Patents by Inventor Holger Kirchner
Holger Kirchner 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).
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Patent number: 10434834Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 18, 2015Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: 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
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Patent number: 10427485Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 18, 2015Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20190126708Abstract: A hydropneumatic suspension strut includes a piston-cylinder unit with a first gas spring and a second carrying spring. The gas spring and the carrying spring are connected in parallel and have an identical working direction. The suspension strut is adjustable to at least two level positions. The second carrying spring has a spring rate that increases as the effective length of the suspension strut decreases.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Nobert ACKERMANN, Holger KIRCHNER
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Publication number: 20180370319Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2015Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 9975598Abstract: A suspension system includes a spring support for a vehicle support spring. A spring collar supporting the vehicle support spring is selectively adjustable with respect to position by a pressurized-medium supply with the aim of adjusting the level of a vehicle body. The spring support is constructed as a hydropneumatic spring having a hydraulic volume, which can likewise be adjusted relative to a pneumatic storage element.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Burkhard Bender, Holger Kirchner, Nobert Ackermann
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Patent number: 9975393Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic suspension strut includes a high pressure area and a low pressure area, wherein pressurized medium is exchanged between the high pressure area and the low pressure area via a passive pump device. At least two separate channel systems with connection orifices which determine level position and are controlled depending on the position of a piston rod are provided between the high pressure area and the low pressure area. One of the channel systems can be blocked by a valve device, and wherein the suspension strut has a displacing device with a spring seat for a supporting spring. The displacing device is operated via the working movement of the piston rod.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2016Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Holger Kirchner, Bernhard Russ, Johannes Hampel, Wolfgang Prinz
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Publication number: 20180037080Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2015Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20170080771Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic suspension strut includes a high pressure area and a low pressure area, wherein pressurized medium is exchanged between the high pressure area and the low pressure area via a passive pump device. At least two separate channel systems with connection orifices which determine level position and are controlled depending on the position of a piston rod are provided between the high pressure area and the low pressure area. One of the channel systems can be blocked by a valve device, and wherein the suspension strut has a displacing device with a spring seat for a supporting spring. The displacing device is operated via the working movement of the piston rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Holger KIRCHNER, Bernhard RUSS, Johannes HAMPEL, Wolfgang PRINZ
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Publication number: 20170057591Abstract: A suspension system includes a spring support for a vehicle support spring. A spring collar supporting the vehicle support spring is selectively adjustable with respect to position by a pressurized-medium supply with the aim of adjusting the level of a vehicle body. The spring support is constructed as a hydropneumatic spring having a hydraulic volume, which can likewise be adjusted relative to a pneumatic storage element.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: Burkhard BENDER, Holger KIRCHNER, Nobert ACKERMANN
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Publication number: 20120312005Abstract: Self-pumping hydropneumatic piston-cylinder unit comprising a working cylinder in which a piston rod with a piston is guided so as to be axially movable, wherein the working cylinder carries a hollow pump rod aligned in the longitudinal axis of the piston-cylinder unit, wherein a radial control bore in the pump rod cooperates with a pump sleeve on the piston rod side, wherein the pump rod and the pump sleeve are connected to a fluid reservoir and form a pumping device by which a determined level position is automatically adjusted, wherein the pump sleeve is controllable by an actuator to adjust the determined level position, characterized in that the axial position of the pump sleeve relative to the control bore is adjustable by means of the actuator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Norbert ACKERMANN, Holger Kirchner, Thomas Meyer
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Patent number: 8091870Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut is provided to have internal level control. The spring strut has an outer tube having one end sealed by a piston rod guide, a working cylinder received inside the outer tube, and a hollow piston rod extending into the working cylinder through the piston rod guide. The piston rod carries a piston, which is operable to travel axially inside the working cylinder in a sealing manner and separates the working cylinder into first and second working spaces. The first working space is under a high-pressure from a high-pressure chamber and acting as a spring and the second working space is located on a piston rod-side. The spring strut also has a pump rod received inside the hollow piston rod. The pump rod and the hollow piston rod form a piston pump, which, in response to sprung movements acted thereonto, conveys a damping media from a low-pressure chamber into the first working space connected to the high-pressure chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Holger Kirchner, Thomas Meyer
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Patent number: 8087646Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit for installing between a vehicle body and an axle includes a cylinder filled with damping medium, a piston dividing the cylinder into working spaces, and a piston rod. A first damping valve assembly in the piston damps movement of the piston in tension and in compression. A load dependent valve includes a valve body which can be moved axially by pressure in the damping medium, the valve body having axially opposed first and second actuation surfaces. The first actuation surface is exposed to pressure of a first accumulator, which is connected to one of the working spaces, and the second actuation surface is exposed to pressure of a second accumulator.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2006Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Holger Kirchner, Norbert Ackermann
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Patent number: 8052128Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut with internal leveling control, particularly for motor vehicles, has an outer tube having an oil-filled high-pressure work space in the work cylinder, which high-pressure work space is under pressure by at least one gas cushion which is arranged in a high-pressure chamber and acts as a spring, a second work space on the piston rod side, and a piston which is supported by a hollow piston rod and which is axially displaceable in the work cylinder in a sealed manner, a piston pump which is driven by the spring movement of the vehicle and pumps oil out of a low-pressure chamber into the work space connected to the high-pressure chamber and which comprises a pump rod and a pump cylinder which is formed by the hollow piston rod, and the high-pressure chamber can be connected to the atmosphere by a flow connection which is arranged in the piston rod guide and has a closing element.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2008Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Holger Kirchner, Hubert Beck, Thomas Meyer
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Patent number: 7758839Abstract: Method for producing silicon which is suitable as a starting material for producing a silicon melt for the fabrication of silicon blocks or silicon crystals, comprising the following steps: introducing a gaseous mixture of monosilane and hydrogen into a reactor, thermal degrading the gaseous mixture for forming silicon powder, separating the formed silicon powder produced from the gaseous mixture, and mechanical compacting the separated silicon powder with compacting rollers which having a roller jacket consisting of a ceramic material selected from graphite, glass and silicon nitride.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2005Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Joint Solar Silicon GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Peter Adler, Andreas Gölz, Holger Kirchner, Armin Müller, Torsten Sill, Raymund Sonnenschein
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Patent number: 7584919Abstract: Compacting device for the low-metal compaction of a powder with a casing which at least in part surrounds a working chamber, with a feed arrangement arranged on the casing and feeding a powder, which is to be compacted, into the working chamber, with at least a compacting roller which is rotatably arranged in the working chamber, comprises a roller jacket and, together with an opposing wall, forms a compacting gap for compacting the powder therein, characterised in that the at least one compacting roller consists of ceramic, at least on the roller jacket.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2005Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Joint Solar Silicon GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Peter Adler, Andreas Gölz, Holger Kirchner, Armin Müller, Torsten Sill, Raymund Sonnenschein
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Publication number: 20090065991Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut with internal leveling control, particularly for motor vehicles, has an outer tube having an oil-filled high-pressure work space in the work cylinder, which high-pressure work space is under pressure by at least one gas cushion which is arranged in a high-pressure chamber and acts as a spring, a second work space on the piston rod side, and a piston which is supported by a hollow piston rod and which is axially displaceable in the work cylinder in a sealed manner, a piston pump which is driven by the spring movement of the vehicle and pumps oil out of a low-pressure chamber into the work space connected to the high-pressure chamber and which comprises a pump rod and a pump cylinder which is formed by the hollow piston rod, and the high-pressure chamber can be connected to the atmosphere by a flow connection which is arranged in the piston rod guide and has a closing element.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Holger KIRCHNER, Hubert Beck, Thomas Meyer
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Publication number: 20090066041Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut is provided to have internal level control. The spring strut has an outer tube having one end sealed by a piston rod guide, a working cylinder received inside the outer tube, and a hollow piston rod extending into the working cylinder through the piston rod guide. The piston rod carries a piston, which is operable to travel axially inside the working cylinder in a sealing manner and separates the working cylinder into first and second working spaces. The first working space is under a high-pressure from a high-pressure chamber and acting as a spring and the second working space is located on a piston rod-side. The spring strut also has a pump rod received inside the hollow piston rod. The pump rod and the hollow piston rod form a piston pump, which, in response to sprung movements acted thereonto, conveys a damping media from a low-pressure chamber into the first working space connected to the high-pressure chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2008Publication date: March 12, 2009Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Holger Kirchner, Thomas Meyer
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Publication number: 20090033009Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic spring-damper unit with internal leveling control is provided. The spring-damper unit has an oil-filled work cylinder under pressure by gas cushions. A damping piston is displaceable in the work cylinder and arranged at the end of a hollow piston rod whose hollow space serves to receive a pump by means of a pump rod fastened to the work cylinder. Damping medium is sucked out of a reservoir space when the piston rod moves outward and is conveyed into the work space when the piston rod moves inward. The pump rod has a control opening and, at a distance therefrom, an outlet bore for pressure equilibrium between work spaces in the work cylinder. At least one pressure-dependent throttle point is provided in the pump space between the high-pressure and low-pressure gas cushions. A first flow connection in the pump rod provided with at least one check valve connects the low-pressure gas cushion to the pump space.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Holger Kirchner, Klaus Schmitz, Hubert Beck
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Publication number: 20080279748Abstract: Method for producing silicon which is suitable as a starting material for producing a silicon melt for the fabrication of silicon blocks or silicon crystals, comprising the following steps: introduction of a gaseous mixture of monosilane and hydrogen into a reactor, thermal degradation of the gaseous mixture with formation of silicon powder, separation of the silicon powder obtained from the gaseous mixture, and mechanical compacting of the separated silicon powder.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2005Publication date: November 13, 2008Inventors: Peter Adler, Andreas Gölz, Holger Kirchner, Armin Müller, Torsten Sill, Raymund Sonnenschein
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Publication number: 20070248438Abstract: Compacting device for the low-metal compaction of a powder with a casing which at least in part surrounds a working chamber, with a feed arrangement arranged on the casing and feeding a powder, which is to be compacted, into the working chamber, with at least a compacting roller which is rotatably arranged in the working chamber, comprises a roller jacket and, together with an opposing wall, forms a compacting gap for compacting the powder therein, characterised in that the at least one compacting roller consists of ceramic, at least on the roller jacket.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2005Publication date: October 25, 2007Inventors: Peter Adler, Andreas Golz, Holger Kirchner, Armin Muller, Torsten Sill, Raymund Sonnenschein