Patents by Inventor Werner Bernhard
Werner Bernhard 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).
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Publication number: 20220315096Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a transmission cover on a steering gear housing. The cover is arranged adjacent to a bearing part. The side surface of the bearing part facing the transmission cover forms a support surface for the transmission cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2020Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Werner Bernhard, Sebastian Dambacher, Fabian Ferrano, Ravichandran S Thangavel, Jan Schoppa, Frederik Schubert, Jessica Hanselmann, Moritz Blum
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Publication number: 20180111641Abstract: A ball screw drive includes a lead screw for converting an auxiliary torque produced by an electric motor into an auxiliary translational force acting on a steering rack in a steering system of a motor vehicle. One end of the lead screw and one end of the steering rack are each connected to a track rod via an axial link, and the ball screw drive has a ball nut mounted in a housing with a fixed bearing. In order to withstand strong lateral loads or lateral forces coming from the track rod or rods and acting in the radial direction there is provided between the end of the lead screw connected to the track rod and the ball screw drive a plain bearing element which supports the lead screw radially against the housing. The support is provided by an adjustable radial clearance, and the plain bearing element is a sleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Oliver Hetzel, Michael Jueschke, Werner Bernhard
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Publication number: 20180093699Abstract: A ball screw drive includes a lead screw for converting an auxiliary torque produced by an electric motor into an auxiliary translational force which acts on a steering rack in the steering system of a motor vehicle. One end of the lead screw and one end of the steering rack are each connected to a track rod via an axial link, and the ball screw drive has a ball nut mounted in a housing with a fixed bearing. In order to withstand lateral loads or lateral forces coming from the track rod or rods and acting in the radial direction, there is provided between an end of the lead screw connected to the track rod and the ball screw drive a plain bearing element which supports the lead screw radially against the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2016Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Oliver Hetzel, Michael Jueschke, Werner Bernhard
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Patent number: 9732861Abstract: A valve for controlling a fluid flow comprising: an inner sleeve having a control surface and a middle sleeve, wherein a first movement of the inner sleeve with respect to the middle sleeve can be carried out, wherein the valve comprises a control piston, wherein the first movement prompts a second movement of the control piston, whereby the valve is moved into a switched state.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH AUTOMOTIVE STEERING GMBHInventors: Martin Maier, Markus Rief, Werner Bernhard
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Publication number: 20160116073Abstract: A valve for controlling a fluid flow comprising; an inner sleeve having a control surface and a middle sleeve, wherein a first movement of the inner sleeve with respect to the middle sleeve can be carried out, wherein the valve comprises a control piston, wherein the first movement prompts a second movement of the control piston, whereby the valve is moved into a switched state.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2014Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: Martin MAIER, Markus RIEF, Werner BERNHARD
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Patent number: 8539849Abstract: Disclosed is a bearing system for a worm engaging with a worm wheel as part of a steering gear, wherein the bearing system comprises at least one bearing with an outer ring, an inner ring, and rolling bodies that are movably accommodated between the outer an inner rings, the bearing being pivotally arranged in a bearing seat for accommodating the outer ring of the bearing, and wherein the inner ring accommodates one of the two shaft ends of the worm in order to seat said shaft end of the worm radially in the housing of the steering gear. For an improved dampening of the worm at least one spring element, which exerts a spring force on a region of the outer ring of the bearing, is provided at the bearing, said spring force supporting a pivotal motion of the worm toward the worm wheel.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbHInventors: Werner Bernhard, Marco Grau, Ekkehard Kneer, Jens-Uwe Hafermalz, Dennis Fuechsel, Juergen Bieber, Rainer Schaenzel
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Publication number: 20120125132Abstract: Disclosed is a bearing system for a worm engaging with a worm wheel as part of a steering gear, wherein the bearing system comprises at least one bearing with an outer ring, an inner ring, and rolling bodies that are movably accommodated between the outer an inner rings, the bearing being pivotally arranged in a bearing seat for accommodating the outer ring of the bearing, and wherein the inner ring accommodates one of the two shaft ends of the worm in order to seat said shaft end of the worm radially in the housing of the steering gear. For an improved dampening of the worm at least one spring element, which exerts a spring force on a region of the outer ring of the bearing, is provided at the bearing, said spring force supporting a pivotal motion of the worm toward the worm wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2011Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: ZF Lenksysteme GmbHInventors: Werner Bernhard, Marco Garu, Ekkehard Kneer, Jens-Uwe Hafermalz, Dennis Fuechsel, Juergen Bieber, Rainer Schaenzel
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Patent number: 7793753Abstract: In a power-assisted steering system or power steering system having an electric motor, which drives a worm gear mechanism that has a composite gear wheel in the form of a worm wheel, the worm wheel includes a ring gear connectible to a hub via a first disk, and an annular projection of the first disk axially engages with the ring gear. In order to improve the centering of the component parts of the composite gear wheel in the tangential direction, and in order to render the power transmission in the gear wheel uniform, the annular projection on the first disk is provided with one or more depressions in the axial direction to form tooth-like projections, which form a drive-type toothed section and engage with depressions on an axial side face of the ring gear.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2004Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbHInventors: Werner Bernhard, Oliver Hetzel, Joachim Fischer, Olaf Beutler, Achim Ottenstein, Richard Kaisser, Reinhold Schuster, Wolf-Ingo Ratzel
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Patent number: 7650809Abstract: An electrical steering system for a motor vehicle, having an electric motor having a worm gear which is made up of a worm and a worm wheel, coupled to an input shaft, having a ring gear, worm wheel forming one of the two coupling parts, that are to be coupled to each other, of an elastic compensation coupling whose other coupling part is connected, rotatably fixed, to the input shaft. The two coupling parts are coupled to each other only by one or by a plurality of elastic spacers.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2001Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbHInventors: Werner Bernhard, Friedrich Mayr, Michael Jüschke, Erich Berroth, Marc Kohler
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Publication number: 20070268067Abstract: A method for acquiring a position (1) of a motor vehicle (2) on a road (3), road geometric data (4) and travel data (5) being recorded. First position data (1) of the motor vehicle (2) relative to the road (3) is calculated from the recorded road geometric data (4) and travel data (5). Road course data (6) is calculated from the road geometric data (4) and the travel data (5), the second position data (7) of a following vehicle (21) which is following the vehicle (2), relative to the vehicle (2), is recorded, and third position data (8) of the following vehicle (21) relative to the road (3) is calculated from the road course data (6), the first position data (1) of the vehicle (2) and the second position data (7) of the following vehicle (2?).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2004Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Werner Bernhard, Carsten Knoeppel, Uli Kolbe, Alexander Schanz
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Publication number: 20070221438Abstract: In a power-assisted steering system or power steering system having an electric motor, which drives a worm gear mechanism that has a composite gear wheel in the form of a worm wheel, the worm wheel includes a ring gear connectible to a hub via a first disk, and an annular projection of the first disk axially engages with the ring gear. In order to improve the centering of the component parts of the composite gear wheel in the tangential direction, and in order to render the power transmission in the gear wheel uniform, the annular projection on the first disk is provided with one or more depressions in the axial direction to form tooth-like projections, which form a drive-type toothed section and engage with depressions on an axial side face of the ring gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2004Publication date: September 27, 2007Applicant: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBHInventors: Werner Bernhard, Oliver Hetzel, Joachim Fischer, Olaf Beutler, Achim Ottenstein, Richard Kaisser, Reinhold Schuster, Wolf-Ingo Ratzel
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Publication number: 20070055412Abstract: The invention relates to a lane device (30) and a method for detecting the lane of a vehicle (10), as well as to a selector device which interacts with the lane device (30). The lane device (30) contains evaluation means (32, 35, 37) for evaluating distance data (60, 61, 66) of at least one distance sensor (58, 59, 65), it being possible to determine a lateral distance (d1-d4) from a reference body (62, 64) which runs essentially continuously to the side of the lane, at least in sections, from the distance data (60, 61, 66). The evaluation means (32, 35, 37) are configured to acquire lane data (36) as a function of the distance data (60, 61, 66). According to the invention, the evaluation means (32, 35, 37) are configured to filter out interference information, caused in particular by vehicles (17) present in the region of the lane or discontinuities (63) of the reference body (62, 64), from the distance data (60, 61, 66).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2004Publication date: March 8, 2007Inventor: Werner Bernhard
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Patent number: 7048088Abstract: An electric power assisted steering system for motor vehicles having a worm gear mechanism is operatively connected to a drive shaft of an electric drive motor. A radial load is applied to the worm by a prestressing device, the prestressing device being configured as a hydraulic pressure device. It is possible to connect the drive shaft to the worm by a coupling, and the worm is mounted in this region by a pivotable bearing.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2002Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbHInventors: Werner Bernhard, Achim Schust, Oliver Hetzel, Joachim Fischer
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Publication number: 20040060379Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical steering device for a motor vehicle, comprising an electromotor with a worm gear. Said worm gear consists of a worm and a worm wheel (14) which is coupled to an input shaft and which has a gear rim (23). The worm wheel (14) forms one of the two coupling parts of an elastic compensation coupling (14, 16) that are to be intercoupled, the other coupling part (16) being connected to the input shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. The two coupling parts (14, 16) are intercoupled by one or more elastic spacers (17) only.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2003Publication date: April 1, 2004Inventors: Werner Bernhard, Friedrich Mayr, Michael Juschke, Erich Berroth, Marc Kohler
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Patent number: 6388565Abstract: A vehicle guidance system for assisting a driving lane change includes an object detection unit for detecting objects in a laterally adjacent rearward side space area of the vehicle. An analysis unit receives signals from the object detection unit and determines whether an object is situated in a dead angle section (blind spot) of the monitored rearward side space, or whether any such object in a section of the monitored rearward side space which is rearward beyond a dead angle section is moving forward at a higher speed than the system vehicle. If so, and if, in addition, it detects at the same time a lane change request pertaining to the corresponding side area, it activates a warning indicating unit for emitting a warning signal. According to the invention, a position detection device is provided which determines path data of the obstacle vehicle and the road geometry data, as well as the position of the system vehicle on the road.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Werner Bernhard, Uwe Regensburger, Carsten Knoeppel, Gerhard Noecker
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Patent number: 6008570Abstract: The invention relates to a compact low-pressure discharge lamp comprising a discharge vessel 14 having electrodes and supply leads 30, and having a mp cap 12 assembled from a cap 16, housing 18 and mounting plate 24 with a ballast arrangement. In this case, the mounting plate 24 with the ballast arrangement is fitted in the interior of the lamp cap housing 18. The mounting plate 24 also has terminals 26 for the electric connection of the supply leads 30. According to the invention, in this case the supply leads 30 are connected to the electric terminals 26 of the mounting plate 24 via an electrically conducting spring element 28 in each case.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1998Date of Patent: December 28, 1999Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbHInventors: Peter Helbig, Hermann Steiner, Werner Bernhard
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Patent number: 5857495Abstract: The device for forming a fabric edge from two doup ends and one stationary thread comprises three guides for the doup ends and the stationary thread. The doup ends are twisted by the device after every second weft thread insertion. The thread guides for the doup ends and the thread guide for the stationary thread are arranged to pivot towards each other to form a shed between the doup ends on the one hand and the stationary thread on the other hand. The thread guides take the form of two needles to guide the doup ends and one needle for the stationary thread The two needles for the doup ends are parallel and spaced apart through a rotary support in such a way that the needle for the stationary thread can penetrate between the two needles for the doup ends.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1997Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Assignee: Klocker-Entwicklungs-GmbHInventors: Christoph Heinrich Oswald Schwemmlein, Werner Bernhard Wanning, Karl-Heinz Seifer
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Patent number: 5521579Abstract: Method of assisting a motor vehicle in changing from a current lane to an adjacent target lane. The space in front and the space behind the vehicle at least in the adjacent target lane is monitored, the distance of objects (in particular vehicles) detected there, and their speeds are measured, and safety distances calculated therefrom. If all the measured distances are greater than the calculated safety distances, a possible lane change is signalled.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1994Date of Patent: May 28, 1996Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AGInventor: Werner Bernhard
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Patent number: 5349270Abstract: To eliminate the necessity for a saturated or air gap inductance to provide feedback circuit for a self-exciting oscillator including two active electronic switches (T1, T2) , for example MOSFETs, an auxiliary winding (HW1, HW2, . . . HW11) is inductively coupled to the resonance inductance (L2) present in the circuit for the discharge lamp (LP) anyway; and a pulse shaping - phase shifting network (R3, C3; R4, C4 . . . ) , devoid of inherent resonance, coupling the auxiliary winding to the active switching elements. The pulse shaping - phase shifting network is formed of a one or multiple-stage RC low-pass circuit, connected serially between the auxiliary winding and the control input, for example the gate, of the active switching element. The RC network can be constructed with variable elements, for example including PTC resistors, a varistor or the like, and may include a current source, protective circuits to protect against voltage peaks including Zener diodes.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1992Date of Patent: September 20, 1994Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft F. Elektrische Gluehlampen mbHInventors: Ulrich Roll, Werner Bernhard, Ludwig Reiser