Patents by Inventor Thorsten Dirks

Thorsten Dirks 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: 11746888
    Abstract: A scrolling shifter assembly having a housing rotatably supporting a scrolling wheel having a knurled exterior edge accessible to a vehicle operator, the scrolling wheel also including an annular side detent profile. A magnet is positioned in proximity to a sensor mounted to a printed circuit board (PCBA) within the housing and displaces relative to the sensor in response to rotation of the scrolling wheel. A display component is mounted in proximity to the PCBA. At least one haptic biasing component including any of spring loaded pawl or wave spring is supported within the housing and biases against the detent profile such that, and upon the operator actuating the scrolling wheel, the pawl is caused to displace relative to the profile in order to incrementally rotate the wheel, the magnet rotating relative to the PCBA sensor to cause an associated processor to electronically instruct a shift change to an engine control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
  • Patent number: 11708104
    Abstract: A steering wheel mounted visual display including a housing incorporated at a location defined within a circumference of the steering wheel and having a graphical display output. Upon rotation of the steering wheel, the display adjusts to remain in an upright orientation. The housing further includes a main lower housing and an assemble-able upper housing sandwiching a display component providing the graphical display output. The display component further includes a stationary inner component, a display support and a PCB component cooperating for auto-updating the graphical display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: KUSTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Christopher Soave, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
  • Patent number: 11651914
    Abstract: A vehicle shifter assembly having a housing rotatably supporting a monostable toggle knob accessible to a vehicle operator. A processor enabled printed circuit board is incorporated into the housing and, upon actuation of the knob, instructs a gear shift condition to a display component. The housing can be incorporated into any of a variety of locations accessible to the vehicle operator, including being integrated into the steering wheel so that, and upon rotation of the wheel, the housing or display is continuously reoriented so as to maintain an upright position as viewed by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Kuster North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
  • Publication number: 20220001912
    Abstract: A steering wheel mounted visual display including a housing incorporated at a location defined within a circumference of the steering wheel and having a graphical display output. Upon rotation of the steering wheel, the display adjusts to remain in an upright orientation. The housing further includes a main lower housing and an assemble-able upper housing sandwiching a display component providing the graphical display output. The display component further includes a stationary inner component, a display support and a PCB component cooperating for auto-updating the graphical display output in response to rotation of the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Christopher Soave, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
  • Publication number: 20210265121
    Abstract: A vehicle shifter assembly having a housing rotatably supporting a monostable toggle knob accessible to a vehicle operator. A processor enabled printed circuit board is incorporated into the housing and, upon actuation of the knob, instructs a gear shift condition to a display component. The housing can be incorporated into any of a variety of locations accessible to the vehicle operator, including being integrated into the steering wheel so that, and upon rotation of the wheel, the housing or display is continuously reoriented so as to maintain an upright position as viewed by the operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Michael Benedetto D'Annunzio, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
  • Publication number: 20210254708
    Abstract: A scrolling shifter assembly having a housing rotatably supporting a scrolling wheel having a knurled exterior edge accessible to a vehicle operator, the scrolling wheel also including an annular side detent profile. A magnet is positioned in proximity to a sensor mounted to a printed circuit board (PCBA) within the housing and displaces relative to the sensor in response to rotation of the scrolling wheel. A display component is mounted in proximity to the PCBA. At least one haptic biasing component including any of spring loaded pawl or wave spring is supported within the housing and biases against the detent profile such that, and upon the operator actuating the scrolling wheel, the pawl is caused to displace relative to the profile in order to incrementally rotate the wheel, the magnet rotating relative to the PCBA sensor to cause an associated processor to electronically instruct a shift change to an engine control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Calogero Alu, Thorsten Dirk Connemann
  • Patent number: 9895948
    Abstract: A spring isolator for a wheel suspension may include a first side configured to rest on a spring plate of the suspension. The spring isolator may also include a second side, opposite the first side, configured to receive a last coil of a coil spring of the suspension to support the coil spring on the spring plate. The first side may have at least one cavity extending through a thickness of the isolator toward the second side. An elasticity of the isolator between the first and second sides may prevent the last coil from breaking contact with the second side during operation of the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Paulding, Juergen Funke, Jon Roland Watson, Thorsten Dirk Krupp, Paul Godesberg
  • Publication number: 20160107497
    Abstract: A spring isolator for a wheel suspension may include a first side configured to rest on a spring plate of the suspension. The spring isolator may also include a second side, opposite the first side, configured to receive a last coil of a coil spring of the suspension to support the coil spring on the spring plate. The first side may have at least one cavity extending through a thickness of the isolator toward the second side. An elasticity of the isolator between the first and second sides may prevent the last coil from breaking contact with the second side during operation of the suspension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jason PAULDING, Juergen FUNKE, Jon Roland WATSON, Thorsten Dirk KRUPP, Paul GODESBERG
  • Patent number: 6857483
    Abstract: A drilling machine and drilling rig for exploratory drillings and producing wells, include a base mounting atop drive, and a multifunctional gripper for gripping drilling pipe from a stock and to be raised on the base for eventual positions positioning at a well center, an elevator being provided below the top drive. The base can be rotatably mounted and have a live ring at a base lower end region, the base being rotated to the pipe stock location and being rotatable to a well center as well. A drilling pipe upper end when raised on the base can be connected to the top drive, and an iron roughneck on a rig floor can be used to connect a pipe lower end to a pipe section in the well. Where two drilling machine are used, one can be used for actual drilling at the well center, and the second supplied with pipework for the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Bentec GmbH Drilling & Oilfield Systems
    Inventors: Thorsten Dirks, Johannes Moss
  • Patent number: 6581698
    Abstract: A drilling machine for a drilling rig and a drilling rig which can be used for exploratory drillings and producing wells, particularly in hydrocarbon deposits, both onshore and offshore. The drilling machine includes a base, on or in which a top drive is displaceable axially to the longitudinal axis of the base and a pipe-handling apparatus which is movable, especially by sliding, perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the base and which grips the drilling pipe. The base is pivotably and/or rotatably mounted in the region of the foot, and it is possible for a virtually continuous drilling process to be carried out using a combination of two drilling machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Bentec GmbH Drilling & Oilfield Systems
    Inventor: Thorsten Dirks