527
    Abstract: An exhaust gas system includes an exhaust gas pipe through which exhaust gas flows in a flow direction and which has a pipe wall. A flange is arranged in the pipe wall and has a passage opening provided with an internal thread. A gas sensor, in particular a particle sensor, is provided for sensing the concentration of soot particles contained in the exhaust gas and has a threaded housing portion that is provided with an external thread and is screwed into the passage opening. An annular gap is produced between a radial outer face of the threaded housing portion and a passage-opening inner circumferential portion which protrudes into the interior of the exhaust gas pipe. The flange has a flow guiding element which extends over a downstream part of the circumference of the threaded housing portion and which is provided for limiting or largely preventing a flow around the gas sensor in the annular gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerwin Bumberger, Gerhard Hofer
  • Patent number: 10442489
    Abstract: A hand protection device for a handlebar of a vehicle is provided. The hand protection device includes a protective bracket that can be rigidly connected to the handlebar of the vehicle, and an extension element that is movably arranged relative to the protective bracket. The extension element can be fixed relative to the protective bracket in at least a first position and in a second position which is different from the first position. More than one extension element may be provided, and the extension element second positions may be above or below the handlebar. The vehicle may be a motorbike or a scooter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Hofer, Helmut Diehl
  • Publication number: 20190061551
    Abstract: A storage system provides electrical power for driving a vehicle. The storage system has a first and a second storage module for storing electrical energy. The storage system includes a switching unit which is configured for connecting the first storage module and the second storage module in series for a charging operation and in parallel for driving the vehicle. The storage system includes a control unit which is configured to implement measures in order to reduce a difference between a state of charge of the first storage module and a state of charge of the second storage module in preparation for a parallel connection of the first storage module to the second storage module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Christian KNOBEL, Gerhard HOFER, Daniel GLEYZES
  • Publication number: 20180363738
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement (1) for the controllable distribution of drive torque from an input element (2) to at least one output element (3), comprising a first transmission part region (4), namely a planetary gear mechanism, and an additional drive unit (5), the first transmission part region (4) being drive-connected directly or indirectly to the input element (2) and to the additional drive unit (5), and the first transmission part region (4) being drive-connected directly or indirectly to the output element (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Werner BRENDL, Gerhard HOFER, Klaus NENNINGER, Peter PISEK, Manfred RAHM, Jan WIECHMANN, Hansdieter WIEDNER
  • Publication number: 20170370315
    Abstract: An exhaust gas system includes an exhaust gas pipe through which exhaust gas flows in a flow direction and which has a pipe wall. A flange is arranged in the pipe wall and has a passage opening provided with an internal thread. A gas sensor, in particular a particle sensor, is provided for sensing the concentration of soot particles contained in the exhaust gas and has a threaded housing portion that is provided with an external thread and is screwed into the passage opening. An annular gap is produced between a radial outer face of the threaded housing portion and a passage-opening inner circumferential portion which protrudes into the interior of the exhaust gas pipe. The flange has a flow guiding element which extends over a downstream part of the circumference of the threaded housing portion and which is provided for limiting or largely preventing a flow around the gas sensor in the annular gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Gerwin BUMBERGER, Gerhard HOFER
  • Publication number: 20170327171
    Abstract: A hand protection device for a handlebar of a vehicle is provided. The hand protection device includes a protective bracket that can be rigidly connected to the handlebar of the vehicle, and an extension element that is movably arranged relative to the protective bracket. The extension element can be fixed relative to the protective bracket in at least a first position and in a second position which is different from the first position. More than one extension element may be provided, and the extension element second positions may be above or below the handlebar. The vehicle may be a motorbike or a scooter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Gerhard HOFER, Helmut DIEHL
  • Publication number: 20170125993
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a storage device for electrical energy that can be recharged from an external power supply and with a body which has at least one body opening that can be closed by a body flap, wherein a charging cable is provided, connected or connectable in an electrically conducting manner to the storage device and running at least partly inside the body. The body opening is a luggage-compartment opening or a door opening of the vehicle and the body flap is respectively a luggage-compartment lid or a door of the vehicle. The charging cable is formed as a flexible ribbon cable or has at least one flexible ribbon cable portion. The flexible ribbon cable or the at least one flexible ribbon cable portion can be led through a body gap present between a periphery of the body opening and the body flap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Josef KRAMMER, Gerhard HOFER