Patents by Inventor Stefan Winkelmann

Stefan Winkelmann 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: 20020088681
    Abstract: A torque transfer system, particularly an automated shift transmission of a motor vehicle, has a movable shifter element that is subject to a position-dependent force. The gear positions of the transmission correspond to minima of potential energy of the position-dependent force, so that the movable element will have a tendency to fall into the nearest one of the shift positions. To perform a gear shift, the movable shifter element is moved into the vicinity of the targeted gear position by means of a control device directing a shift actuator. When the movable shifter element has stopped moving within a given tolerance band of the targeted position, the control device generates a stall-releasing signal, e.g., a series of pulses of alternating polarity to overcome a holding force or holding torque of the movable element, so that the latter will seek a position of minimum potential energy and thus move towards the targeted gear-shift position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiliungs KG
    Inventors: Reinhard Berger, Martin Vornehm, Stefan Winkelmann
  • Patent number: 5779535
    Abstract: Heating and/or air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle which has at least two air flaps mounted along a common pivot axis in a housing. For independent control of the air flaps, transmission elements located coaxially with respect to the pivot axis are associated with the two positioning devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Ian Bendell, Stefan Winkelmann