Patents by Inventor Kai Eckmann

Kai Eckmann 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: 11548549
    Abstract: A steering system for a trailing axle of a motor vehicle includes an electric motor, a hydraulic pump, a first valve, and a working cylinder. The electric motor is configured to drive the hydraulic pump. The working cylinder has a central bore and a piston positioned in the working cylinder. The first valve is fluidically connected to the pump such that the first valve is configured to block flow between the central bore and the pump in response to pressure generated by the pump, and to release the flow in response to a non-pressurized state of the pump in order to divert hydraulic fluid from the working cylinder through the central bore via an adhesion-driven movement of the piston into a central position in the central bore. A method includes operating a steering system for a trailing axle of a motor vehicle of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH
    Inventors: Falk Hofmann, Michael Haegele, Kai Eckmann
  • Publication number: 20210197891
    Abstract: A steering system for a trailing axle of a motor vehicle includes an electric motor, a hydraulic pump, a first valve, and a working cylinder. The electric motor is configured to drive the hydraulic pump. The working cylinder has a central bore and a piston positioned in the working cylinder. The first valve is fluidically connected to the pump such that the first valve is configured to block flow between the central bore and the pump in response to pressure generated by the pump, and to release the flow in response to a non-pressurized state of the pump in order to divert hydraulic fluid from the working cylinder through the central bore via an adhesion-driven movement of the piston into a central position in the central bore. A method includes operating a steering system for a trailing axle of a motor vehicle of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH
    Inventors: Falk HOFMANN, Michael HAEGELE, Kai ECKMANN
  • Patent number: 10370027
    Abstract: This invention is a steering system for a trailing or leading axle of a vehicle including a steering angle sensor, a driving speed sensor, an electric motor that drives a hydraulic pump, a working cylinder for steering wheels of the axle, which is joined to the hydraulic pump, a control device which determines a trailing angle of the wheels and which controls the electric motor, wherein the working cylinder has a center position borehole via which hydraulic fluid is emitted, and a piston seals the center position borehole in the straight position of the wheels, wherein the working cylinder is connected to return valves, via which hydraulic fluid can flow back into a tank, wherein the center position borehole is connected to a center position valve, via which hydraulic fluid can flow back into a tank, and wherein the return valves and the center position valve are poppet valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH
    Inventors: Kai Eckmann, Stefan Häussler, Falk Hofmann, Michael Hägele
  • Publication number: 20170217482
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering system for at least one trailing or leading axle of a vehicle, comprising: a steering angle sensor for measuring a steering angle of wheels of a leading axle of the vehicle; a driving speed sensor for measuring a driving speed of the vehicle; an electric motor (1.2) that drives a hydraulic pump (2); a working cylinder (11) for steering the wheels of the trailing axle, which is joined to the hydraulic pump (2); a control device (1.1) which determines a trailing angle of wheels on the trailing axle of the vehicle, using the data of the steering angle sensor and the driving speed sensor, and which controls the electric motor in a corresponding manner, wherein the working cylinder (11) has a centre position borehole (1.3) via which hydraulic fluid can be emitted from the working cylinder (11), and a piston seals the centre position borehole (11.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Kai Eckmann, Stefan Häussler, Falk Hofmann, Michael Hägele