Patents by Inventor Heiko Hanickel

Heiko Hanickel 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: 11247559
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle having a four-wheel drive and a drive unit, which can be switched on and off during travel, wherein the motor vehicle is driven by a torque provided by the drive unit, and the initially disengaged four-wheel drive is switched on, including: determining at least one limit torque which, while the four-wheel drive is switched off, can be transmitted from at least one wheel of the motor vehicle driven by the drive unit to the ground surface upon which the motor vehicle is travelling, while the slip between the at least one wheel and the ground surface falls below a specifiable threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weidemann, Hans Joerg Bruehl, Heiko Hanickel, Christoph Franke, Francisco Javier Caicedo Montalvo, Matthias Mayer
  • Publication number: 20200223310
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle having a four-wheel drive and a drive unit, which can be switched on and off during travel, wherein the motor vehicle is driven by a torque provided by the drive unit, and the initially disengaged four-wheel drive is switched on, including: determining at least one limit torque which, while the four-wheel drive is switched off, can be transmitted from at least one wheel of the motor vehicle driven by the drive unit to the ground surface upon which the motor vehicle is travelling, while the slip between the at least one wheel and the ground surface falls below a specifiable threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter WEIDEMANN, Hans Joerg BRUEHL, Heiko HANICKEL, Christoph FRANKE, Francisco CAICEDO, Matthias MAYER
  • Patent number: 10543747
    Abstract: A device and method for operating a multi-axle powertrain for a motor vehicle, with a first axle being permanently in operative connection and a second axle being at least temporarily in operative connection by a drive device via a clutch coupling. It is provided that, when the second axle is decoupled from the drive device and the starting clutch is disengaged, an expected wheel force is predictively ascertained. The determination of the wheel force takes into account a torque caused by a mass moment of inertia of the drive device, and the second axle is coupled with the drive device if the expected wheel force surpasses a maximum wheel force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel, Florian Kolb, Hans Jörg Brühl
  • Patent number: 10464563
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive train for a vehicle. A first axle is operatively connected permanently and a second axle is operatively connected at least intermittently via a clutch to a drive device. For the second axle coupled to the drive device, a maximum torque of the drive device is reduced by a specific safety value. At drive start, the safety value is set to a specific initial value and subsequently is reduced or increased throughout a specific period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel, Florian Kolb, Hans Jörg Brühl
  • Patent number: 10464417
    Abstract: A multi-axle drive device and method for operating a multi-axle drive device. The multi-axle drive device is provided with a synchronization clutch present in an operational connection between a first output shaft and a connecting shaft and at least one disconnecting clutch present in an operational connection between the connecting shaft and a second output shaft. The synchronization clutch and the disconnecting clutch are opened in a first operating state and closed in a second operating state. At the same time, with an intended change from the second operating state to the first operating state, the synchronization clutch is maintained at least partially opened and the separation clutch is maintained closed, so that, when a first operating mode is carried out, the disconnecting clutch is opened, and when a second operating mode is carried out, the synchronization clutch is closed again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel, Florian Kolb, Hans Jörg Brühl
  • Patent number: 10363815
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive device. The multi-axle drive device has a synchronizing clutch present in an operative connection between a first output shaft and a connecting shaft and at least one separating clutch present in an operative connection between the connecting shaft and a second output shaft. The synchronizing clutch and the separating clutch are disengaged in a first operating state and are engaged in a second operating state. When a shifting variable exceeds a first shifting threshold during the first operating state, the synchronizing clutch is at least partially engaged and the separating clutch is engaged only when a second shifting threshold is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel, Florian Kolb, Hans Jörg Brühl
  • Patent number: 10352372
    Abstract: A dog clutch having two clutch members provided with claws or teeth, one of which is movable, as well as a positioning device for engaging and disengaging the clutch by a positioning movement of the movable clutch member. In order to establish a proper engaging of the dog clutch, a sensor is arranged along the movement path of the movable clutch member, which detects the movement of the clutch member into the engaged state, while the clutch member is provided with an activating contour which, upon engaging the clutch, moves past the sensor, which is preferably an electromagnetic actuator for holding the movable clutch member in the disengaged state of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel, Florian Kolb, Hans Jörg Brühl
  • Patent number: 10245949
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle including an all-wheel drive that can be enabled and disabled, and a drive train including two clutches actuated by a control unit for enabling and disabling the all-wheel drive, and components rotating between the two clutches, which components are driven when the all-wheel drive is enabled and are uncoupled from the remaining drive train when the all-wheel drive is disabled. In order to allow early detection of defects and, in particular, bearing defects of the rotating components, and to determine the applied drag torque even without knowing the oil temperature, in one embodiment, when the all-wheel drive is disabled, the rotational speed (n) of at least one of the uncoupled components is measured in a time interval, and an angular acceleration of the uncoupled components is determined therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel, Florian Kolb, Hans Jörg Brühl
  • Patent number: 10195939
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive train for a motor vehicle. A first axle and a second axle are operatively connected, at least temporarily, to a drive device. When the second axle is decoupled from the drive device and a request for multi-axle drive with a first value is present, the second axle is coupled to the drive device only when a noise-masking event occurs, or when the second axle is coupled to the drive device and the request for multi-axle drive is absent, the second axle is decoupled from the drive device only when the noise-masking event occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel, Florian Kolb, Hans Jörg Brühl
  • Publication number: 20180304746
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive device. The multi-axle drive device has a synchronizing clutch present in an operative connection between a first output shaft and a connecting shaft and at least one separating clutch present in an operative connection between the connecting shaft and a second output shaft. The synchronizing clutch and the separating clutch are disengaged in a first operating state and are engaged in a second operating state. When a shifting variable exceeds a first shifting threshold during the first operating state, the synchronizing clutch is at least partially engaged and the separating clutch is engaged only when a second shifting threshold is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter WEIDEMANN, Heiko HANICKEL, Florian KOLB, Hans Jörg BRÜHL
  • Publication number: 20180273041
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive train for a vehicle. A first axle is operatively connected permanently and a second axle is operatively connected at least intermittently via a clutch to a drive device. For the second axle coupled to the drive device, a maximum torque of the drive device is reduced by a specific safety value. At drive start, the safety value is set to a specific initial value and subsequently is reduced or increased throughout a specific period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter WEIDEMANN, Heiko HANICKEL, Florian KOLB, Hans Jörg BRÜHL
  • Publication number: 20170341511
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle including an all-wheel drive that can be enabled and disabled, and a drive train including two clutches actuated by a control unit for enabling and disabling the all-wheel drive, and components rotating between the two clutches, which components are driven when the all-wheel drive is enabled and are uncoupled from the remaining drive train when the all-wheel drive is disabled. In order to allow early detection of defects and, in particular, bearing defects of the rotating components, and to determine the applied drag torque even without knowing the oil temperature, in one embodiment, when the all-wheel drive is disabled, the rotational speed (n) of at least one of the uncoupled components is measured in a time interval, and an angular acceleration of the uncoupled components is determined therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter WEIDEMANN, Heiko HANICKEL, Florian KOLB, Hans Jörg BRÜHL
  • Publication number: 20170313185
    Abstract: A device and method for operating a multi-axle powertrain for a motor vehicle, with a first axle being permanently in operative connection and a second axle being at least temporarily in operative connection by a drive device via a clutch coupling. It is provided that, when the second axle is decoupled from the drive device and the starting clutch is disengaged, an expected wheel force is predictively ascertained. The determination of the wheel force takes into account a torque caused by a mass moment of inertia of the drive device, and the second axle is coupled with the drive device if the expected wheel force surpasses a maximum wheel force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter WEIDEMANN, Heiko HANICKEL, Florian KOLB, Hans Jörg BRÜHL
  • Publication number: 20170313186
    Abstract: A multi-axle drive device and method for operating a multi-axle drive device. The multi-axle drive device is provided with a synchronization clutch present in an operational connection between a first output shaft and a connecting shaft and at least one disconnecting clutch present in an operational connection between the connecting shaft and a second output shaft. The synchronization clutch and the disconnecting clutch are opened in a first operating state and closed in a second operating state. At the same time, with an intended change from the second operating state to the first operating state, the synchronization clutch is maintained at least partially opened and the separation clutch is maintained closed, so that, when a first operating mode is carried out, the disconnecting clutch is opened, and when a second operating mode is carried out, the synchronization clutch is closed again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter WEIDEMANN, Heiko HANICKEL, Florian KOLB, Hans Jörg BRÜHL
  • Publication number: 20170313187
    Abstract: A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive train for a motor vehicle. A first axle and a second axle are operatively connected, at least temporarily, to a drive device. When the second axle is decoupled from the drive device and a request for multi-axle drive with a first value is present, the second axle is coupled to the drive device only when a noise-masking event occurs, or when the second axle is coupled to the drive device and the request for multi-axle drive is absent, the second axle is decoupled from the drive device only when the noise-masking event occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter WEIDEMANN, Heiko HANICKEL, Florian KOLB, Hans Jörg BRÜHL
  • Publication number: 20170248172
    Abstract: A dog clutch having two clutch members provided with claws or teeth, one of which is movable, as well as a positioning device for engaging and disengaging the clutch by a positioning movement of the movable clutch member. In order to establish a proper engaging of the dog clutch, a sensor is arranged along the movement path of the movable clutch member, which detects the movement of the clutch member into the engaged state, while the clutch member is provided with an activating contour which, upon engaging the clutch, moves past the sensor, which is preferably an electromagnetic actuator for holding the movable clutch member in the disengaged state of the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Dieter WEIDEMANN, Heiko HANICKEL, Florian KOLB, Hans Jörg BRÜHL
  • Patent number: 9352648
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a drivetrain (10) of a motor vehicle, having the steps: detecting at least one variable which quantifies and/or influences a movement of the motor vehicle; activating an all-wheel drive system of the motor vehicle as a function of the variable; wherein it is estimated, on the basis of the at least one variable, whether a relevant driving situation is impending, and in this case only, the all-wheel drive system is activated before the onset of the relevant situation. The invention also relates to a system for operating a drivetrain (10) of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Hans Jörg Brühl, Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel
  • Publication number: 20150239345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a drivetrain (10) of a motor vehicle, having the steps: detecting at least one variable which quantifies and/or influences a movement of the motor vehicle; activating an all-wheel drive system of the motor vehicle as a function of the variable; wherein it is estimated, on the basis of the at least one variable, whether a relevant driving situation is impending, and in this case only, the all-wheel drive system is activated before the onset of the relevant situation. The invention also relates to a system for operating a drivetrain (10) of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Hans Jörg Brühl, Dieter Weidemann, Heiko Hanickel