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: 20130274059
    Abstract: A multi-step transmission having a housing which accommodates eight shafts and four planetary gear sets, and at least six shift elements including brakes and clutches which are engaged to implement different ratios between a drive shaft and output shaft. The carrier of gearset (4) is connected to shaft (14) which is connectable, via brake (8), to the housing and, via clutch (11), to shaft (15) which is coupled to the ring gear of gearset (6). The shaft (16) connects the ring gear of gearset (5) to the sun gear of gearset (6) and is couplable, via a clutch (12), to the output shaft. The shaft (17) is connected to the ring gear of gearset (4) and the drive shaft is connectable, via clutch (13), to shaft (14) and is coupled to the carrier of gearset (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Christian Sibla, Michael Wechs, Juergen Wafzig
  • Publication number: 20130274060
    Abstract: A multi-step transmission having a housing accommodating eight shafts and four planetary gearsets (4, 5, 6, 7), and at least six shift elements comprising brakes and clutches which implement different transmission ratios between a drive shaft and output shaft. A carrier of gearset (4) is connected to shaft (14) which can be fixed, via brake (8), to the housing and further is connectable, via a first clutch, to shaft (15) which is coupled to a carrier of gearset (5) and is connectable, via a second clutch, to the drive shaft. A ring gear of gearset (6) is coupled to shaft (16) which can be fixed, via brake (9), to the housing. The drive shaft is additionally coupled to a sun gear of gearset (5). A ring gear of gearset (5) is connected to shaft (17). The gearset (5) is a plus planetary gearset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Christian Sibla, Michael Wechs, Juergen Wafzig
  • Publication number: 20130274058
    Abstract: A transmission having four planetary gearsets, and shafts and shift elements. Sun gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (5), which couples ring gear of gearset (P3) and is connectable via clutch (58) to shaft (8), which couples carrier of gearset (P2) and is connectable via clutch (78) to shaft (7), which couples sun gears of gearsets (P3, P4). Carrier of gearset (P1) couples the drive shaft, which couples ring gear of gearset (P2). Sun gear of gearset (P2) couples shaft (9), which is connectable via clutch (39) to shaft (3), which couples carrier of gearset (P3) and is connectable to housing (G) via brake (03). Carrier and ring gear of gearset (P4) couple, respectively output shaft and shaft (4), which is connectable to housing (G) via brake (04). The output shaft is connectable via clutch (26) to shaft (6), which couples ring gear of gearset (P1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Christian Sibla, Michael Wechs
  • Publication number: 20130267369
    Abstract: The transmission has four planetary gear sets and shafts and shift elements. Sun gear of the planetary gearset (P1) couples shaft (5) which couples ring gear of gearset (P3) and is connectable, via clutch (58), to shaft (8), which couples carrier of gearset (P2) and is connectable, via clutch (89), to shaft (9), which couples sun gears of gearsets (P3, P4). Carrier of gearset (P1) couples drive shaft (1), which is connectable, via clutch (16), to shaft (6), which couples ring gear of gearset (P2). Sun gear of gearset (P2) couples shaft (3), which couples carrier of gearset (P3) and is connectable to the housing via brake (03). Ring gear of gearset (P4) couples shaft (4) which is connectable to the housing via brake (04). Output shaft (2) couples carrier of gearset (P4) and is connectable, via clutch (27), to shaft (7) which couples ring gear of gearset (P1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Christian Sibla, Michael Wechs
  • Publication number: 20130167676
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission designed as a reduction gearing which has concentric central and hollow transmission shafts, exactly one layshaft, and two power shift elements. A hollow shaft is provided coaxially on the layshaft, which can be rotatably fixed to the layshaft, via one shift device, and to which at least two gears of the gear stages are rotatably fixed. A further hollow shaft is provided coaxially on either the central or the hollow transmission shaft, which can be connected, via one of the shift devices, with the central or the hollow transmission shaft and to which at least two further gears of the gear stages are rotatably fixed. At least three transmission ratios are obtainable as a result of engaging the shift element into the power flow in three of the gear stages, by which one transmission ratio results from engaging only one shift element into the power flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Juergen Wafzig, Michael Wechs, Markus Renninger, Thomas Rosemeier, Johannes Kaltenbach, Rudolf Kauffeldt
  • Publication number: 20130160588
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission of countershaft design having a central shaft and a concentric hollow transmission shaft, one countershaft, and two power-shift elements. Two hollow shafts are disposed on the countershaft coaxially to the countershaft, each of which can be fixed, via one shift device, to the countershaft, and to which at least two gearwheels are fixed. A further hollow shaft is coaxially provided on either the central or hollow transmission shafts and can be connected, via a shift device, to the central or hollow transmission shaft, and to which at least two further gearwheels of the gear stages are fixed. At least three transmission ratios are possible by engaging three of the gear stages on the shift-element side into the power flow, thereby enabling one transmission ratio to be at least partially implemented by a respective sole engagement on the shift-element side into the power flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Juergen Wafzig, Michael Wechs, Markus Renninger, Thomas Rosemeier, Johannes Kaltenbach, Rudolf Kauffeldt
  • Publication number: 20070284230
    Abstract: A reservoir assembly is disclosed including a one-piece integrally formed fluid level switch housing and outlet wherein the switch housing can be rotated 360 degrees about its longitudinal axis to locate the outlet at any desired position. A conventional fitting may be integrally formed at the outlet. The orientation of the outlet may be changed at any time after the manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Wech, Carolyn Boldt
  • Publication number: 20070014679
    Abstract: The metering device for a liquid medium comprises a cylinder and a piston operatively disposed therein to define a metering chamber ahead of the piston. The outlet end of the cylinder is open and closed by an evacuation valve. The piston is driven forwardly through a working stroke to force the liquid medium in the metering chamber out of the chamber and past the evacuation valve. A check valve located in the metering chamber moves from a closed to an open position on each working stroke to preclude entrapment of air in the metering chamber and thus provide for more accurate metering. The metering device may include means to regulate the length of the working stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Inventors: Donald Gruett, Michael Wech
  • Publication number: 20060231341
    Abstract: A system for lubricating a lubrication target located within a refrigerated atmosphere. The system includes a lubricant source, a pressurized air source, and at least one pneumatically-activated pump in connection with the lubricant and air sources. The pump output is connected to a conduit that terminates at a spray nozzle for delivering the lubricant to the target in a controlled fashion. Pressurized air may be used to better control the lubricant delivery. The temperature of the lubricant and air flowing through the conduits is regulated so that the fluids will flow predictably at very cold temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventor: Michael Wech
  • Publication number: 20050056320
    Abstract: The metering device for a liquid medium comprises a cylinder and a piston operatively disposed therein to define a metering chamber ahead of the piston. The outlet end of the cylinder is open and closed by an evacuation valve. The piston is driven forwardly through a working stroke to force the liquid medium in the metering chamber out of the chamber and past the evacuation valve. A check valve located in the metering chamber moves from a closed to an open position on each working stroke to preclude entrapment of air in the metering chamber and thus provide for more accurate metering. The metering device may include means to regulate the length of the working stroke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Donald Gruett, Michael Wech
  • Patent number: 6164924
    Abstract: A single-piece piston and drive assembly for use in a motor-actuated pump to meter a predetermined amount of lubricant or other liquid. The drive assembly includes a rotatable drive shaft, an eccentric cam insert, a cam rod, and a rocking beam. The rocking beam is coupled to the piston, the cam rod shaft, and a biasing mechanism. When the drive shaft is rotated, movement of the cam rod shaft causes the rocking beam to pivot and move the piston along a stroke to dispense the liquid. The piston operates in association with a flow adjustment stem that regulates the amount of liquid metered by the pump, and a valve assembly for evacuating the liquid from the pump chamber into and through an outlet fitting.Also provided is a flow volume indicator for use in a pump for indicating the amount of liquid being discharged. The flow volume indicator has a main body with an annular side wall, flexible base wall, and a knobbed pointer that is inserted into a bore of the pump body and coupled to the flow adjustment stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventors: Donald G. Gruett, Michael Wech
  • Patent number: 6071097
    Abstract: A single-piece piston for use in a pneumatically-activated pump to meter a predetermined amount of lubricant or other liquid. The piston has a grooved end that includes a head portion and a circumferentially-disposed angled channel for containing a sealing member such as an O-ring. An adjacent stem section includes a longitudinally-disposed channel that is in fluid-flow connection with the angled channel. The piston is disposed within a chamber of the body of the pump. Lateral movement of the piston within the body causes the sealing member to shift and block and unblock the end of the longitudinal channel which allows liquid from a liquid chamber to flow into a slot and to a pump chamber adjacent to the head of the piston's grooved end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Oil-Rite Corporation
    Inventors: Donald G. Gruett, Scott Wright, Michael Wech