Patents by Inventor Ralf FAMBACH

Ralf FAMBACH 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: 20190176558
    Abstract: An adjustable spring carrier includes a spring plate. At least one spring plate is axially displaceable by an actuator and is fixed with respect to rotation in circumferential direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the spring carrier. A housing for a drive unit of the actuator and a spring plate abutment surface are connected to one another, and the housing is driven by the actuator for the axial movement of the spring plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Josef RENN, Ralf FAMBACH, Jan ROSSBERG, Tom SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 10072624
    Abstract: A starting element (100) for use, for example, in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, includes a piston (310) which divides a first volume (560) that can be filled with a fluid from a second volume (570) that can be filled with a fluid, wherein the piston (310) comprises at least one fluid passage (640) which allows the fluid at least occasionally to pass through the piston (310) from the first volume (560) into the second volume (570) and/or from the second volume (570) into the first volume (560). The at least one fluid passage (640) comprises a passage component part (650) and a receiving opening (660) in the piston (310). The passage component part (650) is inserted into the receiving opening so that at least one passage opening (670) is formed which allows the fluid to pass through at least occasionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Fambach, Peter Frey, Michael Heuler, Reinhard Feldhaus, Horst Zinssmeister
  • Patent number: 9151375
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic coupling arrangement, particularly hydrodynamic torque converter, wherein at least one torsional vibration damper arrangement comprises at least two torsional vibration dampers which are arranged so as to be radially staggered and substantially aligned axially with respect to one another, wherein the first torsional vibration damper is arranged on the radially outer side of the second torsional vibration damper, and wherein the at least one torsional vibration damper arrangement is coupled with the other torsional vibration damper arrangement in an area radially between the first damper element unit and the second damper element unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias Kram, Michael Wirachowski, Monika Rössner, Jörg Sudau, Erwin Wack, Reinhard Feldhaus, Ralf Fambach
  • Publication number: 20140345553
    Abstract: A starting element (100) for use, for example, in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, includes a piston (310) which divides a first volume (560) that can be filled with a fluid from a second volume (570) that can be filled with a fluid, wherein the piston (310) comprises at least one fluid passage (640) which allows the fluid at least occasionally to pass through the piston (310) from the first volume (560) into the second volume (570) and/or from the second volume (570) into the first volume (560). The at least one fluid passage (640) comprises a passage component part (650) and a receiving opening (660) in the piston (310). The passage component part (650) is inserted into the receiving opening so that at least one passage opening (670) is formed which allows the fluid to pass through at least occasionally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Ralf FAMBACH, Peter FREY, Michael HEULER, Reinhard FELDHAUS, Horst ZINSSMEISTER
  • Patent number: 8727087
    Abstract: A torque transmission includes a housing arrangement drivable around an axis of rotation and filled with fluid and a clutch arrangement between the housing arrangement and a driven member. The clutch arrangement has a first friction surface formation rotatable with the housing arrangement and a second friction surface formation rotatable with the driven member. A clutch piston is movable axially for producing and canceling frictional engagement of the first and the second friction surface formation. A piston carrying element is connected to the clutch piston on the radially inner side for axial movement of the clutch piston. The piston carrying element has in its radially inner end region a first axial supporting area for axially supporting the driven member at the piston carrying element and a second axial supporting area for supporting the piston carrying element at the housing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Fambach, Georg Mencher, Gregor Sueck, Andreas Grell, Michael Heuler
  • Publication number: 20130037368
    Abstract: A torque transmission includes a housing arrangement drivable around an axis of rotation and filled with fluid and a clutch arrangement between the housing arrangement and a driven member. The clutch arrangement has a first friction surface formation rotatable with the housing arrangement and a second friction surface formation rotatable with the driven member. A clutch piston is movable axially for producing and canceling frictional engagement of the first and the second friction surface formation. A piston carrying element is connected to the clutch piston on the radially inner side for axial movement of the clutch piston. The piston carrying element has in its radially inner end region a first axial supporting area for axially supporting the driven member at the piston carrying element and a second axial supporting area for supporting the piston carrying element at the housing arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf FAMBACH, Georg MENCHER, Gregor SUECK, Andreas GRELL, Michael HEULER
  • Publication number: 20120273317
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic coupling arrangement, particularly hydrodynamic torque converter, wherein at least one torsional vibration damper arrangement comprises at least two torsional vibration dampers which are arranged so as to be radially staggered and substantially aligned axially with respect to one another, wherein the first torsional vibration damper is arranged on the radially outer side of the second torsional vibration damper, and wherein the at least one torsional vibration damper arrangement is coupled with the other torsional vibration damper arrangement in an area radially between the first damper element unit and the second damper element unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Matthias KRAM, Michael Wirachowski, Monika Rössner, Jörg Sudau, Erwin Wack, Reinhard Feldhaus, Ralf Fambach
  • Publication number: 20120205212
    Abstract: A torque transmission arrangement includes a housing arrangement which is drivable for rotation around an axis of rotation and a clutch arrangement in the torque transmission path between the housing arrangement and a driven member. The clutch arrangement has a first friction surface formation, which is rotatable with the housing arrangement and a second friction surface formation, which is rotatable with the driven member, and a clutch piston, which is movable axially for producing and canceling a frictional engagement of the first friction surface formation with the second friction surface formation. A piston carrying element, which is connected in a substantially fluid-tight manner to the clutch piston on the radially inner side, permits an axial movement of the clutch piston. The piston carrying element is produced substantially in its entirety from plastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf FAMBACH, Georg MENCHER, Gregor SUECK, Andreas GRELL, Michael HEULER