Patents by Inventor Karl Grad

Karl Grad 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: 9528572
    Abstract: A gear unit for a compound transmission has a planetary stage that couples an input and an output shaft for different transmission ratios. The planetary stage includes a sun gear, a ring gear and planet gears rotatably supported at a planet carrier. The planet gears have a region with two different toothings arranged axially offset with respect to an axis of rotation of the planetary stage. A meshing engagement with a first sun gear and/or a first ring gear is produced via the first toothing. The planet gears mesh at the second toothing with a second sun gear and/or a second ring gear, and one component of the planetary stage is connected to the input shaft to be fixed with respect to rotation and one component is fixed at a housing, while the rest of the components can be coupled with the output shaft, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Raphael Himmelsbach, Michael Wechs, Karl Grad, Stefan Beck, Martin Rattay
  • Publication number: 20150211608
    Abstract: A gear unit for a compound transmission has a planetary stage that couples an input and an output shaft for different transmission ratios. The planetary stage includes a sun gear, a ring gear and planet gears rotatably supported at a planet carrier. The planet gears have a region with two different toothings arranged axially offset with respect to an axis of rotation of the planetary stage. A meshing engagement with a first sun gear and/or a first ring gear is produced via the first toothing. The planet gears mesh at the second toothing with a second sun gear and/or a second ring gear, and one component of the planetary stage is connected to the input shaft to be fixed with respect to rotation and one component is fixed at a housing, while the rest of the components can be coupled with the output shaft, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Raphael HIMMELSBACH, Michael WECHS, Karl GRAD, Stefan BECK, Martin RATTAY
  • Patent number: 8777790
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission device (1) has a power split which takes place in the area of a sum planetary transmission (9). A first shaft (8) of the sum planetary transmission (9) can be brought into operational connection with a drive engine or machine (3). A second shaft (12) of the sum planetary transmission (9) can be connected, for continuous variation of the gear ratio, with an electric machine (36) which itself can be coupled with an electric energy source (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Karl Grad, Jurgen Pohlenz, Gerhard Bailly
  • Patent number: 8414439
    Abstract: A transmission device (1) for a vehicle having a variator (3) that has an axially longer length that the variator (3) is wider and deeper. The variator (3) comprises a planetary gear set (4), a manual gearbox unit (9) and a hydraulic system having an oil sump. Following installation in the vehicle, a longitudinal extension of the variator (3) is oriented at least approximately horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Bailly, Thomas Ratzmann, Karl Grad, Juergen Pohlenz
  • Patent number: 8393988
    Abstract: A transmission device for a vehicle (1) having a variator (3), which is configured as a hydrostatic device, of a transverse axial construction that can be adjusted at least in the region of a pivot axis (11), a planetary gear set (4) and a manual gear unit (9). The orientation of the pivot axis (11) of the variator (3), following installation in the vehicle, at least approximately corresponds to the orientation of a vehicle vertical axis (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Bailly, Thomas Ratzmann, Karl Grad, Jurgen Pohlenz
  • Publication number: 20130023370
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission device (1) has a power split which takes place in the area of a sum planetary transmission (9). A first shaft (8) of the sum planetary transmission (9) can be brought into operational connection with a drive engine or machine (3). A second shaft (12) of the sum planetary transmission (9) can be connected, for continuous variation of the gear ratio, with an electric machine (36) which itself can be coupled with an electric energy source (38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Karl Grad, Jurgen Pohlenz, Gerhard Bailly
  • Patent number: 8307936
    Abstract: A transmission device (1) for a vehicle with a variator (3), a planetary gear unit (4) and a gearshift transmission unit (9). The variator (3) has a length which is greater than a width and a depth of the variator (3). When the variator (3) is installed in position in the vehicle, the length of the variator (3) is orientated at least approximately diagonally to the length of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Bailly, Thomas Ratzmann, Karl Grad, Jurgen Pohlenz
  • Publication number: 20110100732
    Abstract: A transmission device (1) for a vehicle with a variator (3), a planetary gear unit (4) and a gearshift transmission unit (9). The variator (3) has a length which is greater than a width and a depth of the variator (3). When the variator (3) is installed in position in the vehicle, the length of the variator (3) is orientated at least approximately diagonally to the length of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Bailly, Thomas Ratzmann, Karl Grad, Jurgen Pohlenz
  • Publication number: 20100197437
    Abstract: A transmission device for a vehicle (1) having a variator (3), which is configured as a hydrostatic device, of a transverse axial construction that can be adjusted at least in the region of a pivot axis (11), a planetary gear set (4) and a manual gear unit (9). The orientation of the pivot axis (11) of the variator (3), following installation in the vehicle, at least approximately corresponds to the orientation of a vehicle vertical axis (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Bailly, Thomas Ratzmann, Karl Grad, Jurgen Pohlenz
  • Publication number: 20100197440
    Abstract: A transmission device (1) for a vehicle having a variator (3) that has an axially longer length that the variator (3) is wider and deeper. The variator (3) comprises a planetary gear set (4), a manual gearbox unit (9) and a hydraulic system having an oil sump. Following installation in the vehicle, a longitudinal extension of the variator (3) is oriented at least approximately horizontally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Bailly, Thomas Ratzmann, Karl Grad, Juergen Pohlenz