Patents by Inventor Marco Grau
Marco Grau 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).
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Patent number: 11524714Abstract: A floating bearing for a steering gear of a motor vehicle includes a rotary bearing having an inner bearing ring for receiving a screw pinion shaft of the steering gear, and an outer bearing ring built into a bearing sleeve. The bearing sleeve interacts with a guiding element, which interacts with a holding element, such that the bearing sleeve moves relative to the holding element in a first direction oriented radially to the longitudinal axis of the bearing sleeve when the screw pinion shaft is not loaded with torque, and relative movement is prevented when the screw pinion shaft is loaded with torque by moving the bearing sleeve in relation to the holding element in a second direction that is oriented radially to the longitudinal axis and perpendicularly to the first direction, whereby the guiding element is tilted in a guiding opening of the holding element or the bearing sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2018Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Jens-Uwe Hafermalz, Marco Grau, Martin Zimmermann, Dennis Fuechsel
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Publication number: 20200180677Abstract: A floating bearing for a steering gear of a motor vehicle includes a rotary bearing having an inner bearing ring for receiving a screw pinion shaft of the steering gear, and an outer bearing ring built into a bearing sleeve. The bearing sleeve interacts with a guiding element, which interacts with a holding element, such that the bearing sleeve moves relative to the holding element in a first direction oriented radially to the longitudinal axis of the bearing sleeve when the screw pinion shaft is not loaded with torque, and relative movement is prevented when the screw pinion shaft is loaded with torque by moving the bearing sleeve in relation to the holding element in a second direction that is oriented radially to the longitudinal axis and perpendicularly to the first direction, whereby the guiding element is tilted in a guiding opening of the holding element or the bearing sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2018Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: Jens-Uwe Hafermalz, Marco Grau, Martin Zimmermann, Dennis Fuechsel
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Patent number: 10315687Abstract: A steering gear having a gearwheel (2), a pinion shaft (3) which meshes with the former and is mounted such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis which lies transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis (6) of the pinion shaft (3), wherein the pinion shaft (3) is loaded against the gearwheel (2) by means of a spring element which is integrated into a locating bearing (5) for the pinion shaft (3), which locating bearing (5) forms the pivot axis (7), and wherein the pinion shaft (3) is mounted in a floating bearing (8) such that is spaced apart axially from the pivot axis, which floating bearing (8) ensures mobility of the pinion shaft (3) which makes pivoting of the pinion shaft (3) about the pivot axis possible, wherein the floating bearing (8) comprises an outer part and an inner part which is arranged movably in a radial direction with respect to the outer part, is characterized by a stop element (24) which limits the radial mobility of the inner part and can be positioned differently with regard tType: GrantFiled: April 7, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbHInventors: Dennis Fuechsel, Ekkehard Kneer, Jens Hafermalz, Marco Grau
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Publication number: 20170096162Abstract: A steering gear having a gearwheel (2), a pinion shaft (3) which meshes with the former and is mounted such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis which lies transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis (6) of the pinion shaft (3), wherein the pinion shaft (3) is loaded against the gearwheel (2) by means of a spring element which is integrated into a locating bearing (5) for the pinion shaft (3), which locating bearing (5) forms the pivot axis (7), and wherein the pinion shaft (3) is mounted in a floating bearing (8) such that is spaced apart axially from the pivot axis, which floating bearing (8) ensures mobility of the pinion shaft (3) which makes pivoting of the pinion shaft (3) about the pivot axis possible, wherein the floating bearing (8) comprises an outer part and an inner part which is arranged movably in a radial direction with respect to the outer part, is characterized by a stop element (24) which limits the radial mobility of the inner part and can be positioned differently with regard tType: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2015Publication date: April 6, 2017Inventors: Dennis Fuechsel, Ekkehard Kneer, Jens Hafermalz, Marco Grau
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Patent number: 9080646Abstract: A helical gear mechanism for a steering system in a motor vehicle comprises a helical pinion which engages with a helical gear and a bearing bushing which accommodates a bearing of the helical pinion. An inner ring of the bearing bushing is connected to an outer ring via a pivot bearing so that a pivoting motion of the helical pinion relative to the helical gear is possible. A pressure piece is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring of the bearing bushing. The pressure piece is movable in a spring-loaded manner in a section of an annular gap between the inner ring and the outer ring. The inner ring and/or the outer ring are designed in the section so that the annular gap between the inner ring and the outer ring is tapered in the direction in which the pressure piece can be moved in a spring-loaded manner.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbHInventors: Dennis Fuechsel, Ekkehard Kneer, Jens Hafermalz, Arne Kuhlen, Marco Grau
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Patent number: 8646351Abstract: An electric power-assisted steering system of a motor vehicle comprises a helical pinion which engages into a helical gear. A reloading device comprises a reloaded pressure piece which presses the helical pinion into the toothing of the helical gear. The requirements of assembly are reduced and the elastically urging of the helical pinion or the worm need not be adjusted during assembly since the necessary elastically urging is automatically adjusted such that friction in the gearing is minimized, improved efficiency is achieved and the spring force can be held as constant as possible throughout the service life and unwanted noise development in the gearing can be largely reduced.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbHInventors: Dennis Fuechsel, Ekkehard Kneer, Jens Hafermalz, Arne Kuhlen, Marco Grau
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Patent number: 8539849Abstract: Disclosed is a bearing system for a worm engaging with a worm wheel as part of a steering gear, wherein the bearing system comprises at least one bearing with an outer ring, an inner ring, and rolling bodies that are movably accommodated between the outer an inner rings, the bearing being pivotally arranged in a bearing seat for accommodating the outer ring of the bearing, and wherein the inner ring accommodates one of the two shaft ends of the worm in order to seat said shaft end of the worm radially in the housing of the steering gear. For an improved dampening of the worm at least one spring element, which exerts a spring force on a region of the outer ring of the bearing, is provided at the bearing, said spring force supporting a pivotal motion of the worm toward the worm wheel.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbHInventors: Werner Bernhard, Marco Grau, Ekkehard Kneer, Jens-Uwe Hafermalz, Dennis Fuechsel, Juergen Bieber, Rainer Schaenzel
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Publication number: 20130239726Abstract: A helical gear mechanism for a steering system in a motor vehicle comprises a helical pinion which engages with a helical gear and a bearing bushing which accommodates a bearing of the helical pinion. An inner ring of the bearing bushing is connected to an outer ring via a pivot bearing so that a pivoting motion of the helical pinion relative to the helical gear is possible. A pressure piece is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring of the bearing bushing. The pressure piece is movable in a spring-loaded manner in a section of an annular gap between the inner ring and the outer ring. The inner ring and/or the outer ring are designed in the section so that the annular gap between the inner ring and the outer ring is tapered in the direction in which the pressure piece can be moved in a spring-loaded manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Inventors: Dennis FUECHSEL, Ekkehard KNEER, Jens HAFERMALZ, Arne KUHLEN, Marco GRAU
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Publication number: 20130206497Abstract: Helical gearing for a steering system of a motor vehicle comprises a helical pinion which engages a helical gear. Minimization of friction in the gearing and increased efficiency since continuous elastically urging with an approximately consistent spring force during the entire service life is attained. It is not necessary for a very large spring force to be applied. By way of the continuous elastically urging with an approximately consistent spring force, clattering noises or disturbing noises are prevented or largely reduced throughout the entire service life. Due to the simple design the requirements on assembly are reduced. It is advantageous that the elastically urging of the helical pinion or the worm need not be adjusted during assembly since the necessary elastically urging is automatically adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: August 15, 2013Inventors: Dennis FUECHSEL, Ekkehard KNEER, Jens HAFERMALZ, Arne KUHLEN, Marco GRAU
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Publication number: 20050150372Abstract: A thrust device, in particular for a roller cam mechanism in a steering system, includes a first mechanism member which is held on a frame in engagement with a second mechanism member. The thrust device comprises a pressure piece which is mounted on the frame so as to be displaceable along an axis and is acted on by a spring element for pressing the first and second mechanism members against one another. In order to construct the thrust device for compensating for wear and thermal expansion of the engagement of the mechanism members and to configure it to be inexpensive and quiet during operation, there is provision for the spring element to be formed from rolling bodies which are spring loaded approximately transversely with respect to the axis of the pressure piece, the rolling bodies being supported on oblique surfaces between the pressure piece and a frame part which is configured as a setting screw or cover. The pressure piece can additionally be spring loaded axially by a compression spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2005Publication date: July 14, 2005Inventors: Danh Luan Nguyen, Marco Grau, Oliver Hetzel, Erich Berroth