Patents by Inventor Lars Löhken

Lars Löhken 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: 12139098
    Abstract: A fluid damper for modulating a retaining force of a seat belt is provided. The fluid damper includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The inner cylinder encloses an inner space. The fluid damper includes a piston shiftable in the inner space. The fluid damper includes a duct. The duct conductively connects a front fluid chamber disposed in front of the piston to a rear fluid chamber disposed behind the piston and/or a reservoir for the damping fluid. The duct includes an outer duct portion and an inner duct portion. The inner cylinder is deflectable from a rest position by a force acting on the piston so that the deflection of the inner cylinder causes an adjustment of an overlap of the outer duct portion and the inner duct portion depending on the magnitude of the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: STABILUS GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Raphael Piroth, Markus Müller, Ulrich Probst, Christian Junghans
  • Publication number: 20240369122
    Abstract: A damping system is provided including at least one fluid damper including a damping volume containing a damping fluid, and a fluid reservoir including a reservoir piston partitioning an inner volume of the fluid reservoir into a damping chamber containing the damping fluid and a recoil chamber containing a recoil fluid. The damping volume of the at least one fluid damper is connected to the damping chamber of the fluid reservoir in a fluid-conducting manner. The reservoir piston is movable in a compression direction increasing a volume of the damping chamber and decreasing a volume of the recoil chamber. The reservoir piston is movable in a dilatation direction decreasing the volume of the damping chamber and increasing the volume of the recoil chamber. The reservoir piston includes a damping chamber surface facing the damping chamber and a recoil chamber surface facing the recoil chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Lars LÖHKEN, Raphael PIROTH, Markus MÜLLER, Ulrich PROBST, Nico UNKELBACH
  • Patent number: 12103490
    Abstract: A self-regulating damper unit comprising a cylinder having a first working chamber and a second working chamber, a piston, a piston rod, and a through-hole between the first working chamber and the second working chamber. The damper unit also comprises a shiftable weight which modifies a passage cross-section of the through-hole. The shiftable weight is movably mounted such that retardation of the piston causes enlargement of the passage cross-section. A seat belt unit comprises a seat belt and the damper unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Raphael Piroth, Markus Müller, Ulrich Probst, Marcus Weber
  • Publication number: 20230219519
    Abstract: A self-regulating damper unit comprising a cylinder having a first working chamber and a second working chamber, a piston, a piston rod, and a through-hole between the first working chamber and the second working chamber. The damper unit also comprises a shiftable weight which modifies a passage cross-section of the through-hole. The shiftable weight is movably mounted such that retardation of the piston causes enlargement of the passage cross-section. A seat belt unit comprises a seat belt and the damper unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Raphael Piroth, Markus Müller, Ulrich Probst, Marcus Weber
  • Publication number: 20230036617
    Abstract: A kinetic seat assembly includes a primary seat cushion frame, a secondary seat cushion frame movable relative to the primary seat cushion frame, a primary seat back frame, a secondary seat back frame movable relative to the primary seat back frame, a pair of lateral dampers extending between the primary seat back frame and the secondary seat back frame, a pair of vertical dampers extending between the secondary seat back frame and the primary seat cushion frame, a pair of fluid reservoirs for providing a fluid into the pair of lateral dampers and the pair of vertical dampers, and an electronic control unit configured to control the rate at which the fluid is provided to and drawn out of each of the dampers to control a damping effect. In embodiments, an end of the lateral dampers is permitted to move freely relative to the secondary seat back frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Stabilus GMBH
    Inventors: Todd Rupert Muck, Charles P. Patterson, Peter J. Moegling, Matthew R. Speck, Leon T. Toma, Raphael Piroth, Lars Löhken, Yashodhan Joshi
  • Publication number: 20230018695
    Abstract: A fluid damper for modulating a retaining force of a seat belt is provided. The fluid damper includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The inner cylinder encloses an inner space. The fluid damper includes a piston shiftable in the inner space. The fluid damper includes a duct. The duct conductively connects a front fluid chamber disposed in front of the piston to a rear fluid chamber disposed behind the piston and/or a reservoir for the damping fluid. The duct includes an outer duct portion and an inner duct portion. The inner cylinder is deflectable from a rest position by a force acting on the piston so that the deflection of the inner cylinder causes an adjustment of an overlap of the outer duct portion and the inner duct portion depending on the magnitude of the force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Raphael Piroth, Markus Müller, Ulrich Probst, Christian Junghans
  • Patent number: 11543314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring operating parameters of an actuator (10), wherein the method comprises: providing the actuator (10), providing at least two detection units (26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36) which are designed to detect different operating parameters of the actuator (10), detecting operating parameters of the actuator (10) via the detection units (26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36), outputting data relating to the measured operating parameters to an evaluation unit, combining the measured operating parameters into a state information, which indicates whether or not the technical state of the actuator (10) is in a predetermined standard state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Ehre, Raphael Piroth, Ulrich Probst, Lars Löhken, Markus Müller
  • Patent number: 11353083
    Abstract: Provided is a method for the production of a nozzle piston for arrangement in a damping space of a damper, which contains a damping fluid, wherein the piston divides the damping space into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. Also provided is a production method with the method according to the invention for a damper. Also provided is a nozzle piston for arrangement in a damping space of a damper, which contains a damping fluid, wherein the nozzle piston can be obtained by means of ultra-short pulse lasering of the recess from a piston blank. Also provided is a damper having a nozzle piston according to the invention. Also provided is a production plant for the production of a damper having at least one ultra-short pulse laser station for machining a piston blank for the damper by ultra-short pulse lasering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: STABILUS GMBH
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Markus Müller, Raphael Piroth, Ulrich Probst
  • Patent number: 11278993
    Abstract: A piston and a method for producing a piston which can be secured to a piston sliding unit is provided. The piston sliding unit can be moved along its longitudinal axis in a cylinder. The piston includes a disc-shaped base body, wherein the piston is suitable and intended to seal two regions of the cylinder filled with a medium against one another. The method includes the following steps: a) producing the piston by pressing a material into a piston mold; b) smoothing the surface of the piston and/or pressing at least one flow path into the piston, by an embossing tool, which has a raised and rotationally symmetrical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: STABILUS GMBH
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Markus Müller, Raphael Piroth, Ulrich Probst
  • Publication number: 20210197326
    Abstract: A piston and a method for producing a piston which can be secured to a piston sliding unit is provided. The piston sliding unit can be moved along its longitudinal axis in a cylinder. The piston includes a disc-shaped base body, wherein the piston is suitable and intended to seal two regions of the cylinder filled with a medium against one another. The method includes the following steps: a) producing the piston by pressing a material into a piston mold; b) smoothing the surface of the piston and/or pressing at least one flow path into the piston, by an embossing tool, which has a raised and rotationally symmetrical structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Markus Müller, Raphael Piroth, Ulrich Probst
  • Patent number: 11028896
    Abstract: A rail brake damper includes a cylinder-piston arrangement. A damping device assigned to the piston comprises at least one damping valve having at least one piston channel, which passes through the piston, connecting the two operating chambers of the cylinder, and a closure element assigned to the piston channel. The closure element is spring pre-loaded with the effect of closing the piston channel and is acted on by the hydraulic pressure which prevails in the operating chamber facing away from the piston rod with the effect of opening the damping valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: STABILIUS GMBH
    Inventors: Ulrich Probst, Lars Löhken, Raphael Piroth, Markus Müller
  • Patent number: 10888161
    Abstract: An electrically adjustable seating device includes at least one sensor element, a processor, a memory unit and at least one electromechanical actuator. The at least one sensor element is designed to detect predetermined seating parameter data relating to a person sitting on the seating device and to transmit the data to the processor. The processor is designed to determine person parameter data, relating to the person, from the seating parameter data, to extract control data, which are associated with the person parameter data, from the memory unit and to control the at least one electromechanical actuator on the basis of the control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Markus Müller, Fred Häring, Ulrich Probst, Raphael Piroth
  • Patent number: 10875423
    Abstract: The present invention relates to, among other things, a rotational damper comprising a fluid-filled damper housing and within the damper housing a piston rotatably accommodated by a rotation axis of the rotational damper in a first direction and an opposite second direction with a piston rod extending in the direction of the rotation axis; whereby the piston has at least one opening with a flow cross-section which allows for the flow of fluid through the piston, whereby a total flow cross-section is calculated as the sum of the flow cross-sections of the at least one opening. A blocking device can be furthermore assigned to the piston which is capable of reducing the flow cross-section of at least one of the openings during a rotation of the piston in a first direction relative to a rotation of the piston in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Markus Müller, Raphael Piroth, Ulrich Probst
  • Patent number: 10808791
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder assembly includes a cylinder having a cylinder interior filled with a fluid and divided by a piston, which is axially displaceable in cylinder, into a first working space and a second working space. A piston rod is arranged on piston and is guided through second working space and through an end-side second closure in a manner sealed off to the outside at the second end of the cylinder. The retraction stroke of piston and piston rod is restricted by a stop which is arranged in cylinder and against which piston comes to bear directly or indirectly, wherein the axial position of the stop in cylinder is variably adjustable by an adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: STABILUS GMBH
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Ulrich Probst, Raphael Piroth, Markus Müller
  • Publication number: 20200325956
    Abstract: A rail brake damper includes a cylinder-piston arrangement. A damping device assigned to the piston comprises at least one damping valve having at least one piston channel, which passes through the piston, connecting the two operating chambers of the cylinder, and a closure element assigned to the piston channel. The closure element is spring pre-loaded with the effect of closing the piston channel and is acted on by the hydraulic pressure which prevails in the operating chamber facing away from the piston rod with the effect of opening the damping valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Ulrich Probst, Lars Löhken, Raphael Piroth, Markus Müller
  • Patent number: 10648528
    Abstract: Damper includes a housing having proximal and distal ends, a first attachment point proximate the distal end of the housing, a rod having proximal and distal ends at least partially disposed within the housing and moveable relative to the housing between an extended position and a compressed position, a second attachment point proximate the proximal end of the rod, a piston joined to the rod within the housing proximate the distal end of the rod, the piston including a bypass groove having a flow area defined therein to allow fluid to flow from a first side of the piston to an opposing side of the piston, and a first washer disposed proximate a first end of the piston and at least partially covering the flow area of the bypass groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: STABILUS GMBH
    Inventors: James T. Kull, Markus Müller, Lars Löhken, Arnold Schilz
  • Publication number: 20200064223
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring operating parameters of an actuator (10), wherein the method comprises: providing the actuator (10), providing at least two detection units (26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36) which are designed to detect different operating parameters of the actuator (10), detecting operating parameters of the actuator (10) via the detection units (26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36), outputting data relating to the measured operating parameters to an evaluation unit, combining the measured operating parameters into a state information, which indicates whether or not the technical state of the actuator (10) is in a predetermined standard state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Ehre, Raphael Piroth, Ulrich Probst, Lars Löhken, Markus Müller
  • Publication number: 20200056674
    Abstract: Provided is a method for the production of a nozzle piston for arrangement in a damping space of a damper, which contains a damping fluid, wherein the piston divides the damping space into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. Also provided is a production method with the method according to the invention for a damper. Also provided is a nozzle piston for arrangement in a damping space of a damper, which contains a damping fluid, wherein the nozzle piston can be obtained by means of ultra-short pulse lasering of the recess from a piston blank. Also provided is a damper having a nozzle piston according to the invention. Also provided is a production plant for the production of a damper having at least one ultra-short pulse laser station for machining a piston blank for the damper by ultra-short pulse lasering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Markus Müller, Raphael Piroth, Ulrich Probst
  • Patent number: 10453332
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system comprising a seat (10) and a mobile terminal that are or can be connected to one another in order to transmit data, wherein the seat (10) comprises at least one electromechanical actuator (22, 24, 26, 28) and/or at least one sensor element (32, 34, 36, 38), the mobile terminal is designed to receive inputs from a user and control the at least one actuator (22, 24, 26, 28) on the basis of these inputs and/or to receive and process data collected by the at least one sensor element (32, 34, 36, 38), and the seat (10) and the mobile terminal are each provided with at least one communication means (44), which are designed to wirelessly transmit data between the seat (10) and the mobile terminal. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Ulrich Probst, Raphael Piroth, Markus Müller
  • Publication number: 20190070978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to, among other things, a rotational damper comprising a fluid-filled damper housing and within the damper housing a piston rotatably accommodated by a rotation axis of the rotational damper in a first direction and an opposite second direction with a piston rod extending in the direction of the rotation axis; whereby the piston has at least one opening with a flow cross-section which allows for the flow of fluid through the piston, whereby a total flow cross-section is calculated as the sum of the flow cross-sections of the at least one opening. A blocking device can be furthermore assigned to the piston which is capable of reducing the flow cross-section of at least one of the openings during a rotation of the piston in a first direction relative to a rotation of the piston in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Lars Löhken, Markus Müller, Raphael Piroth, Ulrich Probst