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).

  • Patent number: 11052744
    Abstract: A transmission having a main transmission and a splitter group, and including at least four spur gear planes formed with a countershaft and at least five shifting elements for engaging at least six gears between the transmission input and output shafts. When shifting between gears with the highest and the second-highest gear ratios, a shift occurs in the shifting elements associated with the splitter group but not in the shifting elements associated with the main transmission, whereas when shifting between gears with the lowest and second-lowest gear ratios, a shift occurs in the shifting elements associated with the main transmission but not in the shifting elements associated with the splitter group. An electric machine can be connected by a gearset, and depending on its shift position, the gearset acts as a pre-transmission ratio for the electric machine or as a superimposition transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Johannes Glückler, Christian Mittelberger, Kai Bornträger, Rayk Gersten, Stefan Renner
  • Patent number: 11046391
    Abstract: A transmission for a bicycle includes an input shaft (1) which is rotationally fixable to a crankshaft (2), and an output shaft (3) which is rotationally fixable to an output gear. The transmission includes at least three planetary transmissions which are operatively connected to the input shaft and to the output shaft. A single one of the planetary transmissions includes a stepped planetary gear (4) with a first gear teeth section (5) having a first diameter and a second gear teeth section (6) having a second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Uwe Griesmeier, Valerie Engel, Matthias Wesa
  • Patent number: 11028904
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle. The transmission (G) comprises a transmission input (GW1-A), a transmission output (GW2-A), first, second, third and fourth planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4) and first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth shift elements (B1, B2, K1, K2, K3, K4). Ten forward gears and one reverse gear can be achieved between the transmission input (GW1-A) and the transmission output (GW2-A) by selectively operating the six shift elements (B1, B2, K1, K2, K3, K4). A drive train for a motor vehicle having such a transmission (G) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Wechs, Michael Trübenbach, Kai Bornträger, Johannes Glückler, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker, Peter Ziemer
  • Publication number: 20210162984
    Abstract: A transmission (G) includes an input shaft (GW1), an output shaft (GW2), an electric machine (EM), a plurality of planetary gear sets (P1-P3; 2P1-2P5), and gear-implementing shift elements (S1-S6; 2S1-2S5). Via engagement of a first of the gear-implementing shift elements (51, 2S1), which is a force-locking shift element having a variable torque transmission capacity, the input shaft (GW1) and an element (E1, 22E1) of one of the planetary gear sets (P3; 2P4) can be brought into a fixed rotational speed relationship with respect to each other. Another element (E2, 22E2a, 22E2b) of one of the planetary gear sets (P1, 2P3, 2P5) is permanently connected to a rotor (R) of the electric machine (EM). By engaging an auxiliary shift element (ZS, 2ZSa, 2ZSb), which is a form-locking shift element, the rotor (R) and the input shaft (GW1) can be brought into a fixed rotational speed relationship with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Martin Brehmer, Stefan Beck, Anton Fritzer, Suryanto Hendrawan, Matthias Horn, Johannes Kaltenbach, Raffael Kuberczyk, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker, Martin Rattay, Matthias Reisch, Wolfgang Rieger, Thomas Rosemeier, Lara Ruth Turner, Bernd Unseld, Viktor Warth, Michael Wechs, Peter Ziemer, Oliver Bayer
  • Patent number: 11009111
    Abstract: A power-split transmission (28) with a first power path and a second power path. In this case, the first power path is a mechanical power path and includes a primary planetary gearset (P1), a secondary planetary gearset (P2) and a tertiary planetary gearset (P3). Furthermore, the power-split transmission (28) is equipped with at least four shifting elements. In addition, a method for operating such a power-split transmission (28) is disclosed. Moreover, a drive-train (10) of a working machine with a power-split transmission (28) of the type concerned is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Raphael Himmelsbach, Philipp Rechenbach, Michael Wechs, Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Patent number: 10995826
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle which has a transmission input (GW1-A), a transmission output (GW2-A), five planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5) and six shifting elements (B1, B2, K1, K2, K3, B3). By selectively actuating the six shifting elements (B1, B2, K1, K2, K3, B3), ten forward gears and one reverse gear can be selected between the transmission input (GW1-A) and the transmission output (GW2-A). Further, the drive train is typically incorporated into a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Wechs, Michael Trübenbach, Kai Bornträger, Johannes Glückler, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker, Peter Ziemer
  • Publication number: 20210123512
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for an element vehicle, having first and second drive wheels (R1, R2), a first electric machine (EM1) and a second electric machine (EM2) with a common rotational axis (m), a manual 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), and the second electric machine (EM2) can, if necessary, be engaged as an additional drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Johannes GLÜCKLER, Kai BORNTRÄGER, Stefan RENNER, Stefan SPÜHLER, Michael TRÜBENBACH, Johannes KALTENBACH
  • Patent number: 10967725
    Abstract: A transmission for a hybrid drive having transmission input and output shafts, a further transmission input shaft and an electric machine, which drives the further transmission input shaft. A main transmission has first and second partial transmissions with a plurality of gear planes and a pair of concentric fourth shafts, and shift elements. A range group can couple the main transmission and has a planetary gearset with three transmission elements. The first element can couple either of the transmission input shafts via the shift elements. The second element is connected to the transmission output shaft and can couple a gear plane of the partial transmissions via the shift elements. The third transmission element can be fixed to the housing or blocked against the first or second transmission element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Rayk Gersten, Stefan Renner, Johannes Glückler, Christian Mittelberger, Kai Bornträger
  • Patent number: 10960749
    Abstract: A power-split transmission comprises an electric variator (9) and an electric variator (10) which can be connected, by way of a clutch (8), for forward driving, and a clutch (7), for reverse driving, to the drive output shaft (5) in such manner that the drive output shaft (5) can be purely electrically driven even when the input shaft (2) is static.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Philipp Rechenbach, Stefan Beck, Viktor Warth, Johannes Kaltenbach, Raphael Himmelsbach, Benedikt Reick, Michael Wechs, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Patent number: 10960889
    Abstract: A gear change method for an electric transmission system (1), the electric transmission system (1) including an electric machine (2), a multi-stage transmission (3) drivingly connected downstream from the electric machine (2) and having interruption of tractive force, and at least one brake (4) for braking a vehicle wheel (5), the method including transferring the brake (4) out of an inoperative condition into a readiness condition during a gear change operation of the transmission (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn
  • Patent number: 10948050
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle. The transmission (G) has a drive shaft (GW1), an output shaft (GW2-A), first, second, third and fourth planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4) and first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth shift elements (B1, K1, K2, B2, K3, K4). Selective actuation of the six shift elements (B1, K1, K2, B2, K3, K4) implements eleven forward gears and two reverse gears between the drive shaft (GW1) and the output shaft (GW2-A). A drive train for a motor vehicle having such a transmission (G) is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Wechs, Michael Trübenbach, Kai Bornträger, Johannes Glückler, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker, Peter Ziemer
  • Patent number: 10940749
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle having a hybrid drive, a transmission with shift elements, a drive output with a brake, a main transmission with input shafts, an output shaft and planetary gear sets (PG1, PG2). The main transmission has five gear planes. One shift element can connect a gear plane to an element of gear set (PG1) adjoining the main transmission. Another shift element couples a further element of gear set (PG1) either to the output shaft or a housing. An electric machine is permanently connected to an element of gear set (PG2). If, while driving with a transmission gear engaged, the drive output brake is engaged for a full brake application, a shift element of the transmission is first relieved by the electric machine and/or a brake assigned to one of the input shafts and then subsequently disengaged to decouple the combustion engine from the drive output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Preuß, Johannes Kaltenbach, Christian Mittelberger, Johannes Glückler, Stefan Renner, Rayk Gersten
  • Patent number: 10913342
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM), an input shaft (GW1), an output shaft (GWA), two planetary gear sets (P1, P2), and at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E). Different gears can be selected by selectively actuating the at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E). In interaction with the electric machine (EM), different operating modes can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Viktor Warth, Fabian Kutter, Michael Wechs, Uwe Griesmeier, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Patent number: 10875517
    Abstract: A manual transmission for a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle having transmission input shafts (1, 3) and an output shaft (2), an electric machine, and a plurality of shifting elements. The main transmission has a fourth shaft (4) and a plurality of wheel planes. A planetary transmission unit is associated with the electric machine which can be coupled to the main transmission. The planetary transmission unit has first, second and third transmission components. The plurality of shifting elements are selectively engageable to produce various gear ratios between input shaft (1) and output shaft (2) and/or shaft (3) and output shaft (2). The fourth shaft (4) is coupleable to an auxiliary power take-off and, in either a standstill or a driving gear, the fourth shaft (4) is in driving connection with shaft (1) and/or shaft (3) by way of one of the wheel planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rayk Gersten, Stefan Renner, Johannes Kaltenbach, Johannes Glückler
  • Publication number: 20200384847
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM), an input shaft (GW1), an output shaft (GWA), two planetary gear sets (P1, P2), and at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E). Different gears can be selected by selectively actuating the at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E). In interaction with the electric machine (EM), different operating modes can be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Viktor Warth, Fabian Kutter, Michael Wechs, Uwe Griesmeier, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Publication number: 20200331336
    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), at least two planetary gear sets (P1, P2), and at least four shift elements (A, B, C, D). Different gears are selectable by selectively actuating the at least four shift elements (A, B, C, D). In interaction with the electric machine (EM1), different operating modes are implementable. A drive train for a motor vehicle that includes such a transmission (G) and to a method for operating same are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Uwe Griesmeier, Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Viktor Warth, Michael Roske, Fabian Kutter
  • Patent number: 10808816
    Abstract: One general aspect of the present disclosure includes a hybrid drive for a motor vehicle. The hybrid drive may have a first transmission input shaft configured to connect to an internal combustion engine, a second transmission input shaft being coaxial to the first transmission input shaft and configured to connect to an electric motor, a first gear set plane, a second gear set plane, and a third gear set plane for a first forward gear, a second forward gear, and a third forward gear, respectively, a layshaft, a first gear shifting device connecting the first transmission input shaft and the second transmission input shaft in a first shifting setting and engaging a gear in a second shifting setting, and a transmission output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Publication number: 20200324757
    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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Roske
  • Publication number: 20200318713
    Abstract: A transmission, in particular a reducer transmission (34), which has two planetary sets and two shift elements (S1, S2). In addition, a transmission assembly which has a main transmission (32), of a planetary design, in particular a continuous power split transmission of a planetary design, and such a transmission which is coupled, as a reducer transmission (34), with the main transmission (32). Also, a powertrain (10) of a working machine with such a transmission assembly (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Stefan BECK, Raphael HIMMELSBACH, Michael WECHS, Philipp RECHENBACH, Johannes KALTENBACH
  • Publication number: 20200318718
    Abstract: A power-split transmission (28) with a first power path and a second power path. In this case, the first power path is a mechanical power path and includes a primary planetary gearset (P1), a secondary planetary gearset (P2) and a tertiary planetary gearset (P3). Furthermore, the power-split transmission (28) is equipped with at least four shifting elements. In addition, a method for operating such a power-split transmission (28) is disclosed. Moreover, a drive-train (10) of a working machine with a power-split transmission (28) of the type concerned is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Stefan BECK, Raphael HIMMELSBACH, Philipp RECHENBACH, Michael WECHS, Johannes KALTENBACH