Patents by Inventor Helmut Baalmann

Helmut Baalmann 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: 10865847
    Abstract: A damping valve includes a valve body has at least one through-flow channel for each flow direction of a damping medium through the valve body. Each through-flow channel connects an inlet to an outlet. a valve disk covers the through-flow channels at the outlet opening the valve disk has a first volume flow of the damping medium through the valve body, at least one pre-orifice in the valve disk and at least one pre-orifice throttle arrangement is arranged at least indirectly adjoining the valve disk and adapted to at least partially cover or open the pre-orifice depending on the flow direction of a damping medium. The pre-orifice throttle arrangement includes multiple structural component parts arranged coaxial to one another, at least two of the structural component parts are inseparably connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Harun Tucovic, Oswald Lichtlein, Eberhard Simon, Helmut Baalmann
  • Patent number: 10434834
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle with a chassis arrangement having at least two vibration dampers. A body control is carried out at least partially with the vibration dampers. The chassis arrangement further has at least one stabilizer. During transverse accelerations below a threshold acceleration the stabilizer contributes to the body control less than the vibration dampers and contributes more than the vibration dampers from the threshold acceleration upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Norbert Ackermann, Helmut Baalmann, Andreas Förster, Sven Greger, Steffen Heyn, Holger Kirchner, Sven Philip Krüger, Thomas Manger, Hendrik Marquar, Christian Maurischat, Stefan Rappelt, Alexander Schwarz, Jens Seiler, Achim Thomae, Michael Triebel
  • Patent number: 10427485
    Abstract: A method of operating a motor vehicle with a chassis system comprising at least two, preferably four vibration damper includes carrying out a body control and a wheel control with the chassis system, and controlling the energy supply for the chassis system via an energy control arrangement. A motor vehicle performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Norbert Ackermann, Helmut Baalmann, Michael Triebel, Christian Maurischat, Achim Thomae, Andreas Förster, Steffen Heyn, Thomas Manger, Stefen Rappelt, Sven Greger, Sven Philip Krüger, Jens Seiler, Holger Kirchner, Hendrik Marquar, Alexander Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20190264770
    Abstract: A damping valve includes a valve body has at least one through-flow channel for each flow direction of a damping medium through the valve body. Each through-flow channel connects an inlet to an outlet. a valve disk covers the through-flow channels at the outlet opening the valve disk has a first volume flow of the damping medium through the valve body, at least one pre-orifice in the valve disk and at least one pre-orifice throttle arrangement is arranged at least indirectly adjoining the valve disk and adapted to at least partially cover or open the pre-orifice depending on the flow direction of a damping medium. The pre-orifice throttle arrangement includes multiple structural component parts arranged coaxial to one another, at least two of the structural component parts are inseparably connected to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Harun TUCOVIC, Oswald LICHTLEIN, Eberhard SIMON, Helmut BAALMANN
  • Patent number: 10308092
    Abstract: A roll stabilization system (1) for a motor vehicle which has a DC voltage converter (6) associated with an electric roll stabilizer (2). By way of the DC voltage converter, a feed voltage can be transformed into a supply voltage for the roll stabilizer (2). To produce as compact a structure as possible, the DC voltage converter (6) is integrated in the electric roll stabilizer (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Triebel, Achim Thomae, Helmut Baalmann, Stefan Rappelt, Ernst Oswald
  • Patent number: 10245913
    Abstract: A vibration damper with a piston, a piston rod fastened to the piston, a working chamber divided by the piston into a first working chamber and second working chamber, and a generator drivable by movement of the piston rod. The damping force of the vibration damper can be influenced by energization of the generator. An energizable component part is provided that short-circuits the windings of the generator when unenergized and cancels the short circuit when energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Achim Thomae, Helmut Baalmann, Wilhelm-Heinrich Broocks, Oswald Lichtlein, Steffen Heyn, Andreas Förster, Joachim Gajek, Robert Pradel, Anke Sonnemann
  • Publication number: 20190047350
    Abstract: A vibration damper with a damping force adjusting device and a height adjusting device for changing the axial position of a piston of the vibration damper, characterized in that the damping force adjusting device is adjusted depending on at least one operating parameter of the height adjusting device, and when there is a change in the at least one operating parameter there is also a change in at least one operating parameter of the damping force adjusting device. A method of operating a vibration damper with a controller and a motor vehicle including such vibration damper and controller is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Achim THOMAE, Eberhard SIMON, Andreas FÖRSTER, Steffen HEYN, Helmut BAALMANN
  • Publication number: 20180370319
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle with a chassis arrangement having at least two vibration dampers. A body control is carried out at least partially with the vibration dampers. The chassis arrangement further has at least one stabilizer. During transverse accelerations below a threshold acceleration the stabilizer contributes to the body control less than the vibration dampers and contributes more than the vibration dampers from the threshold acceleration upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Norbert ACKERMANN, Helmut BAALMANN, Andreas FÖRSTER, Sven GREGER, Steffen HEYN, Holger KIRCHNER, Sven Philip KRÜGER, Thomas MANGER, Hendrik MARQUAR, Christian MAURISCHAT, Stefan RAPPELT, Alexander SCHWARZ, Jens SEILER, Achim THOMAE, Michael TRIEBEL
  • Publication number: 20180229577
    Abstract: A roll stabilization system (1) for a motor vehicle which has a DC voltage converter (6) associated with an electric roll stabilizer (2). By way of the DC voltage converter, a feed voltage can be transformed into a supply voltage for the roll stabilizer (2). To produce as compact a structure as possible, the DC voltage converter (6) is integrated in the electric roll stabilizer (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Michael TRIEBEL, Achim THOMAE, Helmut BAALMANN, Stefan RAPPELT, Ernst OSWALD
  • Patent number: 9951839
    Abstract: A preloading device for a piston valve of a vibration damper includes a spring element which is fitted by an inner diameter onto a radially inner centering device which serves for inner centering of the spring element in the installed state of the preloading device. To provide a preloading device for a piston valve by which a reliable inner centering of a spring element can be ensured but which can be placed with low expenditure on assembly at the same time, the spring element is axially fixed at the centering device via retaining means in that the retaining means at least partially enclose the spring element axially on both sides and are rigidly connected to the centering device in each instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Helmut Baalmann, Hassan Asadi, Hans Gonschorrek, Lothar Krill, Alexander Kruse, Oswald Lichtlein, Dirk Litterscheid, Thomas Manger, Heinz Sydekum, Harun Tucovic
  • Patent number: 9926918
    Abstract: Energy-recuperating vibration damper having a cylinder in which a displacer executes a limited operating movement in a working chamber so that a pressurized fluid is supplied to a fluid motor which drives a generator. A compensation chamber compensates for a change in volume of the pressurized fluid. A pressure accumulator is provided in addition to the compensation chamber, which pressure accumulator communicates with and is parallel-connected to the fluid motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Triebel, Achim Thomae, Helmut Baalmann, Wilhelm-Heinrich Broocks, Oswald Lichtlein, Steffen Heyn, Andreas Förster, Joachim Gajek, Robert Pradel, Anke Sonnemann
  • Publication number: 20180037080
    Abstract: A method of operating a motor vehicle with a chassis system comprising at least two, preferably four vibration damper includes carrying out a body control and a wheel control with the chassis system, and controlling the energy supply for the chassis system via an energy control arrangement. A motor vehicle performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Norbert ACKERMANN, Helmut BAALMANN, Michael TRIEBEL, Christian MAURISCHAT, Achim THOMAE, Andreas FÖRSTER, Steffen HEYN, Thomas MANGER, Stefen RAPPELT, Sven GREGER, Sven Philip KRÜGER, Jens SEILER, Holger KIRCHNER, Hendrick MARQUAR, Alexander SCHWARZ
  • Publication number: 20170240016
    Abstract: A vibration damper with a piston, a piston rod fastened to the piston, a working chamber divided by the piston into a first working chamber and second working chamber, and a generator drivable by movement of the piston rod. The damping force of the vibration damper can be influenced by energization of the generator. An energizable component part is provided that short-circuits the windings of the generator when unenergized and cancels the short circuit when energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Achim THOMAE, Helmut BAALMANN, Wilhelm-Heinrich BROOCKS, Oswald LICHTLEIN, Steffen HEYN, Andreas FÖRSTER, Joachim GAJEK, Robert PRADEL, Anke SONNEMANN
  • Patent number: 9593697
    Abstract: The vibration damper including a hydraulic end stop that has a sealing ring which is arranged between the end stop ring and the closure element, is supported axially on one side at the end stop ring, engages radially around the piston rod, is mounted in a sliding manner at the piston rod, and with its outer circumferential surface radially contacts the inner wall of the control space, wherein the sealing ring has at least one radial throttle groove which takes effect when the end stop with the sealing ring moves into the control space and ensures a defined flow of damping medium between the control chamber and the first working space, and wherein the sealing ring has a plurality of spring tongues which are supported at a supporting surface on the piston rod side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Helmut Baalmann, Stefan Schmitt, Peter Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20170012495
    Abstract: A vibration damper having a cylinder filled with pressurized medium and a displacer that drives a generator. The vibration damper has a resilience element that compensates pressure peaks from the displacer movement relative to the generator. The resilience element is constructed as a torsion damper for the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Robert PRADEL, Helmut BAALMANN, Andreas FÖRSTER, Eberhard SIMON, Achim THOMAE, Sebastian SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20170009839
    Abstract: A vibration damper includes a piston rod (2) which transitions into a piston rod neck (4) while forming a contact shoulder (6) and guides a piston valve (1) at this piston rod neck (4), this piston valve (1) is pretensioned against the contact shoulder (6) of the piston rod (2). To reduce variances in damping force in batch fabrication of the vibration damper, a compensating disk (20) is fitted axially between the contact shoulder (6) and the piston valve (1), which compensating disk (20) is produced from a material with a lower yield strength compared to the piston rod (2) and/or compared to an immediately succeeding component of the piston valve (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Helmut BAALMANN, Hassan ASADI, Hans GONSCHORREK, Lothar KRILL, Alexander KRUSE, Oswald LICHTLEIN, Dirk LITTERSCHEID, Thomas MANGER, Harun TUCOVIC, Heinz SYDEKUM
  • Publication number: 20170012494
    Abstract: A vibration damper having a cylinder filled with pressurized medium and in which a displacer drives a generator. The vibration damper has a compensation element that compensates pressure peaks from the displacer movement relative to the generator. The compensation element is constructed as a variable-torque clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Robert PRADEL, Helmut BAALMANN, Andreas FÖRSTER, Eberhard SIMON, Achim THOMAE, Sebastian SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20170002887
    Abstract: A preloading device for a piston valve of a vibration damper includes a spring element which is fitted by an inner diameter onto a radially inner centering device which serves for inner centering of the spring element in the installed state of the preloading device. To provide a preloading device for a piston valve by which a reliable inner centering of a spring element can be ensured but which can be placed with low expenditure on assembly at the same time, the spring element is axially fixed at the centering device via retaining means in that the retaining means at least partially enclose the spring element axially on both sides and are rigidly connected to the centering device in each instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Helmut BAALMANN, Hassan ASADI, Hans GONSCHORREK, Lothar KRILL, Alexander KRUSE, Oswald LICHTLEIN, Dirk LITTERSCHEID, Thomas MANGER, Heinz SYDEKUM, Harun TUCOVIC
  • Publication number: 20150192114
    Abstract: Energy-recuperating vibration damper having a cylinder in which a displacer executes a limited operating movement in a working chamber so that a pressurized fluid is supplied to a fluid motor which drives a generator. A compensation chamber compensates for a change in volume of the pressurized fluid. A pressure accumulator is provided in addition to the compensation chamber, which pressure accumulator communicates with and is parallel-connected to the fluid motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Triebel, Achim Thomae, Helmut Baalmann, Wilhelm-Heinrich Broocks, Oswald Lichtlein, Steffen Heyn, Andreas Förster, Joachim Gajek, Robert Pradel, Anke Sonnemann
  • Publication number: 20140360353
    Abstract: The vibration damper including a hydraulic end stop that has a sealing ring which is arranged between the end stop ring and the closure element, is supported axially on one side at the end stop ring, engages radially around the piston rod, is mounted in a sliding manner at the piston rod, and with its outer circumferential surface radially contacts the inner wall of the control space, wherein the sealing ring has at least one radial throttle groove which takes effect when the end stop with the sealing ring moves into the control space and ensures a defined flow of damping medium between the control chamber and the first working space, and wherein the sealing ring has a plurality of spring tongues which are supported at a supporting surface on the piston rod side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Helmut Baalmann, Stefan Schmitt, Peter Schmitt