Patents by Inventor Helmut Steffes

Helmut Steffes 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: 6705846
    Abstract: In a piston pump, in particular for pressure medium delivery in slip-controlled hydraulic brake systems, including a suction valve and a delivery valve, external preassembly and possibilities of external testing of the delivery and suction valves result from providing the suction valve and the delivery valve within a component which can be handled independently. The component preferably includes a delivery valve provided radially to the center line and a valve seat member, with a valve body of the delivery valve being prestressed by a tongue of a clamp, placed onto the valve seat member, against a valve seat formed within the valve seat member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Uwe Greiff, Albrecht Otto, Helmut Steffes
  • Publication number: 20030072661
    Abstract: In a piston pump (1), in particular for pressure medium delivery in slip-controlled hydraulic brake systems, including a suction valve (82) and a delivery valve (81), external preassembly and possibilities of external testing of the delivery and suction valves (81,82) result from providing the suction valve (82) and the delivery valve (81) within a component (8) which can be handled independently. The component (8) preferably includes a delivery valve (81) provided radially to the center line and a valve seat member (70), with a valve body (95) of the delivery valve (81) being prestressed by a tongue (121) of a clamp (120), placed onto the valve seat member (70), against a valve seat (96) formed within the valve seat member (70).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Uwe Greiff, Albrecht Otto, Helmut Steffes
  • Patent number: 6497562
    Abstract: In a piston pump (1), in particular for pressure medium delivery in slip-controlled hydraulic brake systems, including a suction valve (82) and a delivery valve (81), external preassembly and possibilities of external testing of the delivery and suction valves (81,82) result from providing the suction valve (82) and the delivery valve (81) within a component (8) which can be handled independently. The component (8) preferably includes a delivery valve (81) provided radially to the center line and a valve seat member (70), with a valve body (95) of the delivery valve (81) being prestressed by a tongue (121) of a clamp (120), placed onto the valve seat member (70), against a valve seat (96) formed within the valve seat member (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Uwe Greiff, Albrecht Otto, Helmut Steffes
  • Patent number: 6454543
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a space-saving and weight-saving motor-and-pump assembly which comprises a drive motor and a pump unit driven by the shaft of the said motor. In order to supply in parallel as many media as possible with an assembly of this type, the present invention suggests the additional integration of at least one second pump unit, driven by the motor shaft of the drive motor, into the motor-and-pump assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Erhard Beck, Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Helmut Steffes, Peter Drott, Jan Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 6450787
    Abstract: In a piston pump, in particular, for the pressure fluid conveyance in hydraulic, slip-controlled brake systems, comprising at least one piston, a suction valve and a pressure valve, it will be possible for the suction and pressure valves to be externally checked in that the suction valve and the pressure valve are formed on a structural unit adapted to be separately handled. Preferably, the structural unit comprises a sleeve-type section in which the piston is guided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Stephan Risch, Axel Hinz, Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Helmut Steffes, Georg Sonnenschein, Marco Müller, Günther Vogel, Uwe Greiff, Christoph Wagner, Joachim Böing
  • Patent number: 6220827
    Abstract: An electric-motor-and-pump assembly includes at least one bearing (7) for a mounting support of a motor shaft (6) in a motor housing (3), and a pump (14), which is adapted to be attached to the motor (2) and has at least one roller bearing (28) for a mounting support of a pump shaft (16) in a pump housing (15). The two shafts (6, 16) are interconnected by way of a force-lockingly operative transmission element (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Helmut Steffes, Gottfried Dehio
  • Patent number: 6220675
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system which incorporates several mutually independent brake circuits and does not require additional energy for conducting brake-slip control actions or stability control actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventor: Helmut Steffes
  • Patent number: 6149250
    Abstract: To prevent difficulties in a brake system which is appropriate for automatic braking operations when the viscosity of the pressure fluid is high at low temperatures, a precharging pump for the pressure fluid supply during automatic braking is located so that it aspirates pressure fluid from the supply reservoir and delivers it into the brake line at a junction point as far from the master cylinder as possible. This junction point should be as close as possible to the suction side of the return pump. The large distance between the master cylinder and the point where the pressure line opens into the brake line makes it unnecessary to provide additional throttle elements in the brake line in order to reliably prevent pressure fluid from discharging into the supply reservoir. Only when the change-over valve on the suction side of the return pump is closed after an automatic braking operation has ended will it be necessary to reduce the residual pressure because the precharging pump continues running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Helmut Steffes, Gottfried Dehio, Peter Volz
  • Patent number: 6142583
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-lock hydraulic automotive brake system which includes a pneumatic brake force booster (6) operable in response to the driver and independently therefrom, and a master brake cylinder (8) connected downstream of the brake force booster (6) and having pressure chambers to which several wheel brakes (HR, HL, VR, VL) associated with the vehicle wheels are connected by way of an ABS hydraulic unit (11) with a pump (7). Means (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) are provided which sense the actution of the brake force booster (6), control the pump (7) and constitute a hydraulic connection between the master brake cylinder (8) and the suction side of the pump (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & CO. OHG
    Inventor: Helmut Steffes
  • Patent number: 6116146
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a radial piston machine including radial pistons which are guided in the direction of the piston axis in a housing, a driver which is coupled to the radial pistons, and an eccentric drive which is arranged inside the driver following the motion sequence of the eccentric gear. Perpendicular to the piston axis, a radial clearance which corresponds at least to the stroke of the radial piston is adjustable between the eccentric gear and the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Helmut Steffes
  • Patent number: 5924775
    Abstract: The invention is based on the objective of simplifying the filling of a auxiliary reservoir that provides an additional medium pressure volume for the suction side of a return pump. For this purpose, the invention proposes to utilize a separating piston that is charged on one side by the main cylinder pressure and on the other side by a compression spring. The pressure medium is conveyed from the main reservoir to the auxiliary reservoir by means of two return valves while the separating piston is displaced. Due to the stepped design of the separating piston, only a small volume displacement is required on the side of the main cylinder for supplying a large charge volume to the auxiliary reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Helmut Steffes
  • Patent number: 5722741
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic pressure control device including electromagnetically operable hydraulic valves (solenoid valves) which are arranged on a valve-accommodating member, coils which project from the valve-accommodating member, the coils having electric contact elements on their parts projecting from the valve-accommodating member, a cover which covers the projecting coil parts and the contact elements, a carrier element to accommodate the coils, with projections being shaped on the bottom side of the substantially plate-shaped carrier element close to the coils, which projections enclose the electric contact elements projecting from the coils, the projections having cavities for accommodating adhesive material which establishes a connection with the projections by enclosing the contact elements in an operative manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Steffes
  • Patent number: 5722742
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic pressure control mechanism, with electromagnetically controllable hydraulic valves arrayed on a valve housing, with coils which have some of their parts overhanging the valve housing, and the parts being equipped with contact elements. A molding box enclosing the coils and the contact elements, with the molding box or part thereof being suitable for installation of an electronic controller or parts of terminals for such. The molding box featuring cavities extending from its set-down surface on the valve housing to the far outer surface of the molding box; and the cavities taking on the form of lead-through opening in the proximity of coils. This assures a simplified attachment of coil casings to the valve domes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Dieter Dinkel, Helmut Steffes
  • Patent number: 5700071
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an electrohydraulic pressure control device, with electromagnetically actuated hydraulic valves, which are arranged on a valve-holding element, with coils which extend beyond the valve-holding element, whereby the coils are provided with electrical contact elements at their parts extending beyond the valve-holding element, with a cover which covers the extending coil parts and the contact element, with a support element to hold the coils, that are positioned within the cover, whereby the cover or a portion of the cover is designed as an electromagnetic controller or for holding the connecting parts of an electronic controller. An essentially plate-like carrier element facing the coils features several slots into which form- and/or pressure-locking closing devices are engaged projecting from the outer surface of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Steffes, Dieter Dinkel, Gunther Vogel, Peter Volz
  • Patent number: 5681099
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic pressure control device including a plurality of electromagnetically operable hydraulic valves (solenoid valves) which are arranged on a valve-accommodating member in a block-type manner, coils which project from the valve accommodating member. The coils including injection-molded cables on their parts projecting from the valve-accommodating member, a cover which covers the projecting coil parts and the cables, a carrier element to accommodate the coils which is arranged within the cover, with the carrier element including a plurality of openings into which a plurality of anchoring members fitted to the coils are form-locking engaged, and with the electric cables being relieved from tensile load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Steffes, Hans-Dieter Reinartz
  • Patent number: 5401085
    Abstract: A brake pressure control apparatus having a brake pressure master unit, a brake connected to the brake pressure master unit through a pressure line, a pressure-controlled inlet valve which is positioned in the pressure line and through which the brake pressure master unit is connected, in a first switching position, through a restrictor orifice to the brake and which is furnished with a control piston which in one direction is subject to the pressure in the pressure line and in the opposite direction is subject to the action of a spring and of the pressure in a return line which contains an outlet valve which is controllable by a control device, which blocks the return line in its position of rest and which releases the return line in its switching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Burgdorf, Helmut Steffes, Peter Volz, Erhard Beck, Dalibor Zaviska, Albrecht Otto, Stefan Risch
  • Patent number: 5388898
    Abstract: A hydraulic antilock brake system is described, with a multi-way valve hydraulically switched to connect the brake pressure generator (1) to the wheel brake (2), controlling, in response to the pump pressure prevailing in the auxiliary pressure conduit (4), the pressure fluid connection between the brake pressure generator (1) and the wheel brake (2). The valve (3) is switched by pump pressure in the absence of pressure from the brake pressure generator, but held or switched open if the brake pressure generator is operated. This allows a low-cost adaption to traction slip control with no need for additional electronic controls while substantially preserving the basic circuit configuration, especially the electronic control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Helmut Steffes
  • Patent number: 5383718
    Abstract: A brake system which can be employed both for brake slip control and for traction slip control, wherein the brake slip control is performed according to the return delivery principle, while an open-loop system is set up during traction slip control. In order to manage with the same pump (10) in both cases, a valve system composed of a first non-return valve (16) and a second non-return valve (17) is provided at the suction side of the pump. The opening pressure of the first non-return valve (16) is greater than that of the second non-return valve (17). Further, the initial pressure of a low-pressure accumulator (9) is in excess of the opening pressure of the first non-return valve (16). The first non-return valve (16) is operative during brake slip control, while the second non-return valve (17) is operative during traction slip control. Switch-over can be effected for instance by the master cylinder pressure via a control line (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Burgdorf, Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Helmut Steffes, Peter Volz, Erhard Beck, Joachim Maas, Peter Dinkel, Stefan Risch
  • Patent number: 5350226
    Abstract: An anti-lock hydraulic brake system is described wherein a throttle valve has a restrictive flow condition which becomes effective in the brake line in the event of brake slip control. Pumps for reapply pressure deliver fluid to the wheel brake via this restriction and regulating the pressure in the wheel brake is performed by control of an outlet valve. The throttle valve is operated hydraulically by various arrangements including the application of pump pressure, or by wheel brake pressure applied upon opening of the outlet valve at the start of an anti-lock control cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Burgdorf, Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Helmut Steffes, Norbert Ocvirk, Peter Volz, Lutz Weise, Helmut Fennel, Hans Wupper, Hans-Wilhelm Bleckmann, Erhard Beck, Dieter Dinkel, Karlheinz Haupt
  • Patent number: 5340285
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive assembly, in particular a motor pump assembly for slip-controlled brake systems, with a device for transforming rotatory into translatory movements, including a drive shaft which is movably guided in a housing, and an eccentric device which is associated with the drive shaft. In order to be able to change the dimension of the eccentric, it is provided that the eccentric device is formed of two eccentrics which are turnable relative to each other and are in mesh with each other in a form-fit manner, so that at least an eccentric sum dimension formed from the individual eccentric dimensions of two eccentrics, respectively, can be set variably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Helmut Steffes