Patents by Inventor Otto Ebner

Otto Ebner 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: 7967723
    Abstract: A method and a apparatus for operating an automatic synchronized transmission for motor vehicles. The transmission having a countershaft design, with a countershaft parallel to input and an output shafts, which communicate with each other and the countershaft by means of gear wheel pairs. The transmission further having at least one coupling and synchronization device for at least one idler gear, with the aid of which at least one idler gear can be rotationally fixed to a transmission shaft, such that when the motor vehicle is stationary and a starting gear is engaged, torque of the countershaft is not drive-effectively reduced. Thus, ensuring that when the starting gear is engaged, no undesired acceleration of the vehicle occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Otto Ebner, Thomas Jäger, Florian Schneider
  • Patent number: 7474950
    Abstract: A method is proposed for determining a clutch application point in a transmission of a vehicle having a spring-actuated clutch system in which the clutch application point is adapted according to at least one adequate regulated quantity of the clutch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schwenger, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Rüchardt, Marcus Gansohr, Thomas Knoblauch
  • Publication number: 20080275614
    Abstract: A method is proposed for determining a clutch application point in a transmission of a vehicle having a spring-actuated clutch system in which the clutch application point is adapted according to at least one adequate regulated quantity of the clutch system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas SCHWENGER, Otto EBNER, Klaus SCHWEIGER, Matthias WINKEL, Christoph RUCHARDT, Marcus GANSOHR, Thomas KNOBLAUCH
  • Patent number: 7419456
    Abstract: A known device for increasing the functional reliability for a hydraulic circuit of a hydraulic clutch having a pressure reservoir (25) and a release cylinder (5) which comprises a primary piston (14) and a secondary piston (16). A compensation volume is developed in the sense that when the vehicle is at a standstill and the parking brake released, an unintentional release of the clutch is prevented. A pressure-monitoring/pressure-supply device (28) is used for determining a reference operating pressure and establishes a static pressure which, in case of any system error, only allows displacement of the secondary piston (16) such that the contact pressure of the clutch discs, against one another, is still sufficient to maintain the vehicle at a standstill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Knoblauch, Christoph Rüchardt, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr
  • Publication number: 20080045380
    Abstract: A method and a apparatus for operating an automatic synchronized transmission for motor vehicles. The transmission having a countershaft design, with a countershaft parallel to input and an output shafts, which communicate with each other and the countershaft by means of gear wheel pairs. The transmission further having at least one coupling and synchronization device for at least one idler gear, with the aid of which at least one idler gear can be rotationally fixed to a transmission shaft, such that when the motor vehicle is stationary and a starting gear is engaged, torque of the countershaft is not drive-effectively reduced. Thus, ensuring that when the starting gear is engaged, no undesired acceleration of the vehicle occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Otto Ebner, Thomas Jager, Florian Schneider
  • Patent number: 7169081
    Abstract: A method for clutch actuation at low temperatures for a motor vehicle having a hydraulically actuatable clutch, below a predetermined temperature a situation-dependent pre-opening of the clutch is executed when a braking is probable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Winkel, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Christoph Rüchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr, Thomas Knoblauch
  • Patent number: 7159399
    Abstract: A device for rendering a hydraulic actuating device operational. A motor vehicle clutch with an emitter-receiver system located in the transmission path of the actuating device comprising two pistons whose positions, relative to one another, can vary as a function of the desired operating behavior of the actuating device and is developed further such that in relation to the emitter-receiver system that is to be filled with fluid, operationality can be established comparatively quickly and by simple way. A fluid supply unit (24) comprises one impulse valve (25) that serves to release an essentially constant volume flow, acted upon by an impulse valve control device (26) which is constructed such that the fluid volume flow released by the fluid supply unit (24) and flowing into the emitter-receiver system (5) does not exceed a limiting volume flow QK.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Schwenger, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Christoph Rüchardt, Marcus Gansohr
  • Publication number: 20060116237
    Abstract: A known device for increasing the functional reliability for a hydraulic circuit of a hydraulic clutch having one pressure reservoir and one release cylinder which comprises a primary piston, a secondary piston and a compensation volume is to be further developed in the sense that when the vehicle is at a standstill and the parking brake released, an unintentional release of the clutch is prevented. According to the invention there is used for the purpose a pressure-monitoring/pressure-supply device (28) which determines a reference operating pressure and establishes a static pressure which in case of system errors allows only a displacement of the secondary piston (16) such that the contact pressure of the clutch discs against each other is still sufficient to hold the vehicle at a standstill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 1, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Knoblauch, Christoph Ruchardt, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr
  • Patent number: 7003429
    Abstract: An operating time is determined by an approximation method within the scope of the method for determining the actual operating time of a hydraulic, electrohydraulic or electric component of a motor vehicle or of a working machine within a reference time or a monitoring period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marcus Gansohr, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Rüchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Thomas Knoblauch
  • Publication number: 20050279087
    Abstract: A device for rendering a hydraulic actuating device operational. A motor vehicle clutch with an emitter-receiver system located in the transmission path of the actuating device comprising two pistons whose positions, relative to one another, can vary as a function of the desired operating behavior of the actuating device and is developed further such that in relation to the emitter-receiver system that is to be filled with fluid, operationality can be established comparatively quickly and by simple way. A fluid supply unit (24) comprises one impulse valve (25) that serves to release an essentially constant volume flow, acted upon by an impulse valve control device (26) which is constructed such that the fluid volume flow released by the fluid supply unit (24) and flowing into the emitter-receiver system (5) does not exceed a limiting volume flow QK.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2003
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Andreas Schwenger, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Christoph Ruchardt, Marcus Gansohr
  • Publication number: 20050051408
    Abstract: A method is proposed for determining a clutch application point in a transmission of a vehicle having a spring-actuated clutch system in which the clutch application point is adapted according to at least one adequate regulated quantity of the clutch system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Andreas Schwenger, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Ruchardt, Marcus Gansohr, Thomas Knoblauch
  • Publication number: 20050033552
    Abstract: An actual operating time is determined by an approximation method within the scope of the method for determining the actual operating time of a hydraulic, electrohydraulic or electric component of a motor vehicle or of a working machine within a reference time or a monitoring period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Marcus Gansohr, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Ruchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Thomas Knoblauch
  • Publication number: 20050002796
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a pressure supply device in a hydraulic circuit, especially in a hydraulic circuit in an automatic gearbox which comprises an hydraulic pump, a pressure control valve and a consumer. The hydraulic pump is controlled if the system pressure falls below a specific lower threshold value and is switched off if a specific higher threshold value of the system pressure is reached or exceeded. In the data on the system pressure is not available, the current system pressure is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Knoblauch, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Matthias Winkel, Christoph Rüchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr
  • Publication number: 20040235618
    Abstract: A method for clutch actuation at low temperatures for a motor vehicle having a hydraulically actuatable clutch, below a predetermined temperature a situation-dependent pre-opening of the clutch is executed when a braking is probable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Matthias Winkel, Otto Ebner, Klaus Schweiger, Christoph Ruchardt, Andreas Schwenger, Marcus Gansohr, Thomas Knoblauch
  • Patent number: 4807489
    Abstract: A gear shift device e.g. for a six-speed automotive speed change transmission with a gear shift lever for selection and shifting of all gears and with shift rails for the shifting of gears in one shift path has an H-shaped shift pattern similar to a four-speed transmission and has means for fixing or returning of a central selection and shift shaft or rotating shaft and/or the gear-shift lever into predetermined shift paths, e.g. the gears 3/4, where for the shift path of the gears 5/6 a retention device is provided additionally, which upon completed or nearly completed shift into the next higher, that is sixth gear, retains the central selection and shift shaft or the rotating shaft and/or the gear-shift lever in this shift path and upon completed or nearly completed shift into the next lower, that is fifth gear, permits the return of the central selector and shift shaft or the rotating shaft and/or the gear-shift lever into a lower shift path, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Friedrich Schreiner, Otto Ebner, Gerhard Buri, Bernhard Grupp
  • Patent number: 4753332
    Abstract: A start and shift clutch arrangement for motor vehicles with a disk clutch which during the sliding or friction generating phase is supplied with lubricating and cooling oil, and which runs dry when fully engaged or disengaged. The disk clutch is flooded in the area of the outer disks, whereby the maximum filling is limited by a first standpipe, and rapid emptying takes place via a second standpipe in conjunction with a control valve. Particularly advantageous is a self-contained lubricating system, which fills the clutch space during the sliding phase via an oil reservoir and an accumulator by a timed solenoid valve, utilizing compressed air. The accumulator equipped with a piston effects thereby alternately its own filling, and that of the clutch space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerold Bieber, Otto Ebner