Patents by Inventor Thomas Hurle

Thomas Hurle 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).

  • Publication number: 20260066748
    Abstract: A contactless energy transmission device for a rotor of an electric machine is disclosed. The device includes a housing part, which can be coupled in a rotationally rigid manner to a housing of the electric machine, and an inductive transformer which has an energizable primary coil and a secondary coil that is arranged at a distance thereto and can be electrically coupled to a winding of the rotor a roller bearing, by means of which a rotor shaft is rotatably mounted relative to the housing part, wherein the primary coil is positioned on the housing part in a rotationally rigid manner relative thereto, and the roller bearing is arranged within the housing part such that the primary coil and the roller bearing are arranged coaxially, and the secondary coil is arranged within a transformer housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2023
    Publication date: March 5, 2026
    Inventors: Martin Kunkemoeller, Thomas Hurle, Jan Michel Wassermann, Bao Ngoc An, Richard Bernauer, Christian Hartmann
  • Patent number: 12500465
    Abstract: An electromagnetic element for an electric machine, having multiple slots arranged in the circumferential direction of the electromagnetic element, said slots extending in the axial direction of the electromagnetic element and having an open side in the radial direction. A coil device is arranged in the slots, said coil device having winding heads on (at least) one axial end face of the electromagnetic element, and a cooling channel is formed in the slots in order to dispense heat from the coil device using a fluid. A wall element is also provided which has a first region that is arranged in the region of the winding head in the circumferential direction. and a second region of the wall element, said second region adjoining the first region and having teeth which extend in the axial direction and are arranged on the open side of the slots in the intermediate spaces between the slots in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2025
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Keune, Thomas Hurle, Jonas Kniel, Patrick Gramann, Michael Heilmann, Niels Wehlau, Johann Sontheim, Michael Menhart, Johann Oswald
  • Patent number: 11898611
    Abstract: A separating clutch for a drive train of a motor vehicle includes a torque forwarding component, an outer multiple disc carrier fixed to the torque forwarding component for conjoint rotation, a first plurality of friction discs, a second plurality of friction discs arranged to transmit torque through a non-positive connection with the first plurality of friction discs, a pressing element having a first side facing the friction discs and a second side, opposite the first side, facing away from the friction discs, and a restoring spring. The pressing element is for axially displacing a one of the first or second plurality of friction discs to realize the non-positive connection, and the restoring spring contacts the pressing element for canceling the non-positive connection. The restoring spring engages through and behind the first side from the second side in a positively locking connection with the pressing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Hurle, Ivo Agner, Aurelie Keller
  • Patent number: 11898610
    Abstract: A disconnect clutch for a drive train of a motor vehicle includes a torque transfer component with a contact region, an outer disc carrier, an application element, and a return spring. The outer disc carrier is rotationally and axially fixed on the torque transfer component, and arranged for receiving rotationally fixed and axially displaceable friction discs arranged for torque transmission with counter friction discs. The application element is for axially displacing at least one of the friction discs for a frictional connection and the return spring is for releasing the frictional connection. The return spring contacts the application element, the return spring comprises a radially outer portion that bears against the contact region, and the contact region is designed to modify a preload of the return spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Hurle, Aurelie Keller, Ivo Agner
  • Publication number: 20230378836
    Abstract: An electromagnetic element for an electric machine, having multiple slots arranged in the circumferential direction of the electromagnetic element, said slots extending in the axial direction of the electromagnetic element and having an open side in the radial direction. A coil device is arranged in the slots, said coil device having winding heads on (at least) one axial end face of the electromagnetic element, and a cooling channel is formed in the slots in order to dispense heat from the coil device using a fluid. A wall element is also provided which has a first region that is arranged in the region of the winding head in the circumferential direction. and a second region of the wall element, said second region adjoining the first region and having teeth which extend in the axial direction and are arranged on the open side of the slots in the intermediate spaces between the slots in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Keune, Thomas Hurle, Jonas Kniel, Patrick Gramann, Michael Heilmann, Niels Wehlau, Johann Sontheim, Michael Menhart, Johann Oswald
  • Publication number: 20220282758
    Abstract: A disconnect clutch for a drive train of a motor vehicle includes a torque transfer component with a contact region, an outer disc carrier, an application element, and a return spring. The outer disc carrier is rotationally and axially fixed on the torque transfer component, and arranged for receiving rotationally fixed and axially displaceable friction discs arranged for torque transmission with counter friction discs. The application element is for axially displacing at least one of the friction discs for a frictional connection and the return spring is for releasing the frictional connection. The return spring contacts the application element, the return spring comprises a radially outer portion that bears against the contact region, and the contact region is designed to modify a preload of the return spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Hurle, Aurelie Keller, Ivo Agner
  • Publication number: 20220282760
    Abstract: A separating clutch for a drive train of a motor vehicle includes a torque forwarding component, an outer multiple disc carrier fixed to the torque forwarding component for conjoint rotation, a first plurality of friction discs, a second plurality of friction discs arranged to transmit torque through a non-positive connection with the first plurality of friction discs, a pressing element having a first side facing the friction discs and a second side, opposite the first side, facing away from the friction discs, and a restoring spring. The pressing element is for axially displacing a one of the first or second plurality of friction discs to realize the non-positive connection, and the restoring spring contacts the pressing element for canceling the non-positive connection. The restoring spring engages through and behind the first side from the second side in a positively locking connection with the pressing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Hurle, Ivo Agner, Aurelie Keller
  • Patent number: 11312226
    Abstract: A clutch device for a motor vehicle drive train includes an input shaft, a first clutch arranged on the input shaft, a housing wall, a support bearing on the housing wall, an actuating force introduction mechanism, and a first actuating unit. The first clutch has a first clutch component with a carrier and a second clutch component. The first clutch component is directly connected to and axially supported on the input shaft. The actuating force introduction mechanism is rotationally fixed to the first clutch component such that an actuating force which adjusts the first clutch from its open position into its closed position is introduced directly into the input shaft via the carrier and is supported by the input shaft via the support bearing. The first actuating unit is operatively connected to the first clutch and includes a movable actuating bearing arranged to interact with the actuating force introduction mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ivo Agner, Aurelie Keller, Thomas Hurle
  • Publication number: 20210213824
    Abstract: A clutch device for a motor vehicle drive train includes an input shaft, a first clutch arranged on the input shaft, a housing wall, a support bearing on the housing wall, an actuating force introduction mechanism, and a first actuating unit. The first clutch has a first clutch component with a carrier and a second clutch component. The first clutch component is directly connected to and axially supported on the input shaft. The actuating force introduction mechanism is rotationally fixed to the first clutch component such that an actuating force which adjusts the first clutch from its open position into its closed position is introduced directly into the input shaft via the carrier and is supported by the input shaft via the support bearing. The first actuating unit is operatively connected to the first clutch and includes a movable actuating bearing arranged to interact with the actuating force introduction mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ivo Agner, Aurelie Keller, Thomas Hurle
  • Publication number: 20210170855
    Abstract: A drive train unit for a motor vehicle includes a housing and an input shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and arranged for attachment to an output of a transmission in a rotationally fixed manner. The input shaft has a first input shaft section and a second input shaft section that can move axially in relation to the first input shaft section. The drive train unit may include an electric machine arranged parallel to the input shaft, and a first clutch. The electric machine has a rotor and the first clutch arranged to connect the rotor and the input shaft for torque transmission in a shift position. The drive train may include an output shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and arranged for rotational coupling to a distributer transmission, and a second clutch arranged to connect the input shaft and the output shaft for torque transmission in a shift position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Hurle, Ivo Agner, Aurelie Keller
  • Publication number: 20170108054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clutch for a motor vehicle, having a pressure plate which is set up to clamp a torque transmission member, such as a disk or friction disk, together with a counterpressure plate, wherein a force transmission path is provided between an actuating unit via a pressure transmission member, wherein the pressure transmission member is configured as an integral part of the pressure plate. The invention also relates to a method for producing a pressure plate for a clutch, wherein the pressure plate is formed with an integrated pressure transmission member from a sheet metal plate via a chipless forming process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Baumann, Aurelie Keller, Thomas Hurle