Patents by Inventor Stephan Maienschein

Stephan Maienschein 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: 8813483
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic torque converter, comprising: a torsion vibration damper and an axial bearing disposed between a damper component of the torsion vibration damper or a turbine shell of the hydrodynamic torque converter, the turbine shell connected with the damper component, and an adjacent connecting component; and devices for centering the axial bearing in a radial direction. The invention is characterized in that the axial bearing is disposed between two disc shaped components and the centering devices are disposed at least at one of the two disc shaped components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stephan Maienschein
  • Patent number: 8579093
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter comprising a torque converter lockup clutch and a converter housing connected at the drive side, and a pump wheel non-rotatably connected thereto, as well as a turbine wheel non-rotatably connected at the output side to an output hub, and a torsional vibration damper actively arranged between the clutch output of the torque converter lockup clutch and the output hub, and comprising a centrifugal pendulum device arranged within the converter housing and having a pendulum flange with slightly swiveling pendulum masses thereupon, wherein the pendulum flange is arranged axially between the torsional vibration damper and the turbine wheel and is non-rotatably connected to the turbine wheel and the output hub by means of a keyed connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Maienschein, Peter Droll
  • Publication number: 20130239745
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal pendulum mechanism that includes a pendulum flange and pendulum masses which are fastened on both sides of the pendulum flange by means of a spacing bolt accommodated in a curved cutout of the pendulum flange to form a pair of pendulum masses, where the pair of pendulum masses is guided relative to the pendulum flange by means of the at least two rollers and can be pivoted restrictively because of a stop, where the rollers are accommodated in curved guide tracks in the pendulum masses and in complementary curved guide tracks in the pendulum flange and can be rolled, and at least two pairs of pendulum masses are arranged so as to be circumferentially adjacent to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Maienschein, David Schnaedelbach, Darius Wysgol, Christian Huegel, Stefan Jung, Thorsten Krause, Eugen Kombowski
  • Publication number: 20130233125
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper for a drivetrain of a motor vehicle having a substantially discoidal centrifugal flange and a plurality of centrifugal pendulum-type absorbers. Each centrifugal pendulum-type absorber includes a first pendulum mass and a second pendulum mass. The first pendulum mass is arranged above a first surface of the pendulum flange, and the second pendulum mass is arranged above a second surface of the pendulum flange. The first pendulum mass and the second pendulum mass are firmly connected to each other by means of at least two spacing bolts in each case. The pendulum flange has a plurality of cutouts in which the spacing bolts are guided. A second spacing bolt of a first centrifugal pendulum-type absorber and a first spacing bolt of a second centrifugal pendulum-type absorber are guided in at least one first cutout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Jung, David Schnaedelbach, Markus Werner, Christian Huegel, Stephan Maienschein, Thorsten Krause
  • Patent number: 8490766
    Abstract: The hydrodynamic torque converter having a torque converter lockup clutch and a converter housing connected at the drive side, and a pump wheel non-rotatably connected thereto, as well as a turbine wheel non-rotatably connected at the output side to an output hub, and a torsional vibration damper actively arranged between the clutch output of the torque converter lockup clutch and the output hub, and including a centrifugal pendulum device arranged within the converter housing and having a pendulum flange with slightly swiveling pendulum masses thereupon, where the pendulum flange is arranged axially between the torsional vibration damper and the turbine wheel and is non-rotatably connected to a damper output part of the torsional vibration damper, and the damper output part and/or the pendulum flange are directly connectable via an interlocking connection to the drive hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Maienschein, Peter Droll
  • Patent number: 8479901
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter with an impeller connected on the drive side arranged in housing and a turbine driven by the latter, connected with the driven side of the torque converter, with a turbine damper actively disposed between the turbine and driven side. To improve the vibration damping on the driven side of the torque converter, the turbine damper with a first damper part is formed out of an input part connected with the turbine and an intermediate flange, limited and rotatable opposite and against the action of at least a first energy accumulator and a second damper part with the intermediate flange and an output part limited and rotatable oppositely and against the action of at least a second energy accumulator. An adaptive-speed vibration absorber is arranged on the intermediate flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dominique Engelmann, Markus Werner, Stephan Maienschein, Christian Dinger
  • Patent number: 8434602
    Abstract: A torque transfer device in the drive train of a motor vehicle for transferring torque between a drive unit and a shaft rotatable about a rotation axis, including: a hydrodynamic torque converter, which includes a converter cover, connectable to the drive unit, and which can be coupled through a pump shell to a turbine shell for torque transfer, which can be bridged by a torque converter lockup clutch for torque transfer, which comprises a piston, movable in an axial direction within a range towards the cover in order to clamp a friction liner support with at least one friction liner between the piston and the cover for torque transfer. A friction ring is disposed between the piston and the friction liner support, and the friction ring is movable in an axial direction within a range between the piston and the friction liner support and connected to the converter cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eugen Kombowski, Stephan Maienschein
  • Patent number: 8381515
    Abstract: A force transmission device including at least one input and one output, a hydrodynamic component disposed there between, and a vibration damper disposed subsequent thereto in the force flow, which vibration damper comprises at least one damper input connected torque proof to the hydrodynamic component and at least one axial bearing disposed between the damper input and an element forming a support surface in axial direction. The damper input in the portion of its inner circumference includes a bearing seat for the axial bearing. The bearing seat for the axial bearing is formed by at least one rim portion, folded over at the inner circumference of the damper input and forming a fold-over portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stephan Maienschein
  • Patent number: 8382597
    Abstract: A vibration damper comprising at least two damper assemblies connectable in series, coupled with one another through a floating intermediary flange, and torque transmission devices and/or damping coupling devices and rotation angle limiting devices between the floating intermediary flange and a damper component of one of the damper assemblies, wherein the damper component is disposed in a force flow in front and/or behind the floating intermediary flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Maienschein, Peter Droll, Eugen Kombowski
  • Publication number: 20120305358
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter comprising a torque converter lockup clutch and a converter housing connected at the drive side, and a pump wheel non-rotatably connected thereto, as well as a turbine wheel non-rotatably connected at the output side to an output hub, and a torsional vibration damper actively arranged between the clutch output of the torque converter lockup clutch and the output hub, and comprising a centrifugal pendulum device arranged within the converter housing and having a pendulum flange with slightly swiveling pendulum masses thereupon, wherein the pendulum flange is arranged axially between the torsional vibration damper and the turbine wheel and is non-rotatably connected to the turbine wheel and the output hub by means of a keyed connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Maienschein, Peter Droll
  • Patent number: 8322501
    Abstract: A force transmission device having a hydrodynamic component, disposed between an input and an output, comprising at least a pump shell and a turbine shell, forming an operating cavity in combination, with an actuatable clutch device for at least partially bridging the hydrodynamic component, comprising a clutch component for at least partially bridging the hydrodynamic component, comprising a first clutch component connected with the input and a second clutch component at least indirectly connected to the output, which can be brought into operative engagement with one another through an actuation device, with a vibration absorber disposed in the force flow at least subsequent to the actuatable clutch device, with a housing coupled with the input or with an element coupled non-rotatably to the input and coupled with the pump shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Toros Guelluek, Bruno Mueller, Stephan Maienschein, Thorsten Krause, Mario Degler
  • Publication number: 20120298461
    Abstract: The hydrodynamic torque converter having a torque converter lockup clutch and a converter housing connected at the drive side, and a pump wheel non-rotatably connected thereto, as well as a turbine wheel non-rotatably connected at the output side to an output hub, and a torsional vibration damper actively arranged between the clutch output of the torque converter lockup clutch and the output hub, and including a centrifugal pendulum device arranged within the converter housing and having a pendulum flange with slightly swiveling pendulum masses thereupon, where the pendulum flange is arranged axially between the torsional vibration damper and the turbine wheel and is non-rotatably connected to a damper output part. of the torsional vibration damper, and the damper output part and/or the pendulum flange are directly connectable via an interlocking connection to the drive hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Maienschein, Peter Droll
  • Patent number: 8291700
    Abstract: A drive train, including a hydrodynamic torque converter with a housing arranged to be rotationally driven by a drive unit for a motor vehicle and an output part. The drive train includes an input shaft for a transmission. The output part is non-rotatably connected to the input shaft. An internal circumference of the transmission input shaft is supported by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eugen Kombowski, Stephan Maienschein
  • Publication number: 20120255394
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal pendulum mechanism, having at least one pendulum mass support and at least one pendulum mass arranged thereon, which pendulum mass can be moved to a limited extent radially relative to the pendulum mass support by means of at least one rolling element inside raceways formed by recesses in the pendulum mass support and the pendulum mass and in the circumferential direction, the rolling element having guiding means formed in the gap between the individual pendulum mass and the pendulum mass support. The invention includes means for reducing the gap size between the pendulum mass and the pendulum mass support in an at least spatially limited manner are provided outside the raceways for the rolling element and outside the range of the intermediate space between the pendulum mass and the pendulum mass support that can be converted by the guiding means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Maienschein, Christian Huegel, Stefan Jung, David Schnaedelbach
  • Patent number: 8261900
    Abstract: A wet clutch comprising at least one friction disk (10) which is loaded by a piston (5) against an end disk (4). In order to run a forced pressure medium flow over the friction surfaces (11, 12) of the wet clutch, two pressures cavities (7, 8) having a connection in the region of the friction surfaces, are loaded with varying pressures. In order to improve such arrangements, the invention proposes that the leakage flow flowing over the supports of the friction disks is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mario Degler, Stephan Maienschein
  • Patent number: 8251193
    Abstract: A torque transmission device, in particular in the drive train of a motor vehicle, with a hydrodynamic torque converter (6), including a converter cover (14), which can be connected torque proof or is connected torque proof with a drive unit (3). The converter cover can be coupled with a turbine shell (21) through a pump shell (20), which can be bridged by a converter lockup clutch (30) that includes a piston (28) axially movable relative to the converter cover (14) within limits. The piston (28) is connected torque proof with a drive plate (50) in a first connection portion (51). The drive plate is connected torque proof with the converter cover (14) in a second connection portion (52), wherein an additional connection portion (53; 56) is provided, in which the drive plate (50) is connected torque proof with the converter cover (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eugen Kombowski, Stephan Maienschein
  • Publication number: 20120210707
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic torque converter, comprising: a torsion vibration damper and an axial bearing disposed between a damper component of the torsion vibration damper or a turbine shell of the hydrodynamic torque converter, the turbine shell connected with the damper component, and an adjacent connecting component; and devices for centering the axial bearing in a radial direction. The invention is characterized in that the axial bearing is disposed between two disc shaped components and the centering devices are disposed at least at one of the two disc shaped components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Stephan Maienschein
  • Publication number: 20110308908
    Abstract: A torque transmission device, comprising a hydrodynamic component, a shiftable clutch device and a vibration damper. A turbine shell of the hydrodynamic component is connected with a damper input component of the vibration damper and/or with a turbine shell hub, which is at least indirectly supported in axial direction at a damper hub through a torque-proof connection. At least one axial support surface is provided at a face of a damper component, adjacent to the torque-proof connection in an axial direction, or of the damper hub. The face is oriented away in axial direction from the torque-proof connection. The invention is characterized in that a support element is arranged at the damper component or at the damper hub. The support element includes a support surface forming an axial protrusion, extending through adjacently arranged damper components or portions of a support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Eugen Kombowski, Stephan Maienschein
  • Patent number: 8047344
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper (10) and a hydrodynamic torque converter device (1). The converter device has a converter torus (18) which is configured by an impeller (12), a turbine wheel (14) and a stator (16), and a converter lockup clutch (20). The torsional vibration damper (10) has at least one first energy accumulating device (28) with one ere or more first energy accumulators (68) (e.g. coil spring or bow spring), at least one first wall (92) radially supporting the at least one first energy accumulator (68), where a rolling body device (98) (e.g. a rolling gear) is interposed between the at least one first wall (92) and the at least first energy accumulator (68) (e.g. coil spring or bow spring).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mario Degler, Stephan Maienschein, Jan Loxtermann, Thorsten Krause
  • Patent number: 8047922
    Abstract: A vibration damper, for example, a multistage torsion vibration damper, including at least two coaxially disposed damper assemblies, each of them including at least one input component and one output component and being disposed on different diameters, a first damper assembly being disposed on the outside in a radial direction and configured as a series damper, including at least two dampers connected in series and coupled via an intermediate flange, and a second damper assembly being disposed on the inside in the radial direction. The intermediate flange includes at least two annular disk-shaped elements disposed at a distance in the axial direction and extending on both sides of the output component of the first damper arrangement at least into the portion of the outer circumference of the output component of the first damper assembly, each including openings extending in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stephan Maienschein