Patents by Inventor Robert Heinemann

Robert Heinemann 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: 20180119780
    Abstract: A chain tensioner includes a housing that forms a cylindrical receptacle. A piston is surrounded at least in part by the receptacle. The inner surface of the receptacle axially guides the piston when the piston travels into and out of the housing. The chain tensioner further includes a locking unit which limits the inward travel of the piston. The locking unit includes a stop facing the housing, and a mating stop facing the piston. A locking element establishes a force-transmitting connection between the stop and the mating stop. At a location of the stop facing the housing, the housing axially forms a locking section that is located between the locking element and the piston. The locking section includes at least one recess, allowing the locking element to establish the force-transmitting connection between the stop and the mating stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Robert HEINEMANN, Patrick WEGE
  • Patent number: 9476327
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device (19) having a camshaft adjuster (4), including a stator (36), a rotor (38) which can be rotated relative to the stator (36) about a rotational axis (74), and a hub (52) which is arranged on the rotor (38) or on the stator (36) and has a receiving cup (62), and having a camshaft (12) which is received in the receiving cup (62). It is provided here that the camshaft (12) is fixed radially in the receiving cup (62) via at least three spacer elements (64). A camshaft adjusting device (19) of this type can be produced simply and inexpensively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Weber, Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 9103240
    Abstract: A configuration of a camshaft phaser (1), which has a drive element (2), and at least two output elements (3, 4), the drive element (2) and the output elements (3, 4) having a plurality of radially oriented vanes (6) which overlap the lateral surfaces (9) of the adjacent element in the axial direction (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 9080654
    Abstract: An actuator device of a sliding cam system having at least one sliding cam and at least one engaging pin (2) projecting out from a housing (1), the housing (1) being fastenable to a component of a cylinder head or to the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, and the engaging pin (2) being able to be contacted by at least one groove of the sliding cam system that has at least one lead-out slope, and the engaging pin (2) being spring-loaded toward the sliding cam, and, in the retracted position thereof facing the groove, the engaging pin(s) (2) or at least one component connected thereto can be secured in place by an arrestable latch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 8991344
    Abstract: A directional valve (30) for controlling a hydraulic oil flow from a pressure port (34) via working chambers of a camshaft adjuster (4) to a tank port (58). The directional valve (30) includes an accumulator port (36) for conducting at least a part of the hydraulic oil flowing out of a working chamber into a volume accumulator (54) before said hydraulic oil flows out into the tank port (58), and the accumulator port (36) is connected via a passage (60) to the pressure port (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schafer, Martin Steigerwald, Michael Busse, Jurgen Plate, Steffen Racklebe, Andreas Wedel, Olaf Boese, Robert Heinemann
  • Publication number: 20150083065
    Abstract: A camshaft adjusting device (19) having a camshaft adjuster (4), including a stator (36), a rotor (38) which can be rotated relative to the stator (36) about a rotational axis (74), and a hub (52) which is arranged on the rotor (38) or on the stator (36) and has a receiving cup (62), and having a camshaft (12) which is received in the receiving cup (62). It is provided here that the camshaft (12) is fixed radially in the receiving cup (62) via at least three spacer elements (64). A camshaft adjusting device (19) of this type can be produced simply and inexpensively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Juergen Weber, Robert Heinemann
  • Publication number: 20140328505
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to adapting sound fields in an environment. For example, one disclosed embodiment includes receiving information regarding a user in the environment, and outputting one or more audio signals to one or more speakers based on the information. The method further includes detecting a change in the information that indicates a change in the position of one or more of the user and an object related to the user in the environment, and modifying the one or more audio signals output to the one or more speakers based on the change in the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chad Robert Heinemann, Andrew William Lovitt
  • Patent number: 8794205
    Abstract: The invention concerns a switchable lever (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said lever (1) comprising on one end (5), a bearing (6) for enabling a pivotal support of said lever (1) and, on another end (7), a support (9) for a gas exchange valve, a crossbar (2) of the lever (1) comprising a recess (10) comprising two cam rollers (11, 12) which are seated on an axle (15) mounted in bores (13, 14) of side walls (3, 4) of the lever (1) and displaceable in axial direction, a hollow axle (16) arranged on said axle (15) extending inwards out of the bore (13) of the first side wall (3), a first one of the cam rollers (11) being guided, axially fixed on said hollow axle (16) in front of an inner side (17) of the first side wall (3), said first cam roller (11) serving for a permanent contact of a first low lift cam (18) of a cam assembly (19), a second one of the cam rollers (12) being axially fixed on said axle (15) and being displaceable by said axle (15) into two positions, a first one of said
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Nitz, Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 8677958
    Abstract: A switchable lever for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which has an elongated housing with two side walls. A crossbar for a gas-exchange valve system and another end of the housing has a hearing for pivotable support of the crossbar. An axle is held nondisplaceably in the side walls. An axially fixed low-lift cam roller is seated centrally on the axle and is flanked on both sides by a high-lift cam roller. The high-lift cam rollers are displaceable: (a) into a first position, away from each other, to toward the side walls such that contact of one high-lift cam per high-lift cam roller is possible, and (b) into a second position, toward each other, such that they are located outside an engagement region of the high-lift cams, and as a result of which contact of a low-lift or zero-lift cam with the low-lift cam roller is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Becker, Robert Heinemann
  • Publication number: 20140007831
    Abstract: A configuration of a camshaft phaser (1), which has a drive element (2), and at least two output elements (3, 4), the drive element (2) and the output elements (3, 4) having a plurality of radially oriented vanes (6) which overlap the lateral surfaces (9) of the adjacent element in the axial direction (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Robert Heinemann
  • Publication number: 20130199330
    Abstract: An actuator device of a sliding cam system having at least one sliding cam and at least one engaging pin (2) projecting out from a housing (1), the housing (1) being fastenable to a component of a cylinder head or to the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, and the engaging pin (2) being able to be contacted by at least one groove of the sliding cam system that has at least one lead-out slope, and the engaging pin (2) being spring-loaded toward the sliding cam, and, in the retracted position thereof facing the groove, the engaging pin(s) (2) or at least one component connected thereto can be secured in place by an arrestable latch device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 8375910
    Abstract: An anti-rotation device (1) for a coupling piston (2) in a switchable component (3) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided, with the component (3) including two parts (4, 5) that are movable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Becker, Robert Heinemann
  • Publication number: 20120325168
    Abstract: The invention concerns a switchable lever (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said lever (1) comprising on one end (5), a bearing (6) for enabling a pivotal support of said lever (1) and, on another end (7), a support (9) for a gas exchange valve, a crossbar (2) of the lever (1) comprising a recess (10) comprising two cam rollers (11, 12) which are seated on an axle (15) mounted in bores (13, 14) of side walls (3, 4) of the lever (1) and displaceable in axial direction, a hollow axle (16) arranged on said axle (15) extending inwards out of the bore (13) of the first side wall (3), a first one of the cam rollers (11) being guided, axially fixed on said hollow axle (16) in front of an inner side (17) of the first side wall (3), said first cam roller (11) serving for a permanent contact of a first low lift cam (18) of a cam assembly (19), a second one of the cam rollers (12) being axially fixed on said axle (15) and being displaceable by said axle (15) into two positions, a first one of said
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Nitz, Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 8312851
    Abstract: A switchable finger lever (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided. The finger lever includes an inner lever (2) with a U-shaped cross-section having, on one end (3), outer arms (4) which are made separately from each other and are pivotable relative to the inner lever (2). The outer arms extend, while flanking outer walls (6) of the inner lever (2), in a direction of the other end (5), and have on upper sides (7), running surfaces (7a) for high-lift cams. A support (10) having integrally connected lateral guide tabs (11) for at least one gas exchange valve extend on an underside (8) of a crossbar (9) of the inner lever (2) in a vicinity of the one end (3). An insert (12) having a contact surface (13) for a head of a support element is installed on the another end (5) between side walls (14) of the inner lever (2), and has a coupling slide (15) for an optional connection of the outer arms (4) to the inner lever (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 8235017
    Abstract: A switchable component (1) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided, with a housing (2) in whose borehole (3) an inner element (4) is held so that it can move telescopically. At least one coupling piston (7) guided by an anti-rotation locking device (6) is located in a radial borehole (5) of the inner element (4) in a decoupled case, with a section (10) that is flattened in some areas being provided on the coupling piston on one axial side (9) starting from its outer end (8). The borehole (3) of the housing (2) has a window (11) with a complementary engagement surface (12) against which, in a coupled case, the coupling piston (7) can be displaced with its flattened section (10) when passing through the cam base circle. An edge (13) between the outer end (8) and the flattened section (10) of the coupling piston (7) is provided with a bevel (14) that is a surface section of an ellipsoid whose longitudinal axis runs parallel to the flattened section (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sandra Schäfer, Robert Heinemann
  • Publication number: 20110271924
    Abstract: A switchable component, which has a housing with a bore and an inner element held in the bore with a head that projects above a rim of the housing. The housing and the inner element are loaded away from each other by a lost-motion spring. At least one coupling piston sits in an opening of the inner element. Sections of the coupling piston are moveable over a ring surface to a carrier surface of the housing. A retaining ring packet has a circular arc-shaped outer surface that lies in a ring groove of the bore of the housing. A ring face of the inner element sits against the underside of the retaining ring packet in the extended state defining relative position. The retaining ring packet, starting from at least one of the surfaces of the retaining ring packet has recesses for forming tab-like sections lying circumferentially between the recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Robert Heinemann, Joachim Krause, Ulrich Elgas, Rainer Pfeufer, Jeffrey Shewell
  • Publication number: 20110265750
    Abstract: A switchable lever for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine which has two side walls with ends connected by a crossbar. There is a gas-exchange valve system in the crossbar at one end and a bearing for the pivotable support of the crossbar at the other end. An axle is held nondisplaceably in the side walls, between the ends, with two cam rollers running on the axle. The cam rollers are displaceable axially on the axle toward each other into a first position such that the cam rollers run up to each other on a longitudinal center plane of the lever and away from each other into a second position. One of the positions serves for a high-lift cam contact and the other position serves for a low-lift or zero-lift cam contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Matthias BECKER, Robert HEINEMANN
  • Publication number: 20110265751
    Abstract: A switchable lever for a valve drive of an internal combustion engine, which has an elongated housing with two side walls. A crossbar for a gas-exchange valve system and another end of the housing has a hearing for pivotable support of the crossbar. An axle is held nondisplaceably in the side walls. An axially fixed low-lift cam roller is seated centrally on the axle and is flanked on both sides by a high-lift cam roller. The high-lift cam rollers are displaceable: (a) into a first position, away from each other, to toward the side walls such that contact of one high-lift cam per high-lift cam roller is possible, and (b) into a second position, toward each other, such that they are located outside an engagement region of the high-lift cams, and as a result of which contact of a low-lift or zero-lift cam with the low-lift cam roller is possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias BECKER, Robert HEINEMANN
  • Publication number: 20110056446
    Abstract: An anti-rotation device (1) for a coupling piston (2) in a switchable component (3) of a valve train of an internal combustion engine is provided, with the component (3) including two parts (4, 5) that are movable relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Becker, Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 7900591
    Abstract: The invention proposes a switchable component (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said component (1) comprising a housing (2) in whose bore (3) an axially displaceable inner element (4) comprising coupling elements (5) is received, said coupling elements (5), for effecting coupling, being able to be brought partially into engagement with an entraining surface (6) of the housing (2), the inner element (4) being biased in outward direction from the housing (2) by a lost motion spring (7), and an (outer) anti-rotation device (11) extending from an outer casing (10) of the housing (2) projects beyond a surrounding structure (12a), the outer anti-rotation device (11) is configured as a C-shaped, thin-walled ring (13) comprising a slit (12), said ring (13) extends after the manner of a clip in an annular groove (14) in the outer casing (10) of the housing (2) parallel to a transversal plane of the component (1) and, for effecting outer anti-rotation, said ring (13) projects with a sickle-like po
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Bodo Roerig, Joachim Seitz, Robert Heinemann