Patents by Inventor Thomas Werner HEITZ

Thomas Werner HEITZ 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: 12024240
    Abstract: A steering column for a steer-by-wire steering system may include a steering shaft that can be connected to a steering wheel. The steering shaft is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis in a casing unit. A feedback actuator may be operatively coupled to the steering shaft. The casing unit may have a second length in a direction of the longitudinal axis, and the steering shaft may project into the casing unit by a first length. Consequently, installation space volume and weight are saved, particularly where the first length is less than the second length. In some cases, the first length is less than or equal to half of the second length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Tim Bayer, Simon Blaettler, Thomas Werner Heitz, Daniel Kreutz
  • Publication number: 20230234634
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle may include a steering shaft mounted in a casing unit so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and a feedback actuator that has an electric motor with a motor shaft that is aligned axially along a motor axis, arranged at a distance parallel to the longitudinal axis, and coupled to the steering shaft via a transmission. The motor is connected to a control unit for electrical operation. The control unit may be integrated with the feedback actuator. And the transmission may be arranged axially between the motor and the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicants: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Andreas BACHMANN, Konstantin SCHWARZKOPF, Thomas Werner HEITZ
  • Publication number: 20210188342
    Abstract: A steering column for a steer-by-wire steering system may include a steering shaft that can be connected to a steering wheel. The steering shaft is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis in a casing unit. A feedback actuator may be operatively coupled to the steering shaft. The casing unit may have a second length in a direction of the longitudinal axis, and the steering shaft may project into the casing unit by a first length. Consequently, installation space volume and weight are saved, particularly where the first length is less than the second length. In some cases, the first length is less than or equal to half of the second length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicants: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Tim BAYER, Simon BLAETTLER, Thomas Werner HEITZ, Daniel KREUTZ
  • Patent number: 10343708
    Abstract: A steering column may comprise an adjusting unit that holds a steering spindle rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis, a holding unit that receives the adjusting unit, a clamping device that locks the adjusting unit relative to the holding unit in a fixing position and permits adjustment in an unlocked position, and an energy absorption element attached to the adjusting unit and extending through an opening of a wedging housing parallel to the longitudinal axis. The energy absorption element is longitudinally movable in the opening in the unlocked position and lockable within the opening in the fixing position. The opening may have a wedging section with inner wall regions that converge longitudinally. A wedging element is movable into the wedging section and disposed between the energy absorption element and the inner wall regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Forte, Hieronymus Schnitzer, Daniel Kreutz, Thomas Werner Heitz
  • Publication number: 20180093697
    Abstract: A steering column may comprise an adjusting unit that holds a steering spindle rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis, a holding unit that receives the adjusting unit, a clamping device that locks the adjusting unit relative to the holding unit in a fixing position and permits adjustment in an unlocked position, and an energy absorption element attached to the adjusting unit and extending through an opening of a wedging housing parallel to the longitudinal axis. The energy absorption element is longitudinally movable in the opening in the unlocked position and lockable within the opening in the fixing position. The opening may have a wedging section with inner wall regions that converge longitudinally. A wedging element is movable into the wedging section and disposed between the energy absorption element and the inner wall regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicants: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Sebastian FORTE, Hieronymus SCHNITZER, Daniel KREUTZ, Thomas Werner HEITZ