Patents by Inventor Marcus Gansohr

Marcus Gansohr 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).

  • Publication number: 20220025943
    Abstract: A method for determining an engagement point (X) of a clutch (3). The clutch (3) has first and second clutch sides (3a, 3b), which are rotationally decoupled when the clutch (3) is disengaged/open and which are rotationally coupled when the clutch (3) is engaged/closed. The method includes the steps of disengaging the clutch (3) and then engaging the clutch (3), in order to determine the engagement point (X). During this, the first clutch side (3a) is driven in rotation and the second clutch side (3b) is accelerated, for at least part of the time, by an acceleration device (4). A control device actuates the clutch (3) in order determine the engagement point (X) of the clutch (3), and a computer program product with stored commands, brings about the sequence of the method when the program is operated on a suitable control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Marcus GANSOHR, Manuel SCHNEIDER, Marco WAGEGG
  • Patent number: 9644733
    Abstract: A method of determining at least one drag torque acting on the input side of an automatic transmission, such that prior to the determination a separator clutch located between the transmission and an engine is disengaged. To be able to carry out the determination regardless of the type of transmission concerned, also prior to the determination, the transmission is shifted to neutral and subsequently the drag torque is calculated when the engine is deactivated. For this, a first gradient of a transmission input rotational speed is determined, before an engine rotational speed of the engine falls below the transmission input rotational speed, and a second gradient of the transmission input rotational speed is determined, after the engine rotational speed falls below the transmission input rotational speed. The method is stored as a computer program stored on data carrier of a drive-train control unit of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marcus Gansohr, Benjamin Berger, Florian Schneider
  • Patent number: 9002599
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission brake of an automated change-speed transmission, of a countershaft design provided with claw clutches, the brake being functionally connected, on its input side, to a transmission shaft and actuated hydraulically or pneumatically by way of inlet and outlet valves such that, for an upshift from a gear under load to a target gear, when the loaded gear is disengaged, in order to synchronize the target gear, first the inlet valve is opened and the outlet valve is closed, then to produce a substantially constant braking torque, the inlet valve is closed after having been open for a determinable opening duration, and to reach a synchronous rotational speed, the outlet valve is opened after having been closed for a determinable closing duration. The time during which the inlet valve is open is determined as a function of a specified characteristic parameter of the synchronization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Marcus Gansohr
  • Publication number: 20150046048
    Abstract: A method of determining at least one drag torque acting on the input side of an automatic transmission, such that prior to the determination a separator clutch located between the transmission and an engine is disengaged. To be able to carry out the determination regardless of the type of transmission concerned, also prior to the determination, the transmission is shifted to neutral and subsequently the drag torque is calculated when the engine is deactivated. For this, a first gradient of a transmission input rotational speed is determined, before an engine rotational speed of the engine falls below the transmission input rotational speed, and a second gradient of the transmission input rotational speed is determined, after the engine rotational speed falls below the transmission input rotational speed. The method is stored as a computer program stored on data carrier of a drive-train control unit of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus GANSOHR, Benjamin BERGER, Florian SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 8718882
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission brake that is actuated by inlet and outlet valves. For determining when to transmit a disengagement signal for opening the outlet valve, the current input and output speeds are determined and the respective gradients of these speeds are calculated. Variation of the input speed, during the disengagement of the brake, is determined as a function of the input gradient, the optimum time for reaching the synchronous speed, during brake disengagement, is determined from the input speed variation as a function of the output gradient, and the time interval until transmission of the disengagement signal is determined as a function of the current input and output speeds and their gradients, by a back-calculation from the time when the synchronous speed is reached, taking a disengagement dead time of the brake, between transmitting the disengagement signal and start of disengagement, into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Marcus Gansohr
  • Publication number: 20140081539
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission brake of an automated change-speed transmission, of a countershaft design provided with claw clutches, the brake being functionally connected, on its input side, to a transmission shaft and actuated hydraulically or pneumatically by way of inlet and outlet valves such that, for an upshift from a gear under load to a target gear, when the loaded gear is disengaged, in order to synchronize the target gear, first the inlet valve is opened and the outlet valve is closed, then to produce a substantially constant braking torque, the inlet valve is closed after having been open for a determinable opening duration, and to reach a synchronous rotational speed, the outlet valve is opened after having been closed for a determinable closing duration. The time during which the inlet valve is open is determined as a function of a specified characteristic parameter of the synchronization process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Marcus GANSOHR
  • Patent number: 8366588
    Abstract: A method for controlling a drivetrain including an automatically shifted starting clutch and gear-shift clutch and a transmission, with a non self-locking clutch actuator, a gear actuator for engaging and disengaging transmission gears and a control unit which generates control commands for the clutch actuator and gear actuator and transmits such commands to the actuators such that, when the vehicle is at rest and a gear is engaged and if the clutch actuator fails, the clutch does not inadvertently engage. When a transmission gear is engaged, a control command is generated and sent for the clutch actuator to disengage the clutch. Thereafter, the vehicle speed is determined and if the speed is essentially zero and the clutch begins to engage, a control command is sent to the gear actuator to shift the transmission to its neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marcus Gansohr, Florian Schneider, Thomas Jäger
  • Publication number: 20120330519
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission brake that is actuated by inlet and outlet valves. For determining when to transmit a disengagement signal for opening the outlet valve, the current input and output speeds are determined and the respective gradients of these speeds are calculated. Variation of the input speed, during the disengagement of the brake, is determined as a function of the input gradient, the optimum time for reaching the synchronous speed, during brake disengagement, is determined from the input speed variation as a function of the output gradient, and the time interval until transmission of the disengagement signal is determined as a function of the current input and output speeds and their gradients, by a back-calculation from the time when the synchronous speed is reached, taking a disengagement dead time of the brake, between transmitting the disengagement signal and start of disengagement, into account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Marcus Gansohr
  • Patent number: 8162799
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a hydraulic or pneumatic transmission control system, which comprises a pressure supply unit with a conduit directing a pressure medium under a supply pressure, and an actuating member for a clutch control element of a friction clutch. The actuating member has a pressure space which can be connected by a clutch control valve to the conduit, and in which the supply pressure is determined by a pressure sensor that can be connected to the conduit. The method includes the steps of determining the supply pressure by the pressure sensor, given that briefly opening the clutch control valve produces a pressure increase and/or a pressure gradient of the control pressure in the pressure space, and the currently existing supply pressure can be calculated from the control pressure, the pressure increase and/or the pressure gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rupert Kramer, Marcus Gansohr, Johannes Kemler, Franz Bitzer, Rainer Petzold, Peter Herter
  • Patent number: 7962270
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automotive hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic pump is activated to increase the pressure in a hydraulic accumulator associated therewith once the pressure falls below a predetermined lower pressure threshold, and the hydraulic pump is switched off once the pressure exceeds a predetermined upper pressure threshold value (P_O). The solution is to reduce fuel consumption of the vehicle, wherein the hydraulic pump is activated during different operating phases of the vehicle at different lower pressure values (P_U1, P_U2) in the event of a hydraulic pressure drop in the hydraulic accumulator of the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Florian Schneider, Thomas Jäger, Marcus Gansohr
  • Publication number: 20100151992
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a hydraulic or pneumatic transmission control system, which comprises a pressure supply unit with a conduit directing a pressure medium under a supply pressure, and an actuating member for a clutch control element of a friction clutch. The actuating member has a pressure space which can be connected by a clutch control valve to the conduit, and in which the supply pressure is determined by a pressure sensor that can be connected to the conduit. The method includes the steps of determining the supply pressure by the pressure sensor, given that briefly opening the clutch control valve produces a pressure increase and/or a pressure gradient of the control pressure in the pressure space, and the currently existing supply pressure can be calculated from the control pressure, the pressure increase and/or the pressure gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Rupert KRAMER, Marcus GANSOHR, Johannes KEMLER, Franz BITZER, Rainer PETZOLD, Peter HERTER
  • Patent number: 7474950
    Abstract: A method is proposed for determining a clutch application point in a transmission of a vehicle having a spring-actuated clutch system in which the clutch application point is adapted according to at least one adequate regulated quantity of the clutch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schwenger, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Rüchardt, Marcus Gansohr, Thomas Knoblauch
  • Publication number: 20080275614
    Abstract: A method is proposed for determining a clutch application point in a transmission of a vehicle having a spring-actuated clutch system in which the clutch application point is adapted according to at least one adequate regulated quantity of the clutch system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas SCHWENGER, Otto EBNER, Klaus SCHWEIGER, Matthias WINKEL, Christoph RUCHARDT, Marcus GANSOHR, Thomas KNOBLAUCH
  • Patent number: 7419456
    Abstract: A known device for increasing the functional reliability for a hydraulic circuit of a hydraulic clutch having a pressure reservoir (25) and a release cylinder (5) which comprises a primary piston (14) and a secondary piston (16). A compensation volume is developed in the sense that when the vehicle is at a standstill and the parking brake released, an unintentional release of the clutch is prevented. A pressure-monitoring/pressure-supply device (28) is used for determining a reference operating pressure and establishes a static pressure which, in case of any system error, only allows displacement of the secondary piston (16) such that the contact pressure of the clutch discs, against one another, is still sufficient to maintain the vehicle at a standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Knoblauch, Christoph Rüchardt, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr
  • Publication number: 20080171633
    Abstract: A method for controlling a drivetrain including an automatically shifted starting clutch and gear-shift clutch and a transmission, with a non self-locking clutch actuator, a gear actuator for engaging and disengaging transmission gears and a control unit which generates control commands for the clutch actuator and gear actuator and transmits such commands to the actuators such that, when the vehicle is at rest and a gear is engaged and if the clutch actuator fails, the clutch does not inadvertently engage. When a transmission gear is engaged, a control command is generated and sent for the clutch actuator to disengage the clutch. Thereafter, the vehicle speed is determined and if the speed is essentially zero and the clutch begins to engage, a control command is sent to the gear actuator to shift the transmission to its neutral position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Marcus Gansohr, Florian Schneider, Thomas Jager
  • Publication number: 20080133097
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automotive hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic pump is activated to increase the pressure in a hydraulic accumulator associated therewith once the pressure falls below a predetermined lower pressure threshold, and the hydraulic pump is switched off once the pressure exceeds a predetermined upper pressure threshold value (P_O). The solution is to reduce fuel consumption of the vehicle, wherein the hydraulic pump is activated during different operating phases of the vehicle at different lower pressure values (P_U1, P_U2) in the event of a hydraulic pressure drop in the hydraulic accumulator of the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2005
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Florian Schneider, Thomas Jager, Marcus Gansohr
  • Patent number: 7169081
    Abstract: A method for clutch actuation at low temperatures for a motor vehicle having a hydraulically actuatable clutch, below a predetermined temperature a situation-dependent pre-opening of the clutch is executed when a braking is probable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Winkel, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Christoph Rüchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr, Thomas Knoblauch
  • Patent number: 7159399
    Abstract: A device for rendering a hydraulic actuating device operational. A motor vehicle clutch with an emitter-receiver system located in the transmission path of the actuating device comprising two pistons whose positions, relative to one another, can vary as a function of the desired operating behavior of the actuating device and is developed further such that in relation to the emitter-receiver system that is to be filled with fluid, operationality can be established comparatively quickly and by simple way. A fluid supply unit (24) comprises one impulse valve (25) that serves to release an essentially constant volume flow, acted upon by an impulse valve control device (26) which is constructed such that the fluid volume flow released by the fluid supply unit (24) and flowing into the emitter-receiver system (5) does not exceed a limiting volume flow QK.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schwenger, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Christoph Rüchardt, Marcus Gansohr
  • Publication number: 20060116237
    Abstract: A known device for increasing the functional reliability for a hydraulic circuit of a hydraulic clutch having one pressure reservoir and one release cylinder which comprises a primary piston, a secondary piston and a compensation volume is to be further developed in the sense that when the vehicle is at a standstill and the parking brake released, an unintentional release of the clutch is prevented. According to the invention there is used for the purpose a pressure-monitoring/pressure-supply device (28) which determines a reference operating pressure and establishes a static pressure which in case of system errors allows only a displacement of the secondary piston (16) such that the contact pressure of the clutch discs against each other is still sufficient to hold the vehicle at a standstill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Knoblauch, Christoph Ruchardt, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr
  • Patent number: 7003429
    Abstract: An operating time is determined by an approximation method within the scope of the method for determining the actual operating time of a hydraulic, electrohydraulic or electric component of a motor vehicle or of a working machine within a reference time or a monitoring period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marcus Gansohr, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Rüchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Thomas Knoblauch