Patents by Inventor Jens Schafer

Jens Schafer 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: 20080047513
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device for an internal combustion engine is provided. A functionally reliable camshaft adjusting device designed for a long-lasting operation is obtained when the camshaft adjuster (13) has a lifelong lubrication located in the housing (28, 36, 37) sealed from the surrounding area be sealing covers (36, 37). The camshaft adjuster is not required to be mounted inside the cylinder head (33), but can be mounted as a separate unit on the cylinder head (33) of the internal combustion engine independent of the lubricating oil circuit. This expands, in particular, the range of possibilities for use of the camshaft adjuster (13) with a belt drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Andreas Tholke
  • Patent number: 7308876
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jörg Degelmann, Jon Heywood
  • Publication number: 20070251473
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster including an electric servo motor (21) that is mounted in a first housing (14) and an electronics module (37), which supplies the servo motor (21) with electricity is provided. A second housing (26), which is separate from the first housing (14), is allocated to the electronics module and is attached by its exterior to the first housing (14). A wall (29) of the second housing (26) separates the servo motor (21) and the electronics module (37) to be mounted separately. A power supply and a logic element are integrated into the electronics module, allowing the camshaft adjuster to be operated as an autonomous unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald
  • Patent number: 7275506
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Schaeffler-KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20070194649
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald
  • Publication number: 20070193540
    Abstract: A drive connection with a camshaft adjuster for an internal combustion engine is provided. A free end of the camshaft adjuster is coupled with an accessory unit, especially a vacuum pump, in a camshaft adjuster with a superposition drive and an electrical control unit. The electrical control unit (7) can be constructed as a hollow unit, through which a drive shaft of the accessory unit is passed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Mike Kohrs, Falko Arnold
  • Publication number: 20070101956
    Abstract: A device and a method for determining an angle of rotation between a camshaft (5) and a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided, the device including a camshaft regulator provided with an electronic regulator, and a device for determining the position of the angle of rotation of the camshaft and the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald
  • Publication number: 20070074692
    Abstract: An adjustment device (1) for adjusting the relative rotational angle position of a camshaft (2) in relation to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided, with the device having an adjustment mechanism (3), which is embodied as a triple-shaft transmission and provided with an input part (4) fixed to the crankshaft, an output part fixed to the camshaft, and an adjusting shaft (7) connected to an adjusting motor shaft (5) of an adjusting motor (6). The motor (6) is provided as an electric motor and is spatially separated from the adjusting shaft (7), and the torque produced thereby is transmitted to the adjusting shaft (7), either mechanically via a flexible shaft (8), pneumatically via a compressor (9) operating a pneumatic motor (13) using pressurized air, or hydraulically via a hydraulic motor (16) and a pump (14) providing the hydraulic medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Patent number: 7152561
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Martin Overberg
  • Publication number: 20060236966
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20060201462
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jorg Degelmann, Jon Heywood
  • Patent number: 7089897
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20060124095
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Martin Overberg
  • Patent number: 7059285
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Martin Overberg
  • Publication number: 20060112921
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald
  • Patent number: 7047923
    Abstract: A device for varying valve timing in an internal combustion engine comprises an adjusting mechanism for varying an angle of rotation between a drive pinion (2) and a camshaft (end portion of the camshaft 1), said adjusting mechanism being configured as a wobble transmission. The drive pinion (2) comprises a first front-end gearing (9) and a disk (10) comprises a second front-end gearing (11), which first and second front-end gearings mesh partially with each other, and the number of teeth of said front-end gearings differ from each other by at least one tooth. To reduce the overall dimensions of the device and avoid gearing lash, it is proposed, on the one hand, to connect the disk (10) rotationally fast to the camshaft (1) and on the other hand, to configure the disk (10) in axial direction of the camshaft (1) as a flexible element that can be deformed in axial direction by an adjusting device (thrust plate 17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Patent number: 7032552
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald
  • Patent number: 6981478
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Martin Steigerwald, Jon Heywood
  • Publication number: 20050217621
    Abstract: A device for varying valve timing in an internal combustion engine comprises an adjusting mechanism for varying an angle of rotation between a drive pinion (2) and a camshaft (end portion of the camshaft 1), said adjusting mechanism being configured as a wobble transmission. The drive pinion (2) comprises a first front-end gearing (9) and a disk (10) comprises a second front-end gearing (11), which first and second front-end gearings mesh partially with each other, and the number of teeth of said front-end gearings differ from each other by at least one tooth. To reduce the overall dimensions of the device and avoid gearing lash, it is proposed, on the one hand, to connect the disk (10) rotationally fast to the camshaft (1) and on the other hand, to configure the disk (10) in axial direction of the camshaft (1) as a flexible element that can be deformed in axial direction by an adjusting device (thrust plate 17).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jonathan Heywood
  • Publication number: 20050199201
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Jon Heywood