Patents by Inventor Kurt Graef

Kurt Graef 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: 6585613
    Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission has a pair of driving conical flanges arranged on a first shaft and a pair of driven conical flanges arranged on a second shaft. Each pair has one axially movable conical flange and one axially fixed conical flange. The transmission is equipped with a locking device which when necessary can frictionally lock at least one driving conical flange to a driven conical flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: LuK Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Walter, Kurt Graef, Rainer Eidloth
  • Patent number: 6174253
    Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission has a first pair of conical flanges arranged on a first shaft and a second pair of conical flanges arranged on a second shaft, where each pair has an axially movable flange and an axially fixed flange. A torque-transmitting means is disposed between the pairs of conical flanges. Piston/cylinder units and plenum chambers comprising circular ring-shaped elements serve to apply pressure to and effect axial movement of the movable conical flanges. The ring-shaped elements have radially inner portions with openings to receive the shafts. The radially inner portion of at least one of the ring-shaped elements has a welded seam connecting the ring-shaped element to the shaft received by its opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: LuK Getriebe-Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Walter, Kurt Graef, Rainer Eidloth
  • Patent number: 4966050
    Abstract: A control valve for controlling the engagement of a friction drive clutch for an automatic transmission having multiple clutches and brakes for establishing a drive mode following a neutral mode wherein the valve regulates pressure distributed to the drive clutch and wherein the valve is in fluid communication with a second clutch whereby the latter acts as an accumulator for altering the rate of pressure buildup in the drive clutch thus eliminating harshness in the clutch engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Winfried Schulz, Johann Kirchhoffer, Kurt Graef
  • Patent number: 4934842
    Abstract: An axial needle bearing assembly includes needles guided in a needle cage and located between thrust washers. The needles are distributed about the axis of the assembly and spaced angularly apart by the cage. The cross section of the thrust washers are L-shaped having nested legs surrounding the needles. One thrust washer has its leg inclined with respect to the legs of the other thrust washer and spaced apart defining a region in which lubricant is contained. At several angularly spaced locations, beads are formed on a leg of one of the thrust washers which overlap the other thrust washer and prevent disassembly but permit axial play between the thrust washers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Vladimir Premiski, Claudia Premiski, Kurt Graef, Seghart Biedermann
  • Patent number: 4825725
    Abstract: A compound planetary gear system for an automotive vehicle comprising a pair of planetary gear units with a common sun gear and a driven shaft disposed concentrically within the sun gear whereby an annular lubrication oil flow passage is formed in the sun gear, the sun gear being supported by its meshing engagement with multiple planet pinions journalled in a carrier, and a flow directing funnel registering with the oil flow passage which is adapted to direct lubrication fluid into the sun gear, when it is distributed to desired lubrication points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Vladimir Premiski, Rainer Hohnel, Wilhelm Wehren, Kurt Graef
  • Patent number: 4722427
    Abstract: A parking lock for an automatic transmission for motor vehicles, having a parking gearwheel mounted rotationally and rigidly on the output shaft of the transmission, includes a pivotable parking pawl adapted to engage the parking gearwheel, and actuating rod with a sliding sleeve (5) displaceable relative to the actuating rod against the force of an engagement spring, the parking pawl being adapted to be moved by the sleeve into an operative position, the actuating rod (8) being shaped by upsetting to form a thickened piston portion (11) which is received in the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Gunter Prumbaum, Walter Lauven, Kurt Graef
  • Patent number: 4649763
    Abstract: Multiple-speed, hydrokinetic-mechanical change-speed gearbox controlled by an hydraulic control valve system for a motor vehicle comprising multiple ratio gearing and a simple planetary gear unit located between the hydrokinetic portion and the multiple ratio gearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Kurt Graef, Egon Axt, Hans-Peter Wirtz, Friedrich Lauscher, Werner Potzsch, Peter Korfer, Paulus Sastrarahardja, Werner Croonen, Josef Serf