Patents by Inventor Theo Kueppers
Theo Kueppers 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: 10589588Abstract: The present disclosure provides a transverse link for a wheel suspension of a vehicle that includes at least one wheel-side attachment structure and at least one structure-side attachment structure. The wheel-side and structure-side structures are connected to each other by a connection structure which extends therebetween. The connection structure and/or at least one of the attachment structures is/are produced by a generative production method. At least one of the attachment structures is constructed as a generatively produced bushing which has an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve. The sleeves are connected to each other by a fold-like structure. The present disclosure further provides a method for producing such a transverse link.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rainer Souschek, Raphael Koch, Daniel Mainz, Theo Kueppers
-
Patent number: 10471793Abstract: A vehicle includes a rear wheel suspension including a twist beam axle. The vehicle also includes upper and lower mounts for a spring and each defining a seat. The lower mount is disposed on the axle and the upper mount is disposed at a distance and parallel to the lower mount on a frame member. A first adapter is disposed within the lower mount seat and a second adapter is disposed within the upper mount seat. Each adapter defines a groove to receive an end of the spring, a support extending from the groove within an inner diameter of the spring and a wall disposed along a segment of the groove being configured to maintain a position of the spring.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Theo Kueppers, Andreas Carlitz, Jens Glorer
-
Patent number: 10160275Abstract: A suspension member having an arm member and a ball joint section. The ball joint section having an opening receiving a press fit ball joint. The material of the ball joint section having a smaller material thickness than the material of the arm member. The ball joint section connected to the arm member.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2015Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christoph Meier, Ivica Papic, Theo Kueppers
-
Publication number: 20180154720Abstract: The present disclosure provides a transverse link for a wheel suspension of a vehicle that includes at least one wheel-side attachment structure and at least one structure-side attachment structure. The wheel-side and structure-side structures are connected to each other by a connection structure which extends therebetween. The connection structure and/or at least one of the attachment structures is/are produced by a generative production method. At least one of the attachment structures is constructed as a generatively produced bushing which has an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve. The sleeves are connected to each other by a fold-like structure. The present disclosure further provides a method for producing such a transverse link.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2017Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Rainer SOUSCHEK, Raphael KOCH, Daniel MAINZ, Theo KUEPPERS
-
Publication number: 20180099538Abstract: A vehicle includes a rear wheel suspension including a twist beam axle. The vehicle also includes upper and lower mounts for a spring and each defining a seat. The lower mount is disposed on the axle and the upper mount is disposed at a distance and parallel to the lower mount on a frame member. A first adapter is disposed within the lower mount seat and a second adapter is disposed within the upper mount seat. Each adapter defines a groove to receive an end of the spring, a support extending from the groove within an inner diameter of the spring and a wall disposed along a segment of the groove being configured to maintain a position of the spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2016Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Theo KUEPPERS, Andreas CARLITZ, Jens GLORER
-
Patent number: 9481220Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for producing a transverse member having a securable ball joint receiving member from a transverse member having an integral ball joint receiving member. The transverse member is the kind used for connecting a vehicle wheel to a vehicle structure. The method comprises providing a transverse member having an integral ball joint receiving member, separating the integral ball joint receiving member from the transverse member, and connecting a securable ball joint receiving member to the transverse member to replace the removed integral ball joint receiving member. This method may be performed to correct the position and orientation of a ball joint as provided by the integral ball joint receiving member or to further utilize a production tool that already produces a transverse member with an integral ball joint receiving member.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christoph Meier, Theo Kueppers
-
Publication number: 20160121679Abstract: A suspension member having an arm member and a ball joint section. The ball joint section having an opening receiving a press fit ball joint. The material of the ball joint section having a smaller material thickness than the material of the arm member. The ball joint section connected to the arm member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Christoph Meier, Ivica Papic, Theo Kueppers
-
Patent number: 8910962Abstract: A vehicle suspension transverse link, including a bearing journal assembly having a pin-shaped portion and an anchor portion that attaches to a connecting point on the link. The anchor portion has an unrounded configuration.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2013Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christopher Meier, Theo Kueppers
-
Publication number: 20140196270Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for producing a transverse member having a securable ball joint receiving member from a transverse member having an integral ball joint receiving member. The transverse member is the kind used for connecting a vehicle wheel to a vehicle structure. The method comprises providing a transverse member having an integral ball joint receiving member, separating the integral ball joint receiving member from the transverse member, and connecting a securable ball joint receiving member to the transverse member to replace the removed integral ball joint receiving member. This method may be performed to correct the position and orientation of a ball joint as provided by the integral ball joint receiving member or to further utilize a production tool that already produces a transverse member with an integral ball joint receiving member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Christoph MEIER, Theo KUEPPERS
-
Publication number: 20140151974Abstract: A vehicle suspension transverse link, including a bearing journal assembly having a pin-shaped portion and an anchor portion that attaches to a connecting point on the link. The anchor portion has an unrounded configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventors: Christoph Meier, Theo Kueppers
-
Patent number: 8684380Abstract: The invention concerns a wheel suspension system for the non-steered wheels (16) of a motor vehicle, with a twist beam axle (2) which comprises two wheel-supporting trailing arms (3, 13) pivotably mounted on a motor vehicle body (15) and a cross member (6) connecting the trailing arms (3, 13) together, and a Watt linkage (8) also connecting the trailing arms (3, 13) together, at least one articulated holder (10) being integrated in each trailing arm (3, 13) itself for articulated coupling of the Watt linkage (8).Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Paul Zandbergen, Andreas Carlitz, Theo Kueppers
-
Publication number: 20130285344Abstract: A vehicle suspension transverse link, including a bearing journal assembly having a pin-shaped portion and an anchor portion that attaches to a connecting point on the link. The anchor portion has a curved configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: Christoph Meier, Theo Kueppers
-
Publication number: 20120306176Abstract: The invention concerns a wheel suspension system for the non-steered wheels (16) of a motor vehicle, with a twist beam axle (2) which comprises two wheel-supporting trailing arms (3, 13) pivotably mounted on a motor vehicle body (15) and a cross member (6) connecting the trailing arms (3, 13) together, and a Watt linkage (8) also connecting the trailing arms (3, 13) together, at least one articulated holder (10) being integrated in each trailing arm (3, 13) itself for articulated coupling of the Watt linkage (8).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Inventors: Paul Zandbergen, Andreas Carlitz, Theo Kueppers
-
Publication number: 20110248465Abstract: The invention relates to a rear wheel suspension, which has a spring, preferably embodied as a coil spring that has a geometric spring center line and a line of action of force, the coil spring being supported in an upper and a lower spring mount. In order to reduce the forces imposed on structural elements of the rear wheel suspension, the proposal is that the spring be embodied and arranged in such a way that the line of action of force thereof has an amount of tilt during an inward deflection which is different from an amount of tilt during an outward deflection.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2011Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Andreas Carlitz, Theo Kueppers, Jens Glorer