Patents by Inventor Michael Wech

Michael Wech 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: 20250121671
    Abstract: A drive train for a vehicle includes an internal combustion engine (VM) coaxial to the first axis (A1), at least one first electric machine (EM1) and one second electric machine (EM2), and a transmission arrangement (G) connectable to an output (Ab). The first electric machine (EM1) has larger dimensions than the second electric machine (EM2). The second electric machine (EM2) is connectable at least to the internal combustion engine (VM), and the first electric machine (EM1) is connectable at least to the transmission arrangement (G). The first electric machine (EM1) and the second electric machine (EM2) are coaxial to the first axis (A1). The first electric machine (EM1) and the second electric machine (EM2) are radially nested, or the first electric machine (EM1), when viewed axially, is associated with the internal combustion engine and the second electric machine (2), when viewed axially, is associated with the output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Uwe Griesmeier
  • Patent number: 12263827
    Abstract: A processor unit (3) for model-based predictive control of a vehicle (1) taking into account an arrival time factor is configured to calculate a trajectory for the vehicle (1) based at least in part on at least one arrival time factor, with the trajectory including an entire route (20) to a specified destination (19) at which the vehicle (1) is to arrive, and with the at least one arrival time factor influencing an arrival time of the vehicle (1) at the specified destination (19). Additionally, the processor unit (3) is configured to optimize a section of the trajectory for the vehicle (1) for a sliding prediction horizon by executing a model-based predictive control (MPC) algorithm (13), where the MPC algorithm (13) includes a longitudinal dynamic model (14) of a drive train (7) of the vehicle (1) and a cost function (15) to be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Valerie Engel, Andreas Wendzel, Michael Wechs, Maik Dreher, Lorenz Fischer, Oliver Schneider, Christian Baumann, Edgar Menezes, Felix Spura
  • Publication number: 20240383572
    Abstract: A bottom bracket planetary gear mechanism for a bicycle or a pedelec includes a gear mechanism shifting group having first and second planetary gear sets and first, second, and fifth shifting elements. A second element of the first gear set is connected to a first shaft, a first element of the first gear set is connected via a fourth shaft to a first element of the second gear set, and a third element of the first gear set is fixable via a second shaft and a first shifting element. The third element of the first gear set is connected via the second shaft to a second element of the second gear set. A third element of the second gear set is fixable via a third shaft and a second shifting element. A fifth shifting element blocks the first and second gear sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Mladjan Radic, Thomas Riedisser, Hagen Doepfert
  • Publication number: 20240383571
    Abstract: A bottom bracket gear mechanism for a bicycle or a pedelec includes a gear mechanism shifting group in which a second element of the first gear set is connected to a first shaft, a third element of the first gear set is connected via a fourth shaft to a second element of the second gear set, and a first element of the first gear set is connected to a fifth shaft. A first element of the second gear set is fixable via a third shaft and the second shifting element. The third shaft is connectable to the fifth shaft via the sixth shifting element. The third element of the second gear set is fixable via a second shaft and via the first shifting element. The second shaft is connectable to the first shaft via the fifth shifting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Mladjan Radic, Thomas Riedisser, Hagen Doepfert
  • Publication number: 20240351425
    Abstract: A drive train for a vehicle includes an internal combustion engine coaxial to a first axis, a first electric machine, and a second electric machine. The first electric machine has larger dimensions than the second electric machine. The second electric machine is connectable to the internal combustion engine. A rotor axis of the first electric machine is axially offset from a rotor axis of the second electric machine. Additionally, the drive train includes a transmission arrangement connectable to a drive output, with the first electric machine being connectable to the transmission arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Uwe Griesmeier
  • Patent number: 12122242
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hybrid transmission device for an internal combustion engine transmission arrangement of a motor vehicle. The hybrid transmission device comprises at least one transmission input shaft, at least one drive device and at least one connecting clutch for connecting two shafts for conjoint rotation. The hybrid transmission device comprises no more than two gear stages. The disclosure additionally relates to a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Martin Brehmer, Max Bachmann, Peter Ziemer, Stefan Beck, Michael Wechs, Matthias Hom, Fabian Kutter, Oliver Bayer, Thomas Kroh, Thomas Martin, Reinhard Vollmar, Juri Pawlakowitsch
  • Publication number: 20240239180
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission device (1) includes a first transmission input shaft (2), a second transmission input shaft (4), a superposition gear unit (6) arranged axially parallel to the first transmission input shaft (2) and to the second transmission input shaft (4) and configured for connecting an electric machine (5). The superposition gear unit (6) includes a first planetary gear set (P1) with a sun gear (P11), a ring gear (P12), and a planet carrier (P13) with planet gears (P14) rotatably arranged thereon. A gear reduction stage (7) includes a first spur gear pair (ST1) and a second spur gear pair (ST2) for connecting the superposition gear unit (6) to a differential (8). At least a first shift element (A), a second shift element (B), and a third shift element (C) are configured for implementing an electrodynamic driving-off process and a purely electric or hybridized drive of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Martin Brehmer, Max Bachmann, Peter Ziemer, Christian Michel, Matthias Horn, Mladjan Radic, Ingo Pfannkuchen
  • Patent number: 11846342
    Abstract: A transmission where a first shaft is rotationally fixable to a third shaft and to a second shaft, the second and third shafts are rotationally connectable to a fourth shaft, the second shaft is rotationally connectable to a fifth shaft, the fourth shaft is rotationally connectable to the fifth shaft, the third shaft is rotationally connectable to the fifth shaft, fixed gears of the fourth and fifth shafts are rotationally connected to a drive output, a first gearwheel of the sixth shaft meshes with a fixed gear of the second shaft, and a second gearwheel of the sixth shaft meshes with a fixed gear of the third shaft. Moreover, a first gearwheel of the sixth shaft is an idler gear and a second gearwheel of the sixth shaft is a fixed gear, or vice versa. Additionally, the idler gear of the sixth shaft is rotationally fixable to the sixth shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Max Bachmann, Thomas Rosemeier, Michael Roske, Matthias Reisch, Johannes Kaltenbach, Stefan Beck, Michael Wechs, Martin Rattay, Juri Pawlakowitsch, Fabian Kutter
  • Patent number: 11807102
    Abstract: A gear unit for a powertrain and a powertrain including a stepped planetary gearset, a first gear shifting element and a second gear shifting element. The stepped planetary gearset has a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a second ring gear, and stepped planet gears rotatably mounted at a first planet carrier. The first ring gear is fixed with respect to rotation to an output shaft of the gear unit. The second ring gear is fixed with respect to rotation to a housing. The first gear shifting element drivingly connects the first sun gear to an electric machine in a closed state, and the second gear shifting element drivingly connects the first planet carrier to the electric machine in a closed state, and one of the two gear shifting elements is in the closed state for driving the output shaft in rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Oliver Schaudt
  • Publication number: 20230313871
    Abstract: An electric transmission (16) for a motor vehicle drive train (12) includes a transmission input shaft (24) for operatively connecting the electric transmission to an electric prime mover (14), a reduction gear (26) for reducing a rotational speed of the electric prime mover, a transmission (28) for establishing gear steps, including a first planetary gear set (RS1) and a second planetary gear set (RS2), a first output shaft (34) and a second output shaft (36) for transmitting drive power from the electric transmission, and a plurality of shift elements (B, C, D) for engaging the gear steps. A planet carrier of the first planetary gear set is drivingly connected to a planet carrier of the second planetary gear set, and a sun gear of the first planetary gear set is drivingly connected to a ring gear of the second planetary gear set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Ziemer, Bernard Hunold, Eckhardt Lübke, Thomas Riedisser, Thomas Schneider, Martin Brehmer, Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter
  • Patent number: 11761521
    Abstract: A gear unit for a powertrain of a vehicle includes a stepped planetary gearset, a first gear shifting element and a second gear shifting element. The stepped planetary gearset has at least a first ring gear, a second ring gear and a plurality of stepped planet gears rotatably mounted at a first planet carrier. The first planet carrier drivingly connects to an electric machine. The second ring gear is connected to an output shaft of the gear unit so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it. The first gear shifting element fixes the first ring gear relative to a housing in a closed state, and the second gear shifting element brings the stepped planetary gearset into direct drive in a closed state. One of the two gear shifting elements is in the closed state for driving the output shaft in rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Oliver Schaudt
  • Patent number: 11752849
    Abstract: A gear unit for a powertrain and gear unit having a stepped planetary gearset, a first gear shifting element and a second gear shifting element. The stepped planetary gearset has a first sun gear, a first ring gear, a second ring gear, and a plurality of stepped planet gears rotatably mounted at a first planet carrier. The first sun gear is connected to an electric machine. The first planet carrier is fixedly connected to a housing with respect to rotation. The first gear shifting element connects the second ring gear to an output shaft of the gear unit in a closed state, and the second gear shifting element connects the first ring gear to the output shaft of the gear unit in a closed to state, and one of the two gear shifting elements) is in the closed state for driving the output shaft in rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Oliver Schaudt
  • Patent number: 11738633
    Abstract: A gear unit includes: a stepped planetary gearset, and first and second gear shifting elements. The stepped planetary gearset has first and second sun gears, a first ring gear and a plurality of stepped planet gears rotatably mounted at a first planet carrier. The first ring gear is connected to an output shaft of the gear unit thus being fixed with respect to rotation relative to it. The first planet carrier is connected to a housing and fixed with respect to rotation relative to it. The first gear shifting element drivingly connects the second sun gear to an electric machine in a closed state, and the second gear shifting element drivingly connects the first sun gear to an electric machine in a closed state. One of the two gear shifting elements is in the closed state for driving the output shaft in rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Oliver Schaudt
  • Publication number: 20230173909
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission (18) for a motor vehicle drive train (12) of a motor vehicle (10) includes: a first transmission input shaft (24) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to an internal combustion engine (16); a second transmission input shaft (26) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a first electric prime mover (14); an output shaft (28) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a drive output (32); a planetary gear set (RS) connected to the first transmission input shaft and to the second transmission input shaft; spur gear pairs (ST1, ST2, ST3) arranged in multiple gear set planes for forming gear steps; and a plurality of gear change devices that include shift elements (A, B, C, D, E) for engaging gear steps. The output shaft is of a countershaft design, and the planetary gear set is interlockable when decoupled from the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Max Bachmann, Mladjan Radic
  • Publication number: 20230173910
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission (18) for a motor vehicle drive train (12) of a motor vehicle (10) includes: a first transmission input shaft (24) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to an internal combustion engine (16); a second transmission input shaft (26) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a first electric prime mover (14); an output shaft (28) for operatively connecting the hybrid transmission to a drive output (32); a planetary gear set (RS) connected to the second transmission input shaft and to the output shaft; spur gear pairs (ST1, ST2, ST3) arranged in multiple gear set planes for forming gear steps; and a plurality of gear change devices with shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F) for engaging gear steps. The output shaft is of a countershaft design, and the planetary gear set is interlockable when decoupled from the first transmission input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Johannes Kaltenbach, Mladjan Radic, Thomas Martin, Max Bachmann, Michael Wechs
  • Patent number: 11649009
    Abstract: A transmission for a bicycle includes at least four shift elements, one input shaft (1), a first planetary gear set (PS1) which is operatively connected to the input shaft (1), and a second planetary gear set (PS2). A carrier of the first planetary gear set is rotationally fixed to a carrier of the second planetary gear set (PS2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Valerie Engel, Uwe Griesmeier, Matthias Wesa, Michael Wechs, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Patent number: 11642950
    Abstract: A transmission (1) for an electric drive of a vehicle includes a first input shaft (10), a second input shaft (11), an output shaft (12), two shift elements (3, 4) for connecting the transmission (1) to an electric machine of the electric drive, and a planetary gear set (5) configured as a stepped planetary gear set. A first sun gear (5.1) of the planetary gear set (5) is rotationally fixed to the first input shaft (10). A second sun gear (5.2) of the planetary gear set (5) is rotationally fixed to the second input shaft (11). A ring gear (5.5) of the planetary gear set (5) is fixed at a rotationally fixed component (0) of the transmission (1). A planet carrier (5.6) of the planetary gear set (5) is rotationally fixed to the output shaft (12). A first shift element (3) is configured for connecting the first input shaft (10) to the electric machine of the electric drive. A second shift element (4) is configured for connecting the second input shaft (11) to the electric machine of the electric drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Oliver Schaudt
  • Publication number: 20230137376
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM), a first input shaft (1), a second input shaft (5), an output shaft (2), three planetary gear sets (11, 12, 13), and at least four shift elements (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE4). Different gears are selectable by selectively actuating the at least four shift elements (SE1, SE2, SE3, SE4) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM), different operating modes are implementable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Juri Pawlakowitsch, Ingo Pfannkuchen, Michael Wechs, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Jens Moraw, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Uwe Griesmeier, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Publication number: 20230121971
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission arrangement for a motor vehicle (30) includes a first transmission group (12), a second transmission group (18), a third planetary gear set (PS3), and a first electric machine (EM1). The first transmission group (12) includes a first input (14), a first output (16), and a first planetary gear set (PS1). The first input (14) is connectable to an internal combustion engine (VM). The second transmission group (18) includes a second input (20), a second output (22), and a second planetary gear set (PS2). The second input (20) is connected to the first output (16) of the first transmission group (12). The third planetary gear set (PS3) includes a first element (S3;H3I), a second element (H3;S3I), and a third element (P3;P3I). The third planetary gear set (PS3) is interlockable using a first shift element (E) and arranged coaxially to a first axis (A1). The first element (S3;H3I) is connected to the first electric machine. The second element (H3;S3I) is connected to the second output (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Michael Wechs, Matthias Horn, Johannes Kaltenbach, Thomas Martin, Martin Brehmer, Max Bachmann, Peter Ziemer, Christian Michel, Ingo Pfannkuchen, Mladjan Radic
  • Publication number: 20230104464
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission arrangement (10) for a motor vehicle (30) includes a transmission (11), a third planetary gear set (PS3), and a first electric machine (EM1). The transmission (11) includes a first input (14), which is connectable to an internal combustion engine (VM), a second output (22), a third output (23), and at least one planetary gear set (PS1, PS2). The third planetary gear set (PS3) includes a first element (S3;H3?), a second element (H3;S3?), and a third element (P3;P3?). The third planetary gear set (PS3) is interlockable using a first shift element (E) and arranged coaxially to a first axis (A1). The first element (S3;H3?) is connected to the first electric machine. The second element (H3;S3?) is connected to the second output (22) of the transmission (11). The third output (23) of the transmission (11) is connected to the first element (S3;H3?). The third element (P3;P3?) is connected to a drive output (Ab) of the hybrid transmission arrangement (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Michael Wechs, Thomas Martin, Johannes Kaltenbach, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Max Bachmann, Mladjan Radic, Ingo Pfannkuchen, Christian Michel