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).

  • Patent number: 9145039
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthias Dehmel, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Michael Seemann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Patent number: 9079469
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthias Dehmel, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Michael Seemann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Publication number: 20140070467
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matthias Dehmel, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Michael Seemann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Publication number: 20140049013
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Mathias Dehmel, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Michael Seemann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Patent number: 8651504
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Gerhards, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Marc Simon, Wolfgang David, Martina Beyer, Karsten Sander, Frank Scheper, Karsten Klostermeier, Jens Wohlers
  • Patent number: 8474845
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Souschek, Wolfgang David, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Edmund Halfmann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Publication number: 20120091681
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas Gerhards, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Marc Simon, Wolfgang David, Martina Beyer, Karsten Sander, Frank Scheper, Karsten Klostermeier, Jens Wohlers, Andreas Rodenberg
  • Publication number: 20110272911
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Gerhards, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Marc Simon, Wolfgang David, Martina Beyer, Karsten Sander, Frank Scheper, Karsten Klostermeier, Jens Wohlers
  • Publication number: 20110127747
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Rainer Souschek, Wolfgang David, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Edmund Halfmann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
  • Patent number: 6935026
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Johannes Frantzen
  • Publication number: 20030234504
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Johannes Frantzen
  • Publication number: 20030115755
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Johannes Frantzen