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: 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
  • Patent number: 11598394
    Abstract: A wheel head transmission (1) comprising a first and second shafts (W1, W2) which are connected to one another via a planetary transmission (PG). The wheel head transmission (1) comprises first and second planetary stages (P1, P2), which include a first element (E11, E12), a second element (E21, E22) and a third element (E31, E32). The first element (E11) of the first planetary stage (P1) is connected to the first shaft (W1) for conjoint rotation, the second element (E21) of the first planetary stage (P1) and the third element (E32) of the second planetary stage (P2) are connected to one another and the second shaft (W2) for conjoint rotation. The third element (E31) of the first planetary stage (P1) and the first element (E12) of the second planetary stage (P2) are connected together for conjoint rotation, and the second element (E22) of the second planet stage (P2) is immobilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Kobler, Max Schreiber, Michael Wechs
  • Publication number: 20230037299
    Abstract: 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 a first sun gear and a second sun gear, a first ring gear and a plurality of stepped planet gears rotatably mounted at a first planet carrier. The first ring gear is configured to drivingly connect to an electric machine. The first planet carrier is connectable to an output shaft of the gear unit to be fixed with respect to relative rotation. The first gear shifting element is configured to fix the second sun gear relative to a housing in a closed state, and the second gear shifting element is configured to fix the first sun gear relative to the housing in a closed state. One of the two gear shifting elements is in the closed state for driving the output shaft in rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Oliver Schaudt
  • Patent number: 11571961
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM1), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), two planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), and at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E). Different gears are implementable by selectively actuating the at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM1), different operating modes are implementable. A drive train for a motor vehicle with the transmission (G), and to a method for operating the transmission (G) are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Uwe Griesmeier, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Michael Wechs, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Publication number: 20220402476
    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: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Valerie Engel, Andreas Wendzel, Michael Wechs, Maik Dreher, Lorenz Fischer, Oliver Schneider, Christian Baumann, Edgar Menezes, Felix Spura
  • Publication number: 20220356928
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), a planetary gear set (P1), a pre-ratio configured as a spur gear transmission (SRS), and at least four shift elements (A, B, C?, D). Different gears are selectable by selectively actuating the at least four shift elements (A, B, C?, D) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM), different operating modes are implementable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Thomas Kroh, Thomas Martin, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Max Bachmann, Peter Ziemer, Martin Brehmer, Juri Pawlakowitsch, Oliver Bayer
  • Patent number: 11479105
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM1), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), three planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), and at least six shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F). Different gears are implementable by selectively actuating the at least six shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F), and different operating modes are implementable by selectively actuating the at least six shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F) in interaction with the electric machine (EM1). A drive train for a motor vehicle with the transmission (G) and a method for operating the transmission (G) are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Johannes Kaltenbach, Uwe Griesmeier, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Patent number: 11473651
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM1), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), three planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), and at least six shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F). Different gears are implementable by selectively actuating the at least six shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F), and different operating modes are implementable by selectively actuating the at least six shift elements (A, B, C, D, E, F) in interaction with the electric machine (EM1). A drive train for a motor vehicle with the transmission (G) and a method for operating the transmission (G) are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Thomas Martin, Fabian Kutter, Uwe Griesmeier, Michael Wechs, Jens Moraw, Gerhard Niederbrucker
  • Publication number: 20220324317
    Abstract: A hybrid drive train for a motor vehicle includes a drive shaft that is connectable to an internal combustion engine, a first input shaft connected to the drive shaft or connectable to the drive shaft via a first clutch, a second input shaft, an output shaft arrangement, a first electric machine connected to the second input shaft, and a transmission arrangement that includes: (i) a first gear set plane with at least one shiftable gear set via which the first input shaft is connectable to the output shaft arrangement; (ii) a second gear set plane with at least one shiftable gear set via which the second input shaft is connectable to the output shaft arrangement; and (iii) a third gear set plane with at least one gear set via which the output shaft arrangement is connected to a power distribution unit configured for driving driven wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Thomas Kroh, Fabian Kutter, Oliver Bayer, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Michael Wechs, Thomas Martin, Juri Pawlakowitsch, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220274480
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement (3, 8, 42, 44, 46, 48) includes at least one transmission input shaft (12, 38) and at least one countershaft (26, 28). A connecting gearwheel (24) is arranged on the countershaft (26) for connecting a differential (34). The connecting gearwheel (24) is connected to a gearwheel (22) for forming a gear step (G4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Thomas Kroh, Fabian Kutter, Oliver Bayer, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Michael Wechs, Thomas Martin, Juri Pawlakowitsch, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220274479
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission (20) for a motor vehicle drive train (12) with an internal combustion engine (14), a first electric prime mover (16), and a second electric prime mover (18), includes: a first transmission input shaft (24) for a first sub-transmission coaxially drivingly connectable to the internal combustion engine and/or drivingly connectable to the second electric prime mover in an axially parallel manner; a second transmission input shaft (26) for a second sub-transmission drivingly connectable to the first electric prime mover in an axially parallel manner; a countershaft (28); idler gears and fixed gears arranged in multiple gear set planes for forming gear steps; and multiple gear change devices including shift elements (A-E) for engaging the gear steps. All even gear steps are associated with one sub-transmission and all odd gear steps are associated with the other sub-transmission such that all electric-machine gear steps are power shiftable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Fabian Kutter, Matthias Horn, Thomas Martin, Michael Wechs, Oliver Bayer, Thomas Kroh, Peter Ziemer, Martin Brehmer, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220258594
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission device (3) includes at least one drive device (EM2), a transmission (4) with a first transmission input shaft (12) and a second transmission input shaft (14) mounted on the first transmission input shaft (12). At least two gear-step gears (16, 18) are arranged on the second transmission input shaft (14), and the gear-step gear (16) of the highest gear step (G3) is arranged on the second transmission input shaft (14) in an axial direction toward an outer side (46, 50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Wechs, Thomas Martin, Thomas Kroh, Oliver Bayer, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Max Bachmann
  • Publication number: 20220242218
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), two planetary gear sets (P1, P2), and at least four shift elements (A, B, C?, D). Different gears are selectable by selectively actuating the at least four shift elements (A, B, C?, D) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM), different operating modes are implementable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Thomas Kroh, Thomas Martin, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Max Bachmann, Peter Ziemer, Martin Brehmer, Juri Pawlakowitsch, Oliver Bayer
  • Publication number: 20220242219
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), two planetary gear sets (P1, P2), and at least four shift elements (A, B, C, D). Different gears are selectable by selectively actuating the at least four shift elements (A, B, C, D) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM), different operating modes are implementable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Thomas Kroh, Thomas Martin, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Wechs, Fabian Kutter, Max Bachmann, Peter Ziemer, Martin Brehmer, Juri Pawlakowitsch, Oliver Bayer
  • Publication number: 20220212533
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission device (3) includes at least one drive device (EM2) and a transmission (4) with a first transmission input shaft (12) and a second transmission input shaft (14) mounted on the first transmission input shaft (12). The at least one drive device (EM2) is arranged axially parallel and is connected to a gear-step gearwheel (16) arranged on the second transmission input shaft (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Fabian Kutter, Johannes Kaltenbach, Michael Wechs, Thomas Martin, Thomas Kroh, Oliver Bayer, Martin Brehmer, Peter Ziemer, Max Bachmann