Patents by Inventor Lutz Witthoeft

Lutz Witthoeft 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: 8683966
    Abstract: A camshaft adjustment device which has a pinion and a drive part that is disposed in a pivoting manner relative thereto. The pinion and the drive part are operatively connected to each other via a pressure chamber that can be pressurized using pressure means. At least one locking device can mechanically couple the pinion and the drive part. The locking device is actuated by of a pressure medium. The pressure chamber and the locking device are in a pressure medium connection to one another for regulating the pressure medium supply to the locking device and the pressure medium discharge therefrom by at least one regulating unit. The passage of the pressure medium can be blocked in a pressure-tight manner in the direction of the pressure chamber by at least one locking device disposed in the pressure medium connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Busse, Lutz Witthoeft
  • Patent number: 8590498
    Abstract: A device for variable adjustment of the timing of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, which has a hydraulic phase shifting device, a camshaft and a pressurizing medium distributor. The phase shifting device can come into drive linkage with a crankshaft and is rigidly connected to the camshaft. A phase position of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft can be variably adjusted by the phase shifting device. The interior of the camshaft has a cavity that communicates with one or more camshaft bearings which are separate from a rotating pressurizing medium conveyor. The pressurizing medium distributor is disposed in a receiving area of the camshaft. The camshaft has an opening in the area of the pressurizing medium distributor, which communicates with the interior of the camshaft and the pressurizing medium conveyor. A pressurizing medium path is inside the camshaft, which communicates the opening and hydraulic phase shift device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Busse, Lutz Witthoeft
  • Patent number: 8342144
    Abstract: A motor control strategy for a hydraulic camshaft adjuster. The motor control strategy has a mechanical central lock which in turn has at least one rotor and one stator, between which hydraulically loadable chamber A and chambers B are provided. Locking pistons supported in an axially displaceable manner are provided in the rotor for the mechanical central lock. A hydraulic system and an electrically controllable solenoid valve are provided. The valve is powered in a controlled manner by a motor control device, which receives an “ignition off” signal; the motor being turned off, and at least one signal for current angular position of the camshaft adjuster, which compares the angular position to at least one zone definition stored in the motor control device, forms control commands from the same, and transmits said the control commands to the electric solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Busse, Lutz Witthoeft
  • Publication number: 20120111295
    Abstract: A device (11) for variably adjusting the control times of gas exchange vales (9, 10) of an internal combustion engine (1) having a hydraulic phase adjustment device (12) and at least one volume accumulator (31), wherein the phase adjustment device (12) can be brought into driving connection with a crankshaft (2) and a camshaft (6, 7) and at least one early adjustment chamber (24) and at least one late adjustment chamber (25) which can be supplied with pressure medium via pressure medium lines (26a, b, p. v), or from which pressure medium can be drained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Plate, Jochen Auchter, Lutz Witthoeft
  • Publication number: 20110168113
    Abstract: A device for variable adjustment of the timing of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, which has a hydraulic phase shifting device, a camshaft and a pressurizing medium distributor. The phase shifting device can come into drive linkage with a crankshaft and is rigidly connected to the camshaft. A phase position of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft can be variably adjusted by the phase shifting device. The interior of the camshaft has a cavity that communicates with one or more camshaft bearings which are separate from a rotating pressurizing medium conveyor. The pressurizing medium distributor is disposed in a receiving area of the camshaft. The camshaft has an opening in the area of the pressurizing medium distributor, which communicates with the interior of the camshaft and the pressurizing medium conveyor. A pressurizing medium path is inside the camshaft, which communicates the opening and hydraulic phase shift device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Busse, Lutz Witthoeft
  • Publication number: 20110139100
    Abstract: A camshaft adjustment device which has a pinion and a drive part that is disposed in a pivoting manner relative thereto. The pinion and the drive part are operatively connected to each other via a pressure chamber that can be pressurized using pressure means. At least one locking device can mechanically couple the pinion and the drive part. The locking device is actuated by a pressure medium. The pressure chamber and the locking device are in a pressure medium connection to one another for regulating the pressure medium supply to the locking device and the pressure medium discharge therefrom by at least one regulating unit. The passage of the pressure medium can be blocked in a pressure-tight manner in the direction of the pressure chamber by at least one locking device disposed in the pressure medium connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Busse, Lutz Witthoeft
  • Publication number: 20100241338
    Abstract: A motor control strategy for a hydraulic camshaft adjuster. The motor control strategy has a mechanical central lock which in turn has at least one rotor and one stator, between which hydraulically loadable chamber A and chambers B are provided. Locking pistons supported in an axially displaceable manner are provided in the rotor for the mechanical central lock. A hydraulic system and an electrically controllable solenoid valve are provided The valve is powered in a controlled manner by a motor control device, which receives an “ignition off” signal; the motor being turned off, and at least one signal for current angular position of the camshaft adjuster, which compares the angular position to at least one zone definition stored in the motor control device, forms control commands from the same, and transmits the control commands to the electric solenoid valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Busse, Lutz Witthoeft