Patents by Inventor Josef Bader

Josef Bader 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: 8656808
    Abstract: A transmission system for either a manual shift transmission, an automatic transmission or an automated transmission in which the electrical connections and the pneumatic connections including any ventilation port, for the internal components of the transmission are combined with one another so as to exit the transmission housing via a single unified connection formed in the housing wall of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Gerhard Birkenmaier, Andreas Graf, Kim Führer, Kai Heinrich, Frank Gessler, Klaus Wöhr, Hubert König, Manfred Vetter, Gerhard Höring, Ludger Ronge, Henrik Schuh, Markus Ulbricht, Mario Steinborn, Karl-Fritz Heinzelmann, Bernhard Walter
  • Patent number: 8444528
    Abstract: A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain comprises a transmission arranged between a drive assembly and an axle drive, such that an input shaft of the transmission is connected, via a controllable separator clutch, to the drive assembly and an output shaft of the transmission is connected to the axle drive, and such that the transmission comprises at least one shifting element formed as a claw clutch. To reduce the probability that a tooth-on-tooth position may occur in a shifting element formed as a claw clutch, a torque is applied thereto by at least one transmission-internal assembly and/or at least one transmission-external assembly so that a speed difference at the claw clutch approaches a predetermined nominal value, and engagement of the claw clutch is only started when the speed difference of the claw clutch reaches the nominal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Jochen Breuer, Josef Bader, Andreas Graf, Thomas Hafen
  • Patent number: 8365629
    Abstract: A configuration of a gear wheel (4, 5) on a main shaft (1) of a transmission, having at least two lay shafts (2, 3). The wheel (4, 5) is designed as a sum wheel or gear wheel, meshes with both of the lay shafts (2, 3), and is movable in the radial direction between lay shafts (2, 3). An elastic element (8, 13) is positioned, between the gear wheel (4, 5) and the main shaft (1), and/or between the gear wheel and the lay shaft to reduce radially movement of the gear wheel (4, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Stefan Renner
  • Patent number: 8230752
    Abstract: An automated group transmission having a multi-stage main transmission (HG), a splitter group (VG) connected upstream from the main transmission (HG) and a two-stage range-change group (BG) connected downstream of the main transmission (HG), such that the splitter group (VG) is connected, via a controllable separator clutch, to a drive motor. The main transmission (HG) and the range-change group (BG) are of either a synchronized or an unsynchronized design and the shifting clutches of two respective transmission ratio steps, in at least one of the partial-transmissions (VG, HG, BG), are respectively combined in a common shifting packet with two shift positions and a neutral position. To speed up most range shifts, it is provided that in the main transmission (HG) the shifting clutches associated with the lowest transmission ratio step (G1) and with the highest transmission ratio step (G4 or G3) are combined in a common shifting packet (S1/4 or S1/3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin Miller, Bernd Doebele, Josef Bader
  • Patent number: 8166847
    Abstract: A multi-group transmission (1) is proposed, comprising a gearbox actuator, in which an exhaust channel (3) is provided in the gearbox housing (2), said channel extending from a gearbox compartment (4) provided on the gearbox housing (2) for the installation of the gearbox actuator, to the output sensor (5), whereby the gearbox compartment (4) also serves as a collecting chamber for exhaust air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: SF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Stefan Renner
  • Patent number: 8152691
    Abstract: A method for controlling shifts in an automated group transmission that comprises a multi-stage main transmission, a multi-stage splitter group connected upstream from the main transmission and a multi-stage range-change group connected downstream from the main transmission. The method includes the steps of disengaging the separator clutch to relieve the load of the motor; shifting range-change group to neutral and bringing the speed of the motor to the synchronous speed of the target gear; braking the main transmission and the splitter or upstream group via a transmission brake; changing the transmission ratios in the main transmission and in the splitter group; synchronizing the range-change group by partially engaging the separator clutch; engaging the desired transmission ratio in the range-change group; and simultaneously increasing the load on the drive motor and fully engaging the separator clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin Miller, Bernd Doebele, Josef Bader
  • Patent number: 8006585
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission having a housing (5) with a region in which a connection plate (7) can be firmly attached. The connection plate includes areas for receiving at least parts of the actuating elements, which actuate the torque-transmitting components, and/or parts of the actuating elements, which actuate a transmission shifting device. At least one required actuating cylinder (3) is formed by a first cylinder part, that is located within the connection plate, and a second cylinder part, that is located within the transmission housing. A stop ring (10), provided in the cylinder (3), is configured in such a way that the sealing contact surfaces of a piston (2), in the transmission housing and/or the connection plate, are formed by a bushing-shaped expansion (10?, 10?) of the stop ring (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Stefan Renner
  • Patent number: 7976431
    Abstract: A method for shifting an automated transmission situated in a drive train of a motor vehicle between an engine and a drive axle and having at least one multi-speed main transmission and a two-speed range change group rear-mounted thereon. The main transmission has at least one counter shaft with a transmission brake. A clutch engages the prime mover and the main transmission and the range change group is shifted via unsynchronized dog clutches which are combined in pairs in a common shift set and have two shift positions and one neutral position such that, during a range change gear shift both in the main transmission and the range change group a change between two ratio stages occurs. A range change up-shift includes synchronizing the input shaft and the target gear utilizing the transmission brake and passively synchronizing the dog shifted transmission parts by the edge beveling of the concerned dog clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Andreas Graf, Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Thomas Hafen
  • Patent number: 7878942
    Abstract: A method for shifting an automated transmission situated in a drive train of a motor vehicle between an engine and a drive axle and having at least one multi-speed main transmission and a two-speed range change group rear-mounted thereon. The main transmission has at least one counter-shaft with an transmission brake. A clutch engages the prime mover and the main transmission and the range change group is shifted via unsynchronized dog clutches, which are combined in pairs in a common shift set having two shift positions and one neutral position such that during a range change gearshift, both in the main transmission and in the range change group, a change between two ratio stages occurs. A range change up-shift and down-shift each include active synchronization of the dog clutch by way of the transmission brake and of the separating clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Andreas Graf, Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Thomas Hafen
  • Publication number: 20100319485
    Abstract: An automated group transmission having a multi-stage main transmission (HG), a splitter group (VG) connected upstream from the main transmission (HG) and a two-stage range-change group (BG) connected downstream of the main transmission (HG), such that the splitter group (VG) is connected, via a controllable separator clutch, to a drive motor. The main transmission (HG) and the range-change group (BG) are of either a synchronized or an unsynchronized design and the shifting clutches of two respective transmission ratio steps, in at least one of the partial-transmissions (VG, HG, BG), are respectively combined in a common shifting packet with two shift positions and a neutral position. To speed up most range shifts, it is provided that in the main transmission (HG) the shifting clutches associated with the lowest transmission ratio step (G1) and with the highest transmission ratio step (G4 or G3) are combined in a common shifting packet (S1/4 or S1/3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Martin Miller, Bernd Doebele, Josef Bader
  • Publication number: 20100323845
    Abstract: A method for controlling shifts in an automated group transmission that comprises a multi-stage main transmission, a multi-stage splitter group connected upstream from the main transmission and a multi-stage range-change group connected downstream from the main transmission. The method includes the steps of disengaging the separator clutch to relieve the load of the motor; shifting range-change group to neutral and bringing the speed of the motor to the synchronous speed of the target gear; braking the main transmission and the splitter or upstream group via a transmission brake; changing the transmission ratios in the main transmission and in the splitter group; synchronizing the range-change group by partially engaging the separator clutch; engaging the desired transmission ratio in the range-change group; and simultaneously increasing the load on the drive motor and fully engaging the separator clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Martin Miller, Bernd Doebele, Josef Bader
  • Patent number: 7849759
    Abstract: A shifting device (1) for a transmission with a selection actuator and a shifting actuator, which a shifting shaft (2) comprising shifting forks (3) or selector forks, which engage in sliding collars for engaging the gears in which the shifting motion can be carried out by way of an axial motion of the shifting shaft (2), while the selection motion is kinematically disengaged from the shifting motion and the shifting shaft (2) does not rotate during the selection motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Stefan Renner, Karlheinz Mayr, Reiner Keller, Kai Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20100285921
    Abstract: A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain comprises a transmission arranged between a drive assembly and an axle drive, such that an input shaft of the transmission is connected, via a controllable separator clutch, to the drive assembly and an output shaft of the transmission is connected to the axle drive, and such that the transmission comprises at least one shifting element formed as a claw clutch. To reduce the probability that a tooth-on-tooth position may occur in a shifting element formed as a claw clutch, a torque is applied thereto by at least one transmission-internal assembly and/or at least one transmission-external assembly so that a speed difference at the claw clutch approaches a predetermined nominal value, and engagement of the claw clutch is only started when the speed difference of the claw clutch reaches the nominal value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Jochen Breuer, Josef Bader, Andreas Graf, Thomas Hafen
  • Patent number: 7789011
    Abstract: A method for actuating a shift cylinder (1) of an electro-pneumatic control unit for the gearbox of a motor vehicle. The gearbox comprising a main gearbox, a group gearbox or other shifting elements with detents in at least one of a neutral position and/or a final position(s). The shift cylinder (1) is prefilled with a pressure below the detent actuating force, prior to a gearshift phase of the control unit, such that the gearshift time is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Martin Miller
  • Patent number: 7669494
    Abstract: A variable-speed gearbox comprises a main transmission (2) arranged in a housing (30) and a downstream range-change transmission (32), the range-change transmission having power distribution on two countershafts (12, 14). On a main shaft (4) of the main transmission (2), a gear wheel (6) is arranged in a radially movable manner which meshes with respective first gear wheels (8, 10) each on one of the countershafts. In the housing of the variable-speed gearbox, a drive output shaft (22) is radially and axially fixed which is connected a gear wheel (20) that meshes in each case with a second gear wheel (16, 18), respectively, on each of the countershafts. The gear wheel on the main shaft that meshes with the first gear wheels on the countershafts is maintained in its axial position relative to the drive output shaft by way of pressure combs (50, 52, 54, 56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Josef Bader
  • Publication number: 20100043584
    Abstract: A shifting device (1) for a transmission with a selection actuator and a shifting actuator, which a shifting shaft (2) comprising shifting forks (3) or selector forks, which engage in sliding collars for engaging the gears in which the shifting motion can be carried out by way of an axial motion of the shifting shaft (2), while the selection motion is kinematically disengaged from the shifting motion and the shifting shaft (2) does not rotate during the selection motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Stefan Renner, Karlheinz Mayr, Reiner Keller, Kai Heinrich
  • Publication number: 20100031762
    Abstract: A configuration of a gear wheel (4, 5) on a main shaft (1) of a transmission, having at least two lay shafts (2, 3). The wheel (4, 5) is designed as a sum wheel or gear wheel, meshes with both of the lay shafts (2, 3), and is movable in the radial direction between lay shafts (2, 3). An elastic element (8, 13) is positioned, between the gear wheel (4, 5) and the main shaft (1), and/or between the gear wheel and the lay shaft to reduce radially movement of the gear wheel (4, 5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Stefan Renner
  • Publication number: 20090308193
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission is proposed, whose housing (5) comprises a region in which a connection plate (7) that can be firmly attached to the housing (5) is provided, said connection plate comprising receiving areas for at least parts of the actuating elements for actuating the torque-transmitting components and/or parts of the actuating elements for actuating the shift device of the transmission, wherein the at least one required actuating cylinder (3) is formed by a first cylinder part that is provided in the connection plate (7), and by a second cylinder part that is provided in the transmission housing (5), wherein the stop ring (10) provided in the cylinder (3) is configured in such a way that the sealing contact faces of the piston (2) in the transmission housing (5) and/or in the connection plate (7) are formed by a bushing-shaped expansion (10?, 10?) of the stop ring (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Stefan Renner
  • Publication number: 20090235770
    Abstract: A shift device (13) for a manual transmission having actuation mechanisms for shifting and selecting in which the selection motion is carried out by way of a selector actuator (10), which is connected to a driving lug (5) of a selector plate (4). An anchor (1) of the selector actuator (10) consists of a permanent magnet (2). End stops (3) of the selector actuator (10) are configured of ferromagnetic material, where the anchor (1) of the selector actuator (10) is fixed in a defined position for the installation of the selector actuator (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Gerhard Birkenmaier, Kim Führer, Frank Gessler, Andreas Graf, Kai Heinrich, Karl-Fritz Heinzelmann, Gerhard Höring, Hubert König, Ludger Ronge, Henrik Schuh, Mario Steinborn, Markus Ulbricht, Manfred Vetter, Bernhard Walter, Klaus Wöhr
  • Patent number: 7571795
    Abstract: A coupling device of a motor vehicle with a clutch arranged in the force flow between a drive motor and a transmission and a dedicated servo-assisted control mechanism. The clutch is designed by way of a pressing spring as a passively lockable and via a clutch release sleeve disengageable and insertable dry friction coupling and the control mechanism includes an operative primary drive between a clutch pedal and the clutch release sleeve and a pneumatically operative servo drive with a pneumatic actuator ordered immediately to the clutch release sleeve and with a control valve controllable by the clutch pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Stefan Renner