Patents by Inventor Michael Johannes Frantzen
Michael Johannes Frantzen 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: 9145039Abstract: The invention concerns a device for a vehicle, for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure, which at one end has a first means for pivoting on a sprung mass (2) of the vehicle and at the other end a second means for pivoting on an unsprung mass (3) of the vehicle, a vibration damper (4) damping a relative movement of the sprung mass and unsprung masses (2, 3), and a self-pumping air spring (5) which supports the sprung and unsprung masses (2, 3) against each other in a sprung fashion. The vibration damper (4) according to the invention has a damping characteristic which is adjustable during operation, preferably steplessly adjustable. The invention also concerns a method for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure by means of such a device.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Matthias Dehmel, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Michael Seemann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
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Patent number: 9079469Abstract: A vehicle suspension apparatus includes various elements, such as a self-pumping air spring and damper unit operating with compressed air for height adjustment of a vehicle body relative to a wheel suspension of a vehicle. The apparatus further includes at least one spring space filled with compressed air, which is at least partially bounded by at least one movable wall and a damper cylinder, which can be connected to the spring space for fluid transmission by at least one connecting valve. The damper cylinder includes a working space divided by a piston, which moves inside the working space, and fluidly connected by a throttle valve. The connecting valve and the throttle valve are each switchable valves, and one of the working spaces of the damper cylinder can be vented to the surrounding atmosphere via at least one switchable vent valve.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Matthias Dehmel, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Michael Seemann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
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Publication number: 20140070467Abstract: The invention concerns a device for a vehicle, for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure, which at one end has a first means for pivoting on a sprung mass (2) of the vehicle and at the other end a second means for pivoting on an unsprung mass (3) of the vehicle, a vibration damper (4) damping a relative movement of the sprung mass and unsprung masses (2, 3), and a self-pumping air spring (5) which supports the sprung and unsprung masses (2, 3) against each other in a sprung fashion. The vibration damper (4) according to the invention has a damping characteristic which is adjustable during operation, preferably steplessly adjustable. The invention also concerns a method for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure by means of such a device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Matthias Dehmel, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Michael Seemann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
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Publication number: 20140049013Abstract: A vehicle suspension apparatus includes various elements, such as a self-pumping air spring and damper unit operating with compressed air for height adjustment of a vehicle body relative to a wheel suspension of a vehicle. The apparatus further at least one spring space filled with compressed air, which is at least partially bounded by at least one movable wall and a damper cylinder, which can be connected to the spring space (8) for fluid transmission by at least one connecting valve. The damper cylinder includes a working space divided by a piston, which moves inside the working space, and fluidly connected by a throttle valve. The connecting valve and the throttle valve are each switchable valves, and one of the working spaces of the damper cylinder can be vented to the surrounding atmosphere via at least one switchable vent valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Inventors: Mathias Dehmel, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Michael Seemann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
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Patent number: 8651504Abstract: The invention relates to a transverse link (1) having a main body (2), which has at least one first fixing region (3) for pivotal attachment to a vehicle frame element and at least one further fixing region (6) for pivotal attachment to a hub carrier, the main body (2) having at least one wheel limb (8). In order largely to avoid destruction of the journal connection of the transverse link to a hub carrier if the wheel hits a curbstone, for example, the proposal is to provide a transitional region (19), which is arranged between the wheel limb (8) and the further fixing region (6), the transitional region (19) being embodied in such a way that a deformation zone (21) acting in the longitudinal direction (Y) of the wheel limb (8) is formed.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2009Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbHInventors: Thomas Gerhards, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Marc Simon, Wolfgang David, Martina Beyer, Karsten Sander, Frank Scheper, Karsten Klostermeier, Jens Wohlers
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Patent number: 8474845Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension having a shock absorber (1) with a piston rod (2) and a spring element (7), the spring element (7) being mounted between a lower spring retaining plate (4) and an upper spring retaining plate (6) and the head of the shock absorber (1) being fastened to a vehicle body (8). An intermediate element system (9, 11, 12; 9, 26) is arranged and embodied between the upper spring retaining plate (6) and the vehicle body (8) in such a manner that a compensating moment (23) is generated during final installation of the shock absorber (1) on the vehicle body (8).Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rainer Souschek, Wolfgang David, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Edmund Halfmann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
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Publication number: 20120091681Abstract: The invention relates to a transverse link (1) having a main body (2), which has at least one first fixing region (4) pivotal attachment to a vehicle frame element, the first fixing region (4) having a journal (9), which is surrounded by a bearing bush (23). The proposal is to arrange in the region of the first fixing region (4) a stop region (19), which is interrupted when viewed in the circumferential direction, resulting in the formation of diametrically opposite thickened portions (21, 22), which are arranged between the main body (2) and the first fixing region (4) and are embodied in such a way that only forces acting in the lateral and vertical directions are absorbed when the main body (2) is twisted out of the neutral position thereof, about a vertical axis (Y) of a second fixing region (3), and the respective thickened portion (21, 22) strikes against corresponding stop elements (27, 28) of the bearing bush (23) by means of the respective stop surface (24, 26) thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Inventors: Thomas Gerhards, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Marc Simon, Wolfgang David, Martina Beyer, Karsten Sander, Frank Scheper, Karsten Klostermeier, Jens Wohlers, Andreas Rodenberg
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Publication number: 20110272911Abstract: The invention relates to a transverse link (1) having a main body (2), which has at least one first fixing region (3) for pivotal attachment to a vehicle frame element and at least one further fixing region (6) for pivotal attachment to a hub carrier, the main body (2) having at least one wheel limb (8). In order largely to avoid destruction of the journal connection of the transverse link to a hub carrier if the wheel hits a curbstone, for example, the proposal is to provide a transitional region (19), which is arranged between the wheel limb (8) and the further fixing region (6), the transitional region (19) being embodied in such a way that a deformation zone (21) acting in the longitudinal direction (Y) of the wheel limb (8) is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2009Publication date: November 10, 2011Inventors: Thomas Gerhards, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Marc Simon, Wolfgang David, Martina Beyer, Karsten Sander, Frank Scheper, Karsten Klostermeier, Jens Wohlers
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Publication number: 20110127747Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension having a shock absorber (1) with a piston rod (2) and a spring element (7), the spring element (7) being mounted between a lower spring retaining plate (4) and an upper spring retaining plate (6) and the head of the shock absorber (1) being fastened to a vehicle body (8). An intermediate element system (9, 11, 12; 9, 26) is arranged and embodied between the upper spring retaining plate (6) and the vehicle body (8) in such a manner that a compensating moment (23) is generated during final installation of the shock absorber (1) on the vehicle body (8).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2010Publication date: June 2, 2011Inventors: Rainer Souschek, Wolfgang David, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Edmund Halfmann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
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Patent number: 6935026Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel bearing assembly for motor vehicles with a bearing provided with an inner ring and an outer ring, the bearing being fitted with its outer ring into a bearing casing and the outer ring being mechanically supported in axial direction on a first side by a supporting surface provided on the bearing casing. Discrete and preferably evenly arranged stop protrusions are formed on the inner circumference of the bearing casing, the outer ring abutting thereon in axial direction on its second side, and the stop protrusions being formed by locally plastic forming the bearing casing.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2002Date of Patent: August 30, 2005Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael Johannes Frantzen
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Publication number: 20030234504Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension for a motor vehicle, the steering knuckle (1) being mounted on a carrier (3) in such a way that it can rotate about a vertical axis (6). In this arrangement, the vertical axis (6) passes approximately through the center (Z) of the wheel. The carrier (3) is furthermore coupled at its lower end to the body or to a subframe, preferably via a link (8). Instead of the steering knuckle (1) it is also possible for a spindle to be mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis through the wheel center.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2002Publication date: December 25, 2003Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael Johannes Frantzen
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Publication number: 20030115755Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel bearing assembly for motor vehicles with a bearing provided with an inner ring and an outer ring, the bearing being fitted with its outer ring into a bearing casing and the outer ring being mechanically supported in axial direction on a first side by a supporting surface provided on the bearing casing. Discrete and preferably evenly arranged stop protrusions are formed on the inner circumference of the bearing casing, the outer ring abutting thereon in axial direction on its second side, and the stop protrusions being formed by locally plastic forming the bearing casing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventor: Michael Johannes Frantzen