Patents by Inventor Joachim Schaefer

Joachim Schaefer 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: 8585340
    Abstract: A fastening device is provided to cover below a front hood of a motor vehicle has an elastic fixing element for mounting a widened area implemented as a radial expansion of a shaft. When the cover is pressed down, the fixing element detaches from the widened area and arrives over the shaft. In this way, the fastening device is made yielding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Uwe Schmitz, Joachim Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20130257102
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a windshield and a radiator tank assembly that acts on the lower edge of the windshield and exhibits a guide pad extending on an interior side of the windshield. The guide pad is divided into a central and two lateral sections. The lateral sections are more flexible than the central section during exposure to a pressure acting on the windshield from outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Joachim SCHAEFER, Uwe SCHMITZ, Stefan WOLFF
  • Patent number: 8528964
    Abstract: A body structure is provided for a motor vehicle with a windshield that includes, but is not limited to a pane cross member, on which the windshield rests. The pane cross member includes, but is not limited to a first and a second edge section in the form of brackets, and a central part lying there between, which has a U-shaped cross-section. The first edge section forms a support section for the windshield, the second edge section is fastened to a fixed component of the body structure and is arranged laterally from the first edge section, and the central part is constructed such that it has a cross-section which is curved in the direction towards an engine hood of the motor vehicle and can deform on application of force from above and/or from the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stephan Walter, Uwe Schmitz, Joachim Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20130049400
    Abstract: A motor vehicle body includes, but is not limited to a front hood, a windshield rising from a rear edge of the front hood and a cross member substantially extending over the width of the windshield, of which a front edge supports a front lower edge of the windshield and a rear edge is supported on a structural element of the body. A top side of the cross member faces the passenger cell and a bottom side faces the engine compartment. Between the front edge and the rear edge the cross member comprises at least one first region, in which the top side is concavely curved in a section plane running in vehicle longitudinal direction and which yields to a load by intensifying the curvature along an apex line yielding towards the engine compartment and pivoting of two zones extending on both sides of the apex line towards each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joachim SCHAEFER, Uwe SCHMITZ, Stefan WOLFF, Stephan WALTER
  • Patent number: 8220863
    Abstract: A body for a motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to a supporting structure, a hood, which is hinged to the supporting structure and includes, but is not limited to a framework and an outer skin, and at least one compressible support disposed between the framework of the hood and the supporting structure. A contact surface opposite the support on the hood side is connected to the outer skin by a stiffening element extending through a cavity of the framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Schaefer, Uwe Schmitz, Bernd Dreyer
  • Publication number: 20120161473
    Abstract: A front region of a vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to an upper front region, a middle front region, and a lower front region. The upper front region includes, but is not limited to an engine hood, front regions of mudguards headlamps or driving direction indicators. The middle front region includes, but is not limited to an impact energy-absorbing region and has molding elements in driving direction. The molding elements interact with impact energy-absorbing, yielding structures. The yielding structures are plastically deformable. The lower front region includes, but is not limited to a molding apron. The lower front region is elastically deformable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Joachim Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20110304177
    Abstract: A body structure is provided for a motor vehicle with a windshield that includes, but is not limited to a pane cross member, on which the windshield rests. The pane cross member includes, but is not limited to a first and a second edge section in the form of brackets, and a central part lying there between, which has a U-shaped cross-section. The first edge section forms a support section for the windshield, the second edge section is fastened to a fixed component of the body structure and is arranged laterally from the first edge section, and the central part is constructed such that it has a cross-section which is curved in the direction towards an engine hood of the motor vehicle and can deform on application of force from above and/or from the front.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Stephan WALTER, Uwe SCHMITZ, Joachim SCHAEFER
  • Publication number: 20110278081
    Abstract: A front hood is provided for a motor vehicle that includes, but is not limited to damping element of plastic arranged between a top structure and a bottom structure. The damping element is glued to the top structure and the bottom structure. In the event of a head impact on the front hood the deformation of the top structure is retarded by the damping element. The damping element in the process supports itself on the bottom structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Uwe Schmitz, Bernd Dreyer, Grace Thompson, Joachim Schaefer, Joerg Fuge, Anett Kilian
  • Publication number: 20110250037
    Abstract: A fastening device is provided to cover below a front hood of a motor vehicle has an elastic fixing element for mounting a widened area implemented as a radial expansion of a shaft. When the cover is pressed down, the fixing element detaches from the widened area and arrives over the shaft. In this way, the fastening device is made yielding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Uwe SCHMITZ, Joachim SCHAEFER
  • Publication number: 20110139533
    Abstract: A body for a motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to a supporting structure, a hood, which is hinged to the supporting structure and includes, but is not limited to a framework and an outer skin, and at least one compressible support disposed between the framework of the hood and the supporting structure. A contact surface opposite the support on the hood side is connected to the outer skin by means of a stiffening element extending through a cavity of the framework.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Schaefer, Uwe Schmitz, Bernd Dreyer
  • Publication number: 20100089048
    Abstract: A pneumatic actuator includes, but is not limited to a pressurized gas source, a cylinder, and a piston which is moveable between a rest position and an extended position. Together with the cylinder, the piston borders a first working chamber which is connected with the pressurized gas source via a first inlet opening and which can be pressurized with a first portion of the pressurized gas of the pressurized gas source for moving the piston out of the rest position, and a second working chamber which is connected with the pressurized gas source via a second inlet opening for moving the piston into the rest position and which can be pressurized in a delayed manner with a second portion of the pressurized gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Joachim Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20090217814
    Abstract: A pneumatic actuator is provided for an active hood and includes, but is not limited to a cylinder and a piston, which is movable in the cylinder between a lower terminal position, in which the volume of a chamber delimited by piston and cylinder, which may be impinged using compressed gas, is minimal, and an upper terminal position, in which the volume of the chamber is maximal. The piston is lockable in the lower terminal position by a detent body engaging in first recesses of the cylinder and the piston. A slider is displaceable by impingement using the compressed gas out of an idle position, in which it fixes the detent body in the first recesses, into a triggering position, in which a second recess of the slider overlaps with one of the first recesses and is capable, together with a single one of the first recesses of accommodating the detent body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Bernd DREYER, Joachim SCHAEFER, Erik WIESINGER
  • Publication number: 20070062772
    Abstract: In a method for operating a motor vehicle drive train during a shifting operation of a gearwheel change gearbox, the clutch is triggered for closing before the target gear is fully engaged. A control device determines a triggering moment for the clutch as a function of operational parameters and/or state variables of the drive train. The control device calculates a required interval which is necessary until complete engagement of the target gear and an interval which is necessary until a gripping point of the clutch is reached. An optimum triggering moment is determined from these intervals. The tractive force interruption during a shifting operation is thus very short. At the same time, the completion of the shifting operation is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Applicant: Daimler Chrysler
    Inventors: Michael Kollender, Anton Rink, Joachim Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6848549
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for operating an automated change-speed gearbox of a motor vehicle. The control device of the change-speed gearbox communicates via signals with a control unit of an anti-block control system. To allow particularly comforatable operation of the change-speed gearbox, the invention envisages that, as a function of signals from the control unit of the anti-lock control system, the change-speed gearbox is set to a neutral position, an appropriate gear ratio is determined and this gear ratio is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Grass, Klaus Neft, Anton Rink, Joachim Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6842574
    Abstract: The car industry increasingly uses plastic optical fibers whose protective sheathing (4) is made of a polyamide. As unmodified PA poorly adheres to the fluoropolymers often used as the material for the fiber cladding (3), the plastic optical fiber (2, 3) moves in relation to the protective sheathing (4) when the temperature varies. To suppress this effect referred to as “pistoning”, the connectors and holders of the optical fibers must apply very large clamping forces to the protective sheathing (4) and the plastic optical fiber (2, 3) arranged therein, resulting in an increased signal attenuation. The use of a modified PA can clearly improve the adherence of the protective sheathing (4) to the cladding (3) of a plastic optical fiber which is made of a fluoropolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: EMS-Chemie AG
    Inventors: Hans-Matthias Horn, Joachim Schaefer, Ilona Schmidt, Helmut Thullen, Volker Eichhorn, Thomas Wutke, Georg Stoeppelmann
  • Publication number: 20030116393
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for operating an automated change-speed gearbox of a motor vehicle. The control device of the change-speed gearbox communicates via signals with a control unit of an anti-block control system. To allow particularly comforatable operation of the change-speed gearbox, the invention envisages that, as a function of signals from the control unit of the anti-lock control system, the change-speed gearbox is set to a neutral position, an appropriate gear ratio is determined and this gear ratio is engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Grass, Klaus Neft, Anton Rink, Joachim Schaefer
  • Patent number: 6507686
    Abstract: A cable network with a light waveguide cable which is introduced in the pipeline of an existing pipeline system. The light waveguide cable is arranged along a line, preferably at the vertex of the pipeline, and is provided with a protective layer so that a smooth transition exists between the wall surfaces of the pipeline and the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: CCS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edgar Heinz, Thomas Mueller, Helmut Nowsch, Joachim Schaefer, Ernst Mayr
  • Publication number: 20020192383
    Abstract: Methods of preparing a fluid diffusion layer comprise continuously applying a loading material to a substrate and continuous compacting the substrate and loading material applied thereto with at least one compaction roller. Methods of preparing an electrode comprise continuously applying an electrocatalyst to a fluid diffusion layer and continuously compacting the fluid diffusion layer and electrocatalyst applied thereto with at least one compaction roller. The methods can be employed in a continuous process and can increase the penetration and adhesion of the loading material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: David Kar Ling Lo, Joachim Schaefer, Harald Tober, Nicola Simon
  • Patent number: 4965696
    Abstract: An output stage having a load is connected to a voltage source via a source-drain path of a field effect transistor. Between drain and gate terminals of the field effect transistor a specifically designed voltage doubling circuit is provided. This has the effect that only one control voltage and one switch (control transistor T1) is required for driving the field effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Georg Kumpfmueller, Joachim Schaefer
  • Patent number: 4333249
    Abstract: A convertible sports device has a housing, and sport members movable between an extended and a retracted position relative to the housing. An arresting member is provided, which in a first position abuts against a first face of each of the sport members so as to arrest them in the extended position, and in a second position abuts against another face of the sport members so as to arrest the latter in the retracted position. The housing may be formed as a bottom portion of a shoe or may be attachable to the shoe. The arresting member may be actuated by an actuator which, in turn, may be actuated by a foot of a user so that the sport members may be retracted or extended without the need to use one's hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Schaefer