Patents by Inventor Uwe Heitz

Uwe 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: 9291261
    Abstract: The shift sequence for a transmission ratio change of a vehicle drive train is determined depending on an operating state of the vehicle drive train existing upon the actual transmission ratio of the transmission device. The operating state is characterized by various operating state quantities of the vehicle drive train, which represent input quantities of a model representing the vehicle drive train. Output quantities of the model supply at least one target value that determines the shift sequence in terms of characterization and application as input quantities of an optimization routine, by which a minimization of the functional connection of at least one target value is carried out. The torque characteristics representing the shift sequence of devices of the vehicle drive train are determined depending on the minimum of the functional connection of at least one target value, taking into account the limits of the operating state quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Eckehard Münch, Uwe Heitz, Mauro Zanella, Manfred Sieger, Jörg Geis
  • Publication number: 20140088844
    Abstract: A method for determining a shift sequence of a change of transmission ratio of a transmission device of a vehicle drive train is described. The shift sequence is determined depending on an operating state of the vehicle drive train existing upon the actual transmission ratio inserted in the transmission device. The operating state is characterized by various operating state quantities of the vehicle drive train, which represent input quantities of a model representing the vehicle drive train (B2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Eckehard Münch, Uwe Heitz, Mauro Zanella, Manfred Sieger, Jörg Geis
  • Patent number: 7396309
    Abstract: A split power transmission with a variable drive, a brake, a clutch, an integrating transmission containing a planetary set, the internal gear forming the output of the transmission, and an additional planetary set located between the drive shaft and the transmission. A portion of the transmission drive shaft power is transferable to the transmission which includes a secondary shaft located axially parallel to the variable drive. The power of the variable drive is directed towards the integrating transmission via the secondary shaft by using a defined transmission ratio. Torque division in the low cruising range and is achieved by locking the brake connecting the internal gear of the planetary set located between the drive shaft, and the transmission to the unit. Whereas in the high cruising range, by engaging the clutch the sun gear of the transmission is interlocked with the internal gear of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Uwe Heitz, Gabor Diosi, Jürgen Wafzig, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Bernd Vahlensieck, Pedro Casals
  • Publication number: 20060270507
    Abstract: A split power transmission with a variable drive, a brake, a clutch, an integrating transmission containing a planetary set, the internal gear forming the output of the transmission, and an additional planetary set located between the drive shaft and the transmission. A portion of the transmission drive shaft power is transferable to the transmission which includes a secondary shaft located axially parallel to the variable drive. The power of the variable drive is directed towards the integrating transmission via the secondary shaft by using a defined transmission ratio. Torque division in the low cruising range and is achieved by locking the brake connecting the internal gear of the planetary set located between the drive shaft, and the transmission to the unit. Whereas in the high cruising range, by engaging the clutch the sun gear of the transmission is interlocked with the internal gear of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Uwe Heitz, Gabor Diosi, Jurgen Wafzig, Gerhard Gumpoltsberger, Bernd Vahlensieck, Pedro Casals
  • Patent number: 6285939
    Abstract: A power train control (1) for a vehicle (8) or an automotive machine with a prime mover (5) with a governor (2) and a continuously variable transmission (7) with a ratio control (3). The power train control (1) coordinates the ratio control and the governor issuing a theoretical speed n_mot_nom to the governor (2) for the prime mover (5) and a nominal transmission ratio i_nom to the ratio control (3). The power train control (1) is designed as a combination of two governors, the transmission output speed governor (9) and the governor (10) for relief of the prime mover (5). The transmission output speed governor (9) receives the transmission output speed n_out as a control variable and generates the nominal speed n_mot_nom for the prime mover (5) as a manipulated value, and the governor (10) for relief of the prime mover (5) by the speed n_mot of the prime mover (5) as a control value and a transmission ratio correction value &Dgr;i as a manipulated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Uwe Heitz, Siegfried Dobler, Arun-Kuma Chatterjee
  • Patent number: 6026699
    Abstract: A gear control for reduces the thermal stress on switching components (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) of a reversing gear (1) for machines having an input shaft (8) and an output shaft (15) and at least one directional switch for forward motion (2) and one for reverse motion (3) and a downstream load-switchable switching set (4) with several switching components (5, 6) allocated to a gear. Here the switching components (2, 3, 5, 6) can be electrically and/or hydraulically controlled by a regulating and control device (12) in such a way that, during a switching operation, in addition to one of the directional switching components (2, 3) corresponding to the switching operation, at least one other switching components (5, 6) of the downstream switching set (4) lying in the power flow and fully engaged at the start of a reversal is set to a slip state under frictional load. The frictional load is thus distributed between the directional switching components (2, 3) and the other slipping switching components (5, 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Uwe Heitz, Hugo Burkhart, Ralf Dreibholz