Patents by Inventor Manfred Denner

Manfred Denner 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: 7726451
    Abstract: A vibration damper with amplitude-selective damping force includes a piston rod carrying a piston arrangement axially movably arranged in a cylinder and dividing the cylinder into two working spaces. A flow connection is present between the working spaces and controlled by an axially movable switching ring which cooperates with a working surface which faces the ring to define a pilot opening cross section. A bypass channel with at least two connecting openings to the flow connection is provided hydraulically in parallel to the flow connection. At least one connecting opening upstream of each of two stop surface of the switching ring. A check valve arrangement separates the bypass channel and the flow connection from each other in the different flow directions as a function of the movements of the piston rod, the check valve arrangement having two check valves which close in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Hammer, Michael Doppernas, Manfred Denner, Matthias Planitzer
  • Publication number: 20090127041
    Abstract: Vibration damper with amplitude-selective damping force that includes a piston rod, which is guided with freedom of axial movement in a damping medium-filled cylinder. The piston rod carries a piston arrangement, which divides the cylinder into a working space on the side of the piston with the piston rod and a working space on the side of the piston opposite the piston rod, where a flow connection, which, as a function of the movement of the piston rod, determines a damping force by means of a switching ring, which moves axially between two stop surfaces, in conjunction with at least one axially movable valve ring in a switching ring groove. The switching ring cooperates with one stop surface to form the boundaries of an annular space adjacent to the working space on the piston rod side and with another stop surface to form the boundary of an annular space adjacent to the working space on the side of the piston opposite the piston rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Manfred Denner, Michael-Johann Doppernas, Thomas Hammer, Matthias Planitzer
  • Patent number: 7523818
    Abstract: A vibration damper with amplitude-selective damping force includes a cylinder containing a damping medium, a piston rod which is axially movable in the cylinder, and a piston assembly arranged for axial movement in the damping medium, the piston assembly being connected to the piston rod and dividing the cylinder into a working space around the piston rod and a working space opposite the piston rod, the piston assembly includes a piston body having connecting channels for opposite directions of flow between the working spaces, and valve disks which open the channels in respective opposite directions. A pilot assembly includes an axially movable shifting ring which controls a flow connection between the working spaces as a function of movement of the piston rod, and a pair of stop surfaces which limit axial movement of the shifting ring, wherein the stop surfaces are independent of the piston body and the valve disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Hammer, Michael Doppernas, Matthias Planitzer, Manfred Denner
  • Publication number: 20070080034
    Abstract: A vibration damper with amplitude-selective damping force includes a piston rod carrying a piston arrangement axially movably arranged in a cylinder and dividing the cylinder into two working spaces. A flow connection is present between the working spaces and controlled by an axially movable switching ring which cooperates with a working surface which faces the ring to define a pilot opening cross section. A bypass channel with at least two connecting openings to the flow connection is provided hydraulically in parallel to the flow connection. At least one connecting opening upstream of each of two stop surface of the switching ring. A check valve arrangement separates the bypass channel and the flow connection from each other in the different flow directions as a function of the movements of the piston rod, the check valve arrangement having two check valves which close in opposite directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Hammer, Michael Doppernas, Manfred Denner, Matthias Planitzer
  • Publication number: 20060118372
    Abstract: A vibration damper with amplitude-selective damping force includes a cylinder containing a damping medium, a piston rod which is axially movable in the cylinder, and a piston assembly arranged for axial movement in the damping medium, the piston assembly being connected to the piston rod and dividing the cylinder into a working space around the piston rod and a working space opposite the piston rod, the piston assembly includes a piston body having connecting channels for opposite directions of flow between the working spaces, and valve disks which open the channels in respective opposite directions. A pilot assembly includes an axially movable shifting ring which controls a flow connection between the working spaces as a function of movement of the piston rod, and a pair of stop surfaces which limit axial movement of the shifting ring, wherein the stop surfaces are independent of the piston body and the valve disks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Hammer, Michael Doppernas, Matthias Planitzer, Manfred Denner