Patents by Inventor Peter Herter

Peter Herter 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: 9551410
    Abstract: A method for assuring that a signal, for damping drive train vibrations, is overlaid during the same time period as the drive train vibration, and not delayed by one time period. The method comprises the steps of continuously calculating a correction torque for the vibration damping, determining, through a parallel signal path, whether the vibration damping is to be activated or deactivated, and overlaying the correction torque to the drive train vibration, if the necessity arises for activation of the vibration damping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Franz Bitzer, Peter Herter
  • Patent number: 9523377
    Abstract: A method of controlling a pneumatic actuator for actuation of a pneumatically actuated device. The actuator comprises a piston and a pneumatic cylinder, the piston is arranged to move axially within the pneumatic cylinder. The piston is moved as a function of a pressure in a pressure chamber of the pneumatic cylinder, and the pressure in the pressure chamber is adjusted by a control unit which controls at least a valve and/or a pressure regulator and/or a pressure generating device. A pilot control component, for the control, is determined as a function of at least a sliding friction force and/or at least a static friction force of the pneumatic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rupert Kramer, Peter Herter, Franz Bitzer, Roland Mair, Florian Schneider
  • Publication number: 20150094920
    Abstract: A method for assuring that a signal, for damping drive train vibrations, is overlaid during the same time period as the drive train vibration, and not delayed by one time period. The method comprises the steps of continuously calculating a correction torque for the vibration damping, determining, through a parallel signal path, whether the vibration damping is to be activated or deactivated, and overlaying the correction torque to the drive train vibration, if the necessity arises for activation of the vibration damping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Franz BITZER, Peter HERTER
  • Patent number: 8938339
    Abstract: A method of actuating an assembly of a transmission, with which are associated a plurality of actuators with whose help the assembly can in principle be actuated, such that out of the actuators available in principle for actuation, a control unit selects at least one actuator for the actual actuation and activates the selected actuator with an output signal in such manner that a status parameter of the actuated assembly corresponds to or follows a control-side nominal value, such that out of the actuators available in principle for actuating the assembly, the control unit selects at least one actuator for the actual actuation of the assembly in such manner that, for all the actuators available in principle for actuating the assembly over the operating life of the transmission, the extent of their utilization is approximately uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Herter, Rupert Kramer
  • Patent number: 8746426
    Abstract: A through-connection clutch, for transferring torque between a motor and transmission of a vehicle, which has a friction clutch and a form-locking clutch. The form-locking clutch is disposed radially within the friction clutch, and the clutches can be actuated independently of each other. To minimize the required installation space, the through-connection clutch can be activated flexibly, but is still inexpensive to produce and ensures low-wear yet safe and comfortable torque transfer in a drive train of a vehicle. A pressure plate of the friction clutch and a form-locking element of the form-locking clutch are concentric, rotationally fixed together, and movable toward one another, and can be actuated via an actuation unit, which is rotationally decoupled from the pressure plate and the form-locking element. Depending on the operating situation, the friction clutch and/or the form-locking clutch is selectively activated one or more times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Peter Herter, Mario Steinborn, Franz Bitzer
  • Patent number: 8744739
    Abstract: A method of initializing the mass of a motor vehicle after a restart, for controlling a starting process of the motor vehicle a from a standstill. During operation of the motor vehicle, its mass is computed and the determined mass values are stored and, from the stored mass values, a vehicle-specific maximum mass value and/or a vehicle-specific minimum mass value is determined. The vehicle-specific maximum mass value and/or the vehicle-specific minimum mass value, determined in this manner, is subsequently used for initializing the mass of the motor vehicle after restarting the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Maik Wurthner, Peter Herter, Ingo Sauter, Joachim Staudinger, Johannes Kemler
  • Patent number: 8641579
    Abstract: A method is proposed for controlling a through-connection clutch of a vehicle, in which an interlocking portion of the clutch is opened when the drive-train is virtually free from torque, a shifting operation is then carried out, and after the shifting operation the clutch is closed again. According to the invention, the torque transmitted by the interlocked connection in the clutch is influenced by controlling the motor in order to produce a torque-free condition at the interlocked connection in the clutch, in such manner that the interlocked connection is pre-stressed before the torque-free condition has been reached and separated immediately only when the torque-free condition is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Peter Herter, Mario Steinborn, Franz Bitzer
  • Publication number: 20130298757
    Abstract: A method of controlling a pneumatic actuator for actuation of a pneumatically actuated device. The actuator comprises a piston and a pneumatic cylinder, the piston is arranged to move axially within the pneumatic cylinder. The piston is moved as a function of a pressure in a pressure chamber of the pneumatic cylinder, and the pressure in the pressure chamber is adjusted by a control unit which controls at least a valve and/or a pressure regulator and/or a pressure generating device. A pilot control component, for the control, is determined as a function of at least a sliding friction force and/or at least a static friction force of the pneumatic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Rupert Kramer, Peter Herter, Franz Bitzer, Roland Mair, Florian Schneider
  • Patent number: 8500602
    Abstract: A method of operating a transmission positioned between a drive aggregate and an axle drive, a transmission input shaft is connected, via a clutch, with the drive aggregate, and a transmission output shaft is connected with the axle drive and power can be diverted from the transmission to drive a power take-off. The PTO is activated by an engine intervention, shifting the transmission to neutral and disengaging the clutch. Thereafter, the clutch is partially engaged at either a position dependent or distance dependent clutch speed while monitoring the input rotational speed and drive aggregate rotational speed. When the input rotational speed approximately equals the drive aggregate rotational speed and the idle rotation speed of the drive aggregate, the clutch is no longer being engaged at the position dependent or distance dependent clutch speed, but is fully engaged at a maximum clutch speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Joachim Staudinger, Peter Herter, Wolfgang Groener
  • Patent number: 8352140
    Abstract: A method of determining and reducing vibrations caused by a clutch (3) in a drivetrain (1) of a motor vehicle, in which the disturbing vibrations are detected by a control and regulating unit aided by suitable sensors and, if predetermined limit values are exceeded, at least one device is actuated by the control and regulating unit in such manner that the disturbing vibrations are completely eliminated or at least reduced in amplitude. At least one torque sensor (8, 9, 10) is used to detect the occurrence of vibrations in the drivetrain (1) and the torque sensor (8, 9, 10) is used to determine vibration amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Herter, Joachim Staudinger, Rainer Petzold, Franz Bitzer
  • Patent number: 8321109
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a clutch, for example an automatic friction clutch forming part of a drive train of a motor vehicle, for a torque transfer between an engine and a transmission, with the clutch having significant clutch way points assigned to it. For achieving the operational readiness of the clutch over the shortest possible time period, whereby an accurate clutch adjustment is still guaranteed, a clutch way point coordinate system is monitored by checking the point of engagement of the clutch, established through a learning process and having at least a relevant clutch way point for the starting procedure. In case of any recognized change(s), the clutch way point is suitably corrected or otherwise used as is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Peter Herter
  • Publication number: 20120234641
    Abstract: A through-connection clutch, for transferring torque between a motor and transmission of a vehicle, which has a friction clutch and a form-locking clutch. The form-locking clutch is disposed radially within the friction clutch, and the clutches can be actuated independently of each other. To minimize the required installation space, the through-connection clutch can be activated flexibly, but is still inexpensive to produce and ensures low-wear yet safe and comfortable torque transfer in a drive train of a vehicle. A pressure plate of the friction clutch and a form-locking element of the form-locking clutch are concentric, rotationally fixed together, and movable toward one another, and can be actuated via an actuation unit, which is rotationally decoupled from the pressure plate and the form-locking element. Depending on the operating situation, the friction clutch and/or the form-locking clutch is selectively activated one or more times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Peter Herter, Mario Steinborn, Franz Bitzer
  • Publication number: 20120220421
    Abstract: A method is proposed for controlling a through-connection clutch of a vehicle, in which an interlocking portion of the clutch is opened when the drive-train is virtually free from torque, a shifting operation is then carried out, and after the shifting operation the clutch is closed again. According to the invention, the torque transmitted by the interlocked connection in the clutch is influenced by controlling the motor in order to produce a torque-free condition at the interlocked connection in the clutch, in such manner that the interlocked connection is pre-stressed before the torque-free condition has been reached and separated immediately only when the torque-free condition is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Peter Herter, Mario Steinborn, Franz Bitzer
  • Publication number: 20120209503
    Abstract: A method of initializing the mass of a motor vehicle after a restart, for controlling a starting process of the motor vehicle a from a standstill. During operation of the motor vehicle, its mass is computed and the determined mass values are stored and, from the stored mass values, a vehicle-specific maximum mass value and/or a vehicle-specific minimum mass value is determined. The vehicle-specific maximum mass value and/or the vehicle-specific minimum mass value, determined in this manner, is subsequently used for initializing the mass of the motor vehicle after restarting the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Maik Wurthner, Peter Herter, Ingo Sauter, Joachim Staudinger, Johannes Kemler
  • Patent number: 8219294
    Abstract: A method for actuating a clutch (6) of a drivetrain of a motor vehicle such that, when the motor vehicle is rolling downhill with the accelerator pedal not being actuated and when the motor vehicle is coasting on level ground with the accelerator pedal not being actuated, a clutch position of the clutch (6) is determined as a function of a rotational speed difference between an input speed of a transmission (2) of the drivetrain and an idling speed of a power engine (1) of the drivetrain. The method includes the steps of determining the clutch position from the rotational speed difference between the transmission input speed and the power engine idling speed and correcting the clutch position using at least one parameter that depends on acceleration of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Herter, Joachim Staudinger, Rainer Petzold, Franz Bitzer
  • Patent number: 8187148
    Abstract: A clutch system for producing and interrupting a force flow between the engine and transmission of a motor vehicle, with a clutch, which is disengaged unless actuated, and one or more valves, which regulate the flow of pressure medium and which are electrically actuated by a control and regulation unit. If there is electrical failure while driving and when a gear is engaged or when the vehicle is stationary, the engine is running and a transmission gear is engaged, unintended clutch engagement is prevented. The valves are designed such that if there is a failure of the voltage supply and consequently also of the actuation of the valves by the electronic control and regulation system, the operating condition of the clutch existing at the time of failure, namely the disengaged or engaged operating condition, remains as it is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Peter Herter, Franz Bitzer
  • Patent number: 8162799
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a hydraulic or pneumatic transmission control system, which comprises a pressure supply unit with a conduit directing a pressure medium under a supply pressure, and an actuating member for a clutch control element of a friction clutch. The actuating member has a pressure space which can be connected by a clutch control valve to the conduit, and in which the supply pressure is determined by a pressure sensor that can be connected to the conduit. The method includes the steps of determining the supply pressure by the pressure sensor, given that briefly opening the clutch control valve produces a pressure increase and/or a pressure gradient of the control pressure in the pressure space, and the currently existing supply pressure can be calculated from the control pressure, the pressure increase and/or the pressure gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rupert Kramer, Marcus Gansohr, Johannes Kemler, Franz Bitzer, Rainer Petzold, Peter Herter
  • Publication number: 20120072082
    Abstract: A method of actuating an assembly of a transmission, with which are associated a plurality of actuators with whose help the assembly can in principle be actuated, such that out of the actuators available in principle for actuation, a control unit selects at least one actuator for the actual actuation and activates the selected actuator with an output signal in such manner that a status parameter of the actuated assembly corresponds to or follows a control-side nominal value, such that out of the actuators available in principle for actuating the assembly, the control unit selects at least one actuator for the actual actuation of the assembly in such manner that, for all the actuators available in principle for actuating the assembly over the operating life of the transmission, the extent of their utilization is approximately uniform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Peter HERTER, Rupert KRAMER
  • Patent number: 8131438
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automated friction clutch arranged in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle in the force flow, between a motor and transmission, and the automated friction clutch is designed to be passively engaged by spring pressure and can be disengaged and engaged by a controllable clutch actuator. The automated friction clutch is provided with a path sensor for detecting the clutch actuator travel such that during the operation of the motor a current key point of a torque characteristic, provided for controlling the friction clutch, is determined and used for adapting the torque characteristic. With the friction clutch engaged and without the clutch actuator exerting any force, several values of the actuator travel are determined at intervals from which a current engagement point, close to the actual engagement point of the torque characteristic, is determined and with which the torque characteristic is adapted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Peter Herter, Joachim Staudinger, Rainer Petzold, Franz Bitzer
  • Patent number: 8090513
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automated friction clutch in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive motor and a manual transmission. During clutch actuation, at least one operating parameter of the friction clutch is detected by a sensor and from variation of the operating parameter at least one adaptation parameter is derived for correcting a control parameter of the associated clutch control element. To obtain information about variation of the clutch release force and to improve the control of an associated clutch control element, the friction clutch is fully disengaged with constant control or actuation of the clutch control element. During the disengagement process, the release travel path is determined as a function of release time, and from the time variation of the release travel path, a characteristic value is determined which is used to determine an adaptation parameter for correcting the control parameter of the clutch control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Peter Herter, Franz Bitzer, Roland Mair