Patents by Inventor Karl Benkler

Karl Benkler 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: 11486468
    Abstract: A gearwheel for a gear system for a planetary gear system of a chassis assistance system. The gearwheel is divided into at least a first spur gear and a second spur gear which are spaced apart from one another along a common rotational axis. The gearwheel has, in addition, an open spring ring with a first end, which is supported in a circumferential direction against the first spur gear, and a second end, which is supported in the direction opposite to the circumferential direction against the second spur gear in such manner that by rotating the spur gears, relative to one another about the common rotational axis, the spring ring can be stressed in order to exert a restoring torque on the spur gears. A recess is formed on at least one of the spur gears for holding part of the spring ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rene Schwarze, Christian Stephan, Marc Schieß, Ulrich Mair, Lars Schories, Karl Benkler, Carsten Stamm
  • Publication number: 20200217413
    Abstract: A gearwheel for a gear system for a planetary gear system of a chassis assistance system. The gearwheel is divided into at least a first spur gear and a second spur gear which are spaced apart from one another along a common rotational axis. The gearwheel has, in addition, an open spring ring with a first end, which is supported in a circumferential direction against the first spur gear, and a second end, which is supported in the direction opposite to the circumferential direction against the second spur gear in such manner that by rotating the spur gears, relative to one another about the common rotational axis, the spring ring can be stressed in order to exert a restoring torque on the spur gears. A recess is formed on at least one of the spur gears for holding part of the spring ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Rene SCHWARZE, Christian STEPHAN, Marc SCHIEß, Ulrich MAIR, Lars SCHORIES, Karl BENKLER, Carsten STAMM
  • Publication number: 20170356534
    Abstract: A transmission having at least one planetary stage (101), at least one spur gear stage (103) and a transmission housing (117). The planetary stage (101) includes a planetary carrier (107) mounted to rotate, one or more planetary gearwheels (109) mounted to rotate on the planetary carrier (107), and a rotatable sun gear (113). The spur gear stage (103) has at least one spur gear (123). The spur gear (123) and the sun gear (113) are rotationally fixedly connected to one another. The transmission housing (117) has at least one spindle (127) and the spur gear (123) is mounted on the spindle (127).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Frank RICHTER, Karl BENKLER, Marton KURUCZ
  • Patent number: 8057351
    Abstract: A planetary gear device having two sun gears with different diameters that engage with double planet gears having a first gear teeth area, which interacts with the fist sun gear, and a second gear teeth area, which interacts with the second sun gear. The double planet gears are continuous helical gear wheels. The crown circle diameters of the gear teeth areas of the double planet gears and the crown circle diameters of the sun gears are adapted such that the pitch circle diameters between the double planet gears and the sun gears are arranged in the center between the crown circle diameters and the effective root diameters of the gear teeth areas of the double planet gears and the sun gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Franz-Josef Joachim, Karl Benkler, Klemens Humm, Klaus-Peter Brenner
  • Publication number: 20080280725
    Abstract: A planetary gear device having two sun gears with different diameters that engage with double planet gears having a first gear teeth area, which interacts with the fist sun gear, and a second gear teeth area, which interacts with the second sun gear. The double planet gears are continuous helical gear wheels. The crown circle diameters of the gear teeth areas of the double planet gears and the crown circle diameters of the sun gears are adapted such that the pitch circle diameters between the double planet gears and the sun gears are arranged in the center between the crown circle diameters and the effective root diameters of the gear teeth areas of the double planet gears and the sun gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Franz-Josef Joachim, Karl Benkler, Klemens Humm, Klaus-Peter Brenner
  • Patent number: 7305901
    Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering system, in particular for a motor vehicle, has a steering housing and a pinion which is inserted into the steering housing If. A rack whose toothing engages with the pinion is mounted so as to be axially displaceable in the steering housing. The rack-and-pinion steering system has a circulation lubrication system with lubricating oil, an arrangement for conveying lubricating oil from a lubricating-oil reservoir conveying lubricating oil to the toothing engagement location between the rack and the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Franz-Josef Joachim, Jens-Uwe Hafermalz, Rainer Schaenzel, Karl Benkler, Hartmut Specht, Hermann Ocker
  • Publication number: 20050034916
    Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering system 1, in particular for a motor vehicle, has a steering housing 2 and a pinion 3which is inserted into the steering housing 2. A rack 4 whose toothing 5 engages with the pinion 3 is mounted so as to be axially displaceable in the steering housing 2. The rack-and-pinion steering system 1 has a circulation lubrication system with lubricating oil 8, means 7 for conveying lubricating oil 8 from a lubricating-oil reservoir 6 conveying lubricating oil 8 to the toothing engagement location 9 between the rack 4 and the pinion 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Franz-Josef Joachim, Jens-Uwe Hafermalz, Rainer Schaenzel, Karl Benkler, Harmut Specht, Hermann Ocker