Patents by Inventor Oliver Westphal

Oliver Westphal 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: 20240017765
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a steering system of a vehicle having a front-axle steering assembly, a rear-axle steering assembly and a steering wheel. The method involves detecting a failure of the front-axle steering assembly, steering the vehicle exclusively via the rear-axle steering assembly based on a steering command issued by a driver via the steering wheel, comparing at least one detected physical value of the steering command with a limit value associated with the rear-axle steering assembly and, provided the at least one associated limit value is reached or exceeded by the at least one detected physical value of the steering command, applying a torque acting on the steering wheel via the electric motor coupled to the steering wheel, which torque counteracts the steering command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Philipp Bergmann, Klaus Roth, Andreas Knoll, Marc Schiess, Oliver Westphal, Jonathan Scheu
  • Patent number: 10604183
    Abstract: A method of steering a vehicle having a front axle steering mechanism and, in particular, a rear axle steering mechanism. It is proposed that interventions are carried out at the rear axle to maintain the vehicle on course, at the same time, interventions are carried out at the front axle steering mechanism to avoid a restoring self-alignment of the front wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Julian Stratmann, Andreas Hartmann, Oliver Westphal
  • Publication number: 20180194394
    Abstract: A method of steering a vehicle having a front axle steering mechanism and, in particular, a rear axle steering mechanism. It is proposed that interventions are carried out at the rear axle to maintain the vehicle on course, at the same time, interventions are carried out at the front axle steering mechanism to avoid a restoring self-alignment of the front wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Julian STRATMANN, Andreas HARTMANN, Oliver WESTPHAL
  • Patent number: 7699322
    Abstract: A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle has a stabilizer (1), which is connected to the vehicle chassis and which is connected to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part on each side of the vehicle by a piston-cylinder unit (4; 4?) each. Each of the piston-cylinder units (4, 4?) is formed of at least one piston (8, 8?) arranged movably in a cylinder (7, 7?), and each is connected in an articulated manner, at one end, to one end of the stabilizer (1) and, at the other end, to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part. The piston-cylinder units (4, 4?) are connected to a hydraulic pump (20). A stop (13, 13?), against which the respective piston (8, 8?) can be moved, is assigned to each of the cylinders (7, 7?). By an arrangement of valves, it is made possible for the pistons (8, 8?) to move out of each position in a purposeful manner against the stop (13, 13?) and to hold there in a defined position in order to restore the stabilizer action in a purposeful manner and effectively from any position of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ullrich Hammelmaier, Metin Ersoy, Felix Haeusler, Oliver Westphal
  • Publication number: 20070267825
    Abstract: A stabilizer arrangement for a motor vehicle has a stabilizer (1), which is connected to the vehicle chassis and which is connected to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part on each side of the vehicle by a piston-cylinder unit (4; 4?) each. Each of the piston-cylinder units (4, 4?) is formed of at least one piston (8, 8?) arranged movably in a cylinder (7, 7?), and each is connected in an articulated manner, at one end, to one end of the stabilizer (1) and, at the other end, to a spring-mounted wheel carrier part. The piston-cylinder units (4, 4?) are connected to a hydraulic pump (20). A stop (13, 13?), against which the respective piston (8, 8?) can be moved, is assigned to each of the cylinders (7, 7?). By an arrangement of valves, it is made possible for the pistons (8, 8?) to move out of each position in a purposeful manner against the stop (13, 13?) and to hold there in a defined position in order to restore the stabilizer action in a purposeful manner and effectively from any position of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Ullrich Hammelmaier, Metin Ersoy, Felix Haeusler, Oliver Westphal