Patents by Inventor Manfred Schuler

Manfred Schuler 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: 9360111
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit includes a cylinder having a closure body at the end. The closure body has a sleeve body which is fixedly connected on one side to the closure body and which is fastened to the cylinder. The sleeve body has a base which supports an operating pressure in the cylinder in direction of the closure body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Manfred Schuler, Günther Handke, Bernd Zeissner, Bernhard Weingärtner
  • Publication number: 20150069688
    Abstract: A vibration damper for a motor vehicle includes at least one cylinder tube with a longitudinal extension axis and a support spring, wherein the support spring has a first end portion and a second end portion, the support spring surrounds the cylinder tube in circumferential direction and is axially supported by the first end portion indirectly at a supporting device of the motor vehicle with respect to the longitudinal extension axis of the cylinder tube, and wherein the support spring is axially supported by its second end portion at the cylinder tube of the vibration damper. The cylinder tube has a spring disk which is formed integral with the cylinder tube, is formed out of the cylinder tube, and has a supporting surface for an end coil of the support spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Manfred SCHULER, Andreas HARTUNG, karin SUNDERMANN, Josef Renn, Günther HANDKE, Manuel RUSS, Peter HEUSINGER, Peter MALIK
  • Patent number: 8919753
    Abstract: A spring plate, especially for a MacPherson strut unit, having an axial support surface for the final turn of a helical spring. The helical spring is centered by radial centering surfaces in the area of the circumferential contour of the final turn. The centering surface is divided into individual, partial centering surfaces, which come to rest against the circumferential contour of the helical spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: ZH Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bruno Deigner, Günther Handke, Frank Hassmann, Jörg Hermes, Joachim Koberstein, Alexander Miller, Jörg Pagel, Josef Renn, Manfred Schuler, Klaus Stretz, Andreas Zietsch, Gottfried Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8910759
    Abstract: A vibration damper including a cylinder with a cylinder-side connection member. The at least one mounted component is fastened to the cylinder by a material bond. The cylinder and the mounted component are made of plastic. The mounted component and/or the cylinder are based on at least one ready-prepared semi-finished product that forms the surface of the vibration damper on at least one body side in the final state. Plastic supplemental volume fractions determine the finished body contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen GmbH
    Inventors: Hendrik Marquar, Manfred Schuler, Josef Renn, Klaus Stretz, Karin Sundermann, Michael Zutzmann, Werner Hufenbach, Martin Lepper, Jens Werner, Enrico Ladusch, Stefan Effmert
  • Publication number: 20130276625
    Abstract: A The piston-cylinder unit includes a cylinder having a closure body at the end. The closure body has a sleeve body which is fixedly connected on one side to the closure body and which is fastened to the cylinder. The sleeve body has a base which supports an operating pressure in the cylinder in direction of the closure body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Manfred SCHULER, Günther HANDKE, Bernd ZEISSNER, Bernhard WEINGÄRTNER
  • Patent number: 8297600
    Abstract: A plastic spring having a corrugated tubular body with connection surfaces at its ends for transmitting force between two structural component parts which are movable relative to one another. A connection surface of the plastic spring is constructed as a tubular body which engages in a cup element of one of the supporting structural component parts. The cup element can be filled with a displacement mass, and the tubular body accordingly carries out a displacing movement within the cup element for axially adjusting the preloading of the plastic spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen GmbH
    Inventors: Hendrik Marquar, Manfred Schuler, Josef Renn, Klaus Stretz, Karin Sundermann, Michael Zutzmann, Werner Hufenbach, Martin Lepper, Jens Werner, Christian Köhler
  • Publication number: 20110215209
    Abstract: A supporting tube for a vibration damper including an axial supporting surface on which rests an outer cylinder of the vibration damper. A fixing cap which holds a second axial supporting surface for securing the cylinder against loading in the opposing direction. The fixing cap is connected to the supporting tube by positive engagement, and separate locking elements for both parts are arranged between the fixing cap and the supporting tube, which locking elements position the outer cylinder relative to the supporting tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hendrik Marquar, Manfred Schuler, Josef Renn, Klaus Stretz, Karin Sundermann, Michael Zutzmann
  • Publication number: 20110057369
    Abstract: A plastic spring having a corrugated tubular body with connection surfaces at its ends for transmitting force between two structural component parts which are movable relative to one another. A connection surface of the plastic spring is constructed as a tubular body which engages in a cup element of one of the supporting structural component parts. The cup element can be filled with a displacement mass, and the tubular body accordingly carries out a displacing movement within the cup element for axially adjusting the preloading of the plastic spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen GmbH
    Inventors: Hendrik MARQUAR, Manfred SCHULER, Josef RENN, Klaus STRETZ, Karin SUNDERMANN, Michael ZUTZMANN, Werner HUFENBACH, Martin LEPPER, Jens WERNER, Christian KÖHLER
  • Publication number: 20110056785
    Abstract: A vibration damper including a cylinder with a cylinder-side connection member. The at least one mounted component is fastened to the cylinder by a material bond. The cylinder and the mounted component are made of plastic. The mounted component and/or the cylinder are based on at least one ready-prepared semi-finished product that forms the surface of the vibration damper on at least one body side in the final state. Plastic supplemental volume fractions determine the finished body contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicants: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Leichtbau-Zentrum Sachsen GmbH
    Inventors: Hendrik MARQUAR, Manfred Schuler, Josef Renn, Klaus Stretz, Karin Sundermann, Michael Zutzmann, Werner Hufenbach, Martin Lepper, Jens Werner, Enrico Ladusch, Stefan Effmert
  • Publication number: 20100111596
    Abstract: A cylinder having an attachment on which a component having an internal taper surface is fixed, wherein in a positive anti-turning connection is in effect between the cylinder, and the taper connection has at least two regions in the circumferential direction having a smaller and a larger taper angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Günther Handke, Manfred Schuler, Klaus Stretz, Josef Renn
  • Publication number: 20070221459
    Abstract: A spring strut tube assembly having an outer container tube, or tubular member and a spring plate. One end of the tube can be closed by a bottom part and the other end of the tube can comprise an aperture and a slid-on spring plate. The tubular member can be produced from a flexibly rolled flat material whose wall thickness is variable in the longitudinal direction. The tube is formed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, and can be welded in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Inventors: Vladimir Kobelev, Andreas Hauger, Jorge Brecht, Klaus Stretz, Manfred Schuler
  • Patent number: 7077248
    Abstract: Suspension strut unit comprising a connector bearing for piston rod of the suspension strut unit, a spring plate for a vehicle spring, and a first has a bearing with a bearing input part on the spring plate side and a bearing output part on the connector bearing side, which bearing allows relative rotational movement between the vehicle spring and the connector bearing of the piston rod. After the piston rod has traveled inward a certain distance, the cylinder is supported against the connector bearing by way of a stop buffer. A second bearing allows relative rotational movement between the connector bearing and the cylinder when the stop buffer is active; the second bearing is located functionally between the stop buffer and the connector bearing, and a functional separation is present between the bearing input part for the spring plate and the second bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Günther Handke, Manfred Schuler, Wolfgang Breun, Ali Dogan, Stephan Zuber
  • Patent number: 7077390
    Abstract: Spring strut comprising a cylinder, with respect to which the axial position of a spring collar can be adjusted, where the spring collar has a sleeve section, by which it is connected to the cylinder, where, on the cylinder side, a chamber is provided, which is at least partially filled with a curable material, where the sleeve section is in contact with the curable material, which, when in the solid state, transmits a supporting force from the cylinder to the spring collar, where the chamber has at least one isolating sleeve with a radial guide surface, by which the sleeve is in contact with the sleeve section of the spring collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Alexander Miller, Manfred Schuler, Klaus Stretz
  • Patent number: 7017892
    Abstract: A suspension strut including a piston rod extending from a cylinder, a connection bearing for connecting the piston rod to a vehicle body, a spring loading the cylinder away from the connection bearing, and a spring plate supporting the spring axially with respect to the connection bearing. A first bearing enables relative rotational movement between the spring plate and the connection bearing, and a second bearing enables relative rotational movement between the connection bearing and a stop buffer arranged between the connection bearing and the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Gabriela Hurrlein, Manfred Schuler, Alexander Miller, Klaus Stretz, Michael Hurrlein
  • Publication number: 20060061025
    Abstract: A spring plate, especially for a MacPherson strut unit, having an axial support surface for the final turn of a helical spring. The helical spring is centered by radial centering surfaces in the area of the circumferential contour of the final turn. The centering surface is divided into individual, partial centering surfaces, which come to rest against the circumferential contour of the helical spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Bruno Deigner, Gunther Handke, Frank Hassmann, Jorg Hermes, Joachim Koberstein, Alexander Miller, Jorg Pagel, Josef Renn, Manfred Schuler, Klaus Stretz, Andreas Zietsch, Gottfried Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20040245691
    Abstract: Suspension strut unit comprising a connector bearing for piston rod of the suspension strut unit, a spring plate for a vehicle spring, and a first has a bearing with a bearing input part on the spring plate side and a bearing output part on the connector bearing side, which bearing allows relative rotational movement between the vehicle spring and the connector bearing of the piston rod. After the piston rod has traveled inward a certain distance, the cylinder is supported against the connector bearing by way of a stop buffer. A second bearing allows relative rotational movement between the connector bearing and the cylinder when the stop buffer is active; the second bearing is located functionally between the stop buffer and the connector bearing, and a functional separation is present between the bearing input part for the spring plate and the second bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Gunther Handke, Manfred Schuler, Wolfgang Breun, Ali Dogan, Stephan Zuber
  • Publication number: 20040168870
    Abstract: Suspension strut unit comprising a connector bearing for a piston rod of the suspension strut unit, where a spring plate for a vehicle spring has a bearing with a connector bearing-side bearing part and a spring plate-side bearing part, which bearing allows relative rotational movement between the vehicle spring and the connector bearing of the piston rod, where, after the piston rod has traveled inward a certain distance, a stop buffer rests against a cylinder; where a second bearing allows relative movement between the connector bearing and the cylinder after the stop buffer has become active; and where the second bearing allows the stop buffer to move relative to the spring plate at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the suspension strut unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Gunther Handke, Manfred Schuler, Wolfgang Breun, Ali Dogan, Stephan Zuber
  • Publication number: 20040163909
    Abstract: Suspension strut unit comprising a cylinder, with respect to which the axial position of a spring collar can be adjusted, where the spring collar has a sleeve section which is received in a chamber provided on the outside of the cylinder. The chamber is at least partially filled with a curable material, and the sleeve section is in contact with the curable material, which, in the solid state, transmits a supporting force from the cylinder to the spring collar. The chamber has at least one isolating sleeve with a radial guide surface, by which the sleeve is in contact with the sleeve section of the spring collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Alexander Miller, Manfred Schuler, Klaus Stretz
  • Publication number: 20040159993
    Abstract: Spring strut unit, comprising a cylinder, with respect to which a spring plate can be shifted axially for the purpose of adjusting the position of the cylinder. The spring plate has a sleeve section, which establishes the connection to the cylinder, where, on the cylinder side of the unit, a chamber is provided, which is at least partially filled with initially formable material, where the sleeve section is in contact with the initially formable material, which, when in the solidified state, transmits supporting forces from the cylinder to the spring plate. In the path of force transmission from the spring plate to the cylinder, a rotation-proof connection is provided, which determines the position of the spring plate with respect to the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Alexander Miller, Manfred Schuler, Klaus Stretz
  • Patent number: 6767010
    Abstract: Suspension strut comprising a cylinder and a spring perch which is axially displaceable relative to the cylinder for adjustment of the position, wherein the spring perch has a sleeve portion by which the connection to the cylinder is carried out. A chamber is arranged on the cylinder side which is at least partly filled with a moldable material. The sleeve portion contacts the moldable material, which in a solid state transmits a supporting force from the cylinder to the spring perch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Alexander Miller, Klaus Stretz, Michael Hurrlein, Manfred Schuler