Patents by Inventor Heinz-Dieter Heitzer

Heinz-Dieter Heitzer 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: 20240149944
    Abstract: A steering system of a motor vehicle comprises a sensor device comprising a rotational angle sensor, which is connected to a toothed wheel and detects a rotation of the toothed wheel is disclosed. The toothed wheel is fitted on a steering tie rod such that it meshes with a spindle thread on the steering tie rod which is part of a ball screw drive of a servo drive of the steering system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Rainer Engel, Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Publication number: 20230074605
    Abstract: An electrically driven rack and pinion steering system of a motor vehicle has an axially displaceably mounted rack which transmits a steering movement for steered wheels of the motor vehicle, has an electric drive which provides a steering force and interacts with the rack, and has a housing which receives the rack and a drive element of the drive. The drive element is in engagement with a toothing system of the rack. A bearing assembly is arranged on a section of the rack without a toothing system axially on each side of the drive element, with a carrier cylinder, on the outer shell face of which an outer contact seal is arranged and on the inner shell face of which an inner contact seal is arranged, the contact seals sealing the housing with respect to the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Eduard Span, Yavuz Demir, Rainer Engel, Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Publication number: 20200269902
    Abstract: A method for operating a steering system includes the steps of: (1) acquiring a variable at least during the partially automated driving; (2) determining whether or not the driver wishes to control the vehicle manually using a variable; (3) ending the partially automated driving and converting steering movements applied by the driver into steering movements of the motor vehicle via a front-axle actuator unit irrespective of the current rotational angle of the steering wheel, if the driver wishes to control the vehicle manually. The variable acquired during partially automated driving may be any of the following: a driver gripping force applied to the steering wheel, a driver torque applied to the steering wheel, deflection of the steering wheel, a gradient of the driver gripping force to the steering wheel, a gradient of the driver torque applied to the steering wheel, and deflection gradient of the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Patent number: 8948973
    Abstract: A method comprising the steps: a manually applied driver steering moment is detected; a requested superposition moment is detected; the driver steering and superposition moments are combined to form an intermediate moment from which an assistance moment is generated by means of a predefined, non-linear amplification function; starting from detected values of the driver steering and superposition moments, a modified superposition moment compensating for friction in the electric steering system at least in part is determined such that the amount of the modified superposition moment is larger than the amount of the superposition moment at least for some pairs of variates comprised of driver steering and superposition moments; the assistance and modified superposition moments are combined to form a motor moment from which a corresponding input signal for a servo motor is established; the servo motor is controlled with the established input signal to provide the motor moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer, Dirk Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20130238195
    Abstract: A method comprising the steps: a manually applied driver steering moment is detected; a requested superposition moment is detected; the driver steering and superposition moments are combined to form an intermediate moment from which an assistance moment is generated by means of a predefined, non-linear amplification function; starting from detected values of the driver steering and superposition moments, a modified superposition moment compensating for friction in the electric steering system at least in part is determined such that the amount of the modified superposition moment is larger than the amount of the superposition moment at least for some pairs of variates comprised of driver steering and superposition moments; the assistance and modified superposition moments are combined to form a motor moment from which a corresponding input signal for a servo motor is established; the servo motor is controlled with the established input signal to provide the motor moment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer, Dirk Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7793556
    Abstract: A torque sensor for a steering wheel with a center axis has an input member, an output member, the input and output members being rotatable about the common center axis, and a spring member that is arranged in a flow of force between the input member and the output member, the spring member is configured as a flat spring member extending in a plane perpendicular to the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Engel, Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Publication number: 20090056473
    Abstract: A torque sensor for a steering wheel with a center axis has an input member, an output member, the input and output members being rotatable about the common center axis, and a spring member that is arranged in a flow of force between the input member and the output member, the spring member is configured as a flat spring member extending in a plane perpendicular to the center axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Rainer ENGEL, Heinz-Dieter HEITZER
  • Publication number: 20090000466
    Abstract: A method to actively trigger a servo valve of a hydraulic power steering system is disclosed herein. In the method, a present steering wheel torque is ascertained by a sensor. The method also includes the step of a desired rack-and-pinion force offset is specified. The method also includes the step of a desired steering wheel torque offset is specified. The method also includes the step of a desired shape of a power steering characteristic curve is specified. On the basis of the specified offset values, the ascertained steering wheel torque and the specified shape of the power steering characteristic curve, a setpoint is ascertained for a differential pressure at a hydraulic cylinder of the power steering system. Based on the steering wheel torque and on the setpoint for the differential pressure at the hydraulic cylinder, a setpoint is ascertained for a setting angle (?) of a valve component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Martin Boecker, Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Publication number: 20070137327
    Abstract: A valve device (10) for a hydraulic servo-steering arrangement includes two valve elements (18, 14) which can be rotated from a neutral position relative to each other, in order to thereby achieve the superimposition of an additional steering moment. The valve device (10) further includes a linear actuator (33) and a gear (20) coupling the two valve elements (18, 14) to each other. The gear (20) converts a linear stroke of the linear actuator (30) into a rotation. The gear (20) includes a first cogwheel (22) with teeth inclined in a first direction in relation to the axial direction of the cogwheel. The first cogwheel (20) is coupled to the first valve element (18). The gear (20) further includes a second cogwheel (30) with teeth inclined in a second direction opposed to the first direction. The second cogwheel (30) is axially displaceable by the linear actuator (33).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Patent number: 7185576
    Abstract: A servo-steering valve for a hydraulic servo-steering arrangement has an input shaft, an output shaft, a torsion rod which biases the input shaft and the output shaft relative to each other into a central position, and a valve which consists of a valve sleeve and a valve shaft which with a rotation of the input shaft relative to the output shaft are rotated relative to each other. An adjustment drive is provided, which can rotate one component of the servo-steering valve with respect to another, so that a superimposition value is superimposed on an input value which is given through the actuation of the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Publication number: 20060021820
    Abstract: A servo-steering valve for a hydraulic servo-steering arrangement includes an input shaft, an output shaft and a valve. The valve comprises first and second valve members. The first and second valve members are rotatable relative to each other upon rotation of the input shaft relative to the output shaft. One of the valve members is rotatably arranged. The servo-steering valve further comprises a restoring element. The rotatable valve member is biased by the restoring element so as to assume a non-rotated initial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Publication number: 20050241474
    Abstract: A servo-steering valve for a hydraulic servo-steering arrangement has an input shaft, an output shaft, a torsion rod which biases the input shaft and the output shaft relative to each other into a central position, and a valve which consists of a valve sleeve and a valve shaft which with a rotation of the input shaft relative to the output shaft are rotated relative to each other. An adjustment drive is provided, which can rotate one component of the servo-steering valve with respect to another, so that a superimposition value is superimposed on an input value which is given through the actuation of the input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Publication number: 20050092948
    Abstract: A subassembly comprising a hydraulic power steering valve (5) and an electrical actuator (32), which can twist a component part (28) of the power steering valve, thus generating steering wheel torque superimposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Patent number: 6502661
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering system comprising a steering linkage, a control hydraulic motor and a control hydraulic circuit, a steering wheel connected to the control hydraulic motor, and a control hydraulic cylinder connected to the control hydraulic motor by the control hydraulic circuit. The vehicle steering system further comprises a servohydraulic cylinder, a servopump, a servohydraulic circuit connecting the servopump to the servohydraulic cylinder, and an electronic control circuit which controls the servohydraulic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: TRW Fahrwerksysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Patent number: 6394218
    Abstract: A steering system comprises a steering linkage and two positioners capable of positioning the steering linkage in unison. Each positioner comprises an electronic control circuit, a servomotor and a position sensor for sensing a position of the servomotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Fahrwerksysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Patent number: 5975136
    Abstract: A steering mechanism has an input shaft 2, a steering valve 1, an output shaft 3, and a torsionally elastic element 5. The input shaft 2 has a first longitudinal axis about which the input shaft 2 is rotatable, the input shaft 2 being rotatable about the first longitudinal axis to effect the steering of a vehicle. An end of the input shaft 2 is located in the steering valve 1. The output shaft 3 has a second longitudinal axis coaxial with the first longitudinal axis and a first end adjacent the end of the input shaft 2. The torsionally elastic element 5 flexibly connects the first end of the output shaft 3 and the end of the input shaft 2 such that the input 2 and output 3 shafts are able to rotate relative to each other about the first and the second longitudinal axes, respectively, during vehicle steering. The torsionally elastic element 5 includes a plurality of separately arranged strips 8, 9, 10 & 11 located in the steering valve 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Fahrwerksysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer