Patents by Inventor Paul Lenz

Paul Lenz 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: 9868329
    Abstract: A spring carrier of a motor vehicle axle, particularly of a portal axle, with a longitudinal portion (1) and a flange portion (2) which adjoins the one end of the longitudinal portion (1) and which has a flange (8). The longitudinal portion (1) includes at least one fastening point for fastening to a shock absorber and/or to a suspension. At least the longitudinal portion (1) of the spring carrier arm comprises a lower shell (4) and an upper shell (3) of metallic material or of a plastic with or without fiber reinforcement, the shell edges (6, 7) thereof extending along the neutral bending axis (5) of the spring carrier arm, and the lower shell (4) and upper shell (3) are connected to one another along the neutral bending axis (5) of the spring carrier arm by bonding engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Manuel Bauer, Paul Lenz
  • Publication number: 20170120707
    Abstract: A spring carrier of a motor vehicle axle, particularly of a portal axle, with a longitudinal portion (1) and a flange portion (2) which adjoins the one end of the longitudinal portion (1) and which has a flange (8). The longitudinal portion (1) includes at least one fastening point for fastening to a shock absorber and/or to a suspension. At least the longitudinal portion (1) of the spring carrier arm comprises a lower shell (4) and an upper shell (3) of metallic material or of a plastic with or without fiber reinforcement, the shell edges (6, 7) thereof extending along the neutral bending axis (5) of the spring carrier arm, and the lower shell (4) and upper shell (3) are connected to one another along the neutral bending axis (5) of the spring carrier arm by bonding engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Manuel BAUER, Paul LENZ
  • Publication number: 20170080753
    Abstract: An axle assembly for a drive device for the road wheels of a vehicle includes: a stationary housing having a housing interior at least partially filled with a lubricating liquid; axle housings connected to the stationary housing and configured to permit axles of the vehicle to pass towards the road wheels; a venting bore in one of the axle housings configured to allow pressurized air to escape from the stationary housing; and at least one rib sized and positioned in the housing interior of the stationary housing so as to prevent migration of the lubricating liquid out of the venting bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Manuel BAUER, Rudolf NEUMÜLLER, Paul LENZ, Peter HASELBERGER, Horst SIGL, Daniel DUDEK, Matthias KOBLER, Daniela WAGNER, Rainer HILDEBRAND, Stefan BRACHMEIER
  • Patent number: 9175761
    Abstract: A drive device for the road wheels of a vehicle includes a stationary housing in which a rotatably drivable differential housing having an axle differential gear unit is rotatably mounted by differential bearings, at least one driveshaft being rotatably drivable by the differential housing. At least one driving gear wheel is arranged on the at least one driveshaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to the latter. The at least one driving gear wheel meshingly engage by oppositely directed helical teeth with at least one driven gear wheel for driving road wheels of the vehicle and generating axial forces directed toward the center of the axle differential gear unit. At least one thrust bearing arrangement is supported axially with respect to the at least one driveshaft at a radial supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Horst Sigl, Paul Lenz, Peter Haselberger, Rudolf Neumüller, Klaus Alesch, Alexander Enderl
  • Patent number: 9169912
    Abstract: A drive device for the road wheels of a vehicle includes a stationary housing in which a rotatably drivable differential housing having an axle differential gear unit is rotatably mounted by differential bearings, at least one driveshaft being rotatably drivable by the differential housing. At least one driving gear wheel is arranged on the at least one driveshaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to the latter. The at least one driving gear wheel meshingly engage by oppositely directed helical teeth with at least one driven gear wheel for driving road wheels of the vehicle and generating axial forces directed toward the center of the axle differential gear unit. At least one thrust bearing arrangement is supported axially with respect to the at least one driveshaft at a radial supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Horst Sigl, Paul Lenz, Peter Haselberger, Rudolf Neumüller, Klaus Alesch, Alexander Enderl, Daniel Dudek
  • Patent number: 9169911
    Abstract: A drive device for the road wheels of a vehicle includes a stationary housing in which a rotatably drivable differential housing having an axle differential gear unit is rotatably mounted by differential bearings, at least one driveshaft being rotatably drivable by the differential housing. At least one driving gear wheel is arranged on the at least one driveshaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to the latter. The at least one driving gear wheel meshingly engage by oppositely directed helical teeth with at least one driven gear wheel for driving road wheels of the vehicle and generating axial forces directed toward the center of the axle differential gear unit. At least one thrust bearing arrangement for supporting these axial forces is in turn supported at a structural component part of the drive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Horst Sigl, Paul Lenz, Peter Haselberger, Rudolf Neumüller, Klaus Alesch, Alexander Enderl
  • Patent number: 9115798
    Abstract: A drive device for the road wheels of a vehicle, with a stationary housing partially filled with a lubricating liquid, and a rotatably drivable driveshaft inserted into the housing interior and with a differential unit having a crown wheel with a differential housing. The crown wheel is rotatably drivable by the driving gear wheel, by means of which crown wheel a plurality of differential gear wheels of the differential unit are rotatably drivable, driven gear wheels being rotatably drivable in turn by these differential gear wheels. The driven gear wheels being drivingly connected in each instance to driven shafts for driving the road wheels of the vehicle. The differential unit is enclosed in the housing interior by a shielding housing, wherein the stationary housing interior is connected to the shielding housing interior via one or more apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Horst Sigl, Paul Lenz
  • Patent number: 9017210
    Abstract: A drive device for road wheels of a vehicle includes: a stationary housing; a rotatably drivable differential housing with an axle differential gear unit, the differential housing being rotatably mounted in the stationary housing by differential bearings; at least one driveshaft rotatably drivable by the rotatably drivable differential housing; at least one driving gear wheel associated with and arranged on the at least one driveshaft, so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to the at least one driveshaft; and at least one driven gear wheel, the at least one driving gear wheel meshingly engaging, by oppositely directed helical teeth, with the at least one driven gear wheel to drive the road wheels of the vehicle and generate axial forces directed toward the center of the axle differential gear unit, and having at least one thrust bearing arrangement configured to support the axial forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Horst Sigl, Paul Lenz, Peter Haselberger, Rudolf Neumüller, Klaus Alesch, Alexander Enderl
  • Publication number: 20140235395
    Abstract: A drive device for the road wheels of a vehicle, with a stationary housing partially filled with a lubricating liquid, and a rotatably drivable driveshaft inserted into the housing interior and with a differential unit having a crown wheel with a differential housing. The crown wheel is rotatably drivable by the driving gear wheel, by means of which crown wheel a plurality of differential gear wheels of the differential unit are rotatably drivable, driven gear wheels being rotatably drivable in turn by these differential gear wheels. The driven gear wheels being drivingly connected in each instance to driven shafts for driving the road wheels of the vehicle. The differential unit is enclosed in the housing interior by a shielding housing, wherein the stationary housing interior is connected to the shielding housing interior via one or more apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Horst SIGL, Paul LENZ
  • Publication number: 20140206492
    Abstract: A drive device for the road wheels of a vehicle includes a stationary housing in which a rotatably drivable differential housing having an axle differential gear unit is rotatably mounted by differential bearings, at least one driveshaft being rotatably drivable by the differential housing. At least one driving gear wheel is arranged on the at least one driveshaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to the latter. The at least one driving gear wheel meshingly engage by oppositely directed helical teeth with at least one driven gear wheel for driving road wheels of the vehicle and generating axial forces directed toward the center of the axle differential gear unit. At least one thrust bearing arrangement is supported axially with respect to the at least one driveshaft at a radial supporting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Horst SIGL, Paul Lenz, Peter Haselberger, Rudolf Neumüller, Klaus Alesch, Alexander Enderl
  • Publication number: 20140206490
    Abstract: A drive device for the road wheels of a vehicle includes a stationary housing in which a rotatably drivable differential housing having an axle differential gear unit is rotatably mounted by differential bearings, at least one driveshaft being rotatably drivable by the differential housing. At least one driving gear wheel is arranged on the at least one driveshaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to the latter. The at least one driving gear wheel meshingly engage by oppositely directed helical teeth with at least one driven gear wheel for driving road wheels of the vehicle and generating axial forces directed toward the center of the axle differential gear unit. At least one thrust bearing arrangement for supporting these axial forces is in turn supported at a structural component part of the drive device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Horst SIGL, Paul Lenz, Peter Haselberger, Rudolf Neumüller, Klaus Alesch, Alexander Enderl
  • Publication number: 20140206493
    Abstract: A drive device for the road wheels of a vehicle includes a stationary housing in which a rotatably drivable differential housing having an axle differential gear unit is rotatably mounted by differential bearings, at least one driveshaft being rotatably drivable by the differential housing. At least one driving gear wheel is arranged on the at least one driveshaft so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to the latter. The at least one driving gear wheel meshingly engage by oppositely directed helical teeth with at least one driven gear wheel for driving road wheels of the vehicle and generating axial forces directed toward the center of the axle differential gear unit. At least one thrust bearing arrangement is supported axially with respect to the at least one driveshaft at a radial supporting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Horst SIGL, Paul LENZ, Peter HASELBERGER, Rudolf NEUMÜLLER, Klaus ALESCH, ALexander ENDERL, Daniel DUDEK
  • Publication number: 20140206489
    Abstract: A drive device for road wheels of a vehicle includes: a stationary housing; a rotatably drivable differential housing with an axle differential gear unit, the differential housing being rotatably mounted in the stationary housing by differential bearings; at least one driveshaft rotatably drivable by the rotatably drivable differential housing; at least one driving gear wheel associated with and arranged on the at least one driveshaft, so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to the at least one driveshaft; and at least one driven gear wheel, the at least one driving gear wheel meshingly engaging, by oppositely directed helical teeth, with the at least one driven gear wheel to drive the road wheels of the vehicle and generate axial forces directed toward the center of the axle differential gear unit, and having at least one thrust bearing arrangement configured to support the axial forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Horst SIGL, Paul LENZ, Peter HASELBERGER, Rudolf NEUMÜLLER, Klaus ALESCH, Alexander ENDERL
  • Publication number: 20140206491
    Abstract: A drive device for road wheels of a vehicle includes: a stationary housing; a rotatably drivable differential housing with an axle differential gear unit, the differential housing being rotatably mounted in the stationary housing by differential bearings; at least one driveshaft rotatably drivable by the rotatably drivable differential housing; at least one driving gear wheel associated with and arranged on the at least one driveshaft, so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to the at least one driveshaft; and at least one driven gear wheel, the at least one driving gear wheel meshingly engaging, by oppositely directed helical teeth, with the at least one driven gear wheel to drive the road wheels of the vehicle and generate axial forces directed toward the center of the axle differential gear unit, and having at least one thrust bearing arrangement configured to support the axial forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Horst Sigl, Paul Lenz, Peter Haselberger, Rudolf Neumüller, Klaus Alesch, Alexander Enderl
  • Publication number: 20130328281
    Abstract: A spring carrier arm of a spring carrier of a motor vehicle axle, particularly of a portal axle, has a longitudinal portion (1) extending in a curved manner, a transverse portion (2) adjoining the longitudinal portion (1) and extending transverse thereto, and a flange portion (3), particularly for connection to a wheel hub gear unit housing, wherein the transverse portion (2) includes at least one fastening point (4, 5) for connection to a shock absorber (18) and/or to a suspension. The spring carrier arm is generally formed as a cast part from a light metal alloy and has at least one ribbing. A motor vehicle axle in which aforementioned spring carrier arms are applied in the region of spring carriers are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Paul Lenz, Peter Haselberger
  • Publication number: 20030137121
    Abstract: The offset axle for buses has a housing in which a differential is located, said differential being connected to two axle shafts; and a suspension for connecting the housing to the vehicle. Said suspension has single or multiple part spring carriers which consist of corelessly, completely cast metal. Humps can be provided in the area of the curvature between the spring element and the housing in order to increase strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Paul Lenz, Alfred Junk