Patents by Inventor Jens Schäfer
Jens Schäfer 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: 7506623Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the electrical adjustment of the relative rotary-angle position between a camshaft (2) and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, with an adjusting gear (3) which has a driving part (4) fixed with respect to the crankshaft, a driven part (5) fixed with respect to the camshaft and an adjusting shaft (8) connected fixedly in terms of rotation to an adjustment-unit shaft (6) of an electrical adjustment unit (7). In order to achieve a simpler type of construction which, moreover, is distinguished by quiet running, there is provision, according to the invention, for the adjusting shaft (8) to be arranged in a radially floating manner.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2006Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Schaeffler KGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
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Publication number: 20080210182Abstract: The invention relates to an electric camshaft adjuster for adjusting and securing the phase angle of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to its crankshaft, having a three shaft gearing which is embodied as a harmonic drive (19, 19?) of sleeve design, and a drive wheel (1) which is fixed to the crankshaft and has a first ring gear (2) as well as an output component (4) which is fixed to the camshaft and has a second ring gear (5) arranged next to the first ring gear (2) and an adjustment shaft (10, 10?, 10?, 10??) which can be driven by an electric adjustment motor, with a wave generator (17, 17?, 17?) which has means for elliptically deforming a flexurally elastic, externally toothed sleeve (18).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2005Publication date: September 4, 2008Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KGInventors: Jens Schaefer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
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Patent number: 7308876Abstract: The invention relates to a camshaft adjuster (1) for adjusting and fixing the relative position of the angle of rotation of a camshaft (8) in relation to a crankshaft of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. The adjusting device comprises a high transmission and friction-reduced adjusting gear mechanism (2), comprising a drive shaft which is rotationally fixed to the crankshaft, a driven shaft which is rotationally fixed to the camshaft (8) and an adjusting shaft (9) which is connected to an adjusting motor shaft (10) of an adjusting motor. A camshaft adjuster (1), which is economical to run, can be produced such that the adjusting gear mechanism (2) and the adjusting motor (3) are embodied as separate units and are connected together by a rotational backlash-free, disengaging coupling (4).Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2003Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Schaeffler KGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jörg Degelmann, Jon Heywood
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Patent number: 7275506Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the variable setting of the control times of gas-exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, with a driving element (12), with a driven element (8) and with an adjusting gear (11) designed as a triple-shaft gear, the driving element (12) being mounted rotatably with respect to the driven element (8) on the latter or on the camshaft (9). The relative phase position of the driven element (8) with respect to the driving element (12) can be selectively varied or held by means of the adjusting gear (11). According to the invention, it is proposed to mount the driving element (12) on the driven element (8) by means of rolling bearings (19, 21). Radial and/or axial forces can thereby be supported in an optimized way in terms of friction, as a result of which the efficiency of the device (1) is increased.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2006Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Schaeffler-KGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
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Publication number: 20070194649Abstract: An electric camshaft adjuster for adjusting and fixing the phase angle of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine relative to a crankshaft thereof is provided. The camshaft adjuster is provided with a triple-shaft gear drive having a driving pinion that is fixed to the crankshaft, an output part which is fixed to the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft. The adjusting shaft is connected to a motor shaft (5, 5?, 5?) of an electric adjusting motor that is provided as a pancake motor (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) including a pancake (3, 3?, 3?) and a stator (15, 15?, 15?, 15??) which is disposed in a housing (8, 8?, 8?) with an associated cover (9, 9?, 9?). In order to create a camshaft adjuster that is inexpensive to produce and operate, the pancake motor (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) is configured as a brushless DC motor (BLDC motor) whose housing (8, 8?, 8?) and cover (9, 9?, 9?) are arranged to be fixed to the cylinder head and whose motor shaft (5, 5?, 5?) is connected to the adjusting shaft by a releasable coupling.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2005Publication date: August 23, 2007Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald
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Patent number: 7152561Abstract: A control structure for the adjusting motor of an electric camshaft adjuster in an internal combustion engine is provided. The control structure includes a controller which processes measuring signals of the internal combustion engine to control data for the adjusting motor. A controller which has meaningful values for the adjusted setpoint rotational speed of the adjusting motor, even when the input differential signal has a zero value, is obtained by applying the signal of an uncontrolled rotational speed to the output signal of a controlled setpoint rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2006Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Martin Overberg
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Publication number: 20060236965Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for the electrical adjustment of the relative rotary-angle position between a camshaft (2) and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, with an adjusting gear (3) which has a driving part (4) fixed with respect to the crankshaft, a driven part (5) fixed with respect to the camshaft and an adjusting shaft (8) connected fixedly in terms of rotation to an adjustment-unit shaft (6) of an electrical adjustment unit (7). In order to achieve a simpler type of construction which, moreover, is distinguished by quiet running, there is provision, according to the invention, for the adjusting shaft (8) to be arranged in a radially floating manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2006Publication date: October 26, 2006Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KGInventors: Jens Schaefer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
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Patent number: 7089897Abstract: An electrical adjusting device for changing an angle of rotation of a camshaft (3) relative to a crankshaft of an internal-combustion engine is provided. The device includes an adjusting gear unit (1), which is formed as a triple-shaft gear unit, including an input part (4) that is fixed to the crankshaft, an output part (5) that is fixed to the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft (6), which is connected in a torsion-proof manner to an electric adjusting motor (2) having a permanent magnet rotor and a stator (8) fixed to the housing. A stationary gear ratio (i0), the value of which defines the adjusting gear unit (1) as a positive or negative gear unit and deter-mines whether a direction of adjustment of the camshaft (3, 65, 69) is into an advanced or retarded base position, is located between the input part (4) and the output part (5) when the adjusting shaft is at rest.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
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Patent number: 7059285Abstract: A control structure for the adjusting motor (8) of an electric camshaft adjuster (6) in an internal combustion engine (1) is provided. The control structure includes a controller (19) which processes measuring signals of the internal combustion engine (1) to control data for the adjusting motor (8). A controller (19) which has meaningful values for the adjusted setpoint rotational speed of the adjusting motor (8), even when the input differential signal has a zero value, is obtained by applying the signal of an uncontrolled rotational speed (21) to the output signal (20) of a controlled setpoint rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2004Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Martin Overberg
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Patent number: 7032552Abstract: The invention relates to a device for releasably connecting and adjusting the positions between a crankshaft and a cam shaft of an internal combustion engine, which includes a setting gear (1) configured as a three-shaft gear, which has a drive shaft (4) connected to the crankshaft, an output shaft (5) connected to the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft connected to an electric adjusting motor (2). A stationary transmission ratio io, which has a base or emergency running position, is present between the drive and output shafts when the adjusting shaft (6) is idle, the magnitude of the gear transmission ratio determining the gear type (positive or negative) and the direction of adjustment of the camshaft (3).Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2004Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald
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Patent number: 6981478Abstract: A device for electrically adjusting the relative rotation of two shafts, particularly a camshaft (15) in relation to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided. The adjusting device includes an adjusting gear system which is embodied as a triple-shaft gear mechanism and is provided with a crankshaft-fixed input part, a camshaft-fixed output part, and an adjusting shaft (13) that is connected in a torsion-proof manner to an electric adjusting motor shaft (32) of an electric adjusting motor (3). The adjusting motor (3) is configured as a brushless DC motor having a housing-fixed stator (35) and a permanent magnet rotor (34). A high degree of adjustment accuracy and adjustment speed are provided with minimal space requirements and low power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2005Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jon Heywood
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Patent number: 6799746Abstract: An electromagnet having a hollow cylindrical coil former fitted with a coil winding and surrounded by a magnet housing. The coil former is bounded by upper and lower pole shoes. A nonmagnetic metal tube in the hollow cylinder of the magnet defines an armature space for a magnet armature that divides the armature space into first and second chambers, which are connected via a pressure equalizing channel in the magnet armature. A push rod passes through an axial hole in the lower pole shoe, to a control piston of a hydraulic valve, whose interior is connected via a further pressure equalizing channel in the lower pole shoe to the first chamber of the armature space. The push rod is a profiled rod contacting the magnet armature, the rod is of a cross-sectional shape different than that of the axial hole in the lower pole shoe and of a cross-sectional area less than that of the axial hole.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2002Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: Ina-Schaeffler KGInventor: Jens Schäfer
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Patent number: 6601554Abstract: A hydraulic camshaft adjusting device, which comprises a drive wheel (2) and a pivotal impeller wheel (10) connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a camshaft (9), the drive wheel (2) comprises a. cavity formed by a peripheral wall (3) and two lateral walls, in which cavity at least one hydraulic working space (8) is formed by at least two delimitation walls (7) and the pivotal impeller wheel (10) has at least one radial blade (12), and with each blade (12) divides a hydraulic working space (8) into two hydraulic pressure chambers (13, 14), which are sealed off from one another by sealing elements (17) disposed between the drive wheel (2) and the pivotal impeller wheel (10), the pivotal impeller wheel (10) can be mechanically coupled to the drive wheel (2) in a preferred basic position, a locking element (18) disposed on the drive wheel (2) being movable by a spring clement (19) into a complementary seating (20) in the drive wheel (2).Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2002Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Michael Haag
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Patent number: 6481401Abstract: A device for independent hydraulic actuation of phase and axial positions of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with a phase adjuster and an actuating piston arranged on a common axis for axial displacement of the camshaft. In order to reduce the space needed and construction expenditure of the device, the phase adjuster also acts as the actuating piston for the camshaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler OhgInventor: Jens Schäfer
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Patent number: 6427654Abstract: A hydraulic camshaft-adjusting device of the rotary piston type that includes of a drive gear (2) directly connected to a crankshaft and an impeller that is directly connected to a camshaft (3). The drive gear (2) has a cavity formed from a perimeter wall (5) and two side walls (5, 6) inside of which at least one hydraulic working chamber is formed from at least two boundary walls. The impeller has at least one radial vane (12) and each vane (12) divides one hydraulic work chamber into two hydraulic pressure chambers. The outer end (18) of each vane (12) of the impeller is pressed radially against the perimeter wall (5) of the drive gear (2) as a result of the force of a spring element (17) located at the inner end (15) of the vane.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: August 6, 2002Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHGInventors: Hermann Golbach, Martin Steigerwald, Jens Schäfer, Matthias Kapp, Joachim Dietz
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Patent number: 6374785Abstract: This invention pertains to a vane-cell positioning device with an external rotor (1) driven by the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine and an internal rotor (2) fixed to and turning with a camshaft which has pivoting vanes (15) that fit inside vane mounting notches (16), said vanes being loaded with pressurized oil in hydraulic work spaces (31) of the external rotor (1). The danger of the pivoting vanes (15) lifting off of the radial sealing surfaces is eliminated by loading the bottoms of the pivoting vanes (15) with pressurized oil as the internal combustion engine is running.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2000Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler OHGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Matthias Kapp
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Patent number: 6367434Abstract: The Invention concerns g solenoid valve, more particularly a proportional hydraulic valve which is arranged within a hydraulic system of a device for varying the valve timing of gas exchange valves in an internal combustion engine. The solenoid valve (1) generally comprises an electromagnet (2) having a hollow cylindrical magnet housing (3), at least one coil winding (4) and an armature (5) as Well as a first pole shoe (6) and a second pole shoe (7) and further comprises a valve member (8) having a hollow cylindrical valve housing (9) for receiving a spool valve which is displaceable relative to the valve housing (9) by the armature (5) of the electromagnet (2). According to the invention, the electromagnet (2) and the valve member (8) are connected and fixed radially and axially to each other by force locking and/or positive engagement by the second pole shoe (7) of the electromagnet (2) which is arranged adjacent the valve member (8) and configured as a plug-in lock for the valve housing (9).Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHGInventors: Martin Steigerwald, Jens Schäfer, Matthias Dohr
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Patent number: 6313726Abstract: An electromagnet (1), particularly a proportional magnet for operating a hydraulic valve, said electromagnet (1) comprising at least one coil winding (3) carried by a hollow cylindrical coil spool (2) which is circumferentially surrounded by a hollow cylindrical magnet housing (4) and limited at each end by a pole shoe (5, 6), said electromagnet (1) further comprising an axially moveable cylindrical armature (8) which is arranged in a hollow cylinder of the coil spool (2) that is configured as an armature space (7), the armature (8) being mounted for low friction in rotary, longitudinally moveable axial guides, and electromagnetically produced axial movements of the armature (8) can be transmitted to a hydraulic valve piston via a push rod (10) which is connected to the armature (8) to form an axial extension thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHGInventors: Eduard Golovatai-Schmidt, Martin Steigerwald, Jens Schäfer
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Patent number: 6289862Abstract: A locking mechanism for a device (1) to modify the control timing of cylinder valves of an internal combustion engine, in particular for a vane-cell positioning device. The device (1) consists of a drive wheel (2) driven by a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, said drive wheel having a cavity (6), and an impeller (8) permanently connected to the camshaft (7) that has at least one vane (12). In the cavity (6) of the drive wheel (2), at least one working chamber (15) is formed by intermediate walls (14) and each of these chambers is divided by an associated vane (12) into two hydraulic pressure spaces (16, 17). When pressure is applied by means of a hydraulic pressure medium, the pressure spaces (16, 17) effect a pivoting motion of the impeller (8) with respect to the drive wheel (2), whereas when the pressure is not applied to one of the pressure spaces (16, 17) the impeller (8) and the drive wheel (2) are mechanically coupled together.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2000Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler oHGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Matthias Kapp
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Patent number: 6283075Abstract: The invention relates to a locking unit for a device for modifying the timing of charge change valves of an internal combustion engine, especially for a vane-cell control device. Said device (1) comprises a drive wheel (3) presenting a hollow space (8) and connected to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine in a driving manner. The device also comprises an impeller (9) which has at least one vane (13) and is connected to the camshaft (2) in a non-rotating manner. At least one working chamber (20), which is divided by a vane (13) into two hydraulic pressure chambers (21, 22), is formed by intermediate walls (16) in the hollow space (8) of the drive wheel (3). When the pressure chambers (21, 22) are subjected to pressure by means of a hydraulic pressure medium they cause the impeller (9) to pivot in relation to the drive wheel (3). When there is no pressure in one of the two pressure chambers (21, 22) the impeller (9) and the drive wheel (3) are mechanically coupled to each other.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2000Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHGInventors: Jens Schäfer, Joachim Dietz, Andreas Strauss