Patents by Inventor Johannes Kaltenbach

Johannes Kaltenbach 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: 20240066971
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission (1) has a drive input shaft (15), a drive output shaft (16), a first planetary gearset (P1), and a second planetary gearset (P2). The drive input shaft (15) is provided for coupling to a drive machine. In addition, a first shifting element (A) and a second shifting element (B) are provided, at least functionally. Also disclosed is a drive unit (5), a motor vehicle drivetrain, a hybrid or electric vehicle, and a method for operating a motor vehicle transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Mladjan Radic, Kai Bornträger, Johannes Glückler, Stefan Renner
  • Publication number: 20240068544
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission (1) has a drive input shaft (15), a drive output shaft (16) and a first planetary gearset (P1), and a second planetary gearset (P2), where the drive input shaft (15) is provided for coupling to a drive machine. In addition, a first shifting element (A) and a second shifting element (B) are provided, at least functionally. Also disclosed are a drive unit (5), a motor vehicle drivetrain, a hybrid or electric vehicle, and a method for operating a motor vehicle transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Kai Bornträger, Johannes Glückler, Stefan Renner
  • Patent number: 11884362
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for a bicycle or pedelec includes a manual drive shaft (1) in a housing (2). A rotor (3) of a first electric drive (EM 1) is arranged axially parallel to the manual drive shaft (1), and a rotor (4) of a second electric drive (EM2) is arranged coaxially to the manual drive shaft (1). The rotor (3) of the first electric drive (EM 1) is coupled to a first planetary gear set (PS 1) as a superposition gearbox via a first fixed ratio. The rotor (4) of the second electric drive (EM 2) is coupled to the manual drive shaft (1) via a second fixed ratio. The manual drive shaft (1) is coupled to the first planetary gear set (PS 1) as the superposition gearbox, and the first planetary gear set (PS 1), as the superposition gearbox, is coupled to an output (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Uwe Griesmeier
  • Patent number: 11846343
    Abstract: A drive axle of an electric vehicle has first and a second drive wheels (R1, R2) with wheel axles (a1, a2), a first electric machine (EM1) and a second electric machine (EM2) with a common rotation axis (m), a transmission (G3) with a transmission input shaft (EW) and a transmission output shaft (AW), and an axle differential (DI) with a differential input (DIK) and two differential output shafts (3a, 3b). The first electric machine (EM1) is connected to the transmission input shaft (EW) and the transmission output shaft (AW) is connected to the differential input (DIK). The second electric machine (EM2) can be connected as an additional drive when necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Glückler, Stefan Spühler, Stefan Renner, Michael Trübenbach, Kai Bornträger, Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Patent number: 11846342
    Abstract: A transmission where a first shaft is rotationally fixable to a third shaft and to a second shaft, the second and third shafts are rotationally connectable to a fourth shaft, the second shaft is rotationally connectable to a fifth shaft, the fourth shaft is rotationally connectable to the fifth shaft, the third shaft is rotationally connectable to the fifth shaft, fixed gears of the fourth and fifth shafts are rotationally connected to a drive output, a first gearwheel of the sixth shaft meshes with a fixed gear of the second shaft, and a second gearwheel of the sixth shaft meshes with a fixed gear of the third shaft. Moreover, a first gearwheel of the sixth shaft is an idler gear and a second gearwheel of the sixth shaft is a fixed gear, or vice versa. Additionally, the idler gear of the sixth shaft is rotationally fixable to the sixth shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Max Bachmann, Thomas Rosemeier, Michael Roske, Matthias Reisch, Johannes Kaltenbach, Stefan Beck, Michael Wechs, Martin Rattay, Juri Pawlakowitsch, Fabian Kutter
  • Patent number: 11760179
    Abstract: A drive axle for an electric vehicle which comprises first and second electric machines (EM1, EM2), first and second drive wheels (R1, R2) and first and second two-speed transmissions (G1, G2) each having the same gear ratios. The first electric machine (EM1) drives the first drive wheel (R1) by way of the first two-speed transmission (G1) and the second electric machine (EM2) drives the second drive wheel (R2) by way of the second two-speed transmission (G2). The first and the second two-speed transmissions (G1, G2) each comprise a first planetary gearset (PS1) and a second planetary gearset (PS2) coupled to one another. The first planetary gearset (PS1) and the second planetary gearset (PS2) each comprise a web shaft (ST1, ST2), a ring-gear shaft (HR1, HR2) and a sun-gear shaft (SO1, SO2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Glückler, Kai Bornträger, Stefan Spühler, Johannes Kaltenbach, Stefan Renner, Michael Trübenbach
  • Patent number: 11746856
    Abstract: A shiftable planetary transmission (1) includes a planet carrier (2), a plurality of planet gears (3) rotatably arranged at the planet carrier (2), a sun gear (4), and a ring gear (5). The sun gear (4) and the ring gear (5) mesh with the planet gears (3). The planet carrier (2) includes at least one connecting element (6), which is axially displaceable therein. The at least one connecting element (6), on a first side of the planet carrier (2), is at least indirectly connected to an actuator (7) and, on a second side of the planet carrier (2), is at least indirectly connected to a first dog element (8). The first dog element (8) is displaceable, by an actuator actuation, between a first shift position and at least a second shift position due to an axial displacement of the at least one connecting element (6) in the planet carrier (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Uwe Griesmeier, Thomas Martin, Peter Ziemer
  • Publication number: 20230173910
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission (18) for a motor vehicle drive train (12) of a motor vehicle (10) includes: a first transmission input shaft (24) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to an internal combustion engine (16); a second transmission input shaft (26) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a first electric prime mover (14); an output shaft (28) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a drive output (32); a planetary gear set (RS) connected to the second transmission input shaft and to the output shaft; spur gear pairs (ST1, ST2, ST3) arranged in multiple gear set planes for forming gear steps; and a plurality of gear change devices with shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F) for engaging gear steps. The output shaft is of a countershaft design, and the planetary gear set is interlockable when decoupled from the first transmission input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Johannes Kaltenbach, Mladjan Radic, Thomas Martin, Max Bachmann, Michael Wechs
  • Publication number: 20230173909
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission (18) for a motor vehicle drive train (12) of a motor vehicle (10) includes: a first transmission input shaft (24) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to an internal combustion engine (16); a second transmission input shaft (26) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a first electric prime mover (14); an output shaft (28) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a drive output (32); a planetary gear set (RS) connected to the first transmission input shaft and to the second transmission input shaft; spur gear pairs (ST1, ST2, ST3) arranged in multiple gear set planes for forming gear steps; and a plurality of gear change devices that include shift elements (A, B, C, D, E) for engaging gear steps. The output shaft is of a countershaft design, and the planetary gear set is interlockable when decoupled from the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Max Bachmann, Mladjan Radic
  • Patent number: 11649009
    Abstract: A transmission for a bicycle includes at least four shift elements, one input shaft (1), a first planetary gear set (PS1) which is operatively connected to the input shaft (1), and a second planetary gear set (PS2). A carrier of the first planetary gear set is rotationally fixed to a carrier of the second planetary gear set (PS2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Valerie Engel, Uwe Griesmeier, Matthias Wesa, Michael Wechs, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Publication number: 20230137376
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM), a first input shaft (1), a second input shaft (5), an output shaft (2), three planetary gear sets (11, 12, 13), and at least four shift elements (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE4). Different gears are selectable by selectively actuating the at least four shift elements (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE4) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM), different operating modes are implementable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Juri Pawlakowitsch, Ingo Pfannkuchen, Michael Wechs, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Jens Moraw, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Uwe Griesmeier, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Publication number: 20230121971
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission arrangement for a motor vehicle (30) includes a first transmission group (12), a second transmission group (18), a third planetary gear set (PS3), and a first electric machine (EM1). The first transmission group (12) includes a first input (14), a first output (16), and a first planetary gear set (PS1). The first input (14) is connectable to an internal combustion engine (VM). The second transmission group (18) includes a second input (20), a second output (22), and a second planetary gear set (PS2). The second input (20) is connected to the first output (16) of the first transmission group (12). The third planetary gear set (PS3) includes a first element (S3;H3I), a second element (H3;S3I), and a third element (P3;P3I). The third planetary gear set (PS3) is interlockable using a first shift element (E) and arranged coaxially to a first axis (A1). The first element (S3;H3I) is connected to the first electric machine. The second element (H3;S3I) is connected to the second output (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Michael Wechs, Matthias Horn, Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Martin Brehmer, Max Bachmann, Peter Ziemer, Christian Michel, Ingo Pfannkuchen, Mladjan Radic
  • Publication number: 20230104464
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission arrangement (10) for a motor vehicle (30) includes a transmission (11), a third planetary gear set (PS3), and a first electric machine (EM1). The transmission (11) includes a first input (14), which is connectable to an internal combustion engine (VM), a second output (22), a third output (23), and at least one planetary gear set (PS1, PS2). The third planetary gear set (PS3) includes a first element (S3;H3?), a second element (H3;S3?), and a third element (P3;P3?). The third planetary gear set (PS3) is interlockable using a first shift element (E) and arranged coaxially to a first axis (A1). The first element (S3;H3?) is connected to the first electric machine. The second element (H3;S3?) is connected to the second output (22) of the transmission (11). The third output (23) of the transmission (11) is connected to the first element (S3;H3?). The third element (P3;P3?) is connected to a drive output (Ab) of the hybrid transmission arrangement (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Michael Wechs, Thomas Martin, Johannes Kaltenbach, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Max Bachmann, Mladjan Radic, Ingo Pfannkuchen, Christian Michel
  • Patent number: 11619299
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid transmission includes monitoring the surroundings of a motor vehicle and, based on the data ascertained within the scope of the monitoring, determining a probability of occurrence of a driving situation to be anticipated, which, upon occurring, results in a deceleration of the motor vehicle. Based on the determined probability of occurrence, it is decided whether to carry out an electrodynamic gear shift or an output-assisted gear shift in order to transfer the hybrid transmission out of an operating condition, in which a gear is engaged, into a shift condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Uwe Griesmeier, Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Patent number: 11590960
    Abstract: A method for serial operation of a motor vehicle with a transmission having a first electric machine, which is operated as a motor for driving the motor vehicle, and a second electric machine, which is operated as a generator, includes, after a generation of a change-over signal, switching the first electric machine from the operation as a motor to the operation as a generator, and switching the second electric machine from the operation as a generator to the operation as a motor in order to drive the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Roske
  • Publication number: 20230039748
    Abstract: A transmission (2) of a motor vehicle includes a first sub-transmission (5) including a first input shaft (7) and a countershaft (11) coupled to the first input shaft (7) via a constant ratio (ic). The transmission (2) further includes a second sub-transmission (6) including a second input shaft (8), the second sub-transmission (6) being a planetary transmission (PG) with a sun gear (24), a ring gear (22), and a carrier (23). Moreover, the transmission (2) includes an output shaft (9), and a shift element (E). The carrier (23) is coupleable to the output shaft (9) via the shift element (E), and the ring gear (22) is the second input shaft (8) of the second sub-transmission (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Martin Brehmer, Matthias Horn, Fabian Kutter, Stefan Beck
  • Patent number: 11571961
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM1), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), two planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), and at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E). Different gears are implementable by selectively actuating the at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM1), different operating modes are implementable. A drive train for a motor vehicle with the transmission (G), and to a method for operating the transmission (G) are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Uwe Griesmeier, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Michael Wechs, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Publication number: 20230030456
    Abstract: A transmission (2) of a motor vehicle includes a first sub-transmission (5) having a first input shaft (7) and a countershaft (11) coupled to the first input shaft (7) via a constant ratio. The transmission further includes a second sub-transmission (6) having a second input shaft (8) and being a planetary transmission having a sun gear (24), a ring gear (22), and a carrier (23). The transmission also includes an output shaft (9) and an engaging device (S3). A first ratio for the second prime mover (4) is formed in a first engagement position (E) of the engaging device (S3), a second ratio for the second prime mover (4) is formed in a second engagement position (F) of the engaging device (S3), and at least one third ratio for the second prime mover (4) is formed in a third engagement position (N) of the engaging device (S3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Martin Brehmer, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Stefan Beck
  • Publication number: 20230029575
    Abstract: A transmission (2) of a motor vehicle includes a first input shaft (7), a second input shaft (8), an output shaft (9), a first sub-transmission (5) including the first input shaft (7), and a second sub-transmission (6) including the second input shaft (8). The second sub-transmission (6) is a planetary transmission having components including a sun gear (24), a ring gear (22), and a carrier (23). Additionally, the transmission (2) includes an engaging device (S3) associated with the planetary transmission (PG). In a first engagement position (E) of the engaging device (S3), a first component (23) of the components of the planetary transmission (PG) is connected to the second input shaft (8). In a second engagement position (F) of the engaging device (S3), a second component (22) of the components of the planetary transmission (PG) is connected to the second input shaft (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Martin Brehmer, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Stefan Beck
  • Publication number: 20220364631
    Abstract: A drive axle of an electric vehicle has first and a second drive wheels (R1, R2) with wheel axles (a1, a2), a first electric machine (EM1) and a second electric machine (EM2) with a common rotation axis (m), a transmission (G3) with a transmission input shaft (EW) and a transmission output shaft (AW), and an axle differential (DI) with a differential input (DIK) and two differential output shafts (3a, 3b). The first electric machine (EM1) is connected to the transmission input shaft (EW) and the transmission output shaft (AW) is connected to the differential input (DIK). The second electric machine (EM2) can be connected as an additional drive when necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Glückler, Stefan Spühler, Stefan Renner, Michael Trübenbach, Kai Bornträger, Johannes Kaltenbach