Patents by Inventor Mike Kohrs

Mike Kohrs 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).

  • Patent number: 9982577
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device, wherein said camshaft adjusting device has a lubricant supply unit, wherein the lubricant supply unit has a filter device for filtering the lubricant, wherein the filter device has at least one lubricant inlet, at least one lubricant outlet and at least one filter path, wherein the lubricant inlet and the lubricant outlet are fluidically connected to each other by way of the filter path, and wherein an output shaft of the camshaft adjusting device has two wall sections, wherein the at least one filter path is configured in a filter volume between the two wall sections, and wherein the lubricant inlet is at a smaller distance from the axis of rotation than the lubricant outlet, and the filter path extends at least in sections in the radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Mike Kohrs, Jens Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9920660
    Abstract: A method for operating a camshaft adjuster, which includes an adjusting transmission with an input shaft, an output shaft connected in a non-rotatable manner with a camshaft, and an adjusting shaft, whereby the adjusting shaft is driven by an actuator, characterized by the fact that the actuator drives the adjusting shaft by overcoming a torque that is dependent on its angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mike Kohrs, Jens Schäfer, Marco Hildebrand
  • Patent number: 9840947
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device having improved lubricant management including adjusting gearing for adjusting the angular position of a camshaft is proposed, the adjusting gearing having an input shaft, which can be coupled to a crankshaft, an output shaft, which can be coupled to the camshaft and an adjusting shaft, which can be coupled to an actuator. The adjusting gearing defines a rotational axis and the gearing forms a gearing interior, in which the input shaft, the output shaft and the adjusting shaft are operatively interconnected. The camshaft adjusting device has a lubricant supply for supplying the gearing interior with a lubricant and the lubricant supply is designed to form a lubricant sump in the gearing interior, the sump being radially outwards situated relative to the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mike Kohrs, Jens Schaefer, Marco Hildebrand
  • Publication number: 20170101905
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device, wherein said camshaft adjusting device has a lubricant supply unit, wherein the lubricant supply unit has a filter device for filtering the lubricant, wherein the filter device has at least one lubricant inlet, at least one lubricant outlet and at least one filter path, wherein the lubricant inlet and the lubricant outlet are fluidically connected to each other by way of the filter path, and wherein an output shaft of the camshaft adjusting device has two wall sections, wherein the at least one filter path is configured in a filter volume between the two wall sections, and wherein the lubricant inlet is at a smaller distance from the axis of rotation than the lubricant outlet, and the filter path extends at least in sections in the radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mike Kohrs, Jens Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20160333749
    Abstract: A method for operating a camshaft adjuster, which includes an adjusting transmission with an input shaft, an output shaft connected in a non-rotatable manner with a camshaft, and an adjusting shaft, whereby the adjusting shaft is driven by an actuator, characterized by the fact that the actuator drives the adjusting shaft by overcoming a torque that is dependent on its angular position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Mike Kohrs, Jens Schäfer, Marco Hildebrand
  • Publication number: 20160251986
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device having improved lubricant management including adjusting gearing for adjusting the angular position of a camshaft is proposed, the adjusting gearing having an input shaft, which can be coupled to a crankshaft, an output shaft, which can be coupled to the camshaft and an adjusting shaft, which can be coupled to an actuator. The adjusting gearing defines a rotational axis and the gearing forms a gearing interior, in which the input shaft, the output shaft and the adjusting shaft are operatively interconnected. The camshaft adjusting device has a lubricant supply for supplying the gearing interior with a lubricant and the lubricant supply is designed to form a lubricant sump in the gearing interior, the sump being radially outwards situated relative to the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Mike KOHRS, Jens SCHAEFER, Marco HILDEBRAND
  • Patent number: 9249695
    Abstract: A concentric cam shaft assembly, including: a first camshaft; a second camshaft including at least a portion disposed radially within the first camshaft; and at least one phasing assembly including first and second electric motors and a first input gear arranged to rotate at a first speed in response to receiving rotational torque from a crankshaft of an engine. The rotational torque is arranged to rotate the first and second camshafts. The first electric motor is arranged to circumferentially off-set the first camshaft with respect to the first input gear. The second electric motor is arranged to circumferentially off-set the second camshaft with respect to the first input gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Steven Burke, Craig Dupuis, Inhwa Chung, Mike Kohrs, Jens Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8950371
    Abstract: A triple shaft adjusting gear including a driving part (01) that can be connected rotationally fast to a drive shaft, a driven part that can be connected rotationally fast to a driven shaft and an adjusting member that can be connected to an adjusting shaft. A mechanical stop for limiting an adjusting angle between the drive shaft and the driven shaft is arranged between two of the three shafts. According to the invention, the stop is an elastic coupling member for damping an impingement in case of a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Mike Kohrs, Jeffrey S. Balko
  • Patent number: 8813703
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine which has a camshaft adjuster that in turn has a triple-shaft gear mechanism with a setting shaft, a camshaft sprocket and a camshaft. The camshaft sprocket is drivably connected to the crankshaft. During motor standstill or in a transition phase, in which at least one of the three shafts of the triple-shaft gear mechanism stands still, a driving of the setting shaft occurs. Also, a camshaft adjustment system is disclosed which has a triple-shaft gear mechanism with a control device that adjusts the crankshaft during the motor standstill or in a transition phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Mike Kohrs
  • Publication number: 20140007830
    Abstract: A triple shaft adjusting gear including a driving part (01) that can be connected rotationally fast to a drive shaft, a driven part that can be connected rotationally fast to a driven shaft and an adjusting member that can be connected to an adjusting shaft. A mechanical stop for limiting an adjusting angle between the drive shaft and the driven shaft is arranged between two of the three shafts. According to the invention, the stop is an elastic coupling member for damping an impingement in case of a stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Mike Kohrs, Jeffrey S. Balko
  • Publication number: 20130312682
    Abstract: A three-shaft adjustment mechanism is provided including a drive part which can be connected to a drive shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, a driven part which can be connected to a driven shaft in a rotationally fixed manner and an actuator which can connected to the adjustment shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. A first mechanical stop is arranged between two of the three shafts for defining an adjustment angle between the drive shaft and the driven shaft. According to the invention, an overload coupling integrated into the actuator is provided between the actuator and the drive part or the driven part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Mike Kohrs, Jeffrey S. Balko
  • Publication number: 20130305853
    Abstract: A three shaft adjustment mechanism including a drive part which can be connected to a drive shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, a driven part which can be connected to a driven shaft, and an actuator which can be connected to an adjustment shaft as a mechanism part. A mechanical stop for defining an adjustment angle between the drive shaft and driven shaft is provided between two of the three shafts. According to the invention, the mechanism part not involved in the stop has a mass distribution or form which is such that a quotient from its mass moment of inertia J and its partial radius r is smaller than 0.4 kg×mm. The invention also relates to a method for producing a shaft generator having this type of mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Mike Kohrs, Jeffrey S. Balko
  • Publication number: 20130305864
    Abstract: A shaft transmission including at least one annulus having an inner gearing, a flexible spur gear arranged within the annulus and having an outer gearing, and a shaft generator for deflecting the spur gear in radial direction arranged within the spur gear, a torque-transmitting connection being created between the annulus and the spur gear at two opposing points of the spur gear, the shaft generator having a ring with an elliptical outer periphery and an elliptically shaped rolling bearing applied to the outer periphery, the rolling bearing having an outer ring (01), an inner ring (02) and two rows of rolling elements (03) arranged between the outer ring (01) and the inner ring (02).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Mike Kohrs, Jeffrey S. Balko
  • Patent number: 8485150
    Abstract: Groups of camshafts (6) are connected to camshaft adjusters (1) via adapters. According to prior art, adaptations to the camshaft adjuster (1) are necessary for different mounting conditions and/or different geometries of camshafts (6). Here, an adapter (32) is provided between camshaft (6) and camshaft adjuster (1), which adapter can then be adapted to different geometries of the camshaft (6) and/or mounting positions. By this, the multiplicity of parts can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Mike Kohrs
  • Patent number: 8141526
    Abstract: Impurities of a lubricant in traditional camshaft adjusters can cause a problem, leading to impairment in the function and service life of the camshaft adjuster. In order to address this, flow channel areas are provided in the lubricant circuit, which include a dead chamber (37) where impurities can be deposited as a result of centrifugal force. Alternatively or additionally, a labyrinth is used to deposit impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mike Kohrs, Jens Schafer
  • Patent number: 8141527
    Abstract: A camshaft adjuster (1) having a variable ratio gear unit (2). Usually, a drive movement of an electrical actuating assembly (7) is transmitted into a variable ratio gear unit (2) of a camshaft adjuster (1) on the side which faces away from the camshaft (6). According to the invention, the abovementioned drive movement is transmitted in from the side of the variable ratio gear unit (2) which faces the camshaft (6). As a result, a further assembly, for example a vacuum pump, can be driven by the variable ratio gear unit (2) on the side of the variable ratio gear unit (2) which has become free and faces away from the camshaft (6). An actuating shaft (4) of the actuating assembly (7) is preferably mounted via a bearing (34) which is supported on a circumferential face of the camshaft (6). This results in a reduced axial overall size of the camshaft adjuster and extended possibilities for the arrangement of an actuating assembly and the connection of additional assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Mike Kohrs, Falko Arnold
  • Patent number: 8104439
    Abstract: Traditional camshaft adjusters are connected to a lubricant circuit of an internal combustion engine. Lubricant flows which are too large flood the drive of the camshaft adjuster, which leads to needless churning losses in the drive and needless losses of the pump capacity of the lubricant for other structural components of the internal combustion engine. According to the invention, a flow element (59), which includes a throttle element or screen in the flow channel (26), is used. According to another embodiment of the invention, the throttle element or screen can be used in various ways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mike Kohrs, Jens Schafer
  • Publication number: 20110146603
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine which has a camshaft adjuster that in turn has a triple-shaft gear mechanism with a setting shaft, a camshaft sprocket and a camshaft. The camshaft sprocket is drivably connected to the crankshaft. During motor standstill or in a transition phase, in which at least one of the three shafts of the triple-shaft gear mechanism stands still, a driving of the setting shaft occurs. Also, a camshaft adjustment system is disclosed which has a triple-shaft gear mechanism with a control device that adjusts the crankshaft during the motor standstill or in a transition phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Mike Kohrs
  • Patent number: 7934478
    Abstract: A lubricant circuit of a camshaft adjuster is provided. In conventional camshaft adjusters, lubricant is supplied from a cylinder head to the camshaft adjuster via a supply channel (66) and a receiving channel (69), with an annular groove that encircles in a circumferential direction being located between the supply channel and the receiving channel in order to ensure a continuous lubricant supply. According to the invention, the lubricant is transferred from the supply channel to the receiving channel in a discontinuous manner. The omission of the encircling annular groove causes a discontinuous or cyclic flow of lubricant so that lubricant is transferred only when the supply channel (66) is at least partially aligned with the receiving channel (69).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mike Kohrs, Jens Schafer
  • Patent number: 7866288
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for varying the control times of an internal combustion engine (100), having a driving wheel (12), a driven element (8) and a swashplate mechanism (2). The torque of a crankshaft (101) is transmitted by means of a primary drive to the driving wheel (12) and further by means of the swashplate mechanism (2) to the driven element (8) which is connected fixedly in terms of rotation to a camshaft (9). The swashplate mechanism (2) is composed of at least one bevel wheel (3) and a swashplate (5) which is mounted on an adjusting shaft (15). It is the aim of the invention to reduce the mass and the installation space of the device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Schäfer, Mike Kohrs