Patents by Inventor Steffen ZÄPFEL

Steffen ZÄPFEL 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: 10781922
    Abstract: A device for actuating a parking lock of an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle. A piston, which a hydraulic medium can be applied from a reservoir by a valve apparatus in order to actuate the parking lock by a valve apparatus, which has a first valve and a second valve, which is arranged downstream of the first valve and upstream of the piston in the flow direction of the hydraulic medium from the reservoir to the piston and which has at least one device connection, by way of which the hydraulic medium can be applied to the piston, the second valve having at least two switching states, and a working chamber, which is bounded by the housing element and by the piston and into which the hydraulic medium can be introduced from the reservoir by the valve apparatus in order to apply the hydraulic medium to the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Harald Merklein, Steffen Zäpfel
  • Patent number: 10589745
    Abstract: A drive device for an all-wheel drive, two-track motor vehicle, in the drive train of which a first motor vehicle axle and, via a center clutch, a second motor vehicle axle are driven permanently by a drive assembly in driving operation. In the closed state of the center clutch, the second vehicle axle is engaged with the drive train, and, in the open state of the clutch, the second vehicle axle is decoupled from the drive train. In a driving situation with engaged all-wheel drive as well as with axle friction coefficients of varying size, a greater wheel torque can be taken up at the vehicle axle with a large axle friction coefficient than at the vehicle axle with a small axle friction coefficient, and a control instrument is provided, which, for engine torque limitation, limits the drive assembly to a maximum allowed engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Steffen Zäpfel, Klaus Wohlrab, Wolfgang Koch, Ferenc Janosi, Horst Wild
  • Publication number: 20190309847
    Abstract: A device for actuating a parking lock of an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle. A piston, which a hydraulic medium can be applied from a reservoir by a valve apparatus in order to actuate the parking lock by a valve apparatus, which has a first valve and a second valve, which is arranged downstream of the first valve and upstream of the piston in the flow direction of the hydraulic medium from the reservoir to the piston and which has at least one device connection, by way of which the hydraulic medium can be applied to the piston, the second valve having at least two switching states, and a working chamber, which is bounded by the housing element and by the piston and into which the hydraulic medium can be introduced from the reservoir by the valve apparatus in order to apply the hydraulic medium to the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Harald MERKLEIN, Steffen ZÄPFEL
  • Publication number: 20180251130
    Abstract: A drive device for an all-wheel drive, two-track motor vehicle, in the drive train of which a first motor vehicle axle and, via a center clutch, a second motor vehicle axle are driven permanently by a drive assembly in driving operation. In the closed state of the center clutch, the second vehicle axle is engaged with the drive train, and, in the open state of the clutch, the second vehicle axle is decoupled from the drive train. In a driving situation with engaged all-wheel drive as well as with axle friction coefficients of varying size, a greater wheel torque can be taken up at the vehicle axle with a large axle friction coefficient than at the vehicle axle with a small axle friction coefficient, and a control instrument is provided, which, for engine torque limitation, limits the drive assembly to a maximum allowed engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Steffen ZÄPFEL, Klaus WOHLRAB, Wolfgang KOCH, Ferenc JANOSI, Horst WILD