Patents by Inventor Mario Steinborn
Mario Steinborn 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: 8066617Abstract: A method of controlling an automated step-down transmission, arranged in a drivetrain between an engine and a drive axle, which includes a multi-stage main transmission and a range group. The main transmission has an intermediate transmission style with a countershaft having a transmission brake and an input shaft connected, via a clutch, to the engine. The main transmission shifts, without being synchronized, and the range group shifts, after synchronization, such that the engaged gear ratio of the main transmission remains engaged during a range shift operation. The range shift is accomplished by firstly reducing drive engine torque; secondly, disengaging the existing gear ratio of the range group; thirdly, remotely synchronizing the target gear ratio in the range group; fourthly, engaging the target gear ratio in the range group; and fifthly, increasing the drive engine torque.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2009Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Mario Steinborn, Jochen Breuer
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Patent number: 8037776Abstract: The invention relates to a gear brake device for a multi-speed manual transmission (2), comprising a gear brake (16) that is arranged outside the transmission housing, that is led out of the transmission housing, and which has a power take-off shaft that is drive-connected or can be drive-connected with an input side gear shaft arrangement, said gear brake performing a synchronization function during up-shifting of the transmission in the known manner. According to the present invention, at least one PTO connection (20) with a drive connection to the power take-off shaft (12) is arranged downstream of the gear brake (16), so that the power take-off shaft (12) is also available for a PTO function.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2007Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Mario Steinborn, Ramon Cordt
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Patent number: 8036799Abstract: A method and device for controlling a fluid-actuated control system, to optimize post-switching times for actuation of control elements in such systems. The system includes at least one pressure medium source, at least one hydraulically controlled control element and a device for controlling the fluid-actuated control system. The optimum post-switching time after hydraulic actuation of the control element, depends on a number of different factors such as a control-element-specific parameter, a specific mounting location of the control element, at least one operating parameter of the fluid-actuated control system and/or of the vehicle. A post-switching time control device controls and/or regulates at least the duration of a post-switching time of the at least one control element and with the above factors determines the post-switching time.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2007Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Robert Ingenbleek, Markus Ulbricht, Mario Steinborn, Armin Brentel
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Publication number: 20110246032Abstract: A method for determining the output speed (N_AB) of a manual transmission of a motor vehicle. The output speed (N_AB) is calculated during a period of a shifting operation in which the current gear is disengaged and the new gear has yet to be engaged. The calculated output speed (N_AB) is used for controlling adjustment of the speed of the transmission input shaft (N_EG) to the speed of the transmission output shaft, or the calculated output speed (N_AB), is used for checking the plausibility of a value of the output speed (N_AB) as determined by the sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2008Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Mario Steinborn, Rainer Petzold, Stefan Veittinger
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Patent number: 7998025Abstract: A method for operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having in the force flow direction and in the following order an internal combustion engine, a clutch, an electric motor, a transmission and an axle gearset, or an internal combustion engine, a clutch, an electric motor, a transmission input shaft, a transmission and an axle gearset. The electric motor is used for pre-lubricating and warming the transmission such that, with the vehicle clutch disengaged, the lubricant pump of the transmission is driven by the electric motor so bearings are supplied with lubricant before the engine is started, and the heat, produced by splashing the lubricant, additionally warms the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2010Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Mario Steinborn, Ulrich Reith
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Patent number: 7976431Abstract: A method for shifting an automated transmission situated in a drive train of a motor vehicle between an engine and a drive axle and having at least one multi-speed main transmission and a two-speed range change group rear-mounted thereon. The main transmission has at least one counter shaft with a transmission brake. A clutch engages the prime mover and the main transmission and the range change group is shifted via unsynchronized dog clutches which are combined in pairs in a common shift set and have two shift positions and one neutral position such that, during a range change gear shift both in the main transmission and the range change group a change between two ratio stages occurs. A range change up-shift includes synchronizing the input shaft and the target gear utilizing the transmission brake and passively synchronizing the dog shifted transmission parts by the edge beveling of the concerned dog clutches.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Josef Bader, Andreas Graf, Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Thomas Hafen
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Publication number: 20110146824Abstract: A control system for a pneumatically or hydraulically actuated shift cylinder of a transmission or transmission-related auxiliary drive output, namely, for controlling at least one valve associated with the shift cylinder, such that each shift position of the shift cylinder can be produced. The control system includes: a) devices of a first type with which valve requirements corresponding to a plurality of functions demanded from the shift cylinder can be calculated at the same time, or in parallel, for the valve; b) devices of a second type which logically link the valve requirements calculated for the valve individually for each valve so that, from the valve requirements calculated in parallel for the respective valve, the devices of the second type determine an effective control measure for the valve concerned.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2007Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Armin Brentel, Robert Ingenbleek, Mario Steinborn, Markus Ulbricht
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Publication number: 20110144873Abstract: A transmission, such as an automated manual transmission for a motor vehicle, with at least one shift group, such that the shift group or each shift group comprises a shift rail which actuates a shift fork that co-operates with a shift sleeve of the shift group concerned. Associated with the shift rail of the shift group or of each shift group there is a sensor that moves together with the respective shift rail relative to a corresponding measurement receiver such that in the area of at least one shift group, a first relative position between the measurement receiver and the sensor in the actuation direction and a second relative position between the measurement receiver and the sensor perpendicular to the actuation direction of the shift rail concerned can be detected, and from the second relative position, an evaluation device deduces system conditions of the shift group concerned.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2009Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Ulrich Reith, Mario Steinborn
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Publication number: 20110137515Abstract: A method of operating a hydraulic or a pneumatic control device of a semi-automatic transmission. The control device has actuator devices with actuating cylinders. Pressure chambers of the actuating cylinders can each be connected, via a control valve, with a pressure line that can be selectively connected with a main pressure line, or blocked, via redundant and parallel positioned main switching valves. The control device has at least one sensor and at least one measured signal is captured by the at least one sensor, depending on the actuation of the main switching valves. The at least one measured signal or each captured measured signal is compared to a stored nominal signal for the respective actuation of the main switching valves and, if a deviation is determined between the measured signal and the respective nominal signal, a defect of at least one of the main switching valves is concluded.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Mario Steinborn, Alfred Bruhn, Rainer Petzold
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Patent number: 7878084Abstract: A method for determining the position of a shifting element (11), for example of a sliding sleeve in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, with the element actuated by way an actuating element, for example comprising a shifting rod (8) and a shifting fork (10), via an operating element (1). From the actuating pressure and/or the shifting force of the operating element, deformation of the actuating element, for example the shifting rod (8) and/or the shifting fork (10), is determined which result in the position of the shifting element being determined with greater precision.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2007Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Rainer Petzold, Robert Ingenbleek, Mario Steinborn
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Patent number: 7878942Abstract: A method for shifting an automated transmission situated in a drive train of a motor vehicle between an engine and a drive axle and having at least one multi-speed main transmission and a two-speed range change group rear-mounted thereon. The main transmission has at least one counter-shaft with an transmission brake. A clutch engages the prime mover and the main transmission and the range change group is shifted via unsynchronized dog clutches, which are combined in pairs in a common shift set having two shift positions and one neutral position such that during a range change gearshift, both in the main transmission and in the range change group, a change between two ratio stages occurs. A range change up-shift and down-shift each include active synchronization of the dog clutch by way of the transmission brake and of the separating clutch.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Josef Bader, Andreas Graf, Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Thomas Hafen
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Publication number: 20110021313Abstract: A method for operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having in the force flow direction and in the following order an internal combustion engine, a clutch, an electric motor, a transmission and an axle gearset, or an internal combustion engine, a clutch, an electric motor, a transmission input shaft, a transmission and an axle gearset. The electric motor is used for pre-lubricating and warming the transmission such that, with the vehicle clutch disengaged, the lubricant pump of the transmission is driven by the electric motor so bearings are supplied with lubricant before the engine is started, and the heat, produced by splashing the lubricant, additionally warms the transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2010Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Mario STEINBORN, Ulrich REITH
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Patent number: 7846061Abstract: A method for operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having in the force flow direction and in the following order an internal combustion engine, a clutch, an electric motor, a transmission and an axle gearset, or an internal combustion engine, a clutch, an electric motor, a transmission input shaft, a transmission and an axle gearset. The electric motor is used for pre-lubricating and warming the transmission such that, with the vehicle clutch disengaged, the lubricant pump of the transmission is driven by the electric motor so bearings are supplied with lubricant before the engine is started, and the heat, produced by splashing the lubricant, additionally warms the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2006Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Mario Steinborn, Ulrich Reith
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Patent number: 7833127Abstract: A method for controlling or regulating a clutch torque of a startup clutch of a motor vehicle, which first of all reliably prevents an unintentional rolling of the motor vehicle down a gradient and second enables a comfortable maneuvering mode, which requires no separate actuation of an operating element for activating a maneuvering mode, and also enables a precisely dosed speed definition during maneuvering on gradients, wherein the adjusted speed is substantially independent from the gradient of the ground and the motor vehicle load. A startup and maneuvering control device is provided according to the invention, which reads in driving resistance data, determines therefrom a driving resistance value, and determines a base value of the clutch torque of the automated startup clutch in dependence thereof, which is adjusted in dependence upon the accelerator pedal.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Rainer Petzold, Mario Steinborn, Peter Herter, Franz Bitzer
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Publication number: 20100285922Abstract: A method of operating a drivetrain of a vehicle comprising an engine, a clutch and a transmission comprising a claw-shifted main transmission and a synchronized upstream and/or downstream group, such that shifting from a current gear to a target gear is accomplished by actuating one of the synchronized upstream or downstream group and without actuating the engaged clutch and the claw-shifted main transmission. The method includes reducing engine torque and, when the engine torque is less than or equal to a limit value, the synchronized upstream or downstream group is actuated to disengage the currant gear. Then, when the engine torque is approximately zero, the synchronized downstream or upstream group is disengaged and held in neutral, and the speed of the engine is then adjusted to a target speed. The synchronized upstream or downstream group is actuated to engage the target gear and upon engagement the engine torque is increased.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2008Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Jochen Breuer, Mario Steinborn
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Publication number: 20100285921Abstract: A method of operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain comprises a transmission arranged between a drive assembly and an axle drive, such that an input shaft of the transmission is connected, via a controllable separator clutch, to the drive assembly and an output shaft of the transmission is connected to the axle drive, and such that the transmission comprises at least one shifting element formed as a claw clutch. To reduce the probability that a tooth-on-tooth position may occur in a shifting element formed as a claw clutch, a torque is applied thereto by at least one transmission-internal assembly and/or at least one transmission-external assembly so that a speed difference at the claw clutch approaches a predetermined nominal value, and engagement of the claw clutch is only started when the speed difference of the claw clutch reaches the nominal value.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2010Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Jochen Breuer, Josef Bader, Andreas Graf, Thomas Hafen
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Patent number: 7814806Abstract: A method and apparatus for cycling a neutral switch of an automated mechanical transmission includes software which, either independently or by operator command through a shift actuator having side-to-side motion capability and sensors, controls a select piston and cylinder assembly to provide shift rail motion along a transverse axis of the transmission which simulates operator commanded motion of a shift rail of a conventional (manual) transmission as the operator checks for neutral. Such activity may release a malfunctioning neutral switch thereby providing a proper neutral indication to associated transmission and engine components to, for example, permit starting of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: James H. DeVore, Rudolf Kalthoff, Rupert Kramer, Ronald Muetzel, Robert Sayman, Mario Steinborn
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Patent number: 7814750Abstract: A device for supplying pressure from an energy storage device to a piston gear shifting actuator by way of a valve device is provided. A pressure regulating and/or control device is used to regulate and/or control the pressure applied to the piston actuator. The pressure regulating and/or control device regulates and/or controls the pressure according to at least one following quantity: temperature, in particular a transmission operating temperature, the load state of the motor vehicle provided with the transmission, and the slope of a surface along which the motor vehicle provided with the transmission runs.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignees: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahzeuge GmbH, ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Markus Deeg, Friedbert Roether, Mario Steinborn, Rainer Petzold
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Patent number: 7801655Abstract: A signal processing system with rapid signal processing, for example for controlling the transmission of a motor vehicle, with an input module that calls for a desired reaction by emitting a request signal, a signal processing module, and a target module that implements the desired reaction, which, to accelerate processing, provides that several steps are carried out in parallel, such that the said signal processing module comprises a check module and a clock module each of which receives the request signal, the signal processing module also comprises an actuator module acting between the input module and the clock module, the clock module is connected to the output of the check module, and the actuator module is connected to the target module for transmitting the output signal of the signal processing module.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2006Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Rainer Bürker, Mario Steinborn
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Patent number: 7771315Abstract: A method for the control of an automatic transmission during a change of ratio procedure, wherein the synchronous speed of rotation (SD) for the new transmission gear-stage lies under the no-load speed of rotation (LD) of a drive motor which can be connected to the transmission and wherein a gear-stage engagement actuator for the engagement of a new transmission gear-stage is then activated, when the transmission input speed of rotation (GED) has reached a predetermined speed of rotation window (F), which window also encompasses the synchronous speed of rotation (SD). In order to make such a shifting method more comfortable than previously, the invented method deviates from that procedure based on downshifting, which has been customary up to this time and rather proceeds in a upshifting mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2005Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Rupert Kramer, Mario Steinborn