Patents by Inventor Reinhold Weidinger

Reinhold Weidinger 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: 6782985
    Abstract: Each clutch disk has a hub area designed to be connected nonrotatably to a power takeoff element and a friction surface area designed to be clamped between opposing friction surfaces. Each clutch disk has a torsional vibration damper arrangement including two cover disk elements connected to the hub area for rotation in common, and a central disk element connected to the friction surface area for rotation in common. The central disk element is or can be brought into torque-transmitting connection with the cover disk elements via a damper element arrangement. The central disk element has a damper element interaction area and, radially outside the damper element interaction area, a friction surface carrier area, which is offset with respect to the damper element interaction area in the direction of an axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Norbert Lohaus, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Wolfram Hick, Joachim Linder
  • Patent number: 6755294
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a friction clutch, which assembly includes a housing; a pressure plate connected to the housing for rotation in common around an axis of rotation and which is free to move axially with respect to the housing; a stored-energy device, which pretensions the pressure plate in the axial direction with respect to the housing; a wear-compensating device which acts in the path of support between the stored-energy device and at least one of the housing and the pressure plate and comprises at least one wear-compensating element which is free to move when wear occurs and/or when wear is compensated; an indicator arrangement, comprising at least one indicator opening in the housing and at least one indicator element on a wear-compensating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
  • Patent number: 6745884
    Abstract: A housing arrangement for a friction clutch, especially for a multi-disk clutch, where the housing arrangement is designed approximately in the shape of a cup and is provided with a bottom area and an edge area for connection to a flywheel. At least one air through-opening is provided in the bottom area, each opening being bounded by a front edge and a rear edge with respect to the direction of rotation, the front edge being axially offset toward the interior of the housing with respect to said rear edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Wolfram Hick, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
  • Patent number: 6736248
    Abstract: A transport-securing arrangement for a pressure plate assembly of a multi-disk clutch including a housing arrangement connectable to a flywheel, a pressure plate coupled to the housing arrangement for common rotation therewith, a stored-energy device having one side supported on the housing arrangement and another side supported on the pressure plate arrangement. The pressure plate assembly also includes an intermediate plate connected to the housing arrangement for common rotation therewith and a first clutch disk with a friction surface area positioned between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate. The transport-securing arrangement comprises a plurality of connecting elements, preferably bolt elements, for tightly connecting the intermediate plate to the housing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
  • Publication number: 20040069587
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a friction clutch comprises a housing arrangement; a pressure plate, which is inside the housing arrangement and which can rotate along with it around an axis of rotation; a force-exerting arrangement, preferably a force-storing device, supported against the housing arrangement and the pressure plate; and a wear take-up device in the path of force transmission between the force-exerting arrangement and the pressure plate. At least one wear take-up element can be moved in order to compensate for wear, and an adjusting element is able to make an adjusting movement which causes the minimum of one wear take-up element to move and thus to compensate for wear, where the adjusting element can be caused to execute its adjusting movement by the action of centrifugal force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventor: Reinhold Weidinger
  • Publication number: 20040055847
    Abstract: A pressure plate, which is connected to a housing arrangement for rotation in common around an axis of rotation, and a force-exerting arrangement preferably a force-storing device, is supported against the housing arrangement and the pressure plate so that it can exert force on them. At least one wear take-up element of a wear take-up device is provided in the path of support between the force-exerting arrangement and the pressure plate. The wear take-up element has a manually operated adjusting element, which is movably supported on the pressure plate and engages with the at least one wear take-up element so that this element can be shifted with respect to the assembly to compensate for the wear which has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Frank Hirschmann, Reinhold Weidinger
  • Patent number: 6702087
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a friction clutch including a housing having an axis of rotation; a pressure plate mounted in the housing with freedom to move axially relative to the housing; a stored-energy element mounted in the housing and transmitting force along a path from the housing to the pressure plate; a wear-compensating device in the path of force transmission, which device has at least one adjusting element free to move in an adjusting direction to compensate for wear; and a clearance-producing arrangement having at least one gripping element, which is attached to the assembly upon which the stored-energy element acts via the wear-compensating device. The minimum of one gripping element has a blocking section, by means of which it can make blocking contact with a blocking element when wear occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Reinhold Weidinger, Joachim Lindner, Anton Doll, Jürgen Streichsbier
  • Publication number: 20040035669
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly includes a housing designed to be attached to a flywheel; a pressure plate mounted in the housing with freedom to move in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation; a stored-energy device; and a wear take-up device acting in the path of force transmission between the stored-energy device and the pressure plate, where the wear take-up device has at least one take-up element which can be moved in a take-up direction to compensate for wear. A play sensor arrangement includes a detection element provided on the pressure plate, which element, upon the occurrence of wear, makes contact or can be brought into contact with a blocking element, which is fixed in position with respect to the housing arrangement. The blocking element has a fastening area, by which it is fixed in position with respect to the housing arrangement, and a contact area, by which it makes contact with the detection element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Joachim Lindner, Reinhold Weidinger, Erwin Ziegler
  • Patent number: 6695116
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a multi-disk clutch includes a housing arrangement, a pressure plate mounted in the housing arrangement with freedom to move in the same direction as an axis of rotation but connected to the housing with essentially no freedom of rotation and an intermediate plate mounted in the housing arrangement with freedom to move in the same direction as the axis of rotation but connected to the housing with essentially no freedom of rotation. A release distance preset arrangement for the intermediate plate includes at least one sensing element on the intermediate plate which rests on an assembly which shifts position during the performance of a releasing movement of the pressure plate. The at least one sensing element allows the intermediate plate to execute a releasing movement corresponding to the shift of this assembly. The at least one sensing element contacting the assembly is pretensioned by an intermediate plate release force-generating arrangement acting on the intermediate plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Erwin Ziegler, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Reinhold Weidinger, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
  • Patent number: 6695115
    Abstract: A process for adjusting a friction clutch system of the type including a housing arrangement; a pressure plate; a stored-energy device supported against the housing and the pressure plate; a wear-compensating device installed in the path of support between the stored-energy device and one of the housing arrangement and the pressure plate, this device having a detection element on the pressure plate, which in association with a stop element fixed with respect to the housing arrangement, detects the amount of wear which has occurred in the friction clutch; a clutch-release mechanism for exerting force on the stored-energy device in the direction opposite its relaxation direction in order to carry out release operations; and a transmission shaft braking arrangement which is activated when a brake-release position is reached during a clutch-release operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Joachim Lindner, Frank Hirschmann, Reinhold Weidinger, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus
  • Publication number: 20040026206
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly includes a housing arrangement; a pressure plate mounted to move axially in the housing arrangement; a force-exerting arrangement supported against the housing arrangement and the pressure plate; and a wear take-up device in the path of force transmission between the pressure plate and the force-exerting arrangement. This device includes at least one take-up element, which can be shifted to compensate for wear; a blocking element with a detection section which can come to rest against a stop fixed to the housing upon the occurrence of wear and which can move with respect to the pressure plate; and a wedge-like arresting element, which arrests the detection section and thus prevents it from returning to its previous position to which it has moved with respect to the pressure plate. The arresting element is pretensioned by a pretensioning arrangement in the direction toward a state in which the detection section is arrested and thus prevented from returning to its previous position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Joachim Lindner, Reinhold Weidinger
  • Patent number: 6672444
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a friction clutch includes a housing for mounting to a centrifugal mass; a pressure plate, which is mounted in the housing with freedom to move in the same direction as that in which a rotational axis (A) extends; a stored-energy element; and a wear-compensating device, acting in the path of force transmission between the stored-energy element and the pressure plate, where the wear-compensating device has at least one adjusting element able to move in an adjusting direction to compensate for wear. A clearance-producing arrangement includes a gripping element provided on the pressure plate, which, when wear occurs, comes to rest or can be brought to rest against a blocking element, which is fixed or can be fixed in place relative to the housing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Reinhold Weidinger, Erwin Ziegler, Frank Hirschmann
  • Patent number: 6662923
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a friction clutch includes a housing for mounting to a flywheel; a pressure plate, held in the housing with the freedom to move in the same direction as that of a rotational axis (A); a stored-energy element; and a wear-compensating device acting in the path of force transmission between the stored-energy element and the pressure plate, where the wear-compensating device has at least one adjusting element, which can move in an adjusting direction to compensate for wear. A clearance-producing arrangement includes a gripping element provided on the pressure plate, which element comes or can be brought to rest against a blocking element (fixed in position relative to the housing arrangement upon the occurrence of wear. When the housing arrangement is being attached to the flywheel arrangement, the blocking element arrives in state in which it is able to enter into a blocking interaction with the associated gripping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Johann Dobler, Klaus Gorzitzke, Oswald Grünewald, Winfried Herterich, Jürgen Kleifges, Wolfgang Knauer, Jörg Lampe, Walter Lindner, Achim Link, Gerhard Röll, Reinhold Weidinger, Erwin Ziegler
  • Patent number: 6591957
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a friction clutch includes a housing arrangement; a pressure plate held in the housing arrangement with freedom to rotate in the same direction as that in which a rotational axis extends; a stored-energy element; and a wear-compensating device, acting in the path of force transmission between the stored-energy element and the pressure plate and/or between the stored-energy element and the housing arrangement, where the wear-compensating device has at least one adjusting element which can be moved in an adjusting direction to compensate for wear and at least one spring element, which pretensions the minimum of one adjusting element for movement in the adjusting direction, where at least certain areas of the minimum of one spring element extend in the circumferential direction relative to the rotational axis, and where the minimum of one spring element is provided with a support arrangement, which passes through at least certain areas of the spring element, the support arrangement
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Reinhold Weidinger
  • Patent number: 6588567
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a friction clutch includes a housing, a pressure plate held in the housing arrangement with freedom to move axially, and a stored-energy element transmitting force along a path between the housing and the pressure plate. A wear-compensating device acting in the path of force transmission has at least one adjusting element able to move in an adjusting direction to compensate for wear. At least one spring element pretensions the minimum of one adjusting element for movement in the adjusting direction, where at least certain areas of the minimum of one spring element extend in the circumferential direction relative to the rotational axis (A). A support arrangement supports the area of the spring element extending essentially in the circumferential direction radially from the outside and/or radially from the inside relative to the rotational axis (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Klaus Gorzitzke, Winfried Herterich, Wolfgang Knauer, Walter Lindner, Achim Link, Gerhard Röll, Reinhold Weidinger
  • Patent number: 6588566
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a friction clutch includes a housing; a pressure plate held in the housing with freedom to move in the same direction as that in which a rotational axis (A) extends; a stored-energy element; and a wear-compensating device acting in the path of force transmission between the stored-energy element and the pressure plate and/or between the stored-energy element and the housing arrangement, where the wear-compensating device has at least one adjusting element able to move in an adjusting direction to compensate for wear. A clearance-producing arrangement includes at least one gripping element, where the minimum of one gripping element has a body section, one end of which is attached to the assembly consisting of the pressure plate and the housing, between which assembly and the stored-energy element the wear-compensating device acts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Klaus Gorzitzke, Winfried Herterich, Wolfgang Knauer, Walter Lindner, Achim Link, Gerhard Röll, Reinhold Weidinger
  • Publication number: 20030062239
    Abstract: A process for adjusting a friction clutch system of the type including a housing arrangement; a pressure plate; a stored-energy device supported against the housing and the pressure plate; a wear-compensating device installed in the path of support between the stored-energy device and one of the housing arrangement and the pressure plate, this device having a detection element on the pressure plate, which in association with a stop element fixed with respect to the housing arrangement, detects the amount of wear which has occurred in the friction clutch; a clutch-release mechanism for exerting force on the stored-energy device in the direction opposite its relaxation direction in order to carry out release operations; and a transmission shaft braking arrangement which is activated when a brake-release position is reached during a clutch-release operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Joachim Lindner, Frank Hirschmann, Reinhold Weidinger, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus
  • Publication number: 20030062236
    Abstract: Each clutch disk has a hub area designed to be connected nonrotatably to a power takeoff element and a friction surface area designed to be clamped between opposing friction surfaces. Each clutch disk has a torsional vibration damper arrangement including two cover disk elements connected to the hub area for rotation in common, and a central disk element connected to the friction surface area for rotation in common. The central disk element is or can be brought into torque-transmitting connection with the cover disk elements via a damper element arrangement. The central disk element has a damper element interaction area and, radially outside the damper element interaction area, a friction surface carrier area, which is offset with respect to the damper element interaction area in the direction of an axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Norbert Lohaus, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Erwin Ziegler, Wolfram Hick, Joachim Lindner
  • Publication number: 20030062240
    Abstract: A pressure plate assembly for a multi-disk clutch includes a housing arrangement, a pressure plate mounted in the housing arrangement with freedom to move in the same direction as an axis of rotation but connected to the housing with essentially no freedom of rotation and an intermediate plate mounted in the housing arrangement with freedom to move in the same direction as the axis of rotation but connected to the housing with essentially no freedom of rotation. A release distance preset arrangement for the intermediate plate includes at least one sensing element on the intermediate plate which rests on an assembly which shifts position during the performance of a releasing movement of the pressure plate. The at least one sensing element allows the intermediate plate to execute a releasing movement corresponding to the shift of this assembly. The at least one sensing element contacting the assembly is pretensioned by an intermediate plate release force-generating arrangement acting on the intermediate plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Erwin Ziegler, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Reinhold Weidinger, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner
  • Publication number: 20030062238
    Abstract: A transport-securing arrangement for a pressure plate assembly of a multi-disk clutch including a housing arrangement connectable to a flywheel, a pressure plate coupled to the housing arrangement for common rotation therewith, a stored-energy device having one side supported on the housing arrangement and another side supported on the pressure plate arrangement. The pressure plate assembly also includes an intermediate plate connected to the housing arrangement for common rotation therewith and a first clutch disk with a friction surface area positioned between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate. The transport-securing arrangement comprises a plurality of connecting elements, preferably bolt elements, for tightly connecting the intermediate plate to the housing arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Erwin Ziegler, Reinhold Weidinger, Frank Hirschmann, Klaus Steinel, Wolfram Hick, Norbert Lohaus, Joachim Lindner