Patents by Inventor Ralf Gmunder

Ralf Gmunder 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: 8235166
    Abstract: A rotational speed superimposition device for a vehicle steering system is proposed, having an output shaft (2) which is aligned towards the input shaft (1) in its axial direction (22), having a first carrier arrangement (6) which rotatably positions the output shaft (2) and the input shaft (1) at least partly supported, having an auxiliary drive (5, 10) with a rotor (5) which is connected in an operative, torque-proof manner to a first gear element (4) of a superimposition gear unit (7), and having a second carrier arrangement (11) which is arranged in a fixed manner on the chassis and which holds the auxiliary drive (5, 10) and supports the rotor (5) so that it can rotate, wherein the rotor (5) of the auxiliary drive (5, 10) coaxially surrounds the output shaft (2) and/or the input shaft (1), and wherein the superimposition gear unit (7) transmits the rotational speed of the rotor (5) to the rotational speed of the output shaft (2) at a rotational speed ratio that is less than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Prestia AG
    Inventors: Johann Konrad, Ralf Gmunder
  • Publication number: 20110024223
    Abstract: A rotational speed superimposition device for a vehicle steering system is proposed, having an output shaft (2) which is aligned towards the input shaft (1) in its axial direction (22), having a first carrier arrangement (6) which rotatably positions the output shaft (2) and the input shaft (1) at least partly supported, having an auxiliary drive (5, 10) with a rotor (5) which is connected in an operative, torque-proof manner to a first gear element (4) of a superimposition gear unit (7), and having a second carrier arrangement (11) which is arranged in a fixed manner on the chassis and which holds the auxiliary drive (5, 10) and supports the rotor (5) so that it can rotate, wherein the rotor (5) of the auxiliary drive (5, 10) coaxially surrounds the output shaft (2) and/or the input shaft (1), and wherein the superimposition gear unit (7) transmits the rotational speed of the rotor (5) to the rotational speed of the output shaft (2) at a rotational speed ratio that is less than 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Johann Konrad, Ralf Gmunder