Patents by Inventor Kai Bornträger

Kai Bornträger 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: 20250251033
    Abstract: A gearbox has an input shaft, an output shaft, three shifting elements, and three planetary gearsets each having a sun shaft, ring gear shaft, and web shaft. The first sun shaft, the second sun shaft, and the input shaft are connected rotationally fixed. Rotationally fixed connections are made between the first ring gear shaft and a stationary component, the first web shaft and the second ring gear shaft, the second web shaft and the third sun shaft, and the third web shaft and the output shaft. Closing the first shifting element connects the third ring gear shaft rotationally fixed to a stationary component. Closing the second shifting element connects in a rotationally fixed manner the first web shaft, the second ring gear shaft, the third web shaft, and the output shaft. Closing the third shifting element connects rotationally fixed two of the three shafts of the third planetary gearset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2025
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Glückler, Kai Bornträger, Stefan Renner
  • Publication number: 20250249739
    Abstract: A vehicle gearbox has an input shaft for an electric machine, an output shaft, an interlocking shifting unit having first and second shifting elements, and a single axially displaceable sliding sleeve. First and second planetary gearsets each have a sun shaft, a ring gear shaft, and a web shaft. The first sun shaft, the second sun shaft, and the drive input shaft are connected rotationally fixed to one another, the first ring gear shaft is connected rotationally fixed to a stationary component; and the first web shaft is connected rotationally fixed to the second ring gear shaft. Closing the first shifting element engages a first gear where the first web shaft, second ring gear shaft, and output shaft connected rotationally fixed to one another. Closing the second shifting element engages a second gear where the second web shaft and output shaft are connected rotationally fixed to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2025
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Glückler, Stefan Renner, Kai Bornträger
  • Publication number: 20250196611
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission (2) has a first drive input shaft (9), a second drive input shaft (10), a drive output shaft (11), and a first planetary gearset (P1) and a second planetary gearset (P2). The drive input shafts (9, 10) are designed to be coupled in each case to a respective drive machine. In addition, a first shifting device (26) and a second shifting device (27) are provided. The motor vehicle transmission can be part of a drive unit (1), a motor vehicle drive axle, or a hybrid or electric vehicle. A method for operating a motor vehicle transmission and a drive unit is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2024
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Glückler, Kai Bornträger, Stefan Blattner, Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Renner
  • Publication number: 20240418244
    Abstract: A vehicle drive unit has an electric machine and a manual gearbox with first and second shift elements and two planetary gear sets coupled to one another. Each gear set has a sun shaft, a ring gear shaft, and a web shaft. The second sun shaft is drivable by the electric machine and is configured as an output of the shift gear. The second ring gear shaft is connected rotationally fixed to the first web shaft, and the first sun shaft is connected rotationally fixed to a stationary component. When actuated, the first shift element connects the first ring gear shaft to an element of the first planetary gear set and/or of the second planetary gear set. When actuated, the second shift element connects the first ring gear shaft rotationally fixed to the second sun shaft or the second web shaft in order to shift a second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Glückler, Kai Bornträger, Stefan Renner
  • Publication number: 20240416747
    Abstract: A drive unit for a vehicle includes an electric machine and a manual gearbox with at least a first shift element, a second shift element, a third shift element and two planetary gear sets coupled to one another and each having a sun shaft, a hollow gear shaft, and a web shaft. The second hollow gear shaft is connected rotationally fixed to the first web shaft. The first sun shaft is connected to a stationary component. In the respective actuated states, the first shift element locks the first planetary gear set to shift a first gear, the second shift element connects the first hollow gear shaft to the second web shaft to shift a second gear, and the third shift element connects the first hollow gear shaft to the second sun shaft to shift a third gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Glückler, Kai Bornträger, Stefan Renner
  • Patent number: 12123483
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Kai Bornträger, Johannes Glückler, Stefan Renner
  • Publication number: 20240336124
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission (3) includes a drive shaft (6), an output shaft (7), and a first planetary gear set (P1), a second planetary gear set (P2) and a third planetary gear set (P3). The drive shaft (6) is provided for coupling to at least one drive engine. Furthermore, exactly one first shifting element (B) and one second shifting element (A) are provided, at least functionally, for the representation of different force flow paths between the drive shaft (6) and the output shaft (7) via the planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3). The invention also relates to a drive unit (1), an electrically driven motor vehicle drive axle, a hybrid or electric vehicle and a method for operating a motor vehicle transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Johannes Glückler, Kai Bornträger, Stefan Renner
  • Publication number: 20240336125
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission (3) includes a drive shaft (6), an output shaft (7), and a first planetary gear set (P1), a second planetary gear set (P2), and a third planetary gear set (P3). The drive shaft (6) is provided for coupling to at least one drive engine. The first planetary gear set (P1) is positioned axially at least overlapping with the second planetary gear set (P2) and is arranged radially on the inside of the second planetary gear set (P2). Furthermore, a shift element (A) is provided at least functionally. The invention also relates to a drive unit (1), an electrically drivable motor vehicle drive axle, a hybrid or electric vehicle and a method for operating a motor vehicle transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Kai Bornträger, Johannes Glückler, Stefan Renner
  • Patent number: 11999237
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Mladjan Radic, Kai Bornträger, Johannes Glückler, Stefan Renner
  • Patent number: 11962189
    Abstract: A stator (1a, 1 b) for an electric machine. The stator (1a, 1b) is fixedly mounted relative to a rotational axis (Rot). The stator (1a, 1b) comprises a stator yoke (2) that extends in the axial (A) and radial (R) directions. Stator teeth (3), facing toward the rotational axis (Rot), are arranged in a ring shape on the stator yoke (2). The teeth are uniformly spaced apart from one another so that a stator groove (14) is formed therebetween. The stator (1a, 1b) is divided into a first stator section (5) and a second stator section (6). First and second outer walls (9, 10) are provided on the stator yoke (2) and serve to axially support the stator yoke (2). A cooling manifold disk (11) is integrated between the first stator section (5) and the second stator section (6). An electric machine with a stator of that type is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rayk Gersten, David Wörzler, Stefan Spühler, Martin Jelinewski, Johannes Glückler, Timo Hele, Kai Bornträger
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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: 11780328
    Abstract: A drive device for an electrically driven axle of a motor vehicle may include at least one electric machine, a shiftable transmission connected downstream from the at least one electric machine, and a differential coupled to the transmission for distributing drive torque to the axle. The transmission has first and second planetary gear sets connected in series. The at least one electric machine engages with an external toothing of a ring gear of the first planetary gear set. A carrier of the first planetary gear set is rotationally fixed to a sun gear of the second planetary gear set. A sun gear of the first planetary gear set is detachably couplable to a housing. A ring gear of the second planetary gear set is coupled to the housing. A carrier of the second planetary gear set is an output of the transmission. The first planetary gear set is interlockable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF DRIVETECH (SUZHOU) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Frank Seemann, Paul Lenz, Andreas Grossl, Werner Hechberger, Kai Bornträger, Maik Wörl, Marco Di Sarno, Cong Ren
  • 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: 11732780
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric vehicle transmission (6?) comprising a drive input shaft (11), a drive output shaft (13), a first planetary gearset (15), and a second planetary gearset (16). The drive input shaft (11) is provided for connection to an electric machine (7), where each of the first planetary gearset (15) and the second planetary gearset (16) includes a first element (17, 18), a second element (19, 20) and a third element (21, 22), respectively. A first shifting element (A) and a second shifting element (B?) are provided, by the selective actuation of which the drive input shaft (11) can be connected to the drive output shaft (13) by means of the planetary gearsets (15, 16) by engaging a gear. Also disclosed is a drive module (2?) with such an electric vehicle transmission (6?) and a method for operating an electric vehicle transmission (6?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner, Dennis Wohlfahrt, Thorsten Leim, Kai Bornträger
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11472277
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Glückler, Kai Bornträger, Stefan Renner, Stefan Spühler, Michael Trübenbach, Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Publication number: 20220307573
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric vehicle transmission (6?) comprising a drive input shaft (11), a drive output shaft (13), a first planetary gearset (15), and a second planetary gearset (16). The drive input shaft (11) is provided for connection to an electric machine (7), where each of the first planetary gearset (15) and the second planetary gearset (16) includes a first element (17, 18), a second element (19, 20) and a third element (21, 22), respectively. A first shifting element (A) and a second shifting element (B?) are provided, by the selective actuation of which the drive input shaft (11) can be connected to the drive output shaft (13) by means of the planetary gearsets (15, 16) by engaging a gear. Also disclosed is a drive module (2?) with such an electric vehicle transmission (6?) and a method for operating an electric vehicle transmission (6?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner, Dennis Wohlfahrt, Thorsten Leim, Kai Bornträger
  • Publication number: 20220250457
    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: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Johannes GLÜCKLER, Kai BORNTRÄGER, Stefan SPÜHLER, Johannes KALTENBACH, Stefan RENNER, Michael TRÜBENBACH