Patents by Inventor Herbert Voit

Herbert Voit 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: 20070205074
    Abstract: A clutch release device for the friction clutch of a motor vehicle includes a sliding sleeve which can shift position axially on a guide tube, and a roller bearing positioned on the sliding sleeve. The roller bearing includes a first bearing ring, which can rotate with a clutch release element, a second bearing ring, which is fixed against rotation relative to the sliding sleeve, and a plurality of rolling elements which roll on races in the bearing rings. In the event of bearing failure, first and second axial stops engage to prevent relative axial displacement of the bearing rings by more than a predetermined amount. The first axial stop is fixed with respect to the first bearing ring, and the second axial stop is axially fixed with respect to the sliding sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Otto, Herbert Voit
  • Publication number: 20070205073
    Abstract: A clutch-release device for a friction clutch of a motor vehicle includes a guide tube and a sliding sleeve, which is free to shift position axially on the tube, the sleeve having a contact area for absorbing the actuating force of an actuating element. A clutch-release bearing is mounted on the sliding sleeve, the bearing having a nonrotatable first bearing ring, rolling elements, and a rotating second bearing ring, which is in working connection with an actuating element of the friction clutch. To increase the number of identical parts and thus to reduce costs, the sliding sleeve has a multi-part design, thus representing an assembly having at least two parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Otto, Herbert Voit, Manfred Wehner
  • Publication number: 20060291760
    Abstract: A roller bearing includes a radially outer bearing ring and a radially inner bearing ring. A ring-shaped holding space is formed between the bearing rings where a sealing element is mounted. The sealing element has a fastening section which is fixed to the outer bearing ring, and a lip section with two sealing lips which rest against and slide on the inner bearing ring to establish a sealing connection between the lip section and the inner bearing ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Herbert Voit
  • Patent number: 6845856
    Abstract: A release mechanism for actuating a friction clutch is concentric to a center axis of a guide sleeve mounted in turn on a transmission shaft. The release mechanism includes a clutch release bearing and a device for compensating for the tilt of the center axis of the friction clutch with respect to the center axis of the guide sleeve and/or for the wobbling eccentricity of the release spring. The clutch release bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and an adjusting sleeve. One of the inner ring or outer ring communicates with a release spring of the friction clutch. The device for compensating for the tilt of the center axis of the friction clutch with respect to the center axis of the guide sleeve and/or for the wobbling eccentricity of the release spring includes a release ring and a load ring. The release ring is in contact with a finger of the release spring of the friction clutch and includes a spherical surface having a center on the axis of the transmission shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Herbert Voit, Matthias Brunner
  • Patent number: 6827194
    Abstract: An actuation device for a shiftable clutch includes a pressure supply for providing a pressure of a pressure medium for actuating the clutch, and a first and a second workspace independently in communication with the pressure supply for receiving the pressure. A first piston surface is disposed in the first workspace and is operably displaceable in a first direction responsive to the pressure. A second piston surface is disposed in the second workspace and is operably displaceable in a second direction responsive to the pressure. The second direction is oriented opposite to the first direction. One of the first or second piston surfaces is responsive to an application of the pressure in the respective workspace displacing in the respective first or second direction to exert the actuation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Klaus Steinel, Bernd Förster, Herbert Voit
  • Patent number: 6814196
    Abstract: A friction clutch, particularly for a motor vehicle, including a clutch disk which can be coupled in frictional engagement with the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and which is connected by a hub to a transmission input shaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it and can revolve with the latter around a common axis of rotation. The clutch further includes an actuation system for engaging or disengaging the frictional engagement of the clutch disk which is arranged concentric to the transmission input shaft, and a transmission brake for reducing the rotational speed of the transmission input shaft during determined shifting processes of the transmission. The transmission brake can be controlled independent from the actuation system of the friction clutch, and all component parts of the transmission brake are integrated in the actuation system of the friction clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventor: Herbert Voit
  • Publication number: 20030230462
    Abstract: A release mechanism for actuating a friction clutch is concentric to a center axis of a guide sleeve mounted in turn on a transmission shaft. The release mechanism includes a clutch release bearing and a device for compensating for the tilt of the center axis of the friction clutch with respect to the center axis of the guide sleeve and/or for the wobbling eccentricity of the release spring. The clutch release bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and an adjusting sleeve. One of the inner ring or outer ring communicates with a release spring of the friction clutch. The device for compensating for the tilt of the center axis of the friction clutch with respect to the center axis of the guide sleeve and/or for the wobbling eccentricity of the release spring includes a release ring and a load ring. The release ring is in contact with a finger of the release spring of the friction clutch and includes a spherical surface having a center on the axis of the transmission shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Herbert Voit, Matthias Brunner
  • Publication number: 20030221930
    Abstract: An actuation device for a shiftable clutch includes a pressure supply for providing a pressure of a pressure medium for actuating the clutch, and a first and a second workspace independently in communication with the pressure supply for receiving the pressure. A first piston surface is disposed in the first workspace and is operably displaceable in a first direction responsive to the pressure. A second piston surface is disposed in the second workspace and is operably displaceable in a second direction responsive to the pressure. The second direction is oriented opposite to the first direction. One of the first or second piston surfaces is responsive to an application of the pressure in the respective workspace displacing in the respective first or second direction to exert the actuation force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Klaus Steinel, Bernd Forster, Herbert Voit
  • Patent number: 6622836
    Abstract: A release system for a clutch assembly comprises a release slide, which is or can be connected to a stored-energy element of the clutch assembly to execute release movements, and at least one brake element, which can move along with the release slide during the execution of release movements. This brake element can be brought into braking interaction with an opposing brake element which is or can be connected in an essentially nonrotatable manner to a clutch output shaft, where the release slide and the minimum of one brake element form a piston/cylinder unit with at least one fluid chamber. Pressure fluid is introduced into the minimum of one fluid chamber to produce a force which preloads or moves the minimum of one brake element relative to the release slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Thomas Otto, Herbert Voit, Manfred Wehner, Frank Hirschmann
  • Publication number: 20030168300
    Abstract: A friction clutch, particularly for a motor vehicle, including a clutch disk which can be coupled in frictional engagement with the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and which is connected by a hub to a transmission input shaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it and can revolve with the latter around a common axis of rotation. The clutch further includes an actuation system for engaging or disengaging the frictional engagement of the clutch disk which is arranged concentric to the transmission input shaft, and a transmission brake for reducing the rotational speed of the transmission input shaft during determined shifting processes of the transmission. The transmission brake can be controlled independent from the actuation system of the friction clutch, and all component parts of the transmission brake are integrated in the actuation system of the friction clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventor: Herbert Voit
  • Patent number: 6588558
    Abstract: A release slide is or can be connected to a stored-energy element of the clutch assembly for executing a release movement, and at least one brake element can move along with the release slide during the execution of a release movement, which brake element can be brought into braking interaction with a counter-braking element, which is or can be connected in essentially nonrotatable fashion to a clutch output shaft, where the minimum of one brake element can shift position relative to the release slide at least to compensate for the wear which occurs in the area of the clutch assembly. A latching arrangement includes a set of latching teeth on either the release slide or on the brake element, and a latching element on the other of the brake element and the release slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Thomas Otto, Herbert Voit, Manfred Wehner
  • Patent number: 6540057
    Abstract: The actuation device includes a pressure medium force cylinder arrangement by means of which the friction clutch can be actuated via a release member. A measuring member of a measuring arrangement detecting an actual release is in tractive force driving engagement with an associated mating member whose position represents the actual release along a measurement path, which engagement is essentially free from play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Andreas Konrad, Thomas Otto, Herbert Voit, Barbara Ester, Manfred Wehner
  • Publication number: 20020060116
    Abstract: A release system for a clutch assembly comprises a release slide, which is or can be connected to a stored-energy element of the clutch assembly to execute release movements, and at least one brake element, which can move along with the release slide during the execution of release movements. This brake element can be brought into braking interaction with an opposing brake element which is or can be connected in an essentially nonrotatable manner to a clutch output shaft, where the release slide and the minimum of one brake element form a piston/cylinder unit with at least one fluid chamber. Pressure fluid is introduced into the minimum of one fluid chamber to produce a force which preloads or moves the minimum of one brake element relative to the release slide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Thomas Otto, Herbert Voit, Manfred Wehner, Frank Hirschmann
  • Publication number: 20020060115
    Abstract: A release slide is or can be connected to a stored-energy element of the clutch assembly for executing a release movement, and at least one brake element can move along with the release slide during the execution of a release movement, which brake element can be brought into braking interaction with a counter-braking element, which is or can be connected in essentially nonrotatable fashion to a clutch output shaft, where the minimum of one brake element can shift position relative to the release slide at least to compensate for the wear which occurs in the area of the clutch assembly. A latching arrangement includes a set of latching teeth on either the release slide or on the brake element, and a latching element on the other of the brake element and the release slide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Thomas Otto, Herbert Voit, Manfred Wehner
  • Publication number: 20010030097
    Abstract: The actuation device includes a pressure medium force cylinder arrangement by means of which the friction clutch can be actuated via a release member. A measuring member of a measuring arrangement detecting an actual release is in tractive force driving engagement with an associated mating member whose position represents the actual release along a measurement path, which engagement is essentially free from play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Andreas Konrad, Thomas Otto, Herbert Voit, Barbara Ester, Manfred Wehner
  • Patent number: 6116399
    Abstract: An operation device for a friction clutch arranged in the drive train of a motor vehicle. The operation device includes a positioning servo arrangement with a pneumatic power cylinder arrangement. The pneumatic power cylinder arrangement acts on a clutch release sleeve arrangement. The positioning servo arrangement can be operated with a control valve that is connected to a pneumatic source depending on a command variable representing a desired position and an actual variable representing the axial position of the clutch release sleeve arrangement. The pneumatic power cylinder arrangement is arranged inside of the bell-shaped housing and the control valve is arranged outside of the bell-shaped housing or the bell-shaped housing is arranged at least partially inside of the bell-shaped housing, but is accessible from the outside and/or can be removed when the bell-shaped housing is attached to the combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Drexl, Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Manfred Wehner, Herbert Voit, Joachim Lindner, Thomas Otto, Jorg Willert
  • Patent number: 6092637
    Abstract: A seal element, in particular an elastomer gasket for use in hydraulic annular cylinders, such as in clutches, with a radially outer and a radially inner seal lip, characterized by the fact that the seal lips are axially offset in relation to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Thomas Otto, Boleslaw Tulaczko, Angelika Ebert, Herbert Voit
  • Patent number: 5964333
    Abstract: A slave cylinder for the operation of a friction clutch, especially in motor vehicles, with a housing, an inner portion, an annular or cylindrical piston which annular piston is positioned between the housing and the inner portion, a clutch release sleeve or clutch throwout sleeve or coupling socket joint which clutch release sleeve is in contact with the annular piston and can be axially displaced with respect to the housing, as well as a spring or pressure spring or compression spring which is supported by both the clutch release sleeve and the housing, and radial shoulders or steps or reliefs provided at the clutch release sleeve and at the housing to secure against torsion. The pressure spring may be characterized as a sinuous spring or zig-zag or no-sag spring. The ends of the pressure spring are positioned to make contact at the ends of the shoulders which shoulders act in the opposite direction to secure against torsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Herbert Voit, Angelika Ebert
  • Patent number: 5779019
    Abstract: A cylinder for hydraulic systems, in particular for motor vehicles, generally includes a housing having an axial hole in which a piston is guided so that the piston can be displaced axially. One end surface of the piston can be pressurized by means of hydraulic fluid. The cylinder is provided with at least one connection designed as a plug-in connection, for the insertion of at least one pressure medium line having a radially expanded portion on its outside diameter. The plug-in connection of the cylinder is designed so that both the expense for components and for labor required to fasten the pressure medium line to the connection of the cylinder can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Herbert Voit, Manfred Wehner
  • Patent number: 5620076
    Abstract: A hydraulically actuated clutch release system for a motor vehicle friction clutch, including a piston-cylinder unit oriented concentrically to a transmission input shaft, whereby the cylinder is fastened to the transmission housing, and has the cylinder chamber for the piston between an inner and an outer cylinder shell. The piston itself is guided inside a guide element surrounded by the outer cylinder shell. The outer cylinder shell, next to the guide element, has at least one retaining member which can be brought into contact with the guide element, and through which retaining member the guide element can be secured against participation in the movement of the piston during the engagement and release of the clutch. In this case, when there is a change in the axial position of the piston caused by wear in the friction clutch, the action of the retaining member can be suppressed for a displacement of the guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Herbert Voit, Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Boleslaw Tulaczko