Patents by Inventor Torsten Scheffel

Torsten Scheffel 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: 8292773
    Abstract: A power train for a vehicle comprising an engine with an output shaft; a transmission disposed on a centerline having a drive input disposed laterally on a first side of the centerline and a drive output disposed laterally on a second side of the centerline opposite of such first side; a first differential having an input shaft aligned with and connected to the drive output of the transmission, a first output shaft projecting through an opening in the transmission and a second output shaft; a first transversely disposed axle having a second differential; a second transversely disposed axle having a third differential; a first drive train interconnecting the engine output shaft and the transmission drive input; a second drive train interconnecting the first output shaft of the first differential and the second differential; and a third drive train interconnecting the second output shaft of the first differential and the third differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Audi, AG
    Inventors: Torsten Scheffel, Christian Meixner, Johann Märkl
  • Patent number: 8214099
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring the operating conditions of motor vehicles, with a drive system with at least one differential that distributes drive torque to the driven wheels. To avoid unacceptable wear in the differential of the drive system, it is proposed that at least the output speeds of the differential, and, via a steering angle sensor, an at least approximate driving of the motor vehicle in a straight line are detected and are compared over a time interval, and that in the case where the differential speed of the output shafts is above a defined speed threshold and prevails over the time interval and the vehicle is driven in a straight line, a warning signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Torsten Scheffel
  • Publication number: 20120142478
    Abstract: A power train for a vehicle comprising an engine with an output shaft; a transmission disposed on a centerline having a drive input disposed laterally on a first side of the centerline and a drive output disposed laterally on a second side of the centerline opposite of such first side; a first differential having an input shaft aligned with and connected to the drive output of the transmission, a first output shaft projecting through an opening in the transmission and a second output shaft; a first transversely disposed axle having a second differential; a second transversely disposed axle having a third differential; a first drive train interconnecting the engine output shaft and the transmission drive input; a second drive train interconnecting the first output shaft of the first differential and the second differential; and a third drive train interconnecting the second output shaft of the first differential and the third differential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Torsten SCHEFFEL, Christian Meixner, Johann Märkl
  • Patent number: 8070639
    Abstract: Power train for a motor vehicle, having an engine with a driven shaft which has a crankshaft axle which is located longitudinally to the direction of travel and which is connected to a starting unit, a preliminary gear stage with an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft of the preliminary gear stage being connected to the starting unit and the output shaft of the preliminary gear stage having a lateral offset to the crankshaft axle, a variator which is preferably made as a disk variator with two adjustable disk sets for the continuous transmission of torque, and for which the input-side disk set is connected to the output shaft of the preliminary gear stage, while the output-side disk set is located laterally offset, a subsequent gear stage which has an input shaft and an output shaft and which is located on the same side of the variator as the preliminary gear stage, the input shaft of the subsequent gear stage being connected to the output-side disk set of the variator, and a first differential w
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Torsten Scheffel, Christian Meixner, Johann Märkl
  • Publication number: 20090248252
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring the operating conditions of motor vehicles, with a drive system with at least one differential that distributes drive torque to the driven wheels. To avoid unacceptable wear in the differential of the drive system, it is proposed that at least the output speeds of the differential, and, via a steering angle sensor, an at least approximate driving of the motor vehicle in a straight line are detected and are compared over a time interval, and that in the case where the differential speed of the output shafts is above a defined speed threshold and prevails over the time interval and the vehicle is driven in a straight line, a warning signal is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Audi AG
    Inventor: Torsten Scheffel
  • Publication number: 20090062066
    Abstract: Power train for a motor vehicle, having an engine with a driven shaft which has a crankshaft axle which is located longitudinally to the direction of travel and which is connected to a starting unit, a preliminary gear stage with an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft of the preliminary gear stage being connected to the starting unit and the output shaft of the preliminary gear stage having a lateral offset to the crankshaft axle, a variator which is preferably made as a disk variator with two adjustable disk sets for the continuous transmission of torque, and for which the input-side disk set is connected to the output shaft of the preliminary gear stage, while the output-side disk set is located laterally offset, a subsequent gear stage which has an input shaft and an output shaft and which is located on the same side of the variator as the preliminary gear stage, the input shaft of the subsequent gear stage being connected to the output-side disk set of the variator, and a first differential w
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Torsten SCHEFFEL, Christian Meixner, Johann Markl