Patents by Inventor Sören Knopp

Sören Knopp 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: 20230271472
    Abstract: A central joint device for chassis components (2), particularly three-point link, is suggested. The central joint device comprises at least one housing unit (3), at least one joint pin unit (4) which is movably supported at least partially inside of the housing unit (3), and at least one sensor unit (5), particularly a magnetic sensor unit, which is provided for contactless detection of roll motions and pitch motions of the housing unit (3) and of the joint pin unit (4) relative to one another. The sensor unit (5) comprises at least one encoder element (6) and at least one sensor element (7). The encoder element (6) and the sensor element (7) are arranged to be spaced apart from one another and movable relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph WERRIES, Sören KNOPP, Julian STRATMANN
  • Publication number: 20230151847
    Abstract: A joint component includes a ball joint with a joint housing that defines a stud opening and a measurement port opposite the stud opening in an axial direction. A ball stud includes a joint ball movably fitted in the joint housing, where the joint ball faces toward the measurement port and the ball stud extends out of the housing through the stud opening. A component body includes a joint-holding housing that defines a joint opening and has a base opposite the joint opening in the axial direction. The joint housing is inserted into the component body with its measurement port facing toward the base. An angle measurement device has an angle sensor to capture a signal that characterizes an angular position of the ball stud relative to the joint housing. The angle measurement device can hold the angle sensor in a sensor holder between the base and the joint housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Werries, Jörg Heemann, Sören Knopp, Philipp Wilhelm Kruse, Farina Brenk
  • Patent number: 9511642
    Abstract: A motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle (UV), with a vehicle frame (2) and at least one vehicle axle (5) supported relative to the vehicle frame (2) by one or more connecting rods (6; 7). The connecting rod or rods (6; 7) is/are linked to the vehicle axle (5) by at least one articulated arrangement (8) which is connected, by connecting elements (11) that pass through contact surfaces (10; 10a), to a support block (12) fixed on the axle (5). The axis (13) of each connecting element (11) extends through the contact surface (10; 10a), through which the respective connecting element (11) passes, at an angle (?) different from 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Frank Scheper, Jens Eismann, Friedhelm Langhorst, Sören Knopp
  • Patent number: 8038162
    Abstract: A joint unit such as for mounting the vehicle control arm of a motor vehicle, is provided with a control arm-side housing (1), in which a pivot pin (2) is mounted pivotably by means of a spheroidal bearing surface (3), wherein the joint unit has a securing unit against the separation of the housing (1) from the pivot pin (2). The securing unit includes a securing bolt (9), arranged within the pivot pin (2) essentially in parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the pivot pin (2) and with a blocking element (12) at a free end. A securing mount (13) is located within the housing (1) or the pivot pin (2) and in this the blocking element (12) is mounted in a contactless manner in the mounted state of the joint unit. The securing mount (13) is part of the securing unit, and the securing bolt (9) is fixed to the component of the joint unit (housing (1) or pivot pin (2)) that is not provided with the securing mount (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Sören Knopp, Manfred Buhl, Ralf Kunze
  • Patent number: 7708488
    Abstract: A joint unit of a control arm of a wheel suspension in a motor vehicle, with a housing (1) and a pivot (2), which is mounted slidingly in the housing by a spheroidal bearing surface (3). The joint unit has a catching device (4) to avoid complete separation of the housing (1) from the pivot (2). The catching device spans over part of the housing (1) in a contactless manner during normal operation. The catching device (4) has at least one flexible catching band or at least one securing strap (4.1, 4.2) with a recess (4.1.1, 4.2.1), into which protrudes a catching pin (1.1, 1.2) of the housing in a contactless manner during normal operation, or at least two securing straps (4.1 and 4.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Kunze, Soeren Knopp, Manfred Buhl, Heinfried Helms
  • Publication number: 20100013181
    Abstract: A joint unit such as for mounting the vehicle control arm of a motor vehicle, is provided with a control arm-side housing (1), in which a pivot pin (2) is mounted pivotably by means of a spheroidal bearing surface (3), wherein the joint unit has a securing unit against the separation of the housing (1) from the pivot pin (2). The securing unit includes a securing bolt (9), arranged within the pivot pin (2) essentially in parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the pivot pin (2) and with a blocking element (12) at a free end. A securing mount (13) is located within the housing (1) or the pivot pin (2) and in this the blocking element (12) is mounted in a contactless manner in the mounted state of the joint unit. The securing mount (13) is part of the securing unit, and the securing bolt (9) is fixed to the component of the joint unit (housing (1) or pivot pin (2)) that is not provided with the securing mount (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Sören Knopp, Manfred BUHL, Ralf Runze
  • Publication number: 20090154988
    Abstract: A joint unit of a control arm of a wheel suspension in a motor vehicle, with a housing (1) and a pivot (2), which is mounted slidingly in the housing by a spheroidal bearing surface (3). The joint unit has a catching device (4) to avoid complete separation of the housing (1) from the pivot (2). The catching device spans over part of the housing (1) in a contactless manner during normal operation. The catching device (4) has at least one flexible catching band or at least one securing strap (4.1, 4.2) with a recess (4.1.1, 4.2.1), into which protrudes a catching pin (1.1, 1.2) of the housing in a contactless manner during normal operation, or at least two securing straps (4.1 and 4.2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Ralf Kunze, Sören Knopp, Manfred Buhl, Heinfried Helms
  • Patent number: 7001076
    Abstract: A housing for receiving a bearing component is presented, which has a shaft projection, which can be inserted into the recess of the end area of a hollow section and can be pressed together with the end area, wherein the shaft projection is provided with a groove profile, in which the groove profile is prepared by a deformation process or an original shaping process. Notch effect and consequently a weakening of the cross section on the highly stressed shaft projection is avoided by the said processes. The present invention pertains, moreover, to such a groove profile located at a shaft projection of a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Wilfried Lustig, Matthias Gercke, Franz-Josef Marquardt, Sören Knopp, Ralf Kunze
  • Patent number: 6959935
    Abstract: A steering triangle (1) is provided for the axle suspension of motor vehicles for the articulated connection of a vehicle axle with a vehicle chassis with two control arms (2, 3). The control arms are connected to each other in a joint housing (6) formed by the control arms (2, 3) together for a rubber-metal bearing (11) for fixing the steering triangle (1) on the vehicle axle. The rubber-metal bearing (11) has a pivot axis (12) provided with a spherical surface and an elastomer body (14), which extends around the pivot axis (12) at least in the area of the spherical surface and which is accommodated in a recess (16) located within the joint housing (6), in which steering triangle two pressing rings (17, 18) are arranged within the recess (16) of the joint housing (6) on the axial outer sides of the elastomer body (14). The pressing rings can be moved toward each other by a tensioning device via the intermediary of stop faces (22) of the joint housing (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Buhl, Reinhard Richter, Uwe Cossmann, Ralf Kunze, Holger Bublies, Sören Knopp
  • Patent number: 6863289
    Abstract: An axle rocker for connecting an axle 3 to the vehicle body 2 of a motor vehicle, which has a flange 9 provided at the axle 3, a central joint arranged at the flange 9 and two swivel arms 4 and 8 connected to the central joint, which are pivotably fastened to the vehicle body 2. The central joint has a central joint housing 10 and a central joint inner part 11, which is mounted pivotable in same and which protrudes from the central joint housing 10 at its two ends designed as connection pins on two mutually opposite sides. Furthermore, at least part of the central joint housing 10 is made in one piece with the flange 9, and the swivel arms 4 and 8 are fastened with their ends facing the central joint to the two connection pins of the central joint inner part 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Buhl, Uwe Cossmann, Sören Knopp, André Diener, Reinhard Richter