Patents by Inventor Matthias Gercke
Matthias Gercke 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: 9555683Abstract: A four-point link for the suspension of a rigid axle which has four bearing seats. Two bearing seats can be articulated on the axle and two can be articulated on the vehicle frame. The link has a single-piece link body which is inscribed by the trapezoid formed by the bearing seats. The link body is formed of a fiber-composite arrangement that comprises at least one longitudinal fiber arrangement. The longitudinal fiber arrangement encases the bearing seat, at least along half circumference thereof and extends along at least a portion of the link body in order to optimize loading, reduce mass and increase its application. Torsional compliance makes it possible to use relatively small and/or hard rubber bearings for articulating the four-point link or the vehicle axle.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2012Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Jens Eismann, Matthias Quaing, Eike Helm, Holger Bublies, Matthias Gercke, Thomas Eifflaender, Daniel Wolf, Markus Steffens, Frank Anna
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Publication number: 20150158361Abstract: A four-point link for the suspension of a rigid axle which has four bearing seats. Two bearing seats can be articulated on the axle and two can be articulated on the vehicle frame. The link has a single-piece link body which is inscribed by the trapezoid formed by the bearing seats. The link body is formed of a fiber-composite arrangement that comprises at least one longitudinal fiber arrangement. The longitudinal fiber arrangement encases the bearing seat, at least along half circumference thereof and extends along at least a portion of the link body in order to optimize loading, reduce mass and increase its application. Torsional compliance makes it possible to use relatively small and/or hard rubber bearings for articulating the four-point link or the vehicle axle.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2012Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Jens Eismann, Matthias Quaing, Eike Helm, Holger Bublies, Matthias Gercke
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Patent number: 7744103Abstract: A junction connection is provided that is used to connect a torque transmitting junction component (2) to a hollow shaft (1). The junction component (2) includes a continuous recess which has a shape which corresponds to the outer cross-section of the hollow shaft (1) and which is used to receive the hollow shaft (1). The hollow shaft (1) includes a press stopper (8) in the connection area between the hollow shaft (1) and the junction component (2). The press stopper (8) forms, at least sectionally, a press fit with the wall of the hollow shaft (1). The junction connection enables the transmission of comparatively high torque during the entire service life thereof. The junction connection is also compatible with thin-walled, light-weight hollow shafts. The junction connection limits production costs, mounting and maintenance.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2006Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Matthias Gercke, Jens Eismann, Franz-Josef Marquardt
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Publication number: 20090080967Abstract: Joint or bearing arrangement (1) with a trunnion (2), the head (3) of which is moveable in relation to an accommodating joint socket (4), wherein the joint socket (4) is located in an accommodating cavity acting as a housing (5) when assembled and is moveable axially in relation to the latter, formed so that the joint socket (4) has a reinforcement (9) inhibiting its axial deformation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2008Publication date: March 26, 2009Inventor: Matthias Gercke
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Publication number: 20080309042Abstract: A process is provided for mounting a joint arrangement, especially for a driven axle of a motor vehicle, as well as, furthermore, to a joint arrangement, especially for a motor vehicle axle. The joint arrangement has a joint fork (1), which can be arranged in the area of a vehicle axle, and a steering knuckle (2), which carries the wheel bearing (3) and is pivotable in relation to the joint fork (1) by two mounting points (4, 5). One of the mounting points is designed as a fixed bearing (4) and the other mounting point is designed as a movable bearing (5) with an outer ring element (8) and an inner ring element (9), wherein the movable bearing (5) has an axial degree of freedom as well as an additional pivot angle degree of freedom. The mounting process provides that the joint fork (1) and the steering knuckle (2) can be designed as one-piece components thanks to a bolt (20) and a space-maintaining auxiliary mounting element (18).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2006Publication date: December 18, 2008Inventors: Matthias Gercke, Holger Klanke, Michael Mühl, Björn Spaggiari
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Publication number: 20080268965Abstract: A junction connection is provided that is used to connect a torque transmitting junction component (2) to a hollow shaft (1). The junction component (2) includes a continuous recess which has a shape which corresponds to the outer cross-section of the hollow shaft (1) and which is used to receive the hollow shaft (1). The hollow shaft (1) includes a press stopper (8) in the connection area between the hollow shaft (1) and the junction component (2). The press stopper (8) forms, at least sectionally, a press fit with the wall of the hollow shaft (1). The junction connection enables the transmission of comparatively high torque during the entire service life thereof. The junction connection is also compatible with thin-walled, light-weight hollow shafts. The junction connection limits production costs, mounting and maintenance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2006Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Matthias Gercke, Jens Eismann, Franz-Josef Arquardt
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Publication number: 20070096419Abstract: A joint arrangement is provided for a wheel guide, especially for a driven, steerable axle of a motor vehicle. The joint arrangement includes a joint fork (1), which can be arranged at a vehicle axle or at a wheel carrier, and a steering knuckle (2), which carries the wheel bearing (3), wherein the joint fork (1) and the steering knuckle (2) are pivotably connected to one another via two mounting points (4), (5). At least one of the two mounting points (4), (5) of the joint arrangement has a toroidal roller bearing. Especially the wheel guiding and the axle geometry of driven, steered axles is improved with the present invention. While the mounting properties are improved, both the design effort for the wheel suspension and the space needed for the installation of the joint arrangement can thus be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2005Publication date: May 3, 2007Inventors: Matthias Gercke, Michael Muhl
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Patent number: 7073970Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint for a motor vehicle, especially for a rocker pendulum of a motor vehicle, is provided with a housing (1), which is open on at least one side and into the interior space (2) of which a bearing shell (3) is inserted, which in turn accommodates a joint ball (4) of a ball pivot (5) in a slidingly movable manner. The interior space (2) has elevations and/or depressions (7) along its inner jacket surface (6) or a polygonal cross section, so that the bearing shell (3), which is provided with an oversize in relation to the inner jacket surface (6), can be inserted into the housing (1) in a positive-locking manner while its outer surface undergoes a partial plastic deformation. The inner jacket surface (6) may have pressure zones (19) which shorten the effective length of the elevations and/or depressions (7).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Matthias Gercke, Christian Maassmann, Jean-Paul Castanet, Jürgen Gräber, Thomas Catterfeld
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Patent number: 7037023Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint, especially a wheel guide joint for motor vehicles is provided with a housing (1), in the cavity (2) of which, which is open on at least one side, a bearing shell (3) is inserted with a joint ball (4) mounted therein. The bearing shell (3) forms a assembly unit (3,4) together with the joint ball (4) accommodated therein. The assembly unit is displaceable in the cavity (2) along a axis (6). A first collar (7) and a second collar (8), between which a limited free path (5) of the displaceable assembly unit (3, 4) is defined, form end stops in the cavity (2) of the housing (1). The bearing shell (3) is a accomodated in the cavity (2) under a slight radial pretension and at least one compensating element (15) is arranged between the bearing shell (3) and the inner surface of the cavity (2).Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2001Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Andreas Mönninghoff, Martin Wellerding, Martin Rechtien, Olaf Abels, Matthias Gercke
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Patent number: 7001076Abstract: A housing for receiving a bearing component is presented, which has a shaft projection, which can be inserted into the recess of the end area of a hollow section and can be pressed together with the end area, wherein the shaft projection is provided with a groove profile, in which the groove profile is prepared by a deformation process or an original shaping process. Notch effect and consequently a weakening of the cross section on the highly stressed shaft projection is avoided by the said processes. The present invention pertains, moreover, to such a groove profile located at a shaft projection of a housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Wilfried Lustig, Matthias Gercke, Franz-Josef Marquardt, Sören Knopp, Ralf Kunze
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Publication number: 20040180567Abstract: A housing for receiving a bearing component is presented, which has a shaft projection, which can be inserted into the recess of the end area of a hollow section and can be pressed together with the end area, wherein the shaft projection is provided with a groove profile, in which the groove profile is prepared by a deformation process or an original shaping process. Notch effect and consequently a weakening of the cross section on the highly stressed shaft projection is avoided by the said processes. The present invention pertains, moreover, to such a groove profile located at a shaft projection of a housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2004Publication date: September 16, 2004Inventors: Wilfried Lustig, Matthias Gercke, Franz-Josef Marquardt, Soren Knopp, Ralf Kunze
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Publication number: 20040105722Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint for a motor vehicle, especially for a rocker pendulum of a motor vehicle, is provided with a housing (1), which is open on at least one side and into the interior space (2) of which a bearing shell (3) is inserted, which in turn accommodates a joint ball (4) of a ball pivot (5) in a slidingly movable manner. The interior space (2) has elevations and/or depressions (7) along its inner jacket surface (6) or a polygonal cross section, so that the bearing shell (3), which is provided with an oversize in relation to the inner jacket surface (6), can be inserted into the housing (1) in a positive-locking manner while its outer surface undergoes a partial plastic deformation. The inner jacket surface (6) may have pressure zones (19) which shorten the effective length of the elevations and/or depressions (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Matthias Gercke, Christian Maassmann, Jean-Paul Castanet, Jurgen Graber, Thomas Catterfeld
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Publication number: 20020192016Abstract: The invention relates to a ball joint, especially a wheel guidance joint for motor vehicles. Said ball joint comprises a housing (1) with a cavity (2) that is open to at least one side. A bearing shell (3) that accommodates a ball (4) is inserted in said cavity. The bearing shell (3) can be displaced, together with the ball (4) that it receives, in the cavity (2) along an axis (6). A first shoulder (7) and a second shoulder (8) define end stops in the cavity (2) of the housing (1), a limited free trajectory (5) of the displaceable bearing shell (3) being defined between said two stops. The inventive joint is further characterized in that the bearing shell (3) is mounted in the cavity (2) under the effect of a gentle radial pretension. At least one compensating element (15) is arranged between the outer surface of the bearing shell (3) and the inner surface of the cavity (2).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Andreas Monninghoff, Martin Wellerding, Martin Rechtien, Olaf Abels, Matthias Gercke