Patents by Inventor Karl Locher

Karl Locher 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: 11117587
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle drive train (1) comprising a prime mover (2), comprising a transmission (3), and comprising a driven end (4). A friction-locking shift element (10) is provided, the power transmission capacity of which is variable and, with the aid of which, at least a portion of the torque transmitted in the vehicle drive train (1) can be transmitted between a transmission output shaft (8) and an area (6) of the driven end (4). One shift-element half is operatively connected to the transmission output shaft (8) and the other shift-element half is operatively connected to the area (6) of the driven end (4). The rotational speed of the transmission output shaft (8) is determined as a function of the rotational speed in the area (6) of the driven end (4) and also as a function of the rotational speed of the prime mover (2) and the ratio currently engaged in the area of the transmission (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Karl Locher, Ahmet Macar
  • Publication number: 20190322278
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle drive train (1) comprising a prime mover (2), comprising a transmission (3), and comprising a driven end (4). A friction-locking shift element (10) is provided, the power transmission capacity of which is variable and, with the aid of which, at least a portion of the torque transmitted in the vehicle drive train (1) can be transmitted between a transmission output shaft (8) and an area (6) of the driven end (4). One shift-element half is operatively connected to the transmission output shaft (8) and the other shift-element half is operatively connected to the area (6) of the driven end (4). The rotational speed of the transmission output shaft (8) is determined as a function of the rotational speed in the area (6) of the driven end (4) and also as a function of the rotational speed of the prime mover (2) and the ratio currently engaged in the area of the transmission (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Karl Locher, Ahmet Macar
  • Patent number: 10006504
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulic fluid supply system of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes supplying the hydraulic fluid supply system with hydraulic fluid from at least one of a hydraulic pump controlled on an engine side and a hydraulic pump controlled on a gear set side. The method also includes controlling a cooling valve of the hydraulic fluid supply system as a function of detected motor vehicle parameters in order to set an adjusted power distribution with the hydraulic pump controlled on the engine side and the hydraulic pump controlled on the gear set side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Karl Locher, Alexander Hoffmann, Rainer Novak, Martin-Joachim Bader, Markus Terwart
  • Patent number: 9856923
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulic fluid supply system of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes supplying the hydraulic fluid supply system with hydraulic fluid from at least one of a hydraulic pump controlled on an engine side and a hydraulic pump controlled on a gear set side. The method also includes controlling a retaining valve of the hydraulic fluid supply system as a function of detected motor vehicle parameters in order to set an adjusted power distribution with the hydraulic pump controlled on the engine side and the hydraulic pump controlled on the gear set side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Karl Locher, Alexander Hoffmann, Rainer Novak, Martin-Joachim Bader, Markus Terwart
  • Publication number: 20170074332
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulic fluid supply system of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes supplying the hydraulic fluid supply system with hydraulic fluid from at least one of a hydraulic pump controlled on an engine side and a hydraulic pump controlled on a gear set side. The method also includes controlling a cooling valve of the hydraulic fluid supply system as a function of detected motor vehicle parameters in order to set an adjusted power distribution with the hydraulic pump controlled on the engine side and the hydraulic pump controlled on the gear set side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Karl Locher, Alexander Hoffmann, Rainer Novak, Martin-Joachim Bader, Markus Terwart
  • Publication number: 20170074333
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hydraulic fluid supply system of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes supplying the hydraulic fluid supply system with hydraulic fluid from at least one of a hydraulic pump controlled on an engine side and a hydraulic pump controlled on a gear set side. The method also includes controlling a retaining valve of the hydraulic fluid supply system as a function of detected motor vehicle parameters in order to set an adjusted power distribution with the hydraulic pump controlled on the engine side and the hydraulic pump controlled on the gear set side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Karl Locher, Alexander Hoffmann, Rainer Novak, Martin-Joachim Bader, Markus Terwart
  • Patent number: 9587685
    Abstract: A method of determining a touch-point of a friction clutch of a motor vehicle that is relevant for control purposes such that a current, actual touch-point of the friction clutch is determined adaptively, and such that the current touch-point is modified, with a correction value that depends on the elasticity of the friction clutch, in order to determine the control-relevant touch-point. The control device comprises elements for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin-Joachim Bader, Karl Locher
  • Patent number: 8855879
    Abstract: A method of operating a clutch serving as a shift element and/or starting clutch of a drive train. During engagement, the clutch will be filled by a fast filling up to a defined minimum pressure. The fast filling is at least subdivided into two phases comprising a basic filling phase and an extension and/or a cutout phase. At the end of the basic filling phase, the actual clutch pressure is measured, and then, when the actual clutch pressure is equal to or larger than the minimum pressure, the extension and/or cutout phase is activated immediately following the basic filling phase. When the actual clutch pressure is lower than the minimum pressure, activation of the extension and/or the cutout phase is at least delayed by a pressure holding phase and, if necessary, by a pressure surplus phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin-Joachim Bader, Karl Locher, Robert Gronner, Olaf Moseler, Markus Terwart, Michael Vollmann
  • Patent number: 8510006
    Abstract: A method of adapting the rapid filling time of a clutch. During adaptation, the clutch is filled by at least two successive rapid filling pulses with increasing rapid filling times. For each rapid filling pulse a reaction, resulting from the filling pulse, is monitored. If a defined reaction, for one of the rapid filling pulses, is recognized for the first time whereas for the, or for each of the previous rapid filling pulse(s) the defined reaction was not observed, then as a function of the rapid filling time of that rapid filling pulse for which the defined reaction was recognized for the first time, carrying out the adaptation of the rapid filling time and, for each rapid filling pulse used for the adaptation, gradients of the clutch pressure produced as a result of the respective rapid filling pulse are evaluated to determine the defined reaction pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin-Joachim Bader, Karl Locher, Olaf Moseler, Markus Terwart, Frank Veth
  • Patent number: 8366585
    Abstract: A method for determination of the synchronization point of an automatic double clutch transmission comprising two component transmissions each with one input shaft that connects via a friction clutch to the drive shaft of a motor and several gears, each shifted via a friction-synchronized gear clutch. The method includes the steps of selecting the gear clutch of a gear of a momentarily load-free component transmission; moving the associated gear setter to the neutral position as needed; successive movement of the associated gear setter in the direction of the shifting position of the selected gear until synchronous running is attained on the gear clutch within an applicable threshold; determination of the current synchronization point of the gear clutch from the current adjustment parameter of the associated gear setter; and adaptation of the valid synchronization point of the gear clutch to the current synchronization point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus Terwart, Mario Bühner, Karl Locher, Martin-Joachim Bader, Dietmar Zuber, Olaf Moseler
  • Publication number: 20120295760
    Abstract: A method of operating a clutch serving as a shift element and/or starting clutch of a drive train. During engagement, the clutch will be filled by a fast filling up to a defined minimum pressure. The fast filling is at least subdivided into two phases comprising a basic filling phase and an extension and/or a cutout phase. At the end of the basic filling phase, the actual clutch pressure is measured, and then, when the actual clutch pressure is equal to or larger than the minimum pressure, the extension and/or cutout phase is activated immediately following the basic filling phase. When the actual clutch pressure is lower than the minimum pressure, activation of the extension and/or the cutout phase is at least delayed by a pressure holding phase and, if necessary, by a pressure surplus phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Martin-Joachim Bader, Karl Locher, Robert Gronner, Olaf Moseler, Markus Terwart, Michael Vollmann
  • Publication number: 20120247910
    Abstract: A method of adapting the rapid filling time of a clutch. During adaptation, the clutch is filled by at least two successive rapid filling pulses with increasing rapid filling times. For each rapid filling pulse a reaction, resulting from the filling pulse, is monitored. If a defined reaction, for one of the rapid filling pulses, is recognized for the first time whereas for the, or for each of the previous rapid filling pulse(s) the defined reaction was not observed, then as a function of the rapid filling time of that rapid filling pulse for which the defined reaction was recognized for the first time, carrying out the adaptation of the rapid filling time and, for each rapid filling pulse used for the adaptation, gradients of the clutch pressure produced as a result of the respective rapid filling pulse are evaluated to determine the defined reaction pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Martin-Joachim Bader, Karl Locher, Olaf Moseler, Markus Terwart, Frank Veth
  • Patent number: 8271171
    Abstract: A method for clutch characteristic curve adaptation of an automatic dual-clutch transmission which comprises two sub-gearboxes each with an input shaft connected, via a friction clutch, to the drive shaft of a motor and several gears that are shifted via a friction-synchronized gear clutch. A value of the current touch point of the friction clutch can be determined with the motor running and the gears disengaged in a load-free sub-gearbox. The method includes the steps of starting synchronization of a gear clutch with a defined force of a regulator. Waiting until the gear clutch is synchronized. Engaging the friction clutch of the until the gear clutch is synchronizes. Determination the current touch point from the current synchronous torque of the gear clutch and the current regulating parameter of the associated clutch regulator. Then, adapting the clutch characteristic curve of the friction clutch in view of the current touch point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus Terwart, Mario Bühner, Karl Locher, Martin-Joachim Bader, Dietmar Zuber, Olaf Moseler
  • Publication number: 20100113217
    Abstract: A method for determination of the synchronization point of an automatic double clutch transmission comprising two component transmissions each with one input shaft that connects via a friction clutch to the drive shaft of a motor and several gears, each shifted via a friction-synchronized gear clutch. The method includes the steps of selecting the gear clutch of a gear of a momentarily load-free component transmission; moving the associated gear setter to the neutral position as needed; successive movement of the associated gear setter in the direction of the shifting position of the selected gear until synchronous running is attained on the gear clutch within an applicable threshold; determination of the current synchronization point of the gear clutch from the current adjustment parameter of the associated gear setter; and adaptation of the valid synchronization point of the gear clutch to the current synchronization point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Markus TERWART, Mario BÜHNER, Karl LOCHER, Martin-Joachim BADER, Dietmar ZUBER, Olaf MOSELER
  • Publication number: 20100114443
    Abstract: A method for clutch characteristic curve adaptation of an automatic dual-clutch transmission which comprises two sub-gearboxes each with an input shaft connected, via a friction clutch, to the drive shaft of a motor and several gears that are shifted via a friction-synchronized gear clutch. A value of the current touch point of the friction clutch can be determined with the motor running and the gears disengaged in a load-free sub-gearbox. The method includes the steps of starting synchronization of a gear clutch with a defined force of a regulator. Waiting until the gear clutch is synchronized. Engaging the friction clutch of the until the gear clutch is synchronizes. Determination the current touch point from the current synchronous torque of the gear clutch and the current regulating parameter of the associated clutch regulator. Then, adapting the clutch characteristic curve of the friction clutch in view of the current touch point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Markus TERWART, Mario BÜHNER, Karl LOCHER, Martin-Joachim BADER, Dietmar ZUBER, Olaf MOSELER