Patents by Inventor Thea Schlueter

Thea Schlueter 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: 12158203
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle drive train having a drive aggregate, an automated group transmission connected between the drive aggregate and a drive output, and a disconnect clutch connected between the drive aggregate and the group transmission. The group transmission has a plurality of sub-transmissions, including a main transmission, a splitter group upstream from the main transmission, and a range group downstream from the main transmission. When the disconnect clutch cannot be shifted to carry out a shifting operation in the group transmission, an emergency shifting program is activated. Shifting from a current gear to a target gear is carried out automatically, as a function of input rotation speed of the group transmission or as a function of rotation speed of the drive aggregate, while the disconnect clutch is closed and where the main transmission and/or the range group participate exclusively, but not the splitter group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mario Steinborn, Thea Schlueter, Frieder Norrenberg, Richard Malínský, Otakar Šprdlík, Martin Fajfr, Karel Veisheipl
  • Patent number: 12128903
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle, where the drive train includes a drive aggregate, a group transmission connected between the drive aggregate and a drive output, and a separating cutch connected between the drive aggregate and the group transmission. If a speed is lower than a limit value, the separating clutch is opened and for transmission preselection one or all the other sub-transmission(s) is/are changed to a friction-force-locking condition. The separating clutch is then at least partially closed and the drive aggregate is brought to a defined rotation speed. When a friction-force-locking group transmission is required, it is checked whether a starting gearshift or a driver-desired shift for the group transmission is called for and the target rotation speed of the drive aggregate is checked. Depending on the results, the sub-transmission can be synchronized by a transmission brake or by the drive aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mario Steinborn, Maik Würthner, Thea Schlueter, Frieder Norrenberg, Martin Fajfr
  • Publication number: 20240328508
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle drive train having a drive aggregate, an automated group transmission connected between the drive aggregate and a drive output, and a disconnect clutch connected between the drive aggregate and the group transmission. The group transmission has a plurality of sub-transmissions, including a main transmission, a splitter group upstream from the main transmission, and a range group downstream from the main transmission. When the disconnect clutch cannot be shifted to carry out a shifting operation in the group transmission, an emergency shifting program is activated. Shifting from a current gear to a target gear is carried out automatically, as a function of input rotation speed of the group transmission or as a function of rotation speed of the drive aggregate, while the disconnect clutch is closed and where the main transmission and/or the range group participate exclusively, but not the splitter group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mario Steinborn, Thea Schlueter, Frieder Norrenberg, Richard Malínský, Otakar Šprdlík, Martin Fajfr, Karel Veisheipl
  • Publication number: 20240300497
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a motor vehicle, where the drive train includes a drive aggregate, a group transmission connected between the drive aggregate and a drive output, and a separating cutch connected between the drive aggregate and the group transmission. If a speed is lower than a limit value, the separating clutch is opened and for transmission preselection one or all the other sub-transmission(s) is/are changed to a friction-force-locking condition. The separating clutch is then at least partially closed and the drive aggregate is brought to a defined rotation speed. When a friction-force-locking group transmission is required, it is checked whether a starting gearshift or a driver-desired shift for the group transmission is called for and the target rotation speed of the drive aggregate is checked. Depending on the results, the sub-transmission can be synchronized by a transmission brake or by the drive aggregate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mario Steinborn, Maik Würthner, Thea Schlueter, Frieder Norrenberg, Martin Fajfr
  • Patent number: 9518508
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle having a drive-train with a hybrid drive unit including an internal combustion engine and an electric machine. A clutch is connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine. An automatic or automated transmission is connected between the hybrid drive unit and a drive output. When the hybrid vehicle has been driving and comes to a standstill with its internal combustion engine stopped, the control device automatically determines, on the one hand, a starting mode for the subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine when the hybrid vehicle is at rest, and the control device, on the other hand, automatically changes at least the transmission and the clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine of the hybrid drive unit to a condition appropriate for the starting mode determined by emitting appropriate control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Thea Schlueter
  • Publication number: 20140311427
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle having a drive-train with a hybrid drive unit including an internal combustion engine and an electric machine. A clutch is connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine. An automatic or automated transmission is connected between the hybrid drive unit and a drive output. When the hybrid vehicle has been driving and comes to a standstill with its internal combustion engine stopped, the control device automatically determines, on the one hand, a starting mode for the subsequent re-starting of the internal combustion engine when the hybrid vehicle is at rest, and the control device, on the other hand, automatically changes at least the transmission and the clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine of the hybrid drive unit to a condition appropriate for the starting mode determined by emitting appropriate control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Thea Schlueter