Patents by Inventor Michael Klank

Michael Klank 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).

  • Publication number: 20080199247
    Abstract: A ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle is provided with a joint housing (2), with a ball pivot (3), which is mounted rotatably and pivotably in same and which is in contact with the joint housing (2) or with a ball shell (7) arranged between this and the ball pivot (5). The ball and socket joint has an angle measuring device (20, 21), by which the angle of the ball pivot (5) relative to the joint housing (2) can be detected. At least two temperature sensors (15, 16) are arranged at spaced locations from one another in or on the joint housing (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank, Jochen Kruse
  • Publication number: 20080193207
    Abstract: A ball and socket joint, for example, for an axle system of a motor vehicle. The ball and socket joint has an essentially ring-shaped or pot-shaped joint housing (1), in the essentially cylindrical interior space of which a ball shell (3) is arranged. The ball (4) of a ball pivot is accommodated in the ball shell (3) in a slidingly movable manner. The ball and socket joint has, furthermore, a sealing bellows (6) as well as a sensor means for monitoring the tightness of the ball and socket joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Jochen Kruse, Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank
  • Publication number: 20080184577
    Abstract: A measuring device is provided for a motor vehicle, with a bracket (1), with a joint (8), which is connected to the bracket (1) and which has a joint housing (20) and a pivot pin (19) mounted movably in same. A component (2) is provided which is connected to the joint (8) and which is mounted pivotably on the bracket (1) via the joint (8). An angle measuring device (17, 18) is provided, by which the angle (?) of the component (2) in relation to the bracket (1) can be determined. An analyzer (23) is connected to the angle measuring device (17, 18) and has a double differentiator (24), which is connected to the angle measuring device (17, 18) and which is followed downstream by a summer or integrator (26) via the intermediary of a calculating unit (25).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank, Klaus Warnken, Alfons Noe, Gunter Godert
  • Publication number: 20080189454
    Abstract: A device for data transmission for a motor vehicle is presented, which has sensors used for generating data. The sensors are arranged on or in chassis components occupying a variable position relative to the body of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the device for data transmission has components or assembly units provided as rigid parts of the body for processing and/or evaluating the data generated in or on the chassis components occupying a variable position and a means for transmitting the data supplied by the sensors to said components, which are arranged as rigid parts of the body. The transmission means is designed according to the present invention as a plastic film web, which is provided with strip conductors and whose strip conductors establish a connection between interfaces provided on the chassis side and on the body side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Felix Haeusler, Michael Klank, Bernd Grannemann, Armin Mueller, Joachim Spratte
  • Publication number: 20080124167
    Abstract: A ball pivot (3) of a ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, with a pivot (2) and with a joint ball (1) connected thereto. A recess (12) with a magnet (13) arranged therein is provided in the ball pivot (13). An intermediate space (17), which is filled with a nonmagnetic material (16) for fixing the magnet (13), is formed between the jacket surface (14) of the magnet (13) and the inner wall (15) of the recess (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Joachim SPRATTE, Michael KLANK
  • Publication number: 20070059091
    Abstract: A ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle has a ball pivot (3), which has a pin (2) and a joint ball (1). The ball pivot (3) is arranged with its joint ball (1) rotatably and pivotably in a recess (4) provided in a housing (5), and extends from this housing (5) through a pin opening (6), and with a sensor, which is a moisture sensor (12) and is in connection with the recess (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank
  • Patent number: 7171330
    Abstract: A rotation and/or tilt angle detection device for a ball and socket joint is provided wherein at least one magnet (2), especially a permanent magnet, is arranged in the joint ball (1a), wherein a display device (4) displays the magnetic field of the at least one magnet (2) by means of the magnetooptic effect. An image detection deice (10) detects the information displayed by the display device (4). A data processing unit (50) calculates the relative position of the joint ball (1a) and the ball socket (3) of the ball and socket joint on the basis of the information detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Jochen Kruse, Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank, Oliver Hagedorn, Horst Dötsch
  • Publication number: 20060228167
    Abstract: A ball pivot (3) of a ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, with a pivot (2) and with a joint ball (1) connected thereto. A recess (12) with a magnet (13) arranged therein is provided in the ball pivot (13). An intermediate space (17), which is filled with a nonmagnetic material (16) for fixing the magnet (13), is formed between the jacket surface (14) of the magnet (13) and the inner wall (15) of the recess (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank
  • Publication number: 20050007225
    Abstract: A rotation and/or tilt angle detection device for a ball and socket joint is provided wherein at least one magnet (2), especially a permanent magnet, is arranged in the joint ball (1a), wherein a display device (4) displays the magnetic field of the at least one magnet (2) by means of the magnetooptic effect. An image detection deice (10) detects the information displayed by the display device (4). A data processing unit (50) calculates the relative position of the joint ball (1a) and the ball socket (3) of the ball and socket joint on the basis of the information detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Jochen Kruse, Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank, Oliver Hagedorn, Horst Dotsch