Patents by Inventor Karl Kuhner

Karl Kuhner 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: 7641589
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with a parking brake (3) which, in addition to functioning as a parking brake (3), may also be used as an auxiliary brake for assisting the main brake (2) and/or a sustained-action brake. The parking brake (3) is preferably incorporated in the transmission (1) of the vehicle and designed as a rotary disk brake in an oil bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hans Hofler, Karl Kuhner, Wolfgang Rebholz
  • Publication number: 20070298930
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with a parking brake (3) which, in addition to functioning as a parking brake (3), may also be used as an auxiliary brake for assisting the main brake (2) and/or a sustained-action brake. The parking brake (3) is preferably incorporated in the transmission (1) of the vehicle and designed as a rotary disk brake in an oil bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Hans Hofler, Karl Kuhner, Wolfgang Rebholz
  • Patent number: 7165662
    Abstract: A mobile vehicle comprising a shiftable transmission with fixed gear ratio steps and a controllable friction clutch contains a distance sensor, which is connected to an inch pedal and in which the starting position and the end position of the inch pedal are adjusted by an electronic control unit and allocated to an inch effect from 0% to 100%. Due to the electronic adjusting process of the inch pedal path via the inch effect and the service brake, the intersecting time between the service brake and the actuating force of the clutch can be adjusted. The driving comfort of the vehicle is increased and the risk of damage to the multi-disk clutch is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Karl Kühner, Manfred Sieger, Norbert Sommer
  • Publication number: 20050284719
    Abstract: A mobile vehicle comprising a shiftable transmission with fixed gear ratio steps and a controllable friction clutch contains a distance sensor, which is connected to an inch pedal and in which the starting position and the end position of the inch pedal are adjusted by an electronic control unit and allocated to an inch effect from 0% to 100%. Due to the electronic adjusting process of the inch pedal path via the inch effect and the service brake, the intersecting time between the service brake and the actuating force of the clutch can be adjusted. The driving comfort of the vehicle is increased and the risk of damage to the multi-disk clutch is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Karl Kuhner, Manfred Sieger, Norbert Sommer
  • Patent number: 6694798
    Abstract: The invention is based on a process for determination of a coefficient of friction (&mgr;) of a hydraulically activated coupling (4, 5, 6) or brake (7, 8, 9) in a load-shifting transmission (1). It is proposed that a drive shaft (14) of the transmission (1) be driven with a specified torque (T), that an output shaft (15) of the transmission (1) is blocked with a closed coupling (4, 5, 6) or brake (7, 8, 9) during a calibration run, the activation pressure (p) of coupling (4, 5, 6) or brake (7, 8, 9) is reduced in accordance with a specified course over time, the differential rotational speed (&Dgr;n) between the input (17, 18, 19) and the output (20) of the coupling (4, 5, 6) or brake (7, 8, 9) is recorded, the activation pressure (p) is ascertained in which the differential rotation speed (&Dgr;n) is greater than zero and a separation coefficient of friction (&mgr;separation) is computed on the basis of torque (T), activation pressure (p) and a construction-conditioned coupling constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Karl Kühner, Manfred Sieger, Jörg Geis, Andreas Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20030000283
    Abstract: The invention is based on a process for determination of a coefficient of friction (p) of a hydraulically activated coupling (4, 5, 6) or brake (7, 8, 9) in a load-shifting transmission (1). It is proposed that a drive shaft (14) of the transmission (1) be driven with a specified torque (T), that an output shaft (15) of the transmission (1) is blocked with a closed coupling (4, 5, 6) or brake (7, 8, 9) during a calibration run, the activation pressure (p) of coupling (4, 5, 6) or brake (7, 8, 9) is reduced in accordance with a specified course over time, the differential rotational speed (&Dgr;n) between the input (17, 18, 19) and the output (20) of the coupling (4, 5, 6) or brake (7, 8, 9) is recorded, the activation pressure (p) is ascertained in which the differential rotation speed (&Dgr;n) is greater than zero and a separation coefficient of friction (&mgr;separation) is computed on the basis of torque (T), activation pressure (p) and a construction-conditioned coupling constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Karl Kuhner, Manfred Sieger, Jorg Geis, Andreas Schwarz
  • Patent number: 5197929
    Abstract: The invention concerns a drive shaft (1) having gear heads (9) in each one of which is mounted a liquid-cooled disc brake (19) and a planetary gear (18). In order to improve the cooling of the disc brakes (19), collection and guide elements (32) are coordinated with the bevel wheel (11) of a differential gear (12). The collection and guide elements (32) can consist of a trap (41) or of strippers (49, 50). A shifting of coolant in the gear heads (9) takes place during operation. The object of the invention is applied in particular to heavy utility vehicles such as wheel loaders where the disc brakes (19) are used frequently and must be reliably cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Scheiber, Waldemar Bier, Hermann Sonnleitner, Karl Kuhner, Albrecht Lommel
  • Patent number: 5152724
    Abstract: The invention concerns a liquid-cooled multi-disc brake (29) as used in transmission systems. The object of the invention is to improve the cooling of a multi-disc brake (29) exposed to high stresses owing to frequent use. In order to increase the throughput of coolant through the multi-disc brake (29) and to intensity the coolant circulation, one inner disc carrier (10) of the multi-disc brake (29) is designed as feeder wheel (48). Such a characterized multi-disc brake (29) is preferably used within the transmission system for heavy construction vehicles such as wheeled loaders, since liquid-cooled multi-disc brakes (29) in these utility vehicles are frequently used at full engine power. However, the use of the multi-disc brake (29) according to the invention is not limited to this particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Scheiber, Waldemar Bier, Hermann Sonnleitner, Karl Kuhner, Albrecht Lommel