Patents by Inventor Ralf Hintzen
Ralf Hintzen 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).
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Publication number: 20190210420Abstract: A leaf spring assembly resiliently supporting a wheel carrier on a vehicle body of a motor vehicle. The leaf spring assembly including first and second spring leaves and a clamp having a clamping part exerting a clamping force whereby the first and second spring leaves are held together by the clamp. A bridging part arranged between the first spring leaf and the clamping part transmits at least part of the clamping force from the clamping part to the first spring leaf bridging the second spring leaf and reducing the clamping force exerted thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Gerhards, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Rainer Souschek, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim, Nicole Zandbergen
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Publication number: 20190168560Abstract: A longitudinal leaf spring device for suspending a motor vehicle body or chassis on a vehicle axle thereof. Leaf spring device including an elongated leaf spring unit, a coupling device connecting the leaf spring unit to the vehicle axle, and suspension unit arranged in a substantially vertical direction between a chassis and the axle. The suspension unit including suspension elements providing a spring-back force in the vertical direction and producing an active connection between the chassis and the axle when the distance between the chassis and axle exceeds a predetermined first deflection depth.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2018Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Wolfgang David, Paul Zandbergen, Thomas Gerhards, Ralf Hintzen, Marc Simon, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
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Publication number: 20190160904Abstract: A vehicle wheel suspension including a spring unit suspending a vehicle wheel on a vehicle body. The spring unit including a leaf spring portion extending along a Y-axis. The spring unit including a wheel carrier portion receiving a vehicle wheel. The wheel carrier portion at an end or outboard side of the leaf spring portion. The wheel carrier portion extending transversely to the leaf spring portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2018Publication date: May 30, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Gerhards, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Rainer Souschek, Paul Zandbergen, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
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Publication number: 20190143774Abstract: A motor vehicle rear suspension includes left and right trailing links mounted, at respective forward ends thereof, to a vehicle body for pivoting movement about a transversely-extending axis. The trailing links extend rearward from the axis, and each has a wheel carrier attached thereto adjacent a rear end thereof. Left and right leaf springs are fixed, at respective forward ends thereof, to the vehicle body and extend rearward therefrom alongside and generally parallel with their respective trailing links. Rear ends of the leaf springs contact their respective trailing links and applying spring-force thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Thomas GERHARDS, Ralf HINTZEN, Daniel MAINZ, Rainer SOUSCHEK, Friedrich Peter WOLF-MONHEIM, Paul ZANDBERGEN
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Publication number: 20190135067Abstract: A RevoKnuckle-type suspension for a wheeled vehicle has a hub mounted to a bearing carrier for rotation relative thereto about a steering axis, and a shock absorber connected non-rotatably to the bearing carrier. The shock absorber has an outer cylinder having an axially-extending guide hole defined therein, and a piston and attached piston rod retained for axial reciprocation in the guide hole. The guide hole and at least one of the piston and the piston rod retained therein have respective complementary-shaped, non-circular cross-sectional shapes which engage one another to resist axial rotation of the piston and/or the piston rod within the guide hole. The carrier is therefore restrained against rotation relative to the vehicle sprung structure without the need for any additional component(s) such as a control arm or stabilizer, as required in a traditional RevoKnuckle-type suspension.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ralf HINTZEN, Thomas GERHARDS
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Publication number: 20190118601Abstract: A suspension for a wheeled vehicle includes a leaf spring extending longitudinally relative to the vehicle and having first and second lugs protruding downward therefrom. The lugs are spaced from one another a length of the leaf spring to define a pocket therebetween. An axle passes perpendicularly beneath the leaf spring such that a portion of the axle is disposed in the pocket and is clamped between the lugs. The lugs may be fabricated integrally with the leaf spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ralf HINTZEN, Paul ZANDBERGEN, Thomas GERHARDS, Rainer SOUSCHEK, Daniel MAINZ, Friedrich WOLF-MONHEIM, Alberto GIRELLI CONSOLARO
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Publication number: 20190118600Abstract: A suspension for a wheeled vehicle include an axle with a mid-section and an end comprising an upper portion and a lower portion defining a space therebetween, a leaf spring having forward and rear ends attached to vehicle structure and a mid-section retained in the space and secured between the upper and lower portions, and a closure element attached to the axle end and at least partially closing an outboard end of the space. The upper and lower axle portions may be formed integrally with the axle mid-section or may be a separately-formed component secured to the axle. The space tapers from a greater vertical dimension at the outboard end thereof to a smaller vertical dimension at an inboard end thereof, and the leaf spring mid-section is wedged into the space. An intermediate element is disposed between the mid-section and at least one of the upper and lower axle portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Thomas GERHARDS, Alberto GIRELLI CONSOLARO, Ralf HINTZEN, Daniel MAINZ, Rainer SOUSCHEK
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Publication number: 20190111749Abstract: An axle suspension for a vehicle includes a spring assembly with a leaf spring and a connecting arm, wherein the leaf spring supports a vehicle axle and, on an end side, is pivotably connected to a vehicle structure and pivotably connected to the connecting arm. In order to provide an optimized axle suspension with two-stage suspension, the spring assembly in a region of the connecting arm has a first stop element and the vehicle structure has a second stop element, which stop elements under normal load of the vehicle are spaced apart from one another and, when a limit load is exceeded, contact one another, whereby at least one stop element is elastically deformable.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Marc SIMON, Thomas GERHARDS, Ralf HINTZEN, Rainer SOUSCHEK, Nicole ZANDBERGEN
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Publication number: 20190100067Abstract: The disclosure concerns a spring assembly with a leaf spring. The leaf spring extends in a vehicle longitudinal axis, supports a vehicle axle and is connected at least indirectly to a vehicle superstructure at a front end and at a rear end. In order to provide a wheel suspension with advantageous springing and damping behavior that is optimized with regard to weight and complexity, according to the disclosure it is provided that at least one damping region, which is at least partially fluid-filled, is integrated in the leaf spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2018Publication date: April 4, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ralf HINTZEN, Daniel MAINZ, Rainer SOUSCHEK, Thomas GERHARDS, Paul ZANDBERGEN, Alberto GIRELLI CONSOLARO, Friedrich Peter WOLF-MONHEIM
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Publication number: 20190092113Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-link rear suspension for a motor vehicle, having at least one transverse leaf spring arranged on the motor vehicle to extend in the transverse vehicle direction and having ends which operatively act on left and right wheel carriers to cushion a vehicle structure of the motor vehicle with respect to the wheel-carriers. The transverse leaf spring also serves as a stabilizer, thereby replacing dedicated stabilizer. In order to provide a multi-link rear suspension which is optimized in terms of structural space and which is lightweight, the multi-link rear has exclusively transverse links for guiding the wheel-carriers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Alberto GIRELLI CONSOLARO, Paul ZANDBERGEN, Daniel MAINZ, Friedrich Peter WOLF-MONHEIM, Thomas GERHARDS, Ralf HINTZEN, Rainer SOUSCHEK, Brian CHEN
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Publication number: 20190023117Abstract: A vehicle includes a body, an internal combustion engine, a traction battery, a front axle connecting two front wheels with at least one of the two front wheels drivingly coupled to the internal combustion engine, a rear axle connecting two rear wheels and carried by two leaf spring units, each leaf spring unit being pivotably connected at one end to the body and at another end to a connection arm pivotably connected to the body, wherein the rear axle includes two driveshafts connecting the rear wheels, and a drive unit supported by the rear axle to be self-supporting relative to the body. The drive unit includes an electric motor coupled to the traction battery and a differential mechanically coupled to the two driveshafts and the electric motor. The rear axle is mechanically uncoupled from the internal combustion engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Peter Christoph WOLFF, Ralf HINTZEN
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Publication number: 20190023152Abstract: A vehicle includes a body structure and a rear axle connecting two rear wheels and carried by two leaf spring units, each leaf spring unit being pivotably connected at one end to the body and at another end to a connection arm pivotably connected to the body structure, wherein the rear axle includes two driveshafts connecting the rear wheels. A drive unit is supported by the rear axle to be self-supporting relative to the body. The drive unit includes an electric motor coupled to at least one of the two drive shafts. A controller is configured to control the electric motor in response to lateral acceleration of the vehicle during cornering to deliver increased driving torque to an outer one of the two rear wheels relative to an inner one of the two rear wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ralf HINTZEN, Peter Christoph WOLFF
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Publication number: 20190023093Abstract: The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle. The motor vehicle has a longitudinal link rear axle with independent suspensions. Each independent suspension has a wheel carrier, a longitudinal link rigidly connected to the wheel carrier, articulated to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle, and three lateral links connected firstly to the wheel carrier and secondly to the vehicle body, or to an auxiliary frame connected to the vehicle body. A wheel axle oriented in a lateral direction of the vehicle runs through the wheel carrier. To create additional installation space for an arrangement of a traction battery of the motor vehicle, the lateral links are arranged completely offset from the wheel axle at the rear end in relation to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle of the motor vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Thomas GERHARDS, Ralf HINTZEN, Daniel MAINZ, Rainer SOUSCHEK, Paul ZANDBERGEN, Friedrich Peter WOLF-MONHEIM
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Publication number: 20190016186Abstract: The disclosure concerns a motor vehicle with at least one rear axle having exclusively longitudinal control arms for wheel suspension. In order to create additional installation space in the region of the rear axle and at the same time improve a cornering stability of the motor vehicle, at least one vehicle component is arranged at least partially between wheel carriers of the rear axle, and at least one sliding body or rolling body is arranged on at least one wheel carrier, via which body this wheel carrier is or may be supported on the vehicle component in the vehicle transverse direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Ralf HINTZEN, Paul ZANDBERGEN, Nicole ZANDBERGEN, Thomas GERHARDS
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Patent number: 10118452Abstract: A wheel suspension for a motor vehicle including a wheel carrier supporting a wheel. The wheel carrier connected via at least one upper camber link, a lower control arm, and a lateral toe link to the vehicle body or subframe. A stabilizer rod connects to the wheel carrier. The wheel suspension including a damper unit and a spring unit wherein the stabilizer rod and the damper unit connect to the wheel carrier at a common connecting point.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2017Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy Drotar, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Paul Zandbergen, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
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Patent number: 10023019Abstract: A suspension system for a laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle may include a balancer system extending between first and second trailing arms. The suspension system may further include a rotary device acting between the trailing arms. One of the balancer system and the rotary device may be configured to provide a torque to influence a leaning angle of the vehicle and the other of the balancer system and the rotary device may be configured to suppress resonant vertical motion of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2015Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert Spahl, Marc Simon, Edmund Halfmann, Thomas Gerhards, Rainer Souschek, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Martin Saeger
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Publication number: 20180111432Abstract: A motor vehicle wheel suspension having a wheel carrier connected to the vehicle body or frame. The suspension having a lower transverse link. The wheel carrier connected to the lower transverse carrier at two connection locations. A first connection location on a first side wall of the wheel carrier and second connection location on a second side wall of the wheel carrier. The first connection location including a connector connected to both the lower transverse and the wheel carrier. The second connection location including a connection between the wheel carrier and the lower transverse link.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy Drotar, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Paul Zandbergen, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim
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Patent number: 9925843Abstract: A rear suspension system for a laterally tiltable, multitrack vehicle may include first and second trailing arms. The rear suspension system may further include first and second balancer systems acting between the first and second trailing arms. The first balancer system may create a torque to influence a leaning angle of the vehicle when the suspension system is in use. The second balancer system may suppress a resonant vertical motion of the vehicle when the suspension system is in use.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2015Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Robert Spahl, Marc Simon, Edmund Halfmann, Thomas Gerhards, Rainer Souschek, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Martin Saeger
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Publication number: 20170355239Abstract: A wheel suspension unit of a motor vehicle, for example a trailing arm, the trailing arm produced, at least in part, from a fiber-reinforced plastic. The trailing arm including a molded member or tube formed of braided and/or wound continuous fibers. The continuous fibers of the molded member or tube interlinked with a plastic matrix.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rainer Souschek, Freidrich Peter Wolf-Monheim, Thomas Gerhards, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Paul Zandbergen, Nicole Zandbergen, Alberto Girelli Consolaro
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Publication number: 20170355240Abstract: A wheel suspension unit for a motor vehicle having a longitudinal link, having a first end for pivotable vehicle-side connection, a second end for connection to a wheel carrier, and a blade-like link portion resilient in the direction of the transverse axis (Y) and rigid transversely relative thereto. The wheel suspension reduces the number of components by providing a longitudinal link having a resilient portion resilient toward the longitudinal axis (X), wherein the longitudinal link is at least partially produced from a fiber-reinforced plastics material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2017Publication date: December 14, 2017Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Nicole Zandbergen, Rainer Souschek, Thomas Gerhards, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Paul Zandbergen, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim