Patents by Inventor Michael Pantke

Michael Pantke 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: 20220314801
    Abstract: An operating device may have a moving operating element, a housing a magnetorheological elastomer, and a coil. An end of the operating element may be supported in the housing. The magnetorheological elastomer may result in a first operating characteristic for operating the operating element in a resting state and a second operating characteristic for the operation in an activated state. The coil may generate a magnetic field that transfers the magnetorheological elastomer between the resting state and the activated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Fabian Schrader, Michael Pantke, Martin Ruider, Magnus Sprehe, Rainer Haevescher, Artur Neumann, Thorsten Sander, Georg Tenckhoff, Erwin Biegger
  • Publication number: 20220230790
    Abstract: A control element comprises a magnetorheological elastomer or a magnetorheological fluid and at least one drive assembly for generating a variable magnetic field. A variable feel for the user can be generated by means of the drive assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Erwin BIEGGER, Fabian SCHRADER, Michael PANTKE, Georg TENCKHOFF, Joachim BILLER
  • Publication number: 20220223358
    Abstract: A control element comprises an electro-rheological material and at least one driver assembly for generating a variable magnetic field. A variable feel that can be registered by a user can be generated by means of the driver assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Erwin Biegger, Fabian Schrader, Georg Tenckhoff, Michael Pantke, Joachim Biller
  • Patent number: 11075042
    Abstract: An electromagnetic control mechanism for a switching element is described herein, which can be switched to an open operating state and to a closed operating state by means of an electromagnet and an actuating unit that acts counter to the actuation force of the electromagnet. The electromagnet has a dedicated mechanism for dampening the actuation movement of an anchor of the electromagnet toward a section of the coil, by means of which the actuation speed of the anchor can be reduced after a distance between a section of the anchor facing the coil and the section of the coil becomes shorter than a predefined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Thomas Speh, Martin Ruider, Michael Pantke, Thomas Schwegler
  • Publication number: 20200173487
    Abstract: A securing device (1) for a screw (2), including a component (3) having at least one screw opening (4). The screw opening (4) has a first bore (5) and a second bore (6) in which the first bore (5) has a smaller bore diameter and a larger bore depth than the second bore (6). The securing device (1) also has an annular expansion element (7) that can be fitted into the second bore (6) and is designed to expand radially and to press its outer circumference (7?) against an inner circumference of the second bore (6) when the screw (2) is introduced into an annular opening (7?) of the expansion element (7). Also described is a method for securing a screw (2) in a screw opening (4) utilizing the securing device (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Michael PANTKE, Gabriel WAGNER, Florian WEINL, Bernhard WALTER, Alexander BLASER, Michael LINDER
  • Publication number: 20200027674
    Abstract: An electromagnetic control mechanism for a switching element is described herein, which can be switched to an open operating state and to a closed operating state by means of an electromagnet and an actuating unit that acts counter to the actuation force of the electromagnet. The electromagnet has a dedicated mechanism for dampening the actuation movement of an anchor of the electromagnet toward a section of the coil, by means of which the actuation speed of the anchor can be reduced after a distance between a section of the anchor facing the coil and the section of the coil becomes shorter than a predefined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas SPEH, Martin RUIDER, Michael PANTKE, Thomas SCHWEGLER
  • Patent number: 10436259
    Abstract: An axially actuatable positive engagement clutch which includes an input shaft with an input toothing and an output shaft with an output toothing. An axially displaceable connection element can occupy a meshing position which is located in an actuation path (s) between the open position and the closed position and in which the driving toothing engages with the input toothing or the output toothing for the first time during the transition from the open position into the closed position. An actuation device is configured to displace the connection element from the closed position to the open position, and an elastic return element which applies a restoring force to the connection element in direction of the closed position. The return element has a force/deflection characteristic with a local force maximum (F1) which coincides in the actuation path (s) at least approximately with the meshing position of the connection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Martin Ruider, Michael Pantke, Johannes Winkler, Matthias Cudok, Martin Hain, Alexander Markow
  • Patent number: 10190699
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator and a valve having such an actuator. The actuator has a first magnetic coil and a second magnetic coil, as well as at least one permanent magnet and an anchor that can be moved axially by the magnetic coils and the permanent magnet between a first and a second position, on which at least one spring device acts in the axial direction. The first and second magnetic coils as well as the first permanent magnet are disposed axially behind one another thereby, such that the first permanent magnet is disposed coaxially between the first and second magnetic coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus Ulbricht, Michael Pantke, Raphael Baumann
  • Publication number: 20180347641
    Abstract: An axially actuatable positive engagement clutch which includes an input shaft with an input toothing and an output shaft with an output toothing. An axially displaceable connection element can occupy a meshing position which is located in an actuation path (s) between the open position and the closed position and in which the driving toothing engages with the input toothing or the output toothing for the first time during the transition from the open position into the closed position. An actuation device is configured to displace the connection element from the closed position to the open position, and an elastic return element which applies a restoring force to the connection element in direction of the closed position. The return element has a force/deflection characteristic with a local force maximum (F1) which coincides in the actuation path (s) at least approximately with the meshing position of the connection element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Martin RUIDER, Michael PANTKE, Johannes WINKLER, Matthias CUDOK, Martin HAIN, Alexander MARKOW
  • Publication number: 20170254438
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuator and a valve having such an actuator. The actuator has a first magnetic coil and a second magnetic coil, as well as at least one permanent magnet and an anchor that can be moved axially by the magnetic coils and the permanent magnet between a first and a second position, on which at least one spring device acts in the axial direction. The first and second magnetic coils as well as the first permanent magnet are disposed axially behind one another thereby, such that the first permanent magnet is disposed coaxially between the first and second magnetic coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus ULBRICHT, Michael PANTKE, Raphael BAUMANN
  • Publication number: 20170248249
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically operable valve with an electrical coil and with several spring tongues, which are movable by means of a magnetic field generated by the coil between a first switch position and a second switch position each and with several first valve openings, which are opened when the spring tongues are in the first switch position and which are closed by means of the spring tongues when the spring tongues are in the second switch position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Lothar Kiltz, Michael Pantke
  • Patent number: 9337766
    Abstract: A method of activating an electromagnetic actuator having at least one coil and a movable armature. The method includes the step in which the electromagnetic actuator is demagnetized by passing a sequence of electric current pulses with a current flow direction which alternates from one current pulse to the next and with a current size which decreases from one current pulse to the next, through the at least one coil, in order to reduce or eliminate any residual magnetic flux density in the electromagnetic actuator. The method also includes a step in which a position of the movable armature is determined, after the demagnetization step, by passing a measurement current pulse through the at least one coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Florian Weinl, Michael Pantke
  • Publication number: 20150354991
    Abstract: A cod arrangement, in particular for a position sensor, has a first coil (1) and a second coil (2) which are electrically connected to one another and disposed substantially coaxially relative to one another. The first coil (1) has a winding density that increases in the longitudinal direction (X) of the coil arrangement, and the second coil (2) has a winding density that decreases in the longitudinal direction (X) of the coil arrangement. In addition, the invention relates to a position sensor having such a coil arrangement and a production method for such a coil arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Alexander GRAF, Florian WEINL, Michael PANTKE
  • Patent number: 8964348
    Abstract: An actuator device (6) with an electromagnetic actuator (3) which has first and second magnet coils (4, 5) and a shift element (3) which can be linearly shifted, between three stable positions, by the first and the second magnet coils (4, 5). The actuator device (6) has a shifting bridge (9), with three bridge branches (B1, B2, B3) connected in parallel, for controlling the magnet coils (4, 5). Each bridge branch (B1, B2, B3) has two switches (S1 . . . S6) connected in series. One of the first and the second magnet coils (4, 5) is connected in each of the two bridge diagonals (D1, D2). In addition, a method for the control of the magnet coils (4, 5) of an electromagnetic actuator (2) of the actuator device (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Michael Pantke
  • Publication number: 20140203753
    Abstract: A method of activating an electromagnetic actuator having at least one coil and a movable armature. The method includes the step in which the electromagnetic actuator is demagnetized by passing a sequence of electric current pulses with a current flow direction which alternates from one current pulse to the next and with a current size which decreases from one current pulse to the next, through the at least one coil, in order to reduce or eliminate any residual magnetic flux density in the electromagnetic actuator. The method also includes a step in which a position of the movable armature is determined, after the demagnetization step, by passing a measurement current pulse through the at least one coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Florian Weinl, Michael Pantke
  • Publication number: 20130201590
    Abstract: An actuator device (6) with an electromagnetic actuator (3) which has first and second magnet coils (4, 5) and a shift element (3) which can be linearly shifted, between three stable positions, by the first and the second magnet coils (4, 5). The actuator device (6) has a shifting bridge (9), with three bridge branches (B1, B2, B3) connected in parallel, for controlling the magnet coils (4, 5). Each bridge branch (B1, B2, B3) has two switches (S1 . . . S6) connected in series. One of the first and the second magnet coils (4, 5) is connected in each of the two bridge diagonals (D1, D2). In addition, a method for the control of the magnet coils (4, 5) of an electromagnetic actuator (2) of the actuator device (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Michael Pantke
  • Patent number: 8482299
    Abstract: A method of detecting the position of the armature (3) of an electromagnetic actuator arranged and able to move between first and second coils (1, 2), in which a voltage jump (UB) is applied to the first and the second coils (1, 2) of the actuator connected in series. The first and the second coils (1, 2) form a voltage divider in accordance with the impedance coil principle. The voltage (U1) of the first coil (1) and the voltage (U2) of the second coil (2) are measured and, from the measurement data for the voltages at the first and the second coils (1, 2), the quotient of the difference (?U) between the two voltage values and the voltage jump (UB), normalized in relation to the size of the voltage jump (UB) is calculated, and a specific armature stroke is correlated one-to-one with each value of the quotient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Pantke, Jorg Kurth
  • Patent number: 8384501
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator (1) with an armature (3) mounted so that the armature can be moved by virtue of a bearing arrangement (6A, 6B) and an electric coil (4) is provided for moving the armature (3). A magnetostrictive element (8) is provided, by which relative movement between the armature (3) and at least part of the bearing arrangement (6A, 6B) is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Michael Pantke
  • Patent number: 8228149
    Abstract: An electromagnetic control mechanism (1) with an actuating element (15) which can move longitudinally and can be retained in three stable positions. By way of two coils (3, 4), the actuating element (15) can be switched to a first or to a second stable position, namely, the two opposed end positions. The actuating element (15) comprises an actuator rod (7) with a permanent magnet (8) arranged on the actuator rod (7), such that the actuating element (15) can be retained magnetically in the third stable position by the permanent magnet (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Puth, Reiner Keller, Michael Pantke
  • Publication number: 20110221451
    Abstract: A method of detecting the position of the armature (3) of an electromagnetic actuator arranged and able to move between first and second coils (1, 2), in which a voltage jump (UB) is applied to the first and the second coils (1, 2) of the actuator connected in series. The first and the second coils (1, 2) form a voltage divider in accordance with the impedance coil principle. The voltage (U1) of the first coil (1) and the voltage (U2) of the second coil (2) are measured and, from the measurement data for the voltages at the first and the second coils (1, 2), the quotient of the difference (?U) between the two voltage values and the voltage jump (UB), normalized in relation to the size of the voltage jump (UB) is calculated, and a specific armature stroke is correlated one-to-one with each value of the quotient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Pantke, Jorg Kurth