Patents by Inventor Rolf Weiler

Rolf Weiler 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: 20070151818
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electromechanically actuated parking brake for motor vehicles that is designed as a drum brake of the ‘Duo-Servo’ type, including a floatingly supported expanding lock which is operable by an electromechanical actuator arranged on a wheel carrier, and which is essentially composed of a threaded-nut/spindle assembly, the threaded nut of which is driven by the electromechanical actuator, and of two thrust members. At least one spring element is provided in the flux of force between the threaded-nut/spindle assembly and at least one of the thrust members. This provision allows compensating losses of application force, while the set application force is maintained in a reliable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Linhoff, Jochen Thiesing, Jurgen Balz, Enrico Ruck, Samir Attayebi, Jurgen Volkel, Rolf Weiler
  • Patent number: 7213688
    Abstract: A disc brake for a motor vehicle having at least two axially stationary friction rings being connected to a rotatable hub. The disc brake comprises several brake pads cooperating with the associated friction rings during a braking operation. A favorable structural overall design of the disc brake is achieved by a brake caliper straddling all friction rings and the associated brake pads and including a first actuating device in a brake caliper portion that extends axially beside the friction rings, and a second actuating device that is arranged between two friction rings and acting axially on both sides. Said actuating device acts on the brake pads arranged between two friction rings and is arranged so as to be displaceable relative to the brake caliper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Uwe Hendrich, Rolf Weiler, Jürgen Bauer, Stefan Heinz, Nándor Csöri
  • Publication number: 20060278477
    Abstract: The present device relates to an electromechanically operated parking brake for motor vehicles that is designed as a drum brake of the ‘Duo-Servo’ type, including a floatingly supported expanding lock which is operable by an electromechanical actuator arranged on a wheel support member and which acts on two brake shoes. To ensure the floating support of the expanding lock that is formed of a threaded-nut/spindle assembly and to always provide a desired application force, the invention discloses that the threaded nut on its outside circumference has a spur toothing which forms a spiral-toothed gear wheel system along with a spiral-toothed gear wheel driven by the electromechanical actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Jürgen Balz, Rolf Weiler, Stefan Schmitt, Andreas Pohlmann, Sebastian Salzmann
  • Publication number: 20060070828
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a brake holder of a floating-caliper disc brake for motor vehicles at which brake pads arranged on either side of an associated brake disc are displaceably mounted. To ensure ease of displaceability a brake pad guide spring is provided that extends between the brake holder and the brake pads. For ease of mountability of both the brake pads and the brake pad guide spring, it is arranged for that the brake pad guide spring is mountable on the brake holder in a generally radial direction and is locked at the brake holder in both radial and axial directions by means of at least one fixing clamp, and at least one spring arm is designed at the brake pad guide spring and fixes at least one brake pad under spring bias in position on the brake holder in a clearance-free manner. These provisions not only improve the mountability of a brake of this type but also the rattle-free resilient arrangement of the brake pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2003
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Uwe Hendrich, Reiner Muller, Rolf Weiler
  • Publication number: 20060049005
    Abstract: A disc brake for a motor vehicle having at least two axially stationary friction rings being connected to a rotatable hub. The disc brake comprises several brake pads cooperating with the associated friction rings during a braking operation. A favorable structural overall design of the disc brake is achieved by a brake caliper straddling all friction rings and the associated brake pads and including a first actuating device in a brake caliper portion that extends axially beside the friction rings, and a second actuating device that is arranged between two friction rings and acting axially on both sides. Said actuating device acts on the brake pads arranged between two friction rings and is arranged so as to be displaceable relative to the brake caliper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Inventors: Uwe Hendrich, Rolf Weiler, Jurgen Bauer, Stefan Heinz, Nandor Csori
  • Publication number: 20050258682
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic vehicle brake equipped with a parking brake device, in particular for motor vehicles, including a brake housing in which a hydraulic service pressure chamber is delimited by a brake piston, wherein the parking brake device acts on the brake piston and, in the applied condition, can be locked by means of a locking device, and an energy accumulator cooperating with the brake piston is equipped with at least one integrated spring element. In order to realize a simple and low-cost parking brake function that complies with legal requirements, according to the invention, the parking brake device is operable by a pressure that is introduced into the service pressure chamber and enables charging the energy accumulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Georg Halasy-Wimmer, Lothar Schiel, Rolf Weiler, Jurgen Balz, Peter Schack, Thomas Bauer, Stefan Drumm, Andreas Heise, Joachim Scholer, Stefan Schmitt, Andreas Pohlmann, Thomas Winkler, Volker Knop, Jorn Schriefer, Ralf Hartmann, Karsten Schille, Johannes Gorlach, Peter Volz
  • Publication number: 20050173205
    Abstract: Floating-caliper brake including a brake support member, a floating caliper straddling the outside edge of a brake disc and being axially displaceably guided on the brake support member, brake pads arranged on either side of the brake disc and enclosed by floating caliper, with at least two of the brake pads being arranged on the axially inside surface of the brake disc and at least two of the brake pads being arranged on the axially outside surface, the inward brake pads being displaceable on the brake support member. An object of the invention in a floating-caliper disc brake of this type is to achieve a design with reduced weight and, additionally, enhance the assembly and improve the function of the brake. This object is achieved in that the two outside brake pads are supported by arms of the brake support member that straddle the brake disc, and in that the floating caliper makes catch at the two outside brake pads simultaneously. The sub claims disclose favorable improvements of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Uwe Bach, Uwe Hendrich, Rolf Weiler, Hans Bungert, Stefan Heinz
  • Patent number: 6807897
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic piston and a process for its surface treatment in order to improve above all the wear resistance and corrosion resistance at the surface of the piston. As a favorable manufacturing process for the surface treatment of an above-mentioned hydraulic piston, a multistage process is disclosed which arranges a nitrocarburization with a subsequent oxidation and a following mechanical solidification of the oxidized surface for the piston. As a result, several superposed layers—layer of oxide, connecting layer, diffusion layer—develop at the piston surface which exhibit the desired qualities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignees: Bodycote Warmebehandlung GmbH, Continental Teves AG & Co., oHG, Sander KG
    Inventors: Alfred Birkenbach, Rolf Weiler, Uwe Zeibig, Martina Wägner, Jan Elwart
  • Patent number: 6761252
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromechanically actuated partially lined disk brake suitable both for realizing driving and parking brake functions. For this purpose, the partially lined disk brake comprises a brake caliper with an electromechanical actuating unit, by means of which the partially lined disk brake can be clamped by way of at least one interposed actuating element. The object of the invention is to achieve a compact design and a parking brake that can be actuated electrically. The brake caliper includes a multi-step reduction gear arranged between the integrated actuating unit and an actuating element. The actuating unit, reduction gear and actuating element are arranged in a recess of the brake caliper that is configured as a housing. According to the invention, the multi-step reduction gear is configured as a non-self-locking device, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Rolf Weiler, Jürgen Balz, Werner Denhard, Stephan Heiderich
  • Patent number: 6637317
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a piston for a hydraulic pressure chamber, especially a piston bore of a spot-type disc brake, wherein the piston is configured as a bowl-shaped hollow cylinder that is open on one side and made from a metal blank of a constant wall thickness in a forming operation. The piston has a bottom to which hydraulic pressure is applicable and a piston wall which, at its open end, passes over into a rim that has a circular abutment surface. Especially in view of conventional cast pistons, an object of the present invention is related to providing a piston which permits being manufactured by means of a simple forming operation, which can be configured as light as possible and with low expenditure in material, without limiting the stress capacity of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignees: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG, Sander KG
    Inventors: Uwe Zeibig, Uwe Hendrich, Rolf Weiler, Peter Schneider
  • Publication number: 20020104434
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic piston and a process for its surface treatment in order to improve above all the wear resistance and corrosion resistance at the surface of the piston. As a favorable manufacturing process for the surface treatment of an above-mentioned hydraulic piston, a multistage process is disclosed which arranges a nitrocarburization with a subsequent oxidation and a following mechanical solidification of the oxidized surface for the piston. As a result, several superposed layers—layer of oxide, connecting layer, diffusion layer—develop at the piston surface which exhibit the desired qualities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Alfred Birkenbach, Rolf Weiler, Uwe Zeibig, Martina Wagner, Jan Elwart
  • Patent number: 6298954
    Abstract: A brake caliper has a caliper bridge and two legs that are arranged at right angles to the caliper bridge. A housing having a bore for a brake piston is mounted on one leg. The caliper bridge has at least one hollow chamber inside, which is delimited on all sides by supporting walls. Even though the brake caliper exhibits considerable flectional strength it is lightweight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co, oHG
    Inventors: Rolf Weiler, Andreas Döll
  • Patent number: 6296086
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a brake device for the wheels of an automotive vehicle which includes a wheel-sided brake drum and a vehicle-sided mud guard that engages in a non-contact manner with a circumferential web into an annular recess in the end surface of the brake drum opposite the mud guard in order to provide a labyrinth-type seal. In conventional brake devices, the mud guard along with a welded annular web typically has a two-part design. In contrast thereto, the present invention proposes that the mud guard be punched and deep drawn from sheet metal and that the circumferential web be integrally designed with the mud guard by noncutting shaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Gerhard Reuber, Rolf Weiler, Claus-Peter Panek
  • Patent number: 6293373
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a retaining spring for a housing of a spot-type disc brake, especially an integrated disc brake for motor vehicles, in which a brake carrier of the disc brake is integrated in the steering knuckle of the vehicle, the retaining spring including at least one spring ann extending essentially in circumferential direction and clamping the housing and the brake carrier in relation to each other. In order to install the housing retaining spring in a pre-assembled state on the brake housing without further processing and to fix the outer lining in the foreseen position the present invention teaches attaching the housing retaining spring on a part of the disc brake, especially on the outer brake lining in a swiveling manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co, OHG
    Inventors: Rolf Weiler, Elmar Fuchs, Bernd Langner
  • Patent number: 6182799
    Abstract: A fixed caliper brake wherein, the material rigidity is reduced at appropriate locations on the brake housing and of the brake linings in order to create partial systems at the brake which can vibrate in a damped manner. With respect to weight, these steps are undertaken extensively in a neutral manner and they reduce the vibrations of the entire brake assembly resulting in a reduction in braking noises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Manfred Reuter, Hans-Dieter Leidecker, Rolf Weiler
  • Patent number: 6179095
    Abstract: The invention involves a spring for a floating caliper disc brake with a frame jaw caliper which, in the middle section of its axial outer edge, has a side window and on both sides of this window openings for an axial bracket of a fixed brake anchor plate. The caliper is displaceably and axially mounted on the bracket of the brake anchor plate. Brake linings are attached on both sides of the disc brake to the bracket of the brake anchor plate in an axial, displaceable manner and are also overlapped by the frame jaw caliper. The invention includes a onepiece curved wire holding spring, the middle section of which is releasably attached to the axial outer brake lining and which has two springs arms that are essentially placed in a contrary tangential direction to the middle section. The holding spring biases the frame jaw caliper radially against the brake anchor plate and biases the axial outer brake lining axially against the inside of the outer edge of the frame jaw caliper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Rolf Weiler, Thomas Kirschner, Winfried Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 6173819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spot-type disc brake with a brake housing including a first side element, a second side element and a bridge element connecting the side elements and straddling a brake disc and with at least one arm arranged on the leading and/or trailing end, of the brake housing, straddling the brake disc and connecting the first side element with the second side element. The essence of the invention is that at least one side element is provided with a recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Michael Meiss, Thomas Kirschner, Winfried Gerhardt, Hans-Dieter Leidecker, Rolf Weiler, Hans-Peter Metzen
  • Patent number: 6109401
    Abstract: The brake shoes of a disc brake having a light-metal housing are supported in a circumferential direction and are axially slidable on supports which are fixed to the housing and made of a high-strength material. The supports are cast into the housing and supporting surfaces for the brake shoes are then shaped in a subsequent machining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Leidecker, Rolf Weiler
  • Patent number: 5911425
    Abstract: A steering knuckle assembly for the drive wheels of automotive vehicles including a carrier component adapted to be secured to the wheel suspension and carrying a floating-caliper brake and a wheel axle bearing, and a rotatably mounted wheel axle having a constant-velocity joint for the drive and a flange for the attachment of a brake disc. According to the present invention, the carrier component with the disc brake and the wheel axle bearing together with the wheel axle, the flange, the brake disc and a bowl shaped part of the constant-velocity joint are coupled to form a module which can be secured to the wheel suspension as a preassembled unit in the final assembly of the automotive vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Rolf-Dieter Betzer, Rolf Weiler
  • Patent number: 5860495
    Abstract: A floating caliper-type disk brake for automotive vehicles, for supporting the circumferential forces and for guiding the brake pads including a brake carrier integrated into the steering knuckle of the vehicle. To insure a simple final assembly on the vehicle and to facilitate an automatic assembly, the floating caliper with brake pads attached thereto is supplied as a pre-assembled unit. The brake pads by means of leaf springs secured to their back plates are detachably fixed to the floating caliper. In the practice of the invention, the leaf spring of the outer brake pad, additionally serves to radially prestress the floating caliper vis-a-vis the carrier arms of the brake carrier, thereby eliminating another spring provided for this purpose. The assembly of the floating caliper on the vehicle is simplified because there is no need to assemble the said additional spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Weiler, Dieter Bieraugel, Karl Storzel, Wolfgang Schiel