Patents by Inventor Heinrich Zeller

Heinrich Zeller 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: 8439805
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle transmission comprises a first oil supply unit (10) with at least one mechanically driven first pump (11) and a second oil supply unit (20) with at least one electrically driven second pump (21), and a valve device (14) and a clutch system (1). The second oil supply unit (20) supplies the clutch system (1), during a first operating condition, and the first oil supply unit (10) supplies the clutch system (1), during a second operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Grundler, Thilo Schmidt, Christian Popp, Heinrich Zeller
  • Publication number: 20100216597
    Abstract: An automatic vehicle transmission comprises a first oil supply unit (10) with at least one mechanically driven first pump (11) and a second oil supply unit (20) with at least one electrically driven second pump (21), and a valve device (14) and a clutch system (1). The second oil supply unit (20) supplies the clutch system (1), during a first operating condition, and the first oil supply unit (10) supplies the clutch system (1), during a second operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Rainer GRUNDLER, Thilo SCHMIDT, Christian POPP, Heinrich ZELLER
  • Patent number: 7654931
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive train of a motor vehicle with a hybrid drive having an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, an automatic transmission. The drive train also having a clutch between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and a clutch or a torque converter between the electric motor and the automatic transmission. This arrangement enabling the internal combustion engine to be started by engaging the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, when the drive train is powered exclusively by the electric motor. The braking power, generated during an upshift in response to a drop in the rotational speed of the drive train components, is used to start the internal combustion engine, such that the energy required from the electric motor for starting the combustion engine is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Bernd Allgaier, Heinrich Zeller
  • Publication number: 20080064560
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive train of a motor vehicle with a hybrid drive having an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, an automatic transmission. The drive train also having a clutch between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and a clutch or a torque converter between the electric motor and the automatic transmission. This arrangement enabling the internal combustion engine to be started by engaging the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine end the electric motor, when the drive train is powered exclusively by the electric motor. The braking power, generated during an upshift in response to a drop in the rotational speed of the drive train components, is used to start the internal combustion engine, such that the energy required from the electric motor for starting the combustion engine is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Christian POPP, Bernd ALLGAIER, Heinrich ZELLER
  • Patent number: 6073740
    Abstract: A process for tuning the switching state of a torque converter lock-up clutch (WK) in an automatic transmission to the output speed of rotation (n.sub.-- ab) of the transmission output shaft or the wheel speeds of rotation (n.sub.-- wheel) of driving wheels of a vehicle by means of an electronic transmission controller (EGS) with computer unit and an electronic pressure regulator (EDS) includes the following steps:a) from the wheel speeds of rotation (n.sub.-- wheel) measured by a measurement device (1) on the driving wheels, or the output speed of rotation (n.sub.-- ab) of the transmission output shaft, a time-related gradient of speed of rotation (dn/dt) is detected during activated state of the torque converter lock-up clutch by the computer unit in a processing function (S3);b) in a discriminating function (S4) is checked whether the amount of the gradient of speed of rotation (dn/dt) is higher than a threshold value (GW .sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Heinrich Zeller, Friedemann Jauch