Patents by Inventor Klaus Steinel
Klaus Steinel 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).
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Patent number: 7472768Abstract: A drive system which has a drive unit with a drive shaft; a centrifugal mass arrangement, which is mounted on the drive shaft; and an electrical machine, comprising a stator arrangement and a rotor arrangement, where the rotor arrangement is mounted on the centrifugal mass arrangement, and where the stator arrangement and the rotor arrangement are adjacent to each other in the radial direction. So that optimum use can be made of the space available inside the drive unit, and so that the overall length of the drive unit required in the axial direction relative to the axis of rotation (A) can be kept as short as possible, the centrifugal mass arrangement has a contour such that, relative to the axis of rotation (A), a receiving space (71) is formed radially inside the electrical machine. The receiving space is bounded on at least one side by the centrifugal mass arrangement, and at least one additional component of the drive unit is installed in the receiving space.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2006Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Armin Denner, Knut Welke, Klaus Steinel, Joachim Lindner, Frank Hirschmann
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Publication number: 20070069696Abstract: A drive system which has a drive unit with a drive shaft; a centrifugal mass arrangement, which is mounted on the drive shaft; and an electrical machine, comprising a stator arrangement and a rotor arrangement, where the rotor arrangement is mounted on the centrifugal mass arrangement, and where the stator arrangement and the rotor arrangement are adjacent to each other in the radial direction. So that optimum use can be made of the space available inside the drive unit, and so that the overall length of the drive unit required in the axial direction relative to the axis of rotation (A) can be kept as short as possible, the centrifugal mass arrangement has a contour such that, relative to the axis of rotation (A), a receiving space (71) is formed radially inside the electrical machine. The receiving space is bounded on at least one side by the centrifugal mass arrangement, and at least one additional component of the drive unit is installed in the receiving space.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2006Publication date: March 29, 2007Inventors: Armin Denner, Knut Welke, Klaus Steinel, Joachim Lindner, Frank Hirschmann
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Patent number: 6827194Abstract: An actuation device for a shiftable clutch includes a pressure supply for providing a pressure of a pressure medium for actuating the clutch, and a first and a second workspace independently in communication with the pressure supply for receiving the pressure. A first piston surface is disposed in the first workspace and is operably displaceable in a first direction responsive to the pressure. A second piston surface is disposed in the second workspace and is operably displaceable in a second direction responsive to the pressure. The second direction is oriented opposite to the first direction. One of the first or second piston surfaces is responsive to an application of the pressure in the respective workspace displacing in the respective first or second direction to exert the actuation force.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2003Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Klaus Steinel, Bernd Förster, Herbert Voit
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Patent number: 6782985Abstract: Each clutch disk has a hub area designed to be connected nonrotatably to a power takeoff element and a friction surface area designed to be clamped between opposing friction surfaces. Each clutch disk has a torsional vibration damper arrangement including two cover disk elements connected to the hub area for rotation in common, and a central disk element connected to the friction surface area for rotation in common. The central disk element is or can be brought into torque-transmitting connection with the cover disk elements via a damper element arrangement. The central disk element has a damper element interaction area and, radially outside the damper element interaction area, a friction surface carrier area, which is offset with respect to the damper element interaction area in the direction of an axis of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2002Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Norbert Lohaus, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Wolfram Hick, Joachim Linder
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Patent number: 6755294Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a friction clutch, which assembly includes a housing; a pressure plate connected to the housing for rotation in common around an axis of rotation and which is free to move axially with respect to the housing; a stored-energy device, which pretensions the pressure plate in the axial direction with respect to the housing; a wear-compensating device which acts in the path of support between the stored-energy device and at least one of the housing and the pressure plate and comprises at least one wear-compensating element which is free to move when wear occurs and/or when wear is compensated; an indicator arrangement, comprising at least one indicator opening in the housing and at least one indicator element on a wear-compensating element.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
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Patent number: 6745884Abstract: A housing arrangement for a friction clutch, especially for a multi-disk clutch, where the housing arrangement is designed approximately in the shape of a cup and is provided with a bottom area and an edge area for connection to a flywheel. At least one air through-opening is provided in the bottom area, each opening being bounded by a front edge and a rear edge with respect to the direction of rotation, the front edge being axially offset toward the interior of the housing with respect to said rear edge.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2002Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Wolfram Hick, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
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Publication number: 20040104630Abstract: A drive system which has a drive unit with a drive shaft; a centrifugal mass arrangement, which is mounted on the drive shaft; and an electrical machine, comprising a stator arrangement and a rotor arrangement, where the rotor arrangement is mounted on the centrifugal mass arrangement, and where the stator arrangement and the rotor arrangement are adjacent to each other in the radial direction. So that optimum use can be made of the space available inside the drive unit, and so that the overall length of the drive unit required in the axial direction relative to the axis of rotation (A) can be kept as short as possible, the centrifugal mass arrangement has a contour such that, relative to the axis of rotation (A), a receiving space (71) is formed radially inside the electrical machine. The receiving space is bounded on at least one side by the centrifugal mass arrangement, and at least one additional component of the drive unit is installed in the receiving space.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Applicant: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Armin Denner, Knut Welke, Klaus Steinel, Joachim Lindner, Frank Hirschmann
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Patent number: 6736248Abstract: A transport-securing arrangement for a pressure plate assembly of a multi-disk clutch including a housing arrangement connectable to a flywheel, a pressure plate coupled to the housing arrangement for common rotation therewith, a stored-energy device having one side supported on the housing arrangement and another side supported on the pressure plate arrangement. The pressure plate assembly also includes an intermediate plate connected to the housing arrangement for common rotation therewith and a first clutch disk with a friction surface area positioned between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate. The transport-securing arrangement comprises a plurality of connecting elements, preferably bolt elements, for tightly connecting the intermediate plate to the housing arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
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Patent number: 6695116Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a multi-disk clutch includes a housing arrangement, a pressure plate mounted in the housing arrangement with freedom to move in the same direction as an axis of rotation but connected to the housing with essentially no freedom of rotation and an intermediate plate mounted in the housing arrangement with freedom to move in the same direction as the axis of rotation but connected to the housing with essentially no freedom of rotation. A release distance preset arrangement for the intermediate plate includes at least one sensing element on the intermediate plate which rests on an assembly which shifts position during the performance of a releasing movement of the pressure plate. The at least one sensing element allows the intermediate plate to execute a releasing movement corresponding to the shift of this assembly. The at least one sensing element contacting the assembly is pretensioned by an intermediate plate release force-generating arrangement acting on the intermediate plate.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Erwin Ziegler, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Reinhold Weidinger, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
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Patent number: 6695115Abstract: A process for adjusting a friction clutch system of the type including a housing arrangement; a pressure plate; a stored-energy device supported against the housing and the pressure plate; a wear-compensating device installed in the path of support between the stored-energy device and one of the housing arrangement and the pressure plate, this device having a detection element on the pressure plate, which in association with a stop element fixed with respect to the housing arrangement, detects the amount of wear which has occurred in the friction clutch; a clutch-release mechanism for exerting force on the stored-energy device in the direction opposite its relaxation direction in order to carry out release operations; and a transmission shaft braking arrangement which is activated when a brake-release position is reached during a clutch-release operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Joachim Lindner, Frank Hirschmann, Reinhold Weidinger, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus
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Publication number: 20030221930Abstract: An actuation device for a shiftable clutch includes a pressure supply for providing a pressure of a pressure medium for actuating the clutch, and a first and a second workspace independently in communication with the pressure supply for receiving the pressure. A first piston surface is disposed in the first workspace and is operably displaceable in a first direction responsive to the pressure. A second piston surface is disposed in the second workspace and is operably displaceable in a second direction responsive to the pressure. The second direction is oriented opposite to the first direction. One of the first or second piston surfaces is responsive to an application of the pressure in the respective workspace displacing in the respective first or second direction to exert the actuation force.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Applicant: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Klaus Steinel, Bernd Forster, Herbert Voit
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Patent number: 6564920Abstract: A facing carrier of a driver disk for a clutch plate includes a plurality of segments situated at a slight distance from one another around a circumference of a reinforcement part. The segments are pretensioned against the reinforcement part during assembly and welded thereto. The spacing of the segments allows uniform pretensioning of the segments against the reinforcement part.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2000Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AGInventors: Karl Hörmann, Andreas Dorsch, Carmen Schleicher, Alfred Schraut, Klaus Steinel, Norbert Lohaus
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Publication number: 20030062239Abstract: A process for adjusting a friction clutch system of the type including a housing arrangement; a pressure plate; a stored-energy device supported against the housing and the pressure plate; a wear-compensating device installed in the path of support between the stored-energy device and one of the housing arrangement and the pressure plate, this device having a detection element on the pressure plate, which in association with a stop element fixed with respect to the housing arrangement, detects the amount of wear which has occurred in the friction clutch; a clutch-release mechanism for exerting force on the stored-energy device in the direction opposite its relaxation direction in order to carry out release operations; and a transmission shaft braking arrangement which is activated when a brake-release position is reached during a clutch-release operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2002Publication date: April 3, 2003Applicant: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Joachim Lindner, Frank Hirschmann, Reinhold Weidinger, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus
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Publication number: 20030062238Abstract: A transport-securing arrangement for a pressure plate assembly of a multi-disk clutch including a housing arrangement connectable to a flywheel, a pressure plate coupled to the housing arrangement for common rotation therewith, a stored-energy device having one side supported on the housing arrangement and another side supported on the pressure plate arrangement. The pressure plate assembly also includes an intermediate plate connected to the housing arrangement for common rotation therewith and a first clutch disk with a friction surface area positioned between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate. The transport-securing arrangement comprises a plurality of connecting elements, preferably bolt elements, for tightly connecting the intermediate plate to the housing arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2002Publication date: April 3, 2003Applicant: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
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Publication number: 20030062237Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a friction clutch, which assembly includes a housing; a pressure plate connected to the housing for rotation in common around an axis of rotation and which is free to move axially with respect to the housing; a stored-energy device, which pretensions the pressure plate in the axial direction with respect to the housing; a wear-compensating device which acts in the path of support between the stored-energy device and at least one of the housing and the pressure plate and comprises at least one wear-compensating element which is free to move when wear occurs and/or when wear is compensated; an indicator arrangement, comprising at least one indicator opening in the housing and at least one indicator element on a wear-compensating element.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2002Publication date: April 3, 2003Applicant: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
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Publication number: 20030062235Abstract: A housing arrangement for a friction clutch, especially for a multi-disk clutch, where the housing arrangement is designed approximately in the shape of a cup and is provided with a bottom area and an edge area for connection to a flywheel. At least one air through-opening is provided in the bottom area, each opening being bounded by a front edge and a rear edge with respect to the direction of rotation, the front edge being axially offset toward the interior of the housing with respect to said rear edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2002Publication date: April 3, 2003Applicant: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Wolfram Hick, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
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Publication number: 20030062240Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a multi-disk clutch includes a housing arrangement, a pressure plate mounted in the housing arrangement with freedom to move in the same direction as an axis of rotation but connected to the housing with essentially no freedom of rotation and an intermediate plate mounted in the housing arrangement with freedom to move in the same direction as the axis of rotation but connected to the housing with essentially no freedom of rotation. A release distance preset arrangement for the intermediate plate includes at least one sensing element on the intermediate plate which rests on an assembly which shifts position during the performance of a releasing movement of the pressure plate. The at least one sensing element allows the intermediate plate to execute a releasing movement corresponding to the shift of this assembly. The at least one sensing element contacting the assembly is pretensioned by an intermediate plate release force-generating arrangement acting on the intermediate plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2002Publication date: April 3, 2003Applicant: ZF Sachs AGInventors: Erwin Ziegler, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Reinhold Weidinger, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
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Publication number: 20030062236Abstract: Each clutch disk has a hub area designed to be connected nonrotatably to a power takeoff element and a friction surface area designed to be clamped between opposing friction surfaces. Each clutch disk has a torsional vibration damper arrangement including two cover disk elements connected to the hub area for rotation in common, and a central disk element connected to the friction surface area for rotation in common. The central disk element is or can be brought into torque-transmitting connection with the cover disk elements via a damper element arrangement. The central disk element has a damper element interaction area and, radially outside the damper element interaction area, a friction surface carrier area, which is offset with respect to the damper element interaction area in the direction of an axis of rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2002Publication date: April 3, 2003Inventors: Norbert Lohaus, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Wolfram Hick, Joachim Lindner
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Publication number: 20010006142Abstract: A facing carrier of a driver disk for a clutch plate includes a plurality of segments situated at a slight distance from one another around a circumference of a reinforcement part. The segments are pretensioned against the reinforcement part during assembly and welded thereto. The spacing of the segments allows uniform pretensioning of the segments against the reinforcement part.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2000Publication date: July 5, 2001Applicant: Mannesmann Sachs AGInventors: Karl Hormann, Andreas Dorsch, Carmen Schleicher, Alfred Schraut, Klaus Steinel, Norbert Lohaus
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Patent number: 6033342Abstract: A drive train arrangement for a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine. The engine output or torque of the internal combustion engine (1) is controllable by means of an engine output control (11) via a user-operated accelerator pedal (15). A friction-gearshift clutch (3) is arranged in the torque transmission path of the internal combustion engine (1). To allow the friction-gearshift clutch (3) to be designed for reduced transmission reliability, a slip control (39) reduces the engine output or torque of the internal combustion engine (1) for a time-limited period via the engine output control (11) when the friction-gearshift clutch (3) slips in its fully engaged state. To this end, the slip control (39) responds to a clutch position sensor (41) that detects the engagement position of the friction-gearshift clutch (3), and to speed sensors (43, 45) that detect the input and output speeds of the friction-gearshift clutch (3).Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 1999Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AGInventors: Klaus Steinel, Hans-Jurgen Drexl, Gerhard Tebbe