Patents by Inventor Hans-Dieter Loeffler
Hans-Dieter Loeffler 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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Motor vehicle steering system, assembly tool and assembly method for a motor vehicle steering system
Patent number: 10625769Abstract: A motor vehicle steering system is disclosed. The system includes a steering spindle consisting of spindle members which are non-rotatably connected to one another. One end of a spindle member has a spline shaft profile and is introduced into a sleeve-like intermediate piece which is arranged on the other spindle member and, on the inner periphery, has a negative-shaped spline shaft profile with respect to the spline shaft profile such that the spindle member is plug-connected to the intermediate piece. In order for the spindle members to be able to be connected to each other with minimal effort even in the event of visual inaccessibility, a circumferential guide contour pointing toward the intermediate piece is formed on the spindle member. The guide contour is upstream of the spline shaft profile toward the intermediate piece and is perforated by grooves of the spline shaft profile to form convex guide segments.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2015Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Hans-Dieter Loeffler, Thorsten Meyer, Marco Schwieger -
Patent number: 10077065Abstract: The invention discloses a steering column arrangement that has a steering spindle and a casing tube enclosing the steering spindle, which may be mounted to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis relative to the casing tube, and also has a switch module, which has a housing and a fastening sleeve provided on the housing. The fastening sleeve is designed such that the switch module with the fastening sleeve can be mounted on the casing tube and can be securely clamped to the casing tube. The casing tube on an outer circumferential surface has at least one radial projection, and the fastening sleeve on an inner circumferential surface has at least one extending guide groove when viewed in the longitudinal direction. The radial projection engages the guide groove when the switch module is mounted on the casing tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2014Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Hans-Dieter Loeffler, Markus Mauch
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Motor Vehicle Steering System, Assembly Tool and Assembly Method for a Motor Vehicle Steering System
Publication number: 20170066469Abstract: A motor vehicle steering system is disclosed. The system includes a steering spindle consisting of spindle members which are non-rotatably connected to one another. One end of a spindle member has a spline shaft profile and is introduced into a sleeve-like intermediate piece which is arranged on the other spindle member and, on the inner periphery, has a negative-shaped spline shaft profile with respect to the spline shaft profile such that the spindle member is plug-connected to the intermediate piece. In order for the spindle members to be able to be connected to each other with minimal effort even in the event of visual inaccessibility, a circumferential guide contour pointing toward the intermediate piece is formed on the spindle member. The guide contour is upstream of the spline shaft profile toward the intermediate piece and is perforated by grooves of the spline shaft profile to form convex guide segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2015Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: Daimler AGInventors: Axel HEBENSTREIT, Hans-Dieter LOEFFLER, Thorsten MEYER, Marco SCHWIEGER -
Publication number: 20170029008Abstract: The invention discloses a steering column arrangement that has a steering spindle and a casing tube enclosing the steering spindle, which may be mounted to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis relative to the casing tube, and also has a switch module, which has a housing and a fastening sleeve provided on the housing. The fastening sleeve is designed such that the switch module with the fastening sleeve can be mounted on the casing tube and can be securely clamped to the casing tube. The casing tube on an outer circumferential surface has at least one radial projection, and the fastening sleeve on an inner circumferential surface has at least one extending guide groove when viewed in the longitudinal direction. The radial projection engages the guide groove when the switch module is mounted on the casing tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2014Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: Daimler AGInventors: Axel HEBENSTREIT, Hans-Dieter LOEFFLER, Markus MAUCH
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Patent number: 9205868Abstract: A steering spindle has a steering spindle connection connected to a fork crown of a steering coupling via an intermediate piece. The steering spindle connection and the intermediate piece are formed as plug partners at ends facing each other, by means of at least one tongue and groove guide element pair, which provides a torque-transmitting priority control. A groove and a tongue of the at least one tongue and groove guide element pair are positioned in the longitudinal axial direction on the steering spindle connection and the intermediate piece. The steering arrangement includes a clamping device that clamps the plug partners to each other in a plugging position.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Hans-Dieter Loeffler, Thorsten Meyer
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Patent number: 9126622Abstract: A steering arrangement includes a steering spindle and a steering coupling provided with a fork crown bearing a connecting element that connects an end of the steering spindle to the steering coupling in the form of a plug connection. To enable the combined steering spindle and steering coupling ends to be connected to each other in the correct relative position and thus to be able to prevent a defective assembly, the steering spindle end and the connecting element are coaxial plug partners on ends facing each other, by means of at least one tongue and groove guide element pair that provides a torque-transmitting priority control. The at least one groove and/or the at least one tongue of the guide element pair is molded on the interior of the shaft. A clamping device clamps the plug partners against each other in a plugging position so that they cannot come loose.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Hans-Dieter Loeffler, Thorsten Meyer
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Publication number: 20140246839Abstract: A steering spindle has a steering spindle connection connected to a fork crown of a steering coupling via an intermediate piece. The steering spindle connection and the intermediate piece are formed as plug partners at ends facing each other, by means of at least one tongue and groove guide element pair, which provides a torque-transmitting priority control. A groove and a tongue of the at least one tongue and groove guide element pair are positioned in the longitudinal axial direction on the steering spindle connection and the intermediate piece. The steering arrangement includes a clamping device that clamps the plug partners to each other in a plugging position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2012Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: Daimler AGInventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Hans-Dieter Loeffler, Thorsten Meyer
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Publication number: 20140241795Abstract: A steering arrangement includes a steering spindle and a steering coupling provided with a fork crown bearing a connecting element that connects an end of the steering spindle to the steering coupling in the form of a plug connection. To enable the combined steering spindle and steering coupling ends to be connected to each other in the correct relative position and thus to be able to prevent a defective assembly, the steering spindle end and the connecting element are coaxial plug partners on ends facing each other, by means of at least one tongue and groove guide element pair that provides a torque-transmitting priority control. The at least one groove and/or the at least one tongue of the guide element pair is molded on the interior of the shaft. A clamping device clamps the plug partners against each other in a plugging position so that they cannot come loose.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2012Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: Daimler AGInventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Hans-Dieter Loeffler, Thorsten Meyer
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Publication number: 20140205375Abstract: A steering arrangement includes a steering spindle having a steering spindle connection connected to a fork crown of a steering coupling via an intermediate piece. The steering spindle connection and the intermediate piece, which is designed as a hub, are formed as plug partners at ends facing each other, by means of at least one tongue and groove guide element pair positioned in the axial longitudinal direction, which provides a torque-transmitting priority control. Torque-transmitting priority control is achieved by a first guide element arranged on the steering spindle connection, a second guide element of the guide element pair arranged on the intermediate piece, and a clamping device that clamps the plug partners together in a plugging position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2012Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: DAIMLER AGInventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Hans- Dieter Loeffler, Thorsten Meyer
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Patent number: 7992464Abstract: A steering column arrangement having a steering spindle (2) which is mounted in a casing tube (3, 5) so as to be rotationally movable, and having a switch module (7) which is held immovably with respect to the steering spindle (2). The switch module (7) is fixed radially and axially on the casing tube (3), the switch module (7) being supported on a bearing (12) which is arranged on the steering spindle. The Switch module comprises a centering device (8) which, under action of a force (F) which is oriented coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the steering spindle (2), fixes the switch module (7) on the casing tube (3).Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Hans-Dieter Loeffler, Markus Mauch
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Patent number: 7757569Abstract: A column tube switch module is radially and axially fixed to a column tube and is supported at the same time on a bearing arranged on the steering spindle. A centering device secures a stator radially to the column tube when a force is acting coaxially on the longitudinal axis of the steering spindle. A steering angle sensor is provided whose fixed part is connected to the stator-end bearing while its rotating part is held so as to be capable of being driven by the steering wheel hub.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Hans-Dieter Loeffler, Markus Mauch
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Publication number: 20090183588Abstract: A column tube switch module is radially and axially fixed to a column tube and is supported at the same time on a bearing arranged on the steering spindle. A centering device secures a stator radially to the column tube when a force is acting coaxially on the longitudinal axis of the steering spindle. A steering angle sensor is provided whose fixed part is connected to the stator-end bearing while its rotating part is held so as to be capable of being driven by the steering wheel hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2006Publication date: July 23, 2009Applicant: Daimier AGInventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Hans-Dieter Loeffler, Markus Mauch
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Publication number: 20070039402Abstract: The invention relates to a steering column arrangement having a steering spindle (2) which is mounted in a casing tube (3, 5) so as to be rotationally movable, and having a switch module (7) which is held immovably with respect to the steering spindle (2). The switch module (7) is fixed radially and axially on the casing tube (3), the switch module (7) being supported on a bearing (12) which is arranged on the steering spindle (2). According to the invention, the switch module (7) comprises a centering device (8) which, under the action of a force (F) which is oriented coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the steering spindle (2), fixes the switch module (7) on the casing tube (3). The centering device (8) has the effect that the switch module (7) is fixed during mounting in such a way that a defined orientation between the steering wheel (4) and the switch module (7) is carried out.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2003Publication date: February 22, 2007Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Hans-Dieter Loeffler, Markus Mauch