Patents by Inventor Ralf Boss

Ralf Boss 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: 9604669
    Abstract: A drive mechanism (10) for a tracked vehicle. The drive mechanism includes an electric drive motor (1) for supplying drive power and an electric steering motor (3) for supplying steering power. Mechanical drive elements (4, 5) transmit reactive power between a right-hand drive side (12) and a left-hand drive side (11) when driving around a curve or bend. An electric auxiliary motor (2) selectively assists either the drive motor (2) or the steering motor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Henning Sonnenburg, Ralf Boss
  • Publication number: 20160272241
    Abstract: A drive mechanism (10) for a tracked vehicle. The drive mechanism includes an electric drive motor (1) for supplying drive power and an electric steering motor (3) for supplying steering power. Mechanical drive elements (4, 5) transmit reactive power between a right-hand drive side (12) and a left-hand drive side (11) when driving around a curve or bend. An electric auxiliary motor (2) selectively assists either the drive motor (2) or the steering motor (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Henning SONNENBURG, Ralf BOSS
  • Patent number: 9365239
    Abstract: A tracked vehicle (5) with a drive engine (1) for providing mechanical drive power, with a gearshift transmission (2) coupled to the drive engine (1) and with at least one steering gear system (6) coupled to the final drives (12, 12A) of each track (10, 10A). At least one pump (3) supplies hydraulic power to at least one hydraulic motor (4, 4A) of the steering gear system (6). The drive engine (1), the gearshift transmission (2) and the pump (3) are arranged as a drive unit (16) separately from the steering gear system (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Boss, Bernd Unseld, Achim Klumpp
  • Publication number: 20150217806
    Abstract: A tracked vehicle (5) with a drive engine (1) for providing mechanical drive power, with a gearshift transmission (2) coupled to the drive engine (1) and with at least one steering gear system (6) coupled to the final drives (12, 12A) of each track (10, 10A). At least one pump (3) supplies hydraulic power to at least one hydraulic motor (4, 4A) of the steering gear system (6). The drive engine (1), the gearshift transmission (2) and the pump (3) are arranged as a drive unit (16) separately from the steering gear system (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Boss, Bernd Unseld, Achim Klumpp
  • Publication number: 20120231723
    Abstract: In order to provide a vapour extraction device comprising at least one air curtain producing device and at least one vapour suction device incorporating at least one vapour suction opening, it is proposed that, by means of the air curtain producing device, there can be produced an air curtain which is so oriented that at least a part of the air stream forming the air curtain impinges on at least one vapour suction opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: BLANCO CS GmbH+ Co KG
    Inventors: Timo Dieter, Dietmar Kübler, Ralf Böss
  • Patent number: 8186178
    Abstract: In order to provide a container for the cooling and/or cold storage of foods and/or beverages which comprises at least one storage tank for a multi-phase flowable cooling medium wherein the cooling effect is still as uniform as possible over the entire height of the storage tank even when the multi-phase flowable cooling medium has been stored in the storage tank for a long period of time, it is proposed that the storage tank be divided into a plurality of storage tank segments which are separated from each other by partition walls which extend horizontally or are inclined to the vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: BLANCO CS GmbH + Co KG
    Inventor: Ralf Böss
  • Patent number: 8088033
    Abstract: A transmission having gearsets (P1-P4), shafts (1-8) and shifting elements (03, 04, 05, 48, 67, 78). Shaft (1) couples an input and carrier of gearset (P1), shaft (2) couples the output and carriers of gearsets (P3, P4), shaft (3) couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and the sun gear of gearset (P1), shaft (4) couples the ring gear of gearset (P3) and the sun gear of gearset (P4), shaft (5) couples the ring gear of gearset (P4), shaft (6) couples the sun gear of gearset (P2) and the ring gear of gearset (P1), shaft (7) is connected to the sun gear of gearset (P3), and shaft (8) is connected to the carrier of gearset (P2). Shafts (3, 4 and 5) can each engage housing (G) by way of respective brakes (03, 04, 05), clutches (48; 67; 78) can couple, respectively, shafts (4, 8; 6, 7; 7, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Boss, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Hans-Peter Freudenreich
  • Patent number: 8062164
    Abstract: Multi-stage transmission having six or seven forward gears and three reverse gears comprises three planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), six rotatable shafts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), as well as six shifting elements (03, 04, 13, 14, 15, 35, 36, 46), whereby the shaft (1) is permanently connected to input element (An) and to the sun gear of the second planetary gear set (P2), the shaft (2) is permanently connected to the output element (Ab) and the ring gear of the third planetary gear set (P3), the shaft (3) is permanently connected to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set (P2), the shaft (4) is permanently connected to the web of the third planetary gear set (P3), the shaft (5) is permanently connected to the ring gear of the first planetary gear set (P1), to the web of the second planetary gear set (P2), and to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set (P3), the shaft (6) is permanently connected to the web of the first planetary gear set (P1), whereby the sun gear of the first planetary gear set (P1) is
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Boss, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Hans-Peter Freudenreich
  • Publication number: 20110028079
    Abstract: In order to provide a vapour extraction device comprising at least one air curtain producing device and at least one vapour suction device incorporating at least one vapour suction opening, it is proposed that, by means of the air curtain producing device, there can be produced an air curtain which is so oriented that at least a part of the air stream forming the air curtain impinges on at least one vapour suction opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: BLANCO CS GmbH + Co KG
    Inventors: Timo Dieter, Dietmar Kübler, Ralf Böss
  • Publication number: 20100170275
    Abstract: In order to provide a device, which with a low outlay enables a product to be cooled to be conveyed to a place of use and cooled reliably and energy-efficiently at the place of use, a cooling station for receiving a frame that has receivers for a product to be cooled is proposed, wherein the cooling station comprises at least one fan for generating a circulating air flow through the frame and at least one cooler for cooling the circulating air flow and wherein the cooling station comprises a housing that surrounds a receiving space for receiving the frame on at least three sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: BLANCO CS GMBH + CO KG
    Inventors: Claus Konrad, Peter Wirth, Ralf Böss
  • Publication number: 20100170287
    Abstract: In order to provide a container for the cooling and/or cold storage of foods and/or beverages which comprises at least one storage tank for a multi-phase flowable cooling medium wherein the cooling effect is still as uniform as possible over the entire height of the storage tank even when the multi-phase flowable cooling medium has been stored in the storage tank for a long period of time, it is proposed that the storage tank be divided into a plurality of storage tank segments which are separated from each other by partition walls which extend horizontally or are inclined to the vertical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: BLANCO CS GMBH + CO KG
    Inventor: Ralf Böss
  • Publication number: 20100048343
    Abstract: A transmission having forward and reverse gears includes gearsets (P1, P2, P3), shafts (1-6), and six shifting elements (03, 04, 13, 14, 15, 35, 36, 46). Shaft (1) forms the input and sun gear of gearset (P2). Shaft (2) forms the output and ring gear of gearset (P3). Shaft (3) forms the ring gear of gearset (P2), and shaft (4) forms the carrier of gearset (P3). Shaft (5) forms the ring gear of gearset (P1), carrier of gearset (P2), and sun gear of gearset (P3). Shaft (6) forms the carrier of gear set (P1). The sun gear of gearset (P1) is fixed to a housing. Shafts (3, 4) are connected by brakes (03, 04) to the housing. Clutches (14, 36, 46) respectively couple shafts (1, 4), shafts (3, 6), and shafts (4, 6), and clutch (35, 13, 15) couples shafts (3, 5), shafts (1, 3), or shafts (1, 5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ralf Boss, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Hans-Peter Freudenreich
  • Publication number: 20100048345
    Abstract: A transmission having gearsets (P1-P4), shafts (1-8) and shifting elements (03, 04, 05, 48, 67, 78). Shaft (1) couples an input and carrier of gearset (P1), shaft (2) couples the output and carriers of gearsets (P3, P4), shaft (3) couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and the sun gear of gearset (P1), shaft (4) couples the ring gear of gearset (P3) and the sun gear of gearset (P4), shaft (5) couples the ring gear of gearset (P4), shaft (6) couples the sun gear of gearset (P2) and the ring gear of gearset (P1), shaft (7) is connected to the sun gear of gearset (P3), and shaft (8) is connected to the carrier of gearset (P2). Shafts (3, 4 and 5) can each engage housing (G) by way of respective brakes (03, 04, 05), clutches (48; 67; 78) can couple, respectively, shafts (4, 8; 6, 7; 7, 8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Ralf Boss, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Hans-Peter Freudenreich
  • Publication number: 20090145154
    Abstract: In order to provide a cooling station for at least one container to be cooled that is dockable with the cooling station and has a housing that surrounds a receiving space for receiving a product to be cooled, wherein the cooling station comprises at least one fan for generating a circulating air flow through the container, at least one cooler for cooling the circulating air flow and at least one docking place having at least one first docking point for removing the circulating air flow from the container to be cooled and having at least one second docking point for feeding the circulating air flow to the container to be cooled, that is of a simple construction and easy to manufacture and yet allows effective and energy-efficient cooling of the circulating air flow through the container to be cooled, it is proposed that the cooler takes the form of a heat exchanger that at the cold side contains a multiphase, flowable coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: BLANCO CS GMBH + CO KG
    Inventors: Claus Konrad, Peter Wirth, Ralf Boss
  • Publication number: 20090145150
    Abstract: In order to provide a cooling station for at least one container to be cooled that has a housing surrounding a receiving space for receiving a product to be cooled, wherein the cooling station comprises at least one fan for generating a circulating air flow through the container, at least one cooler for cooling the circulating air flow and at least one docking place having at least one first docking point for removing the circulating air flow from the container to be cooled and having at least one second docking point for feeding the circulating air flow to the container to be cooled, that operates in a particularly energy-efficient manner, it is proposed that the cooling station comprises at least one closure element for closing a docking point of the cooling station in the absence of a container to be cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: BLANCO CS GMBH + CO KG
    Inventors: Claus Konrad, Peter Wirth, Ralf Boss
  • Publication number: 20080210481
    Abstract: An electric drive system for a vehicle features two similar drive units, an electric energy source, an electronic control unit and a left and a right summation gear, which are configured as planetary gears. A drive unit drives the ring gear of the left summation gear, while the other drive unit drives the ring gear of the right summation gear. The ring gear of the left summation gear has a direct drive connection with the sun gear of the right summation gear, while the ring gear of the right summation gear has a direct drive connection with the sun gear of the left summation gear by way of a second mechanical gearset. A left sun gear shaft is proposed running through a left hollow shaft toward the center of the vehicle and a right sun gear shaft running through a right hollow shaft toward the center of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Boss, Hans-Peter Freudenreich
  • Publication number: 20070210055
    Abstract: In order to provide equipment for heating up, keeping hot, cooling and/or keeping cold food and/or beverages comprising at least one cold compartment and/or at least one hot compartment which is usable in a versatile manner, it is proposed that the equipment comprise at least one regenerating device for heating up and/or keeping hot liquid foods, such as soups or sauces for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Claus Konrad, Dietmar Kubler, Gerd Obreiter, Ralf Boss
  • Publication number: 20060037792
    Abstract: In a vehicle equipped with individual, electric wheel, drive trains, prime movers (16, 18) are situated radially outside the drive wheels (4, 6) and by a linking transmission (12, 14) rigidly connected with a vehicle body (2) are operatively coupled with drive wheels (4, 6). The drive wheels (4, 6) are unsprung relative to the vehicle body (2) and connected by transmission shafts (8, 10) with the linking transmission (12, 14). One shiftable clutch (32) is proposed with which the two drive wheels (4, 6) can be selectively operatively coupled together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Ralf Boss, Johannes Sorg
  • Patent number: 6155955
    Abstract: In motor vehicles fitted with overlay steering mechanisms comprising a transmission (2) and a steering transmission (4), substantial amounts of torque flow from the transmission inlet (12) to the steering transmission (4) when cornering. This results in a loss of speed during cornering. According to the method described, the torque flow to the steering transmission (4) is preferably automatically compensated by higher prime mover torque. Driving performance can be enhanced during cornering without needing to design the transmission (2) for higher input torque. The principle disclosed in the invention can be used for other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Boss, Johannes Sorg