Patents by Inventor Michael EPPLE

Michael EPPLE 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: 11813938
    Abstract: An auxiliary power take-off assembly in a motor vehicle transmission, which has a torque converter, a transmission input and a transmission output. The auxiliary power take-off assembly includes: an input shaft at the transmission input, and which is permanently connected to a drive motor of the motor vehicle by way of the pump shaft of the torque converter; a transmission output shaft at the transmission output; a transmission chain, which includes an input element and an output element and the output element of which can be connected to an auxiliary assembly to be driven; and a switching element, which is operatively arranged between the input shaft and the input element of the transmission chain, to selectively connect the input shaft to the output element. The output element is arranged on an output shaft, which is mounted in a bearing cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Epple, Michael Trübenbach, Hermann Lanz, Sylva Rother, Mario Holder
  • Patent number: 11738640
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission that includes an input shaft (AN), an output shaft (AB), a power take-off (1) and a first intermediate wall (5). The power take-off (1) has a power take-off gearwheel (1A). The power take-off gearwheel (1A) is arranged coaxially with the input shaft (AN) and is rotatably supported by the first intermediate wall (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Michael Epple
  • Patent number: 11634027
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission including an input shaft (AN), an output shaft (AB), a power take-off (1) and a hydraulic pump (2). The hydraulic pump (2) serves to supply the motor vehicle transmission with hydrodynamic working pressure. The power take-off (1) has a power take-off gearwheel (1A). The power take-off gearwheel (1A) is connected to the hydraulic pump (2) in order drive the hydraulic pump (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Michael Epple
  • Patent number: 11607951
    Abstract: A power take-off device for a motor vehicle has a drive input, two drive outputs and a clutch. The first drive output channels drive torque from the power take-off device to propel the motor vehicle. The second drive output channels drive torque from the power take-off device to an auxiliary unit to drive the auxiliary unit. The clutch selectively couples the drive input to the first and second drive outputs. The clutch has three shift positions. In the first shift position, the drive input is coupled to the first drive output and decoupled from the second drive output. In the second shift position, the drive input is coupled to the second drive output and decoupled from the first drive output. In the third shift position, the drive input is coupled to both the first and second drive outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Epple, Frank Sauter
  • Patent number: 11479116
    Abstract: An auxiliary power take-off assembly in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle provided with a torque converter, having a transmission input and transmission output having a drive shaft at the transmission input that is permanently connected to a drive motor of the motor vehicle via a pump shaft of the torque converter. A transmission output shaft at the transmission output, and a transmission chain includes at least one drive element and one output element. The output element can be connected to an additional unit to be driven. A switch element, which is arranged so as to act between the drive shaft and the drive element of the transmission chain for optionally connecting the drive shaft to the drive element. The drive element and the output element are designed as gearwheels which are engaged with one another without an intermediate wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Epple, Michael Trübenbach, Hermann Lanz, Sylva Rother, Mario Holder
  • Patent number: 11479117
    Abstract: An auxiliary power take-off assembly in a motor vehicle transmission having a torque converter, transmission input and output with a drive shaft on the transmission input. The drive shaft is permanently connected to a drive motor of the vehicle by a pump shaft of the torque converter, a transmission output shaft at the transmission output and a transmission chain having drive input and output elements. A transmission power take-off shaft on the transmission output and a transmission chain having at least a drive element and a power take-off element of which the power take-off element can be connected to an additional unit to be driven, and having a switching element. The power take-off element is arranged on a power take-off shaft and can be connected to the power take-off shaft via the switching element, which is arranged to act between power take-off shaft and the power take-off element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Epple, Matthias Messmer, Frank Sauter, Sylva Rother, Mario Holder
  • Publication number: 20210339625
    Abstract: A power take-off device for a motor vehicle has a drive input, two drive outputs and a clutch. The first drive output channels drive torque from the power take-off device to propel the motor vehicle. The second drive output channels drive torque from the power take-off device to an auxiliary unit to drive the auxiliary unit. The clutch selectively couples the drive input to the first and second drive outputs. The clutch has three shift positions. In the first shift position, the drive input is coupled to the first drive output and decoupled from the second drive output. In the second shift position, the drive input is coupled to the second drive output and decoupled from the first drive output. In the third shift position, the drive input is coupled to both the first and second drive outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Michael EPPLE, Frank SAUTER
  • Publication number: 20210170867
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission including an input shaft (AN), an output shaft (AB), a power take-off (1) and a hydraulic pump (2). The hydraulic pump (2) serves to supply the motor vehicle transmission with hydrodynamic working pressure. The power take-off (1) has a power take-off gearwheel (1A). The power take-off gearwheel (1A) is connected to the hydraulic pump (2) in order drive the hydraulic pump (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: Michael EPPLE
  • Publication number: 20210170866
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission that includes an input shaft (AN), an output shaft (AB), a power take-off (1) and a first intermediate wall (5). The power take-off (1) has a power take-off gearwheel (1A). The power take-off gearwheel (1A) is arranged coaxially with the input shaft (AN) and is rotatably supported by the first intermediate wall (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: Michael EPPLE
  • Publication number: 20210122238
    Abstract: An auxiliary power take-off assembly in a motor vehicle transmission having a torque converter, transmission input and output with a drive shaft on the transmission input. The drive shaft is permanently connected to a drive motor of the vehicle by a pump shaft of the torque converter, a transmission output shaft at the transmission output and a transmission chain having drive input and output elements. A transmission power take-off shaft on the transmission output and a transmission chain having at least a drive element and a power take-off element of which the power take-off element can be connected to an additional unit to be driven, and having a switching element. The power take-off element is arranged on a power take-off shaft and can be connected to the power take-off shaft via the switching element, which is arranged to act between power take-off shaft and the power take-off element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Michael EPPLE, Matthias MESSMER, Frank SAUTER, Sylva ROTHER, Mario HOLDER
  • Publication number: 20210049794
    Abstract: A plurality of 2-dimensional images of the object are obtained at different angular positions relative to a line between a light source and a 2-dimensional image detector, and 3-dimensional image data is reconstructed based on an image reconstruction algorithm which uses, as input, data of the plurality of 2-dimensional images of the object and at least one input parameter. Specifically, the 3-dimensional image data is reconstructed on the basis of a 3-dimensional pseudo-object represented by a stack of a plurality of slices, wherein each slice of the plurality of slices of the pseudo-object is associated with a same base slice of the object. Furthermore, reconstructing 3-dimensional image data includes using, for each slice of the pseudo-object, a different value of the at least one input parameter as input to the image reconstruction algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Andreas FEHRINGER, Michael EPPLE, Marian WILLNER
  • Publication number: 20210046820
    Abstract: An auxiliary power take-off assembly in an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle provided with a torque converter, having a transmission input and transmission output having a drive shaft at the transmission input that is permanently connected to a drive motor of the motor vehicle via a pump shaft of the torque converter. A transmission output shaft at the transmission output, and a transmission chain includes at least one drive element and one output element. The output element can be connected to an additional unit to be driven. A switch element, which is arranged so as to act between the drive shaft and the drive element of the transmission chain for optionally connecting the drive shaft to the drive element. The drive element and the output element are designed as gearwheels which are engaged with one another without an intermediate wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Michael EPPLE, Michael TRÜBENBACH, Hermann LANZ, Sylva ROTHER, Mario HOLDER
  • Publication number: 20210023943
    Abstract: An auxiliary power take-off assembly in a motor vehicle transmission, which has a torque converter, a transmission input and a transmission output. The auxiliary power take-off assembly includes: an input shaft at the transmission input, and which is permanently connected to a drive motor of the motor vehicle by way of the pump shaft of the torque converter; a transmission output shaft at the transmission output; a transmission chain, which includes an input element and an output element and the output element of which can be connected to an auxiliary assembly to be driven; and a switching element, which is operatively arranged between the input shaft and the input element of the transmission chain, to selectively connect the input shaft to the output element. The output element is arranged on an output shaft, which is mounted in a bearing cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Michael EPPLE, Michael TRÜBENBACH, Hermann LANZ, Sylva ROTHER, Mario HOLDER