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: 10589588
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Souschek, Raphael Koch, Daniel Mainz, Theo Kueppers
  • Patent number: 10471793
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Theo Kueppers, Andreas Carlitz, Jens Glorer
  • Patent number: 10160275
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Meier, Ivica Papic, Theo Kueppers
  • Publication number: 20180154720
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer SOUSCHEK, Raphael KOCH, Daniel MAINZ, Theo KUEPPERS
  • Publication number: 20180099538
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Theo KUEPPERS, Andreas CARLITZ, Jens GLORER
  • Patent number: 9481220
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Meier, Theo Kueppers
  • Publication number: 20160121679
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Meier, Ivica Papic, Theo Kueppers
  • Patent number: 8910962
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Meier, Theo Kueppers
  • Publication number: 20140196270
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph MEIER, Theo KUEPPERS
  • Publication number: 20140151974
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Christoph Meier, Theo Kueppers
  • Patent number: 8684380
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Zandbergen, Andreas Carlitz, Theo Kueppers
  • Publication number: 20130285344
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Christoph Meier, Theo Kueppers
  • Publication number: 20120306176
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Paul Zandbergen, Andreas Carlitz, Theo Kueppers
  • Publication number: 20110248465
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Carlitz, Theo Kueppers, Jens Glorer