Patents by Inventor Ruediger Volkert

Ruediger Volkert 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).

  • Transmission having multiple ratio planetary gear unit in series with an auxiliary gear unit
    Patent number: 7354375
    Abstract: A multiple ratio transmission having a planetary primary gear unit producing forward ratios and a reverse ratio, and a planetary auxiliary gear unit in series with the primary gear unit producing a direct drive ratio and either an underdrive ratio or an overdrive ratio. The transmission produces six or seven forward ratios and two reverse ratios by combining the ratios of the primary and auxiliary gear units. Five friction clutches and brakes plus one one-way clutch control operation of the primary unit, and operation of the auxiliary unit is controlled by a clutch and a brake plus one one-way clutch. The same six or seven ratios can be achieved with a total of seven friction clutches and brakes in the primary and auxiliary unit by deleting the one-way clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Bert Brooks, Johann Kirchhoffer, Ruediger Volkert
  • Transmission having multiple ratio planetary gear unit in series with an auxiliary gear unit
    Publication number: 20070111844
    Abstract: A multiple ratio transmission having a planetary primary gear unit producing forward ratios and a reverse ratio, and a planetary auxiliary gear unit in series with the primary gear unit producing a direct drive ratio and either an underdrive ratio or an overdrive ratio. The transmission produces six or seven forward ratios and two reverse ratios by combining the ratios of the primary and auxiliary gear units. Five friction clutches and brakes plus one one-way clutch control operation of the primary unit, and operation of the auxiliary unit is controlled by a clutch and a brake plus one one-way clutch. The same six or seven ratios can be achieved with a total of seven friction clutches and brakes in the primary and auxiliary unit by deleting the one-way clutches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Bert Brooks, Johann Kirchhoffer, Ruediger Volkert
  • Transmission having multiple ratio planetary gear unit in series with an auxiliary gear unit
    Patent number: 7198586
    Abstract: A multiple ratio transmission having a planetary primary gear unit producing forward ratios and a reverse ratio, and a planetary auxiliary gear unit in series with the primary gear unit producing a direct drive ratio and either an underdrive ratio or an overdrive ratio. The transmission produces six or seven forward ratios and two reverse ratios by combining the ratios of the primary and auxiliary gear units. Five friction clutches and brakes plus one one-way clutch control operation of the primary unit, and operation of the auxiliary unit is controlled by a clutch and a brake plus one one-way clutch. The same six or seven ratios can be achieved with a total of seven friction clutches and brakes in the primary and auxiliary unit by deleting the one-way clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Bert Brooks, Johann Kirchhoffer, Ruediger Volkert
  • Transmission having multiple ratio planetary gear unit in series with an auxiliary gear unit
    Publication number: 20060128519
    Abstract: A multiple ratio transmission having a planetary primary gear unit producing forward ratios and a reverse ratio, and a planetary auxiliary gear unit in series with the primary gear unit producing a direct drive ratio and either an underdrive ratio or an overdrive ratio. The transmission produces six or seven forward ratios and two reverse ratios by combining the ratios of the primary and auxiliary gear units. Five friction clutches and brakes plus one one-way clutch control operation of the primary unit, and operation of the auxiliary unit is controlled by a clutch and a brake plus one one-way clutch. The same six or seven ratios can be achieved with a total of seven friction clutches and brakes in the primary and auxiliary unit by deleting the one-way clutches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Bert Brooks, Johann Kirchhoffer, Ruediger Volkert