Patents by Inventor Oliver So

Oliver So 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: 8113325
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic clutch device used to establish and to release a working connection between a drive and a takeoff is disclosed. The device includes a housing capable of rotating around an axis of rotation, the housing containing a torus space, which forms a torus volume (TV) with a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, and a clutch space, which forms the boundaries of the clutch volume (CV) and which encloses a mechanical transmission circuit including a bridging clutch designed with a torsional vibration clamper. During the course of the minimum resting phase of the housing, the fluid which is distributed throughout the housing during the operating state decreases from a total volume comprising at least the torus volume (TV) and the clutch volume (CV) to a resting volume (RV), which is located at least essentially underneath the axis of rotation as a result of the force of gravity. A volume reduction arrangement is provided to the housing to reduce the clutch volume (CV) versus the resting volume (RV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gregor Sueck, Oliver So, Thomas Krüger, Monika Rössner, Thomas Walter
  • Publication number: 20080257674
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic clutch arrangement includes a clutch housing in which at least one hydrodynamic circuit formed by at least one pump wheel and one turbine wheel is provided. A bridging clutch can be actuated to produce an engaging movement to establish a working connection between a drive and a takeoff and to produce a disengaging movement to release this working connection. The hydrodynamic circuit and at least one pressure space are each connected by a flow route to pressure medium reservoir for actuating the clutch. At least one flow route serving to the fill the clutch housing is provided with a device for reducing the flow volume, which opens during the operating state to unblock the flow route but closes during the non-operating state to delay, at least, the drop in the internal pressure inside the clutch housing and thus in its filling volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Sasse, Bernd Reinhardt, Gregor Sueck, Oliver So, Monika Rossner
  • Publication number: 20080257675
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic clutch arrangement includes a clutch housing which can rotate about an axis of rotation; a hydrodynamic circuit formed by a pump wheel and a turbine wheel in the clutch housing; and a bridging clutch which can be actuated to establish and release a working connection between a drive and a takeoff. First flow routes connect the hydrodynamic circuit and a pressure space to at least one pressure medium reservoir, wherein said first flow routes serve to fill the clutch housing with pressure medium for actuating the bridging clutch. A second flow route carries pressure medium out of the clutch housing during an operating state, and a flow reducer in the second flow route closes to at least impede flow out of clutch housing in a non-operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Sasse, Bernd Reinhardt, Gregor Sueck, Oliver So, Monika Rossner
  • Publication number: 20080053774
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic clutch device used to establish and to release a working connection between a drive and a takeoff is disclosed. The device includes a housing capable of rotating around an axis of rotation, the housing containing a torus space, which forms a torus volume (TV) with a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, and a clutch space, which forms the boundaries of the clutch volume (CV) and which encloses a mechanical transmission circuit including a bridging clutch designed with a torsional vibration damper During the course of the minimum resting phase of the housing, the fluid which is distributed throughout the housing during the operating state decreases from a total volume comprising at least the torus volume (TV) and the clutch volume (CV) to a resting volume (RV), which is located at least essentially underneath the axis of rotation as a result of the force of gravity. A volume reduction arrangement is provided to the housing to reduce the clutch volume (CV) versus the resting volume (RV).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gregor Sueck, Oliver So, Thomas Kruger, Monika Rossner, Thomas Walter