Patents by Inventor Jochen Kruse
Jochen Kruse 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: 9175720Abstract: A ball joint with a ball pin and a steel ball pin with a joint ball. The ball joint and ball pin are suitable for use when, for example, solid-on-solid friction predominates under high static pre-loading or high operational loads and with small joint movements. A portion of the surface of the ball pin has surface layer hardening in order to increase a fatigue strength of the ball pin. The ball pin and the ball joint, on portion of the ball pin without the any surface layer hardened, includes a nitrided layer as wear protection. The ball pin and the ball joint provide an advantageous combination of high fatigue strength, good corrosion protection and high wear-resistance. The nitrided layer of ball joints, previously only regarded as improving corrosion protection, also functions as a wear protection. Thus, these ball pins overcome the mutual exclusion between surface layer hardening and nitriding.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Dirk Adamczyk, Wolfgang Kleiner, Klaus Pape, Wolfgang Eulerich, Martin Rechtien, Thomas Wiegmann, Manfred Heidemann, Jochen Kruse, Johannes Tabor, Rainer Jasper, Ulrich Schefzyk
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Publication number: 20130071175Abstract: A ball joint with a ball pin and a steel ball pin with a joint ball. The ball joint and ball pin are suitable for use when, for example, solid-on-solid friction predominates under high static pre-loading or high operational loads and with small joint movements. A portion of the surface of the ball pin has surface layer hardening in order to increase a fatigue strength of the ball pin. The ball pin and the ball joint, on portion of the ball pin without the any surface layer hardened, includes a nitrided layer as wear protection. The ball pin and the ball joint provide an advantageous combination of high fatigue strength, good corrosion protection and high wear-resistance. The nitrided layer of ball joints, previously only regarded as improving corrosion protection, also functions as a wear protection. Thus, these ball pins overcome the mutual exclusion between surface layer hardening and nitriding.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Dirk Adamczyk, Wolfgang Kleiner, Klaus Pape, Wolfgang Eulerich, Martin Rechtien, Thomas Wiegmann, Manfred Heidemann, Jochen Kruse, Johannes Tabor, Rainer Jasper, Ulrich Schefzyk
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Patent number: 8100423Abstract: A connector piece for the articulated connection of structural elements of a chassis of a motor vehicle. The connector piece has a main body, formed from at least one metal sheet, which has at least one bearing or joint and includes a housing connected to the main body and an inner part which is fitted within an inside space of the housing and can move relative to the housing. The housing comprises a housing portion that surrounds the inside space and includes at least two sheet-metal strips that are arranged adjacent one another, in a longitudinal direction, and are bent between their ends, in opposite directions transverse to the longitudinal direction, such that the metal strips partially surround the inside space on different sides.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Jochen Kruse, Frank Budde, Frank Nachbar, Stefan Schönhoff
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Publication number: 20100086346Abstract: A connector piece for the articulated connection of structural elements of a chassis of a motor vehicle. The connector piece has a main body, formed from at least one metal sheet, which has at least one bearing or joint and includes a housing connected to the main body and an inner part which is fitted within an inside space of the housing and can move relative to the housing. The housing comprises a housing portion that surrounds the inside space and includes at least two sheet-metal strips that are arranged adjacent one another, in a longitudinal direction, and are bent between their ends, in opposite directions transverse to the longitudinal direction, such that the metal strips partially surround the inside space on different sides.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2008Publication date: April 8, 2010Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Jochen Kruse, Frank Budde, Frank Nachbar, Stefan Schonhoff
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Publication number: 20100021336Abstract: A ball pin or ball socket made of stainless steel with the following composition: 10.5 to 13 wt.-% of chromium, 0.005 to 0.3 wt.-% of carbon, maximum 0.015 wt.-% of sulfur, 0.2 to 1 wt.-% of silicon, 0.2 to 1 wt.-% of manganese with a balance of the composition being iron.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2007Publication date: January 28, 2010Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventor: Jochen Kruse
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Publication number: 20090038157Abstract: A cold forming process for manufacturing ball pivots with a ball area, a cone area and a thread area for installation in ball and socket joints by cold forming is presented, in which a ball pivot blank (1) with a shaped cone area (3) and cylindrical areas for the thread (2) and the ball (5) is manufactured at first from a bar-shaped semifinished bar stock by extrusion. The extrusion operation is followed by the forming of the ball area as another manufacturing step by means of a rolling processes. At the same time, the thread area can be formed in its final shape. Thus, the ball pivot is manufactured as a whole by cold forming only and it makes it possible to significantly increase the production output per unit of time compared to the processes known from the state of the art. At the same time, it is possible to use less expensive grades of steel, because sufficient fatigue strength of the ball pivot can be guaranteed by the cold forming.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2004Publication date: February 12, 2009Inventors: Jochen Kruse, Klaus Rosenberger
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Publication number: 20080199247Abstract: A ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle is provided with a joint housing (2), with a ball pivot (3), which is mounted rotatably and pivotably in same and which is in contact with the joint housing (2) or with a ball shell (7) arranged between this and the ball pivot (5). The ball and socket joint has an angle measuring device (20, 21), by which the angle of the ball pivot (5) relative to the joint housing (2) can be detected. At least two temperature sensors (15, 16) are arranged at spaced locations from one another in or on the joint housing (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2006Publication date: August 21, 2008Inventors: Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank, Jochen Kruse
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Publication number: 20080193207Abstract: A ball and socket joint, for example, for an axle system of a motor vehicle. The ball and socket joint has an essentially ring-shaped or pot-shaped joint housing (1), in the essentially cylindrical interior space of which a ball shell (3) is arranged. The ball (4) of a ball pivot is accommodated in the ball shell (3) in a slidingly movable manner. The ball and socket joint has, furthermore, a sealing bellows (6) as well as a sensor means for monitoring the tightness of the ball and socket joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2006Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventors: Jochen Kruse, Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank
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Patent number: 7334828Abstract: A force connection strut (1) of a chassis of a passenger car or utility vehicle is provided for the non-positive connection between a chassis and a wheel carrier, preferably an axle strut or a chassis control arm. An elongated basic body (G) and at least two end-side mount supports (5) are provided for introducing and leading out forces.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2002Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Frank Budde, Jochen Kruse, Stefan Schönhoff
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Publication number: 20070211972Abstract: A process is provided for manufacturing balls, especially for ball and socket joints, as well as to a ball element for two-part ball pivots. The microalloyed carbon-manganese steel balls are manufactured by cold extrusion and subsequent grinding. Annealing can thus be completely eliminated, as a result of which a less expensive material can be used. The process makes possible a manufacture of balls especially for two-part ball pivots in a simpler manner and at a lower cost, and the surface finish and the material quality as well as the strength and the wear resistance are at the same time preserved or increased. As a result, the effort needed to manufacture the balls is reduced, and, moreover, the problem of the impact marks often developing on the ball surfaces during tempering is eliminated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2005Publication date: September 13, 2007Inventors: Jochen Kruse, Dirk Adamczyk, Reinhard Stoeterau, Jean-Paul Castanet
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Patent number: 7244074Abstract: A ball and socket joint (1) is provided, for example, for a chassis bearing, with a ball (2), a pivot (3) originating from the ball (2), a housing (4) accommodating the ball, and a sealing bellows (5), which extends between the housing (4) and the pivot (3) and has a housing-side opening (6) and a pivot-side opening (7). The sealing bellows (5) has a circumferential sealing lip (8) for sealing at the pivot-side opening (7). The ball and socket joint (1) has a first guide ring (9), which guides the sealing bellows (5). The first guide ring (9) is arranged at the pivot (3). An especially favorable functional separation is achieved as a result between the guiding function and the sealing function.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Olaf Abels, Jürgen Gräber, Jochen Kruse, Volker Grube, Dirk Lamla, Manfred Bohne, Melanie Enkler, Metin Ersoy, Achim Möll, Thomas Rösler, Wolfgang Schmitt
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Patent number: 7216860Abstract: A mount support of a force connection strut is provided manufactured from plastic/metal composite materials for a chassis of a motor vehicle. The force connection strut has an elongated basic body and a sleeve (H) passing through the basic body. The sleeve (H) has a flange (F) on at least one side and is connected to the basic body by extrusion coating with plastic at least at one of its ends.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2002Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Frank Budde, Stefan Schönhoff, Jochen Kruse
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Patent number: 7171330Abstract: A rotation and/or tilt angle detection device for a ball and socket joint is provided wherein at least one magnet (2), especially a permanent magnet, is arranged in the joint ball (1a), wherein a display device (4) displays the magnetic field of the at least one magnet (2) by means of the magnetooptic effect. An image detection deice (10) detects the information displayed by the display device (4). A data processing unit (50) calculates the relative position of the joint ball (1a) and the ball socket (3) of the ball and socket joint on the basis of the information detected.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Jochen Kruse, Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank, Oliver Hagedorn, Horst Dötsch
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Patent number: 7159880Abstract: A connection strut of a chassis of a passenger car or utility vehicle for the connection between the chassis and the wheel carrier, preferably an axle strut or a chassis control arm, with an elongated basic body and at least two mount supports arranged at the end for introducing and leading out forces. The basic body has a composite between a flat metal insert and a plastic structure forming the rest of the contour. The plastic structure is formed by encasement of the metal insert. The rest of the contour is defined here as the difference between the final contour of the force connection strut and the portion that is formed by the metal insert.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2002Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Frank Budde, Jochen Kruse, Stefan Schönhoff
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Patent number: 7083199Abstract: The present invention pertains to a chassis part for connection and force transmission between a vehicle chassis of at least one wheel, consisting of fiber-reinforced plastics or plastic composite systems, preferably for a passenger car or utility vehicle. The present invention is characterized in that at least one means for measuring forces acting on the chassis parts is integrated in the plastic portions of the chassis parts.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2002Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Jürgen Gräber, Jochen Kruse, Joachim Spratte, Stefan Schönhoff
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Patent number: 6879240Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint with integrated angle sensor for a motor vehicle, especially for the chassis of the motor vehicle is created. The ball-and-socket joint has a ball-and-socket joint housing (6) provided with a joint opening (7), a ball pivot (1) having a joint ball (2) and a pin (3), which is mounted, with its joint ball (2), rotatably and pivotably in a hollow-ball-shaped bearing surface in the ball-and-socket joint housing (6), and projects, with its pin (3), through the joint opening (7) out of the ball-and-socket joint housing (6). A two-pole field transducer (5) is provided at the end of the joint ball (2) facing away from the pin (3). The poles of the field transducer (5) are arranged on the ball surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2002Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: ZF Lenförder Metallwaren AGInventor: Jochen Kruse
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Publication number: 20050042022Abstract: The present invention pertains to a ball and socket joint (1), for example, for a chassis bearing, with a ball (2), a pivot (3) originating from the ball (2), a housing (4) accommodating the ball, and a sealing bellows (5), which extends between the housing (4) and the pivot (3) and has a housing-side opening (6) and a pivot-side opening (7), wherein the sealing bellows (5) has a circumferential sealing lip (8) for sealing at the pivot-side opening (7). The ball and socket joint (1) according to the present invention is characterized in that a first guide ring (9), which guides the sealing bellows (5), is arranged at the pivot (3). An especially favorable functional separation is achieved as a result between the guiding function and the sealing function.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2004Publication date: February 24, 2005Inventors: Olaf Abels, Jurgen Graber, Jochen Kruse, Volker Grube, Dirk Lamla, Manfred Bohne, Melanie Enkler, Metin Ersoy, Achim Moll, Thomas Rosler, Wolfgang Schmitt
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Publication number: 20050007225Abstract: A rotation and/or tilt angle detection device for a ball and socket joint is provided wherein at least one magnet (2), especially a permanent magnet, is arranged in the joint ball (1a), wherein a display device (4) displays the magnetic field of the at least one magnet (2) by means of the magnetooptic effect. An image detection deice (10) detects the information displayed by the display device (4). A data processing unit (50) calculates the relative position of the joint ball (1a) and the ball socket (3) of the ball and socket joint on the basis of the information detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2004Publication date: January 13, 2005Inventors: Jochen Kruse, Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank, Oliver Hagedorn, Horst Dotsch
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Publication number: 20040131418Abstract: The present invention pertains to the design of a force connection strut (1) of a chassis of a passenger car or utility vehicle for the non-positive connection between a chassis and a wheel carrier, preferably an axle strut or a chassis control arm, comprising an elongated basic body (G) and at least two end-side mount supports (5) for introducing and leading out forces.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventors: Frank Budde, Jochen Kruse, Stefan Schonhoff
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Publication number: 20040100357Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint with integrated angle sensor for a motor vehicle, especially for the chassis of the motor vehicle is created. The ball-and-socket joint has a ball-and-socket joint housing (6) provided with a joint opening (7), a ball pivot (1) having a joint ball (2) and a pin (3), which is mounted, with its joint ball (2), rotatably and pivotably in a hollow-ball-shaped bearing surface in the ball-and-socket joint housing (6), and projects, with its pin (3), through the joint opening (7) out of the ball-and-socket joint housing (6). A two-pole field transducer (5) is provided at the end of the joint ball (2) facing away from the pin (3). The poles of the field transducer (5) are arranged on the ball surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventor: Jochen Kruse