Patents by Inventor Markus Lingemann

Markus Lingemann 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: 11814111
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for pressing a rack onto a pinion, with a pressure piece. The pressure piece being arranged within a housing and to be displaceable in an axial direction of a center longitudinal axis. A bearing element is fixed on the housing in the axial direction with respect to the center longitudinal axis. A prestressing element acts in the axial direction. The pressure piece is loaded by the prestressing element which is arranged between the pressure piece and the bearing element with a prestressing force in the axial direction with respect to the center longitudinal axis and directed away from the bearing element. An adjusting ring which is arranged between the bearing element and the pressure piece. At least two inclined faces of the adjusting ring and an adjusting section bear against one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Patent number: 11591006
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering apparatus for a vehicle having an impact absorption device for absorbing an impact force introduced via a steering wheel. The steering apparatus has a fastening device for fastening to a vehicle carrier or a vehicle body. The fastening device has a bracket for holding a steering column. The bracket has at least one connecting portion for connecting to the fastening device by a fastening element. At least one target breaking portion is designed to break starting from a predetermined impact force. In order to simplify the construction and/or to be able to realize production more economically, the bracket has and/or forms the target breaking portion, with the connecting portion being separated from the bracket after breaking the target breaking portion and remaining on the fastening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Publication number: 20230023891
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for pressing a rack onto a pinion, with a pressure piece. The pressure piece being arranged within a housing and to be displaceable in an axial direction of a center longitudinal axis. A bearing element is fixed on the housing in the axial direction with respect to the center longitudinal axis. A prestressing element acts in the axial direction. The pressure piece is loaded by the prestressing element which is arranged between the pressure piece and the bearing element with a prestressing force in the axial direction with respect to the center longitudinal axis and directed away from the bearing element. An adjusting ring which is arranged between the bearing element and the pressure piece. At least two inclined faces of the adjusting ring and an adjusting section bear against one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Patent number: 11346420
    Abstract: An energy absorption device for a vehicle steering column comprising a metal band and an adjustable deformation unit through which the metal band extends. The deformation unit is a rotatable hollow roller having a first contact surface inside the hollow roller that is separated from an outer contact surface by an outlet slot. The metal band passes through an inlet slot into the interior of the roller, and then through the outlet slot leaves the roller, in a manner that that said metal band is entirely deformed along an S-shaped curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Patent number: 11260895
    Abstract: A locking device for an adjustable steering column assembly of a motor vehicle is described, comprising an operating unit which has at least one closed and one open position, a control element coupled to the operating unit, and at least one eccentric part which is actuated by the control element. A retaining part is provided, which interacts with the eccentric part in the closed position, wherein a locking portion of the eccentric part engages on an engaging portion of the retaining part in the closed position. The eccentric part has a force transmission portion which is substantially opposite to the locking portion, wherein the force transmission portion in the closed position rests against a support surface lying substantially opposite to the engaging portion. Furthermore, a steering column assembly is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Publication number: 20220017139
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering apparatus for a vehicle having an impact absorption device for absorbing an impact force introduced via a steering wheel. The steering apparatus has a fastening device for fastening to a vehicle carrier or a vehicle body. The fastening device has a bracket for holding a steering column. The bracket has at least one connecting portion for connecting to the fastening device by a fastening element. At least one target breaking portion is designed to break starting from a predetermined impact force. In order to simplify the construction and/or to be able to realize production more economically, the bracket has and/or forms the target breaking portion, with the connecting portion being separated from the bracket after breaking the target breaking portion and remaining on the fastening device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Patent number: 11110953
    Abstract: A locking device is presented for an adjustable steering column assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising an actuating element and a damping device. The damping device has a first damping element and a second damping element, wherein the first damping element is attached to the actuating element and the second damping element is attached to a frame part, wherein the first and/or second damping element relative to the other damping element are rotatably mounted. The first and the second damping element each have a coupling section, wherein the coupling sections are engaged at least over a partial section of a movement of the actuating element, and wherein a relative rotation between the two damping elements is damped by deformation of the first and/or second damping element and/or by friction, at least over a partial section of a movement of the actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Lingemann, Marcus Zimpel
  • Publication number: 20200406951
    Abstract: A locking device is presented for an adjustable steering column assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising an actuating element and a damping device. The damping device has a first damping element and a second damping element, wherein the first damping element is attached to the actuating element and the second damping element is attached to a frame part, wherein the first and/or second damping element relative to the other damping element are rotatably mounted. The first and the second damping element each have a coupling section, wherein the coupling sections are engaged at least over a partial section of a movement of the actuating element, and wherein a relative rotation between the two damping elements is damped by deformation of the first and/or second damping element and/or by friction, at least over a partial section of a movement of the actuating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Lingemann, Marcus Zimpel
  • Patent number: 10807631
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, having a console unit which is vehicle-fixed or articulated to the vehicle, a steering shaft bearing unit which is arranged in the console unit and is axially displaceable relative to the console unit, and a mechanism mounted to the console unit and provided for adjusting and fixing in place the axial length of the steering column. This mechanism, when in an open condition, enables an axial relative displacement between the console unit and the steering shaft bearing unit, and, when in a locked condition, it axially fixes the steering shaft bearing unit in place at the console unit. The steering column further has an energy absorbing unit which, in the locked condition of the mechanism for adjusting the axial length of the steering column, allows an axial displacement of the steering shaft bearing unit relative to the console unit, accompanied by an absorption of energy, the energy absorbing unit being mounted to the console unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH, ZF Automotive UK Limited
    Inventors: Markus Lingemann, Guido Liesenfeld, Petr Masinsky
  • Publication number: 20200223472
    Abstract: A locking device for an adjustable steering column assembly of a motor vehicle is described, comprising an operating unit which has at least one closed and one open position, a control element coupled to the operating unit, and at least one eccentric part which is actuated by the control element. A retaining part is provided, which interacts with the eccentric part in the closed position, wherein a locking portion of the eccentric part engages on an engaging portion of the retaining part in the closed position. The eccentric part has a force transmission portion which is substantially opposite to the locking portion, wherein the force transmission portion in the closed position rests against a support surface lying substantially opposite to the engaging portion. Furthermore, a steering column assembly is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Patent number: 10654513
    Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud having an outer shroud portion and an inner shroud portion, a clamp rail fixed to an upper face of the inner shroud portion including a slot, a clamp bolt that extends perpendicular to the shroud, a rocker comprising a body from which extends a lever arm, the body having an opening through which the clamp bolt passes, the rocker converting a rotation of the clamp bolt about its axis in a first direction into an upward motion of the lever arm and into a downward motion when the clamp bolt is rotated in the opposing second direction, a toothed block having two opposed racks of locking teeth that is connected to a carrier element, the carrier element in turn being connected to the lever of the rocker arm such that movement of the lever arm up and down causes movement of the carrier element up and down between an upper position and a lower position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: TRW Automotive GmbH, TRW Limited
    Inventors: Jan Dite, Niclas Davies, Markus Lingemann
  • Publication number: 20200149606
    Abstract: An energy absorption device for a vehicle steering column comprising a metal band and an adjustable deformation unit through which the metal band extends. The deformation unit is a rotatable hollow roller having a first contact surface inside the hollow roller that is separated from an outer contact surface by an outlet slot. The metal band passes through an inlet slot into the interior of the roller, and then through the outlet slot leaves the roller, in a manner that that said metal band is entirely deformed along an S-shaped curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Publication number: 20190047606
    Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud having an outer shroud portion and an inner shroud portion, a clamp rail fixed to an upper face of the inner shroud portion including a slot, a clamp bolt that extends perpendicular to the shroud, a rocker comprising a body from which extends a lever arm, the body having an opening through which the clamp bolt passes, the rocker converting a rotation of the clamp bolt about its axis in a first direction into an upward motion of the lever arm and into a downward motion when the clamp bolt is rotated in the opposing second direction, a toothed block having two opposed racks of locking teeth that is connected to a carrier element, the carrier element in turn being connected to the lever of the rocker arm such that movement of the lever arm up and down causes movement of the carrier element up and down between an upper position and a lower position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicants: TRW Limited, TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Dite, Niclas Davies, Markus Lingemann
  • Publication number: 20180257695
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, having a console unit which is vehicle-fixed or articulated to the vehicle, a steering shaft bearing unit which is arranged in the console unit and is axially displaceable relative to the console unit, and a mechanism mounted to the console unit and provided for adjusting and fixing in place the axial length of the steering column. This mechanism, when in an open condition, enables an axial relative displacement between the console unit and the steering shaft bearing unit, and, when in a locked condition, it axially fixes the steering shaft bearing unit in place at the console unit. The steering column further has an energy absorbing unit which, in the locked condition of the mechanism for adjusting the axial length of the steering column, allows an axial displacement of the steering shaft bearing unit relative to the console unit, accompanied by an absorption of energy, the energy absorbing unit being mounted to the console unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicants: TRW Automotive GmbH, TRW - DAS A.S.
    Inventors: Markus Lingemann, Guido Liesenfeld, Petr Masinsky
  • Patent number: 9815489
    Abstract: A device for pressing a rack against a pinion, comprises a housing, a thrust piece which is shiftably guided in the housing along a pressing axis, a bearing element which can axially be fixed at the housing, an axially pressurized force introduction member, and wedge members which each support on the thrust piece, on the bearing element and on the force introduction member, wherein at least three wedge members uniformly distributed in circumferential direction are provided, and wherein the force introduction member urges the wedge members radially to the outside and the thrust piece axially away from the bearing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Publication number: 20150166098
    Abstract: A device for pressing a rack against a pinion, comprises a housing, a thrust piece which is shiftably guided in the housing along a pressing axis, a bearing element which can axially be fixed at the housing, an axially pressurized force introduction member, and wedge members which each support on the thrust piece, on the bearing element and on the force introduction member, wherein at least three wedge members uniformly distributed in circumferential direction are provided, and wherein the force introduction member urges the wedge members radially to the outside and the thrust piece axially away from the bearing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Publication number: 20150166097
    Abstract: A device for pressing a rack against a pinion comprises a housing, a thrust piece which is shiftably guided in the housing along a pressing axis, a bearing element which can axially be fixed at the housing, and radially pressurized wedge members which each rest on the thrust piece and on the bearing element and axially urge the thrust piece away from the bearing element. A truncated coned is formed at least on one of the thrust piece on a side facing the bearing element and the bearing element on a side facing the thrust piece. At least three wedge members are provided which are uniformly distributed in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Publication number: 20110214756
    Abstract: The invention relates to a servo valve for a hydraulic vehicle steering system, having a valve sleeve and an input shaft which is arranged within the valve sleeve and can be rotated relative to the valve sleeve about a common axis, the valve sleeve and the input shaft each having axially oriented control grooves positioned at least partially opposite each other, each control groove of the valve sleeve and of the input shaft being connected with two adjacent control grooves of the input shaft and of the valve sleeve, respectively, via a respective control gap, a first control gap being formed between a pressure port and a working port of the servo valve associated with the pressure port, and a second control gap being formed between a return port associated with the pressure port and the working port of the servo valve, the second control gap having a smaller flow cross-section than the first control gap in a center position of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Publication number: 20090217995
    Abstract: A rotary slide valve, in particular for hydraulic power-assisted steering systems in motor vehicles, having a control bush and a rotary slide which is adapted to rotate within the control bush about a common longitudinal axis, the rotary slide and the control bush including a plurality of control edges, of which one control edge each of the control bush forms control gaps with a nearest control edge of the rotary slide, and adjacent control gaps of supply ports for a hydraulic fluid determining a control geometry, is characterized in that the rotary slide valve has at least two different control geometries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann
  • Publication number: 20090084996
    Abstract: A servo valve for a hydraulic power steering system includes a valve shaft that is rotatable about a valve axis, a valve sleeve that cooperates with and may be rotated in relation to the valve shaft, and a closure member for a valve return port. The closure member is movable between a first end position, in which it closes a flow cross-section of the valve return port at least partially, and a second end position, in which it substantially clears the flow cross-section of the valve return port. The closure member is urged towards one of the end positions by the supply pressure applied on a valve supply port by a hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Lingemann