Patents by Inventor Rudolf Fitz

Rudolf Fitz 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: 20230021794
    Abstract: Controlling an actual slip of at least one driven axle of a motor vehicle with at least one axle having at least one wheel and a one drive unit for providing a drive torque for the axle and for the wheel can be carried out by a control device for controlling the drive unit. The control device can be configured for establishing a first actual speed of the motor vehicle; establishing a second actual speed of the at least one wheel; calculating a target speed of the at least one wheel for the established first actual speed taking into account parameters; determining an actual slip of the at least one wheel with respect to a substrate on which the motor vehicle is being moved; when the actual slip exceeds a defined first limit slip, generating a limit torque by which the drive torque produced by the drive unit is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Gerd Kaiser, Enrique Cordero, Volker-René Ruiters, Marius Offenberg, Rudolf Fitz
  • Patent number: 11261925
    Abstract: A clutch device has at least a multiplicity of clutch discs which are in frictional contact with one another, and a control unit which controls the clutch device. The clutch device is calibrated repeatedly during an operating time of the clutch device. A first calibration is performed at a first point in time. A second calibration is performed at a second point following the first calibration. The first point in time and the second point in time are within a first operating time of the clutch device and occur within a first time interval. At least a third calibration is performed in a subsequent second operating time at a third point in time. At least the second calibration is performed within a second interval of the third point in time. The first and second intervals are determined by the control unit based on a mileage of a vehicle or an energy input into the clutch device. The first interval is shorter than the second interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Rudolf Fitz, Eric Rene Esch
  • Patent number: 11211895
    Abstract: A method for operating an electrical machine is used to calculate a value of a first torque which can be provided at a maximum by the electrical machine in a future interval, wherein, by limiting the torque which is provided in the interval to the value, overheating of at least one semiconductor, which is required for transmitting the electrical power, due to a power loss is prevented and/or the threat of overheating and the onset of derating is diagnosed and therefore prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Tobias Gemassmer, Enrique Cordero, Florian Sontheim, Rudolf Fitz
  • Patent number: 11035424
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling an actuator or an actuator device, at least comprising a clutch and an actuator, which actuator has: an electric drive motor and a control device; a ramp mechanism, which comprises a rotatable first disk, which has first ramps, a second disk, which can be moved only in an axial direction and which has second ramps, and balls, which are arranged between the disks in the first ramps and second ramps; and at least one spring for moving the second disk in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Rudolf Fitz, Eric Esch
  • Publication number: 20210071724
    Abstract: A clutch device has at least a multiplicity of clutch discs which are in frictional contact with one another, and a control unit which controls the clutch device. The clutch device is calibrated repeatedly during an operating time of the clutch device. A first calibration is performed at a first point in time. A second calibration is performed at a second point following the first calibration. The first point in time and the second point in time are within a first operating time of the clutch device and occur within a first time interval. At least a third calibration is performed in a subsequent second operating time at a third point in time. At least the second calibration is performed within a second interval of the third point in time. The first and second intervals are determined by the control unit based on a mileage of a vehicle or an energy input into the clutch device. The first interval is shorter than the second interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Rudolf FITZ, Eric Rene ESCH
  • Publication number: 20210036652
    Abstract: A method for operating an electrical machine is used to calculate a value of a first torque which can be provided at a maximum by the electrical machine in a future interval, wherein, by limiting the torque which is provided in the interval to the value, overheating of at least one semiconductor, which is required for transmitting the electrical power, due to a power loss is prevented and/or the threat of overheating and the onset of derating is diagnosed and therefore prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Tobias Gemassmer, Enrique Cordero, Florian Sontheim, Rudolf Fitz
  • Patent number: 10882506
    Abstract: A method controls a drive system for an axle of a motor vehicle, wherein the drive system has at least an electrical machine as drive unit, a drive shaft which is driven by the drive unit, a first output shaft and a second output shaft and also a first clutch which connects the drive shaft to the first output shaft and a second clutch which connects the drive shaft to the second output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Volker-René Ruiters, Gerd Kaiser, Rudolf Fitz, Emanuel Blaj, Florian Sontheim, Enrique Cordero, Rainer Bruening
  • Publication number: 20200263744
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling an actuator or an actuator device, at least comprising a clutch and an actuator, which actuator has: an electric drive motor and a control device; a ramp mechanism, which comprises a rotatable first disk, which has first ramps, a second disk, which can be moved only in an axial direction and which has second ramps, and balls, which are arranged between the disks in the first ramps and second ramps; and at least one spring for moving the second disk in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Rudolf Fitz, Eric Esch
  • Patent number: 10696176
    Abstract: A drive system for at least one axle of a motor vehicle can be controlled, wherein the drive system has at least one electrical machine as drive unit, a drive shaft which is driven by the drive unit, a first output shaft and optionally a second output shaft and also a first clutch which connects the drive shaft to the first output shaft and optionally a second clutch which connects the drive shaft to the second output shaft, and furthermore a control unit for controlling the drive unit and the clutches, wherein the first output shaft and the optional second output shaft are arranged on a common axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Volker-René Ruiters, Florian Sontheim, Rudolf Fitz, Emanuel Blaj, Gerd Kaiser, Enrique Cordero
  • Publication number: 20190161067
    Abstract: A method controls a drive system for an axle of a motor vehicle, wherein the drive system has at least an electrical machine as drive unit, a drive shaft which is driven by the drive unit, a first output shaft and a second output shaft and also a first clutch which connects the drive shaft to the first output shaft and a second clutch which connects the drive shaft to the second output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Volker-René Ruiters, Gerd Kaiser, Rudolf Fitz, Emanuel Blaj, Florian Sontheim, Enrique Cordero, Rainer Bruening
  • Publication number: 20190160964
    Abstract: A drive system for at least one axle of a motor vehicle can be controlled, wherein the drive system has at least one electrical machine as drive unit, a drive shaft which is driven by the drive unit, a first output shaft and optionally a second output shaft and also a first clutch which connects the drive shaft to the first output shaft and optionally a second clutch which connects the drive shaft to the second output shaft, and furthermore a control unit for controlling the drive unit and the clutches, wherein the first output shaft and the optional second output shaft are arranged on a common axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Volker-René Ruiters, Florian Sontheim, Rudolf Fitz, Emanuel Blaj, Gerd Kaiser, Enrique Cordero
  • Patent number: 10233983
    Abstract: A process of controlling an actuating assembly for a coupling in the driveline of a motor vehicle, wherein the actuating assembly comprises a drive for moving an actuating element for operating the coupling unit, sensing a position signal representing the position of the actuating element; sensing a force signal representing the operating force required for displacing the actuating element; controlling the drive by means of an electronic control unit as a function of the position signal and the force signal. Further an actuating assembly is used for carrying out the process, as well as a drive assembly having such an actuating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Mark Schmidt, Frank Bernreuther, Kai Sorge, Rudolf Fitz, Stephan Leven
  • Publication number: 20170184161
    Abstract: A process of controlling an actuating assembly for a coupling in the driveline of a motor vehicle, wherein the actuating assembly comprises a drive for moving an actuating element for operating the coupling unit, sensing a position signal representing the position of the actuating element; sensing a force signal representing the operating force required for displacing the actuating element; controlling the drive by means of an electronic control unit as a function of the position signal and the force signal. Further an actuating assembly is used for carrying out the process, as well as a drive assembly having such an actuating assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Mark Schmidt, Frank Bernreuther, Kai Sorge, Rudolf Fitz, Stephan Leven