Patents by Inventor Stefan Rappelt

Stefan Rappelt 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: 10434834
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle with a chassis arrangement having at least two vibration dampers. A body control is carried out at least partially with the vibration dampers. The chassis arrangement further has at least one stabilizer. During transverse accelerations below a threshold acceleration the stabilizer contributes to the body control less than the vibration dampers and contributes more than the vibration dampers from the threshold acceleration upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Norbert Ackermann, Helmut Baalmann, Andreas Förster, Sven Greger, Steffen Heyn, Holger Kirchner, Sven Philip Krüger, Thomas Manger, Hendrik Marquar, Christian Maurischat, Stefan Rappelt, Alexander Schwarz, Jens Seiler, Achim Thomae, Michael Triebel
  • Patent number: 10308092
    Abstract: A roll stabilization system (1) for a motor vehicle which has a DC voltage converter (6) associated with an electric roll stabilizer (2). By way of the DC voltage converter, a feed voltage can be transformed into a supply voltage for the roll stabilizer (2). To produce as compact a structure as possible, the DC voltage converter (6) is integrated in the electric roll stabilizer (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Triebel, Achim Thomae, Helmut Baalmann, Stefan Rappelt, Ernst Oswald
  • Publication number: 20180370319
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle with a chassis arrangement having at least two vibration dampers. A body control is carried out at least partially with the vibration dampers. The chassis arrangement further has at least one stabilizer. During transverse accelerations below a threshold acceleration the stabilizer contributes to the body control less than the vibration dampers and contributes more than the vibration dampers from the threshold acceleration upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Norbert ACKERMANN, Helmut BAALMANN, Andreas FÖRSTER, Sven GREGER, Steffen HEYN, Holger KIRCHNER, Sven Philip KRÜGER, Thomas MANGER, Hendrik MARQUAR, Christian MAURISCHAT, Stefan RAPPELT, Alexander SCHWARZ, Jens SEILER, Achim THOMAE, Michael TRIEBEL
  • Publication number: 20180229577
    Abstract: A roll stabilization system (1) for a motor vehicle which has a DC voltage converter (6) associated with an electric roll stabilizer (2). By way of the DC voltage converter, a feed voltage can be transformed into a supply voltage for the roll stabilizer (2). To produce as compact a structure as possible, the DC voltage converter (6) is integrated in the electric roll stabilizer (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Michael TRIEBEL, Achim THOMAE, Helmut BAALMANN, Stefan RAPPELT, Ernst OSWALD
  • Patent number: 8812191
    Abstract: A control device for an adjustable chassis system includes a connection to at least one sensor arrangement which provides at least one vehicle condition parameter of a vehicle. The measured vehicle condition parameter is spatially related to a position outside of the control device. The sensor arrangement is arranged inside the control device and forms a virtual miniature measurement plane which is extrapolated to an actual measurement plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Frankenberger, Stefan Rappelt, Toni Schuck, Stefan Kissner
  • Publication number: 20130297149
    Abstract: A control device for an adjustable chassis system includes a connection to at least one sensor arrangement which provides at least one vehicle condition parameter of a vehicle. The measured vehicle condition parameter is spatially related to a position outside of the control device. The sensor arrangement is arranged inside the control device and forms a virtual miniature measurement plane which is extrapolated to an actual measurement plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang FRANKENBERGER, Stefan Rappelt, Toni Schuck, Stefan Kissner
  • Patent number: 8428807
    Abstract: Process for determining at least one state of motion of a vehicle body (10) of a vehicle (1), which has at least one wheel (2) spring-mounted on the vehicle body (10) via a wheel suspension (6), wherein an inward deflection (zrel) of the wheel (2) is measured by means of a path or angle sensor (21), an inward deflection velocity (?rel) of the wheel (2) is determined by differentiating the inward deflection (zrel) of the wheel (2) over time, a vertical acceleration ({umlaut over (z)}wheel) of the wheel (2) is measured by means of an acceleration sensor (22), a vertical velocity (?wheel) of the wheel (2) is determined by integrating the vertical acceleration ({umlaut over (z)}wheel) of the wheel (2) over time, and a vertical velocity (?body) of the vehicle body (10) is calculated by forming a difference of the vertical velocity (?wheel) of wheel (2) and the inward deflection velocity (?rel) of wheel (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Gärtner, Eberhard Hees, Stefan Rappelt
  • Publication number: 20100228422
    Abstract: Process for determining at least one state of motion of a vehicle body (10) of a vehicle (1), which has at least one wheel (2) spring-mounted on the vehicle body (10) via a wheel suspension (6), wherein an inward deflection (zrel) of the wheel (2) is measured by means of a path or angle sensor (21), an inward deflection velocity (?rel) of the wheel (2) is determined by differentiating the inward deflection (zrel) of the wheel (2) over time, a vertical acceleration ({umlaut over (z)}wheel) of the wheel (2) is measured by means of an acceleration sensor (22), a vertical velocity (?wheel) of the wheel (2) is determined by integrating the vertical acceleration ({umlaut over (z)}wheel) of the wheel (2) over time, and a vertical velocity (?body) of the vehicle body (10) is calculated by forming a difference of the vertical velocity (?wheel) of wheel (2) and the inward deflection velocity (?rel) of wheel (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Andreas Gärtner, Eberhard Hees, Stefan Rappelt
  • Patent number: 7377290
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a vibration damper includes a valve housing, an actuator for driving an adjustable valve part, and a circuit arrangement having an opening which provides access to the actuator, wherein the actuator has a coil. The actuator and the circuit arrangement are arranged in the housing. A coating arranged on the circuit arrangement is shaped and dimensioned to position the circuit arrangement at a fixed position and orientation relative to the actuator. An outer plastic jacket is arranged over the coating of the circuit arrangement and encloses the coil of the actuator, so that the outer plastic jacket protects both the circuit arrangement and the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Albert, Jürgen Lindenthal, Stefan Rappelt, Christina Wittwer
  • Patent number: 7092841
    Abstract: A first acceleration sensor is arranged on a vehicle body for detecting an acceleration signal of the vehicle body and a second acceleration sensor is arranged on a wheel-side axle part for detecting an acceleration signal of the wheel-side axle part, the vehicle body and the wheel-side axle part execute relative movement with respect to each other. The wheel acceleration signal and the body acceleration signal are each integrated twice to form respective distance signals. The difference between the two distance signals at a first time (t0) is determined and stored as a gap value. A second distance signal difference is determined at a second time (t1) for a new gap value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Heinz-Joachim Gilsdorf, Achim Thomae, Stefan Rappelt, Thomas Kutsche
  • Publication number: 20060038149
    Abstract: Valve housing, especially for a vibration damper, containing an actuator, which drives an adjusting valve part, and an electronic circuit arrangement having an opening through which the actuator is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Bernd Albert, Jurgen Lindenthal, Stefan Rappelt, Christina Wittwer
  • Publication number: 20050137828
    Abstract: A first acceleration sensor is arranged on a vehicle body for detecting an acceleration signal of the vehicle body and a second acceleration sensor is arranged on a wheel-side axle part for detecting an acceleration signal of the wheel-side axle part, the vehicle body and the wheel-side axle part execute relative movement with respect to each other. The wheel acceleration signal and the body acceleration signal are each integrated twice to form respective distance signals. The difference between the two distance signals at a first time (t0) is determined and stored as a gap value. A second distance signal difference is determined at a second time (t1) for a new gap value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Heinz-Joachim Gilsdorf, Achim Thomae, Stefan Rappelt, Thomas Kutsche