Patents by Inventor Kai Sorge

Kai Sorge 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: 10625607
    Abstract: Operating a drive train of a vehicle with a clutch unit for distributing torque on a primary axis and a secondary axis of the vehicle comprises: a) determining an available drive torque; b) determining excess torque on the primary axis; c) determining an actual maximum torque on the secondary axis; d) determining the excess torque on the secondary axis insofar as the maximum torque is not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Frank Discher, Kai Sorge
  • Patent number: 10233983
    Abstract: A process of controlling an actuating assembly for a coupling in the driveline of a motor vehicle, wherein the actuating assembly comprises a drive for moving an actuating element for operating the coupling unit, sensing a position signal representing the position of the actuating element; sensing a force signal representing the operating force required for displacing the actuating element; controlling the drive by means of an electronic control unit as a function of the position signal and the force signal. Further an actuating assembly is used for carrying out the process, as well as a drive assembly having such an actuating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Mark Schmidt, Frank Bernreuther, Kai Sorge, Rudolf Fitz, Stephan Leven
  • Publication number: 20180215260
    Abstract: Operating a drive train of a vehicle with a clutch unit for distributing torque on a primary axis and a secondary axis of the vehicle comprises: a) determining an available drive torque; b) determining excess torque on the primary axis; c) determining an actual maximum torque on the secondary axis; d) determining the excess torque on the secondary axis insofar as the maximum torque is not exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Frank Discher, Kai Sorge
  • Patent number: 9926990
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a vehicle having a clutch assembly, in particular for distributing torque to a primary axle and a secondary axle of the vehicle and/or for distributing torque between two wheels of one axle of the vehicle, comprises at least the following steps: a) determining temperature data at least from an electronic control unit which is assigned to the clutch assembly, or from an actuation unit of the clutch assembly; b) evaluating the temperature data determined in step a); and c) reducing an effective value of a control current at least of the electronic control unit or of the actuation unit by pulsing the control current if the evaluation in step b) reveals that a temperature at least of the electronic control unit or of the actuation unit exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Kai Sorge, Serkan Öztürk, Erik Resvoll
  • Publication number: 20170184161
    Abstract: A process of controlling an actuating assembly for a coupling in the driveline of a motor vehicle, wherein the actuating assembly comprises a drive for moving an actuating element for operating the coupling unit, sensing a position signal representing the position of the actuating element; sensing a force signal representing the operating force required for displacing the actuating element; controlling the drive by means of an electronic control unit as a function of the position signal and the force signal. Further an actuating assembly is used for carrying out the process, as well as a drive assembly having such an actuating assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Mark Schmidt, Frank Bernreuther, Kai Sorge, Rudolf Fitz, Stephan Leven
  • Publication number: 20170130787
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a vehicle having a clutch assembly, in particular for distributing torque to a primary axle and a secondary axle of the vehicle and/or for distributing torque between two wheels of one axle of the vehicle, comprises at least the following steps: a) determining temperature data at least from an electronic control unit which is assigned to the clutch assembly, or from an actuation unit of the clutch assembly; b) evaluating the temperature data determined in step a); and c) reducing an effective value of a control current at least of the electronic control unit or of the actuation unit by pulsing the control current if the evaluation in step b) reveals that a temperature at least of the electronic control unit or of the actuation unit exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Kai Sorge, Serkan Öztürk, Erik Resvoll
  • Patent number: 8152475
    Abstract: In a method for controlling operation of a compressor, the compressor is shut off by a control device in order to prevent thermal damages when an estimated temperature value Ts calculated by said control device exceeds an upper threshold value Tmax while the compressor remains on or is allowed to be turned on when there is a need for compression and a lower threshold value Tmin is not reached. In order to be able to more accurately estimate the estimated temperature and increase the thermal availability of the compressor, the estimated temperature value Ts is indirectly and cyclically determined by means of a mathematical-physical model that characterizes the cooling and heating properties of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Kai Sorge
  • Patent number: 7806797
    Abstract: An axial setting device includes two discs which are centered on a common axis. One is axially supported and the other one is axially displaceable, and at least one is rotatingly drivable. The two discs on their end faces, each have a plurality of circumferential ball grooves. The ball grooves each comprise a depth which decreases in the same direction, and each pair of opposed ball grooves accommodates a ball. At least the ball grooves of one of the two discs, starting from the region of the greatest groove depth, comprise a first groove portion with a greater pitch and an adjoining second groove portion with a smaller pitch, wherein the first groove portion extends over a smaller circular-arch-shaped portion than the second groove portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Theodor Gassmann, Mark Schmidt, Kurt Müller, Kai Sorge
  • Publication number: 20090163313
    Abstract: A differential assembly 2 for variable torque distribution in the drive line of a motor vehicle. A differential gear 21 with a rotationally drivable differential cage 4 and two output shafts 3, 3?, which are drivingly connected to the differential cage 4 by means of a differential gear set 7, 9, 9?, wherein a first drive train is formed. A gear stage 14, 14? per output shaft 3, 3?, which gear stage is drivingly connected on one side to the differential cage 4 and on the other side to one of the output shafts 3, 3? is part of a second drive train which is functionally parallel to the first drive train. Friction clutch 15, 15? are provided for each gear stage 14, 14? and ball ramp assemblies are provided for actuating the friction clutches, the ball ramp assembly having a plurality of ball grooves 44, 45; 44?, 45? of variable depth. A single electric motor 52 is drivingly connected to rotatably driveable discs 43; 43? of axial setting devices 16, 16?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: GKN DRIVELINE INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Theodor Gassmann, Mark Schmidt, Kai Sorge, Kurt Muller, Ralph Mertens
  • Publication number: 20070105684
    Abstract: An axial setting device includes two discs which are centered on a common axis. One is axially supported and the other one is axially displaceable, and at least one is rotatingly drivable. The two discs on their end faces, each have a plurality of circumferential ball grooves. The ball grooves each comprise a depth which decreases in the same direction, and each pair of opposed ball grooves accommodates a ball. At least the ball grooves of one of the two discs, starting from the region of the greatest groove depth, comprise a first groove portion with a greater pitch and an adjoining second groove portion with a smaller pitch, wherein the first groove portion extends over a smaller circular-arch-shaped portion than the second groove portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: THEODOR GASSMANN, MARK SCHMIDT, KURT MULLER, KAI SORGE
  • Publication number: 20070098564
    Abstract: In a method for controlling operation of a compressor, the compressor is shut off by a control device in order to prevent thermal damages when an estimated temperature value Ts calculated by said control device exceeds an upper threshold value Tmax while the compressor remains on or is allowed to be turned on when there is a need for compression and a lower threshold value Tmin is not reached. In order to be able to more accurately estimate the estimated temperature and increase the thermal availability of the compressor, the estimated temperature value Ts is indirectly and cyclically determined by means of a mathematical-physical model that characterizes the cooling and heating properties of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2004
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventor: Kai Sorge