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: 20110023806
    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: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 7827953
    Abstract: The invention proposes a switchable support element (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said support element comprising a housing (2) in whose bore (3) an axially displaceable inner element (4) is received, a coupling means (6) extending in the inner element (4) can be brought partially into engagement with an entraining surface (7) of the housing (2) for achieving coupling, and said support element (1) further comprising at least one vertical stop means (10) that overlaps an annular groove (9) between the inner element (4) and the housing (2) for defining a coupling position of said coupling means (6) with coupling lash relative to said entraining surface (7), the vertical stop means (10) is constituted by at least one thin-walled ring comprising a slot (11), the ring is placed or slipped, slot (11) ahead, onto an outer peripheral surface (12) of the housing (2) to extend parallel to a transverse plane of the support element (1), the housing (2) comprises at least one aperture (13) throug
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Bodo Roerig, Joachim Seitz, Matthew Evans, Robert Heinemann, Tracy Novinski
  • Publication number: 20100229811
    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: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Sandra Schäfer, Robert Heinemann
  • Patent number: 7762224
    Abstract: A switchable support element (1) comprising a housing (2) in whose bore (4) an axially displaceable pressure piston (7) extends, said support element (1) comprising at least one coupling element (8) for an optional coupling of the pressure piston (7) in its axially extended position relative to the housing (2), said pressure piston (7) being biased in an outward direction from the housing (2) by at least one lost motion spring (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Bodo Rörig, Joachim Seitz, Robert Heinemann
  • Publication number: 20090095240
    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: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Bodo ROERIG, Joachim SEITZ, Robert HEINEMANN
  • Publication number: 20090013943
    Abstract: The invention proposes a switchable support element (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said support element comprising a housing (2) in whose bore (3) an axially displaceable inner element (4) is received, a coupling means (6) extending in the inner element (4) can be brought partially into engagement with an entraining surface (7) of the housing (2) for achieving coupling, and said support element (1) further comprising at least one vertical stop means (10) that overlaps an annular groove (9) between the inner element (4) and the housing (2) for defining a coupling position of said coupling means (6) with coupling lash relative to said entraining surface (7), the vertical stop means (10) is constituted by at least one thin-walled ring comprising a slot (11), the ring is placed or slipped, slot (11) ahead, onto an outer peripheral surface (12) of the housing (2) to extend parallel to a transverse plane of the support element (1), the housing (2) comprises at least one aperture (13) throug
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Bodo ROERIG, Joachim SEITZ, Matthew EVANS, Robert HEINEMANN, Tracy NOVINSKI
  • Publication number: 20080223326
    Abstract: A switchable support element (1) comprising a housing (2) in whose bore (4) an axially displaceable pressure piston (7) extends, said support element (1) comprising at least one coupling element (8) for an optional coupling of the pressure piston (7) in its axially extended position relative to the housing (2), said pressure piston (7) being biased in an outward direction from the housing (2) by at least one lost motion spring (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Bodo Rorig, Joachim Seitz, Robert Heinemann
  • Publication number: 20050165681
    Abstract: A computerized method of automatically generating payment for electronic billing data including automatically obtaining billing data in an electronic format from a billing party for a billable party, and automatically comparing the billing data with rule data defined by the billable party. The method includes automatically authorizing generation of payment data for the billing party if the billing data satisfies the comparison with the rule data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: TyMetrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Heinemann, Scott Holliday, Frank Mikulak
  • Patent number: 5307846
    Abstract: An apparatus provides individual vehicle motorists with a simple, low-cost way to adjust and balance the pressure within their individual vehicle's tires without accidentally exceeding the maximum pressure level of the tires. The apparatus, interconnects the four tires with itself, and a pressure gauge and a conventional tire air-valve permits the internal air pressure of all four tires to be adjusted uniformly from one air source through a unique low cost combination of a commercial connector and a specially designed shut-off valve and to be disconnected without a loss of air in any of the four tires. If a pre-set air pressure level has been exceeded while air is being pumped into the tires, a safety air pressure-relief valve, coupled to a whistle, is triggered, notifying the motorist of this condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Robert Heinemann