Patents by Inventor Stefan Blattner

Stefan Blattner 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).

  • Patent number: 11732780
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric vehicle transmission (6?) comprising a drive input shaft (11), a drive output shaft (13), a first planetary gearset (15), and a second planetary gearset (16). The drive input shaft (11) is provided for connection to an electric machine (7), where each of the first planetary gearset (15) and the second planetary gearset (16) includes a first element (17, 18), a second element (19, 20) and a third element (21, 22), respectively. A first shifting element (A) and a second shifting element (B?) are provided, by the selective actuation of which the drive input shaft (11) can be connected to the drive output shaft (13) by means of the planetary gearsets (15, 16) by engaging a gear. Also disclosed is a drive module (2?) with such an electric vehicle transmission (6?) and a method for operating an electric vehicle transmission (6?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner, Dennis Wohlfahrt, Thorsten Leim, Kai Bornträger
  • Publication number: 20220307573
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric vehicle transmission (6?) comprising a drive input shaft (11), a drive output shaft (13), a first planetary gearset (15), and a second planetary gearset (16). The drive input shaft (11) is provided for connection to an electric machine (7), where each of the first planetary gearset (15) and the second planetary gearset (16) includes a first element (17, 18), a second element (19, 20) and a third element (21, 22), respectively. A first shifting element (A) and a second shifting element (B?) are provided, by the selective actuation of which the drive input shaft (11) can be connected to the drive output shaft (13) by means of the planetary gearsets (15, 16) by engaging a gear. Also disclosed is a drive module (2?) with such an electric vehicle transmission (6?) and a method for operating an electric vehicle transmission (6?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner, Dennis Wohlfahrt, Thorsten Leim, Kai Bornträger
  • Patent number: 10968994
    Abstract: A drive-train for a vehicle having at least one electric drive unit (EM) which is, or can be, coupled by way of a driveshaft (AW) to at least a first transmission stage (i1), a second transmission stage (i2) and a third transmission stage (i3). At least one shifting device having at least two interlocking shifting elements (S1, S2) is provided for engaging the first and second transmission stages (i1, i2), and a frictional shifting element (S3) is provided for traction a force support of the first and the second transmission stages. The frictional shifting element (S3) is also provided for engaging the third transmission stage (i3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner
  • Patent number: 10724617
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission including two sub-transmissions, each having an input shaft arranged on an input axis, an intermediate shaft and an output shaft which is the drive output of both sub-transmissions. The intermediate shaft can be connected to the input and output shafts. The transmission also has wheel planes, shifting elements, two clutches and countershafts. A first countershaft can be connected to transmission elements of all the wheel planes on the countershaft axis and a second countershaft is connected to transmission elements of at least two wheel planes. The shifting elements include at least one single shifting element, but most of the shifting elements are double shifting elements. Two shifting elements are arranged on the input axis between two wheel planes, whose transmission elements are connected to the second countershaft. Opposite sides of the intermediate shaft are respectively connected to a range group and the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Blattner, Christian Mittelberger, Eckhardt Lübke
  • Patent number: 10654464
    Abstract: A method for compensation of a support torque at a combustion engine and transmission which provide an overlay of combustion engine and electric machine. The combustion engine, the electric machine, and a transmission gearset are connected with each other via a planetary gearset, which is positioned in front of a downstream transmission gearset. The invention concerns a transmission gearset of a three-shaft transmission, each with a transmission input shaft for the electric machine, and for the combustion engine, and an output shaft. For the connection or disconnection of the transmission input shaft of the electric machine while driving, the electric machine is used for the synchronization of the input shaft of the electric machine, and the created support torque at the combustion engine is determined, based on this support torque, to match a combustion engine torque and thus to compensate the support torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Glückler, Christian Mittelberger, Kai Bornträger, Andreas Heinzler, Jochen Breuer, Stefan Blattner, Thorsten Leim, Rick Hauschwitz
  • Publication number: 20200116244
    Abstract: A drive-train for a vehicle having at least one electric drive unit (EM) which is, or can be, coupled by way of a driveshaft (AW) to at least a first transmission stage (i1), a second transmission stage (i2) and a third transmission stage (i3). At least one shifting device having at least two interlocking shifting elements (S1, S2) is provided for engaging the first and second transmission stages (i1, i2), and a frictional shifting element (S3) is provided for traction a force support of the first and the second transmission stages. The frictional shifting element (S3) is also provided for engaging the third transmission stage (i3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Christian MITTELBERGER, Stefan BLATTNER
  • Publication number: 20190367035
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive-train having two drives, a drive output, a manual transmission having a planetary gearset and two independent load paths. From the first and second drives, torque can pass to the output via respective first and second paths. The two drives can be coupled to respective elements of the planetary gearset, and the transmission is coupled to a web gear. To start, when torque passes to the output first via a second path gear and thereafter via a first path gear whose ratio is different from that of the second path gear, then before changing from the second path to the first path, the torque passed at the web gear is changed such that if torque desired by the driver is unchanged, despite the change from the second to the first path, the torque acting at the output remains constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Christian MITTELBERGER, Stefan BLATTNER, Kai BORNTRÄGER, Johannes GLÜCKLER, Markus EISELE
  • Patent number: 10486518
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle transmission (1) having internal combustion engine (8) and electric machine (5). The transmission (1) comprises main transmission (HG) with two parallel partial transmissions; output shaft (4); first (R1), second (R2), third (R3), fourth (R4) and output constant (R5) gear planes each comprising a fixed gear on countershaft (VW) and respective meshing loose gear; first (A), second (B), third (C), fourth (D), fifth (E), sixth (F), seventh (G) and eighth (H) shift elements. Whenever eighth shift element (H) is engaged, the loose gear of fifth gear plane (R5) is engaged with the output shaft (4) of the main transmission (HG), whenever the seventh shift element (G) is engaged, loose gear of fourth gear plane (R4) is engaged with the output shaft (4), and whenever the sixth shift element (F) is engaged, loose gear of fourth gear plane (R4) is engaged with the first transmission input shaft (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Renner, Stefan Blattner
  • Publication number: 20190031016
    Abstract: A method for compensation of a support torque at a combustion engine and transmission which provide an overlay of combustion engine and electric machine. The combustion engine, the electric machine, and a transmission gearset are connected with each other via a planetary gearset, which is positioned in front of a downstream transmission gearset. The invention concerns a transmission gearset of a three-shaft transmission, each with a transmission input shaft for the electric machine, and for the combustion engine, and an output shaft. For the connection or disconnection of the transmission input shaft of the electric machine while driving, the electric machine is used for the synchronization of the input shaft of the electric machine, and the created support torque at the combustion engine is determined, based on this support torque, to match a combustion engine torque and thus to compensate the support torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Johannes GLÜCKLER, Christian MITTELBERGER, Kai BORNTRÄGER, Andreas HEINZLER, Jochen BREUER, Stefan BLATTNER, Thorsten LEIM, Rick HAUSCHWITZ
  • Publication number: 20190011017
    Abstract: A transmission having two clutches which engage to drive respective input shafts coaxially arranged along an input axis on an input side of the transmission. An output shaft outputs drive from both input shafts. The transmission has a plurality of wheel planes and shifting elements. A first countershaft extends along a countershaft axis over all the wheel planes and a coaxial, hollow second countershaft has transmission elements of two wheel planes. A shifting element couples the countershafts. At least six forward gears can be engaged including overdrive and direct gears. An additional gear, having a gear ratio greater than one, can be obtained by actuating only one shifting element. The direct gear can be obtained by actuating one shifting element and the overdrive gear can be engaged by actuating two shifting elements axially arranged on a side of the shifting element that actuates the additional gear facing the input side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Stefan BLATTNER, Christian MITTELBERGER
  • Publication number: 20180319267
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle transmission (1) having internal combustion engine (8) and electric machine (5). The transmission (1) comprises main transmission (HG) with two parallel partial transmissions; output shaft (4); first (R1), second (R2), third (R3), fourth (R4) and output constant (R5) gear planes each comprising a fixed gear on countershaft (VW) and respective meshing loose gear; first (A), second (B), third (C), fourth (D), fifth (E), sixth (F), seventh (G) and eighth (H) shift elements. Whenever eighth shift element (H) is engaged, the loose gear of fifth gear plane (R5) is engaged with the output shaft (4) of the main transmission (HG), whenever the seventh shift element (G) is engaged, loose gear of fourth gear plane (R4) is engaged with the output shaft (4), and whenever the sixth shift element (F) is engaged, loose gear of fourth gear plane (R4) is engaged with the first transmission input shaft (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Johannes KALTENBACH, Christian MITTELBERGER, Stefan RENNER, Stefan BLATTNER
  • Publication number: 20180238427
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission having a first and a second input shaft; a countershaft; a drive output shaft; a first sub-transmission having two gearsets, of which one gearset can be selectively connected to transmit torque between the first input shaft and the countershaft; a second sub-transmission having two gearsets, of which one gearset can be selectively connected to transmit torque between the second input shaft and the countershaft; and a third sub-transmission having one gearset which can be connected to transmit torque between the countershaft and the drive output shaft. In this case, one of the gearsets of the first sub-transmission coincides with one of the gearsets of the second sub-transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Christian MITTELBERGER, Stefan BLATTNER
  • Publication number: 20180058547
    Abstract: A dual-clutch transmission including first and second sub-transmissions, each having a respective input shaft. The input shafts can be coupled to a drive input shaft via a respective clutch. A transmission output shaft is common to both sub-transmissions. The input shafts are coaxial such that one shaft passing through the other which is hollow. An output shaft extends behind and is coaxial with the input shafts. To provide at least seven fully powershiftable forward gears, the two sub-transmissions together have a total of six wheel planes arranged axially, one behind another, and gearwheels which are associated with the first and second input shafts as well as the output shaft and a countershaft that extends parallel to those shafts. Depending on the shift position of seven interlocking shifting elements of the two sub-transmissions, the gearwheels of the six wheel planes transmit torque from the drive input shaft to the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Stefan BLATTNER, Christian MITTELBERGER
  • Publication number: 20180031095
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission for motor vehicles includes two sub-transmissions, each having an input shaft arranged on an input axis of the transmission. A drive output shaft on a drive output side of the transmission which is the drive output shaft of both sub-transmissions. At least two wheel planes and at least two shifting elements, and a countershaft arrangement with a countershaft axis that is parallel to the input axis. The countershaft arrangement includes two countershafts, the first one of which can be connected to transmission elements of all the wheel planes on the countershaft axis and the second countershaft is fixed to transmission elements of at least two wheel planes. Most of the shifting elements are double shifting elements and two of the shifting elements are arranged on the input axis and between the two wheel planes, whose transmission elements are connected fixed to the second countershaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Stefan BLATTNER, Christian MITTELBERGER
  • Publication number: 20180031096
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission including two sub-transmissions, each having an input shaft arranged on an input axis, an intermediate shaft and an output shaft which is the drive output of both sub-transmissions. The intermediate shaft can be connected to the input and output shafts. The transmission also has wheel planes, shifting elements, two clutches and countershafts. A first countershaft can be connected to transmission elements of all the wheel planes on the countershaft axis and a second countershaft is connected to transmission elements of at least two wheel planes. The shifting elements include at least one single shifting element, but most of the shifting elements are double shifting elements. Two shifting elements are arranged on the input axis between two wheel planes, whose transmission elements are connected to the second countershaft. Opposite sides of the intermediate shaft are respectively connected to a range group and the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Stefan BLATTNER, Christian MITTELBERGER, Eckhardt LÜBKE
  • Patent number: 9546721
    Abstract: A method of operating dual-clutch transmission for a vehicle which has two partial transmissions, each partial transmission having an input shaft arranged on an input shaft axis. An output shaft is arranged on the input shaft axis or a parallel countershaft axis. An intermediate gear system on the countershaft axis. At least one input shaft can be connected to the drive output shaft, as a direct drive, and only one countershaft is arranged on the countershaft axis and supports only fixed gears. One of the gears is a direct gear so that, when the direct gear is engaged, all the shifting elements, for coupling the intermediate gear system via the gear planes into the force flow, can be disengaged. Each gear plane can be coupled by a shifting element arranged on the input shaft axis to a shaft, and the gear next-lower than the direct gear is a coupling gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner, Bernard Hunold, Eckhardt Lubke, Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Publication number: 20150126321
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for operating a transmission, in particular a dual-clutch transmission for a motor vehicle, which comprises at least two partial transmissions each of the partial transmissions having at least one input shaft on a drive input side of the transmission, which are arranged on an input shaft axis, an output shaft as the drive output shaft of the at least two partial transmissions on a drive output side of the transmission, wherein the drive output shaft is arranged on the input shaft axis or on at least one countershaft axis, in particular one that is parallel to the input shaft axis, an intermediate gear system on the at least one countershaft axis with at least one countershaft, wherein at least one of the input shafts can be connected by way of at least one gear plane and/or at least one shifting element to the drive output shaft, wherein at least four gear planes are arranged for obtaining forward gears and at least six shifting elements are provided and wherein on the at least
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Christian MITTELBERGER, Stefan BLATTNER, Bernard HUNOLD, Eckhardt LUBKE, Johannes KALTENBACH
  • Patent number: 8396619
    Abstract: A vehicle control system with a hybrid drive comprising an engine and an electric motor and a plurality of functional components each divided into a strategy sub-component, a control sub-component and an actuator sub-component. The functional components include at least engine, transmission and hybrid functional components. The strategy sub-component (8) of the hybrid functional component (4) comprises an operating status prescription module (17) which reads in a first quantity of data from functional components in order to determine a prescribed value for the operating status of the hybrid drive, processes the read in data in order to produce a second quantity of output variables, and in a second sub-module (29), determines the prescribed value for the operating status of the hybrid drive using the output variables from the first sub-module (27) and with the help of automatic status-determining mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Notker Amann, Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner
  • Patent number: 8386142
    Abstract: A motor vehicle control system for controlling a motor vehicle with a hybrid drive comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, with a strategy sub-component, a control sub-component and an actuator sub-component. The functional components include at least an internal combustion engine functional component, a transmission functional component, such that the strategy sub-component (8) of the hybrid functional component (4) comprises an operating status prescription module which determines a prescribed value for the operating status of the hybrid drive and transmits the prescribed value to the control sub-component (9) of the hybrid functional component (4) such that the control sub-component (9) of the hybrid functional component (4) comprises a first module (18) and a second module (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Winfried Fakler, Notker Amann, Christian Mittelberger, Mesut Er, Stefan Blattner, Johannes Kaltenbach, Stefan Wallner
  • Patent number: 8290655
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a vehicle with a hybrid drive comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric motor and a plurality of functional components each divided into strategy, control and actuator sub-components. The functional components include engine, transmission and hybrid functional components. The strategy sub-component of the hybrid functional component comprises an operating status prescription module which determines a recommended value for the operating status of the hybrid drive and transmits the recommended value to the control sub-component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Winfried Fakler, Notker Amann, Christian Mittelberger, Mesut Er, Stefan Blattner, Johannes Kaltenbach, Stefan Wallner