Patents by Inventor Harald Merklein
Harald Merklein 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: 10781922Abstract: A device for actuating a parking lock of an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle. A piston, which a hydraulic medium can be applied from a reservoir by a valve apparatus in order to actuate the parking lock by a valve apparatus, which has a first valve and a second valve, which is arranged downstream of the first valve and upstream of the piston in the flow direction of the hydraulic medium from the reservoir to the piston and which has at least one device connection, by way of which the hydraulic medium can be applied to the piston, the second valve having at least two switching states, and a working chamber, which is bounded by the housing element and by the piston and into which the hydraulic medium can be introduced from the reservoir by the valve apparatus in order to apply the hydraulic medium to the piston.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Harald Merklein, Steffen Zäpfel
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Publication number: 20190309847Abstract: A device for actuating a parking lock of an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle. A piston, which a hydraulic medium can be applied from a reservoir by a valve apparatus in order to actuate the parking lock by a valve apparatus, which has a first valve and a second valve, which is arranged downstream of the first valve and upstream of the piston in the flow direction of the hydraulic medium from the reservoir to the piston and which has at least one device connection, by way of which the hydraulic medium can be applied to the piston, the second valve having at least two switching states, and a working chamber, which is bounded by the housing element and by the piston and into which the hydraulic medium can be introduced from the reservoir by the valve apparatus in order to apply the hydraulic medium to the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2017Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: AUDI AGInventors: Harald MERKLEIN, Steffen ZÄPFEL
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Patent number: 8978442Abstract: An electric input key has an actuating surface and a plurality of displacement sensors which are each designed to generate a displacement signal when the actuating surface is touched. The input key also has an evaluation unit for evaluating the displacement signals and outputting a determined switching state. The input key has at least one analog displacement sensor, at least one digital displacement sensor, and a calibration device for calibrating the analog displacement sensor by using displacement signals measured by the digital displacement sensor. The evaluation unit is designed to carry out self-diagnosis by using calibrated and measured displacement signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Audi AgInventors: Harald Merklein, Martin Bauer
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Patent number: 8789676Abstract: An emergency release mechanism for an automatic transmission includes a shift lever adapted to release a parking position when engaged in an operating position. The shift lever has a hooked or tooth-shaped end portion and is moved by a manually-operated tackle which has an end defined by a surface area of increased diameter to establish an undercut for engagement of the end portion of the shift lever during disengagement of the parking position.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Harald Merklein, Lars Baruth
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Publication number: 20140083163Abstract: An electric input key has an actuating surface and a plurality of displacement sensors which are each designed to generate a displacement signal when the actuating surface is touched. The input key also has an evaluation unit for evaluating the displacement signals and outputting a determined switching state. The input key has at least one analog displacement sensor, at least one digital displacement sensor, and a calibration device for calibrating the analog displacement sensor by using displacement signals measured by the digital displacement sensor. The evaluation unit is designed to carry out self-diagnosis by using calibrated and measured displacement signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2012Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: AUDI AGInventors: Harald Merklein, Martin Bauer
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Patent number: 8485061Abstract: An operating device for selecting shift stages in a shift-by-wire gearbox. The device comprises a selector lever which is movable between a drive gear position and a park position, and a locking device with a spring-loaded detent pin and a lock-in gate. An actuator device, that moves the selector lever, comprises a disengagement device. A detent pin and a lock-in gate can be brought, via a disengagement device, from a first relative position, in which the detent pin engages a shifting track of the lock-in gate, into another relative position, in which the detent pin disengages the shifting track. The operating device facilitates simple and safe actuator-induced return of the selector lever, into the park position, and offers the driver reliable optic and tactile feedback about the actual shift condition of the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2008Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignees: SF Friedrichshafen AG, Audi AGInventors: Wolfgang Kliemannel, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter, Harald Merklein, Andreas Giefer
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Publication number: 20120298473Abstract: An emergency release mechanism for an automatic transmission includes a shift lever adapted to release a parking position when engaged in an operating position. The shift lever has a hooked or tooth-shaped end portion and is moved by a manually-operated tackle which has an end defined by a surface area of increased diameter to establish an undercut for engagement of the end portion of the shift lever during disengagement of the parking position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Audi AGInventors: Harald Merklein, Lars Baruth
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Publication number: 20100071506Abstract: An operating device for selecting shift stages in a shift-by-wire gearbox. The device comprises a selector lever which is movable between a drive gear position and a park position, and a locking device with a spring-loaded detent pin and a lock-in gate. An actuator device, that moves the selector lever, comprises a disengagement device. A detent pin and a lock-in gate can be brought, via a disengagement device, from a first relative position, in which the detent pin engages a shifting track of the lock-in gate, into another relative position, in which the detent pin disengages the shifting track. The operating device facilitates simple and safe actuator-induced return of the selector lever, into the park position, and offers the driver reliable optic and tactile feedback about the actual shift condition of the transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2008Publication date: March 25, 2010Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Wolfgang Kliemannel, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter, Harald Merklein, Andreas Giefer
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Patent number: 6230848Abstract: A wheel bearing includes a roller bearing and a wheel flange is disposed around the bearing. The periphery of the wheel flange is profiled over approximately half its axial width with a peripheral locking receptacle in the form of a polygon or polyhedron shape for receiving a brake disk or brake drum thereon and for transmitting the torque between the brake disk or drum and the wheel flange. In addition, fastening bolts between the brake disk or drum and the wheel flange are received in holes in the wheel flange for holding the brake disk or drum to the wheel flange. But, the torque is transmitted due to the peripheral locking receptacle formed on the wheel flange.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1998Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: FAG Automobiltechnik AGInventors: Peter Niebling, Harald Merklein, Reinhold Mahr, Roland Langer, Rainer Breitenbach, Heinrich Hofmann
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Patent number: 6170919Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle suspension assembly in which an inadmissibly high axial bracing or rigging of the bearing assembly is avoided. For this purpose, the wheel support member is provided with an elastically or plastically deformable protruding rib in the region of the front face of the outer race of the rolling bearing.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Georg Fischer Fahrzeugtechnik AGInventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Rainer Breitenbach, Harald Merklein, Peter Niebling, Fritz Mahnig, Guido Rau
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Patent number: 6045267Abstract: A wheel bearing with a pulse transmitter attached to the inner bearing ring and a wheel carrier attached to the outer bearing ring. A pot shaped cap over the lateral end of the bearing. A depression in the wheel carrier opens toward the pulse transmitter. A sensor located in the recess has an end face that is urged by a spring in the depression against the cap over the pulse transmitter for establishing a selected spacing between the pulse transmitter and the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1998Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: FAG Automobiltechnik AGInventors: Harald Merklein, Peter Niebling, Rainer Breitenbach, Heinrich Hofmann, Roland Langer
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Patent number: 5990675Abstract: An anti-friction bearing with a speed measuring device includes a transmitter for directing high frequency waves toward a side of the bearing and the transmitter being spaced from the bearing. A coding disk at the side of the bearing is arranged on the relatively rotatable ring. The coding disk has parts around the bearing at which the disk reflects the waves and other parts not reflecting or permitting passage of the waves. The waves are alternately reflected off the coding disk and not reflected off the disk to a receiver arranged outside the bearing. The resulting pulses may be fed to a signal processor. Variations include the coding disk having various constructional design features permitting or blocking the reflection of waves. Alternatively, a circuit at the stationary part of the bearing seal between the bearing rings is alternately impinged upon or protected from being impinged upon by waves due to the coding disk on the relatively movable part of the ring.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: FAG Automobiltechnik AGInventors: Harald Merklein, Rainer Breitenbach, Heinrich Hofmann
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Patent number: 5969518Abstract: An antifriction mounting includes a bearing having an inner and an outer ring and rolling bodies between them. A seal closes the lateral side of the bearing between the rings. A pulse generator is rotatable with a rotatable one of the rings, which is either the inner or the outer ring. A non-ferromagnetic cover is outside the pulse generator and also seals the opening into the space between the rings. A rotational speed sensor on or outside the cover scans the pulse generator magnetically without hindrance from the non-ferromagnetic cover. Radio signals may transmit other information besides rotation speed. Appropriate transmitters and receivers for those signals can be placed at the pulse generator and/or the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1997Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: FAG Automobiltechnik AGInventors: Harald Merklein, Rainer Breitenbach, Heinrich Hofmann, Roland Langer, Peter Niebling
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Patent number: 5898388Abstract: A rolling contact bearing with rotational speed measuring device, in particular a wheel bearing for motor vehicles for telemetric transmission of energy and signal between bearing and environment, insensitive to tolerances of the bearing and its surrounding parts, with simple and cost-effective construction and small dimensions. A first telemetry unit is integrated in the inter-ring seal. It comprises pulse transmitter, rotational speed sensor, telemetry electronics and a miniature coil, which is inductively coupled with a further telemetry unit, which is fitted axially outside the bearing, and which supplies the first telemetry unit with energy and receives its signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1998Date of Patent: April 27, 1999Assignee: FAG Automobiltechnik AGInventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Rainer Breitenbach, Harald Merklein, Peter Niebling, Roland Langer, Josef Binder, Marcus Weser