Patents by Inventor Thomas Schwegler

Thomas Schwegler 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: 11767914
    Abstract: In a device for locking a piston rod of a piston of an actuator, an armature rod of an electromagnet is axially movable counter to a preloading spring and includes two actuating contours. Latching mechanisms are operable to mechanically fix the piston. An axial distance between base points of the actuating contours is such that the piston is mechanically fixable by only one of the latching mechanisms in each case. Interlocking elements of both latching mechanisms are accommodated in an axially fixed manner in a sleeve, are radially displaceable, and are selectively engageable with the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Florian Weinl, Thomas Schwegler, Maik Wiesner, Dirk Leutheuser
  • Patent number: 11746902
    Abstract: A device (1) for actuating a parking lock device (2) of an automatic transmission includes a piston (3) guided in a cylinder (5) and hydraulically displaceable counter to a spring force of an actuation spring (4). The piston (3) is form-lockingly fixable in a first position and in a second position by radially displaceable blocking elements (26) of a blocking device (15). The blocking elements (26) are radially displaceable by an actuation element (17). The radial displacement path of the blocking elements (26) and an operating condition of the actuation element (17) corresponding thereto in the first position of the piston (3) deviate from the radial displacement path of the blocking elements (26) and the operating condition of the actuation element (17) corresponding thereto in the second position of the piston (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schwegler, Sven Jabs, Andreas Bisping, Florian Weinl
  • Publication number: 20220205535
    Abstract: A device (1) for actuating a parking lock device (2) of an automatic transmission includes a piston (3) guided in a cylinder (5) and hydraulically displaceable counter to a spring force of an actuation spring (4). The piston (3) is form-lockingly fixable in a first position and in a second position by radially displaceable blocking elements (26) of a blocking device (15). The blocking elements (26) are radially displaceable by an actuation element (17). The radial displacement path of the blocking elements (26) and an operating condition of the actuation element (17) corresponding thereto in the first position of the piston (3) deviate from the radial displacement path of the blocking elements (26) and the operating condition of the actuation element (17) corresponding thereto in the second position of the piston (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Schwegler, Sven Jabs, Andreas Bisping, Florian Weinl
  • Patent number: 11261967
    Abstract: A device for locking a piston rod of a piston includes a latching mechanism actuatable by an actuating element. The actuating element is fixedly arranged on an armature rod of an electromagnet, is clamped between two preloading springs, and includes two actuating contours. Components of the device are configured with respect to geometry and with respect to forces acting upon each of the components such that a permanent magnet holds the armature rod in a first position in the non-energized condition of an electromagnet and in the engaged condition of the parking lock and such that the electromagnet holds the armature rod in a second position in the energized condition and in the disengaged condition of the parking lock. The parking lock is disengageable in the pressurized condition of the piston and in the energized condition of the electromagnet, and the parking lock is engageable in the non-pressurized condition of the piston and in the non-energized condition of the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Maik Wiesner, Florian Weinl, Dirk Leutheuser, Thomas Schwegler
  • Patent number: 11143299
    Abstract: A device for locking a piston rod of a piston of an actuator is provided. An electrically actuatable electromagnet includes an armature rod, which is axially movable counter to a first preloading spring and on which two actuating elements are axially displaceably mounted between two stops of the armature rod. A second preloading spring is axially mounted between the two actuating elements. The actuating elements each include actuating contours, which are associated with latching mechanisms, via which the piston is mechanically fixable in a disengaged condition and in a engaged condition of the parking lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Florian Weinl, Thomas Schwegler, Maik Wiesner, Dirk Leutheuser
  • Patent number: 11075042
    Abstract: An electromagnetic control mechanism for a switching element is described herein, which can be switched to an open operating state and to a closed operating state by means of an electromagnet and an actuating unit that acts counter to the actuation force of the electromagnet. The electromagnet has a dedicated mechanism for dampening the actuation movement of an anchor of the electromagnet toward a section of the coil, by means of which the actuation speed of the anchor can be reduced after a distance between a section of the anchor facing the coil and the section of the coil becomes shorter than a predefined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Thomas Speh, Martin Ruider, Michael Pantke, Thomas Schwegler
  • Publication number: 20210172522
    Abstract: In a device for locking a piston rod of a piston of an actuator, an armature rod of an electromagnet is axially movable counter to a preloading spring and includes two actuating contours. Latching mechanisms are operable to mechanically fix the piston. An axial distance between base points of the actuating contours is such that the piston is mechanically fixable by only one of the latching mechanisms in each case. Interlocking elements of both latching mechanisms are accommodated in an axially fixed manner in a sleeve, are radially displaceable, and are selectively engageable with the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Florian Weinl, Thomas Schwegler, Maik Wiesner, Dirk Leutheuser
  • Publication number: 20210172521
    Abstract: A device for locking a piston rod of a piston of an actuator is provided. An electrically actuatable electromagnet includes an armature rod, which is axially movable counter to a first preloading spring and on which two actuating elements are axially displaceably mounted between two stops of the armature rod. A second preloading spring is axially mounted between the two actuating elements. The actuating elements each include actuating contours, which are associated with latching mechanisms, via which the piston is mechanically fixable in a disengaged condition and in a engaged condition of the parking lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Florian Weinl, Thomas Schwegler, Maik Wiesner, Dirk Leutheuser
  • Publication number: 20210172520
    Abstract: A device for locking a piston rod of a piston includes a latching mechanism actuatable by an actuating element. The actuating element is fixedly arranged on an armature rod of an electromagnet, is clamped between two preloading springs, and includes two actuating contours. Components of the device are configured with respect to geometry and with respect to forces acting upon each of the components such that a permanent magnet holds the armature rod in a first position in the non-energized condition of an electromagnet and in the engaged condition of the parking lock and such that the electromagnet holds the armature rod in a second position in the energized condition and in the disengaged condition of the parking lock. The parking lock is disengageable in the pressurized condition of the piston and in the energized condition of the electromagnet, and the parking lock is engageable in the non-pressurized condition of the piston and in the non-energized condition of the electromagnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Maik Wiesner, Florian Weinl, Dirk Leutheuser, Thomas Schwegler
  • Patent number: 11022218
    Abstract: A parking lock for a transmission of a motor vehicle having an interlocking element of a connecting rod that is biased against a parking lock disengagement direction to bring and keep a ratchet tooth of a locking pawl in engagement with a tooth space of a parking interlock gear during an engagement of the parking lock. The connecting rod is provided a spring force acting in a parking lock engagement direction from an inserting spring and a compressive force acting in the parking lock disengagement direction from a hydraulically actuatable actuator having first piston pressurizable to disengage the parking lock. A detent device actuatable by an electromagnet mechanically fixes the first piston in either a latched or unlatched piston position associated with an engaged or disengaged position of the parking lock, respectively. A system determines a current engagement position of the detent device by assessing an inductance at the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schwegler, Florian Weinl, Michael Jud, Armin Haugg, Julia Klein
  • Publication number: 20200027674
    Abstract: An electromagnetic control mechanism for a switching element is described herein, which can be switched to an open operating state and to a closed operating state by means of an electromagnet and an actuating unit that acts counter to the actuation force of the electromagnet. The electromagnet has a dedicated mechanism for dampening the actuation movement of an anchor of the electromagnet toward a section of the coil, by means of which the actuation speed of the anchor can be reduced after a distance between a section of the anchor facing the coil and the section of the coil becomes shorter than a predefined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas SPEH, Martin RUIDER, Michael PANTKE, Thomas SCHWEGLER
  • Publication number: 20190271395
    Abstract: A parking lock for a transmission of a motor vehicle having an interlocking element of a connecting rod that is biased against a parking lock disengagement direction to bring and keep a ratchet tooth of a locking pawl in engagement with a tooth space of a parking interlock gear during an engagement of the parking lock. The connecting rod is provided a spring force acting in a parking lock engagement direction from an inserting spring and a compressive force acting in the parking lock disengagement direction from a hydraulically actuatable actuator having first piston pressurizable to disengage the parking lock. A detent device actuatable by an electromagnet mechanically fixes the first piston in either a latched or unlatched piston position associated with an engaged or disengaged position of the parking lock, respectively. A system determines a current engagement position of the detent device by assessing an inductance at the electromagnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Schwegler, Florian Weinl, Michael Jud, Armin Haugg, Julia Klein