Patents by Inventor Werner Wolfgang
Werner Wolfgang 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).
-
Publication number: 20100185367Abstract: A method of controlling an automated multi-step change-speed transmission of a vehicle having an electronic control unit connected to sensors for detecting operating parameters and to gear and/or clutch control elements for carrying out shift operations. The control comprises a data memory such that the multi-step change-speed transmission can be operated automatically to initiate gearshifts in an automatic mode, manually initiated by a driver in a manual mode to provide gearshifts, and manually actuated in a learning mode in which gearshifts and operating parameters can be recorded automatically. When necessary to assist technicians in the application of the transmission, a configuration-learning mode that can be activated in which, during a test drive with manual gearshift initiation, operating parameters are automatically detected in an event-dependent manner, processed to produce control data for the transmission, and the control data stored in the data memory for the future control of the transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2008Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Wuerthner, Ingo Sauter
-
Publication number: 20100108406Abstract: A method and device for provisionally determining the mass of a vehicle when it is initialized. After initialization of the vehicle, the method determines a vehicle mass value by a static mass determination method and then checks whether this value is within a predetermined tolerance band around the dynamically last-determined vehicle mass value, which has been stored for that purpose. If this is so, and there has in the meantime been no significant change of the vehicle's mass, the previously stored dynamic vehicle mass value is probably more accurate and is used in the determination. Otherwise it can be assumed that the vehicle mass value has changed substantially, and the statically determined vehicle mass value is therefore used until a device for the dynamic determination of a vehicle mass can supply a more accurate vehicle mass value after a short time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Maik Wuerthner, Werner Wolfgang, Ingo Sauter
-
Publication number: 20100042300Abstract: A process of controlling and/or regulating an automatic transmission in which a predetermined shifting speed of the gear shift is carried out and adjusted during a shift program, and in which the detection of a constant-speed driving of the vehicle is carried out at least during the shift program.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2007Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Wurthner, Ingo Sauter
-
Publication number: 20100017082Abstract: A method for controlling and/or regulating an automatic transmission of a vehicle, depending on the driving route slope in which a winding mountain pass road detection is carried out, depending upon a topography of the driving route, in such a way that a time for either setting or resetting winding mountain pass road detection is determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2007Publication date: January 21, 2010Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Werner Wolfgang, Matthias Winkel, Bertram Wengert
-
Patent number: 7635317Abstract: A method for establishing malfunctions of components of a motor vehicle power train as well as the reaction to the same. The power train has a drive motor and an automatic transmission with respectively allocated control devices, setting apparatus and sensors, and the transmission input shaft is allocated a torque sensor for recording the transmission input shaft. During operation of the motor vehicle, the functions of the control devices, the operating elements, the sensors and their data transmission apparatus as well as the measured values of the transmission input torque are recorded and checked for signs of malfunction. After recognizing such a malfunction, operations are conducted by means of which the motor vehicle can be further operated in an emergency type of operation or with the aid of which the driving operation can be safely ended.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2006Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Rainer Petzold, Werner Wolfgang, Thomas Jäger, Mario Steinborn, Rupert Kramer, Franz Bitzer
-
Publication number: 20090265067Abstract: A method for controlling gear shifts in an automated stepped gear transmission of a motor vehicle in which operating parameters of the motor vehicle are continuously determined and evaluated for initiating and carrying out a shift from a currently engaged gear to a target gear such that, before a shift, the shift speed for initiating the shift and the target gear are determined. For better adaptation of the shift, in particular the determination of the shift speed and the target gear, to the current driving and operating conditions of the motor vehicle, the shift types “shift-speed-orientated shift” and “target-speed-orientated shift” are provided and, immediately before a shift operation, it is decided, as a function of at least one of the operating parameters in which, of the two shift types, the shift is to be carried out.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2007Publication date: October 22, 2009Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Wurthner, Ingo Sauter
-
Publication number: 20090240408Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle's automated transmission, which is arranged in a drive train in the force flow between a engine and a drive axle or a transfer box, depending on certain operating parameters and control actions of an adaptive cruise control system (ACC) that can be operated using engine and brake mechanisms to regulate speed and distance from a car in front. The method controls the transmission when an engine torque demand differs from the torque demand of the ACC. The operating mode of the ACC, which is active at the time, and the load direction of the torque demand of the ACC are determined, and the torque demand, used for controlling the transmission when speed or distance regulation is activated, is determined depending on the ACC operating mode and the load direction of the torque demand.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Werner WOLFGANG, Maik WURTHNER
-
Publication number: 20090203480Abstract: A device for controlling a fluid-actuated, double-action operating cylinder (2) having two cylinder chambers (6, 8) separated from one another by a piston (4). Each cylinder chamber (6, 8) communicates with a respective valve (12, 14) for controlling the flow of fluid in and out of the cylinder chamber (6, 8) and a pressure sensor (40) for detecting the fluid supply pressure. A control unit (20) is connected to the switching valves (12, 14) and the pressure sensor (40). To determine the actual control force of the operating cylinder (2), the pressure sensor (40) is arranged between the cylinder chambers (6, 8) and the control unit (20). The output from the pressure sensor (40) can be processed in the control unit (20) and used for actuating a pressure regulation valve (22) arranged in the pressure line (32).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2007Publication date: August 13, 2009Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Rainer Petzold, Bernd Müller, Werner Wolfgang, Thomas Jäger, Mario Steinborn, Ulrich Reith, Peter Herter, Roland Mair
-
Publication number: 20090198404Abstract: A method for determining the driving resistance of a motor vehicle simultaneously with a shift of an automated shift transmission from a load gear to a target gear such that if a difference between a first driving resistance value F_fw_1 and a second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is large, the shift operation can be corrected. The second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is determined during the shift operation. a time interval ?t which contains the traction-force-free phase of the shift, a plurality of acceleration values a_i of the motor vehicle are measured to obtain the minimum acceleration a_min if the shift operation is a traction shift or the maximum acceleration a_max if it is thrust shift. With the mass m of the vehicle, the second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is calculated with one of the formula F_fw_2=?m*a_min or F_fw_2=?m*a_max.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2007Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Würthner, Ingo Sauter
-
Publication number: 20090192664Abstract: A method for determining a motor vehicle mass which is implemented in conjunction with shifting an automated shift transmission from a current gear to a desired gear. In determining the mass, a value force and movement parameters are determined partly before or after the shift operation and partly during it. For the more rapid and accurate determination of mass, the drive-wheel-related traction force of the drive engine before and after the shift F_zug_vor, F_zug_nach, the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle before and after the shift, a_zug_vor, a_zug_nach, and the acceleration a_roll determined in the traction-force-free phase during the shift are determined, and from these and in accordance with the equation m=F_zug/(a_zug?a_roll), a first mass value m_vor=F_zug_vor/(a_zug_vor?a_roll) is calculated for the beginning of the shift and a second mass value m_nach=F_zug_nach/(a_zug_nach?a_roll) is calculated for the end of the shift.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2007Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Würthner, Ingo Sauter
-
Publication number: 20080274857Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having clutches controlled by an electronic control unit. A transmission rotational speed in an initial transmission stage is determined. If a first transmission shifting rotational speed is reached, the transmission is shifted from the initial transmission stage to a target transmission stage. A target transmission rotational speed of the target transmission stage is then ascertained. A difference is next ascertained between the target transmission rotational speed and a second shifting transmission rotational speed. An initial counter value, of a counter, is determined, which depends on the transmission rotational speed difference. The counter is next caused to carry out counting, from the initial counter value, as time progresses. If and when the counter value reaches zero, the transmission is shifted from the target transmission stage toward the initial transmission stage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2006Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Wurthner, Ingo Sauter, Achim Tegen
-
Publication number: 20080183371Abstract: A device for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine which drives a transmission, via an automated clutch. The transmission has one or more continuous or stepped variable ratios and the vehicle has a coasting cutoff signal. While coasting, the coasting cutoff signal can interrupt the supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine and, upon reaching or falling below a previously defined rotational speed, causes the supply of fuel to the internal combustion engine is resumed. The transmission has, In addition to the gear ratios needed for driving, coasting ratios for operating the transmission with a coasting cutoff signal, which enables lower reduction ratios than the ratios for the driving operation in order to reduce the drag torque of the internal combustion engine that acts on the output. The additional ratios are either stepped or continuously variable.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2008Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Werner WOLFGANG, Olrik WEINMANN, Peter REITZ, Uwe GRIESMEIER, Maik WURTHNER
-
Publication number: 20060154783Abstract: A method for establishing malfunctions of components of a motor vehicle power train as well as the reaction to the same. The power train has a drive motor and an automatic transmission with respectively allocated control devices, setting apparatus and sensors, and the transmission input shaft is allocated a torque sensor for recording the transmission input shaft. During operation of the motor vehicle, the functions of the control devices, the operating elements, the sensors and their data transmission apparatus as well as the measured values of the transmission input torque are recorded and checked for signs of malfunction. After recognizing such a malfunction, operations are conducted by means of which the motor vehicle can be further operated in an emergency type of operation or with the aid of which the driving operation can be safely ended.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2006Publication date: July 13, 2006Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Werner Wolfgang, Thomas Jager, Mario Steinborn, Rupert Kramer, Franz Bitzer
-
Publication number: 20060154781Abstract: The invention concerns a process for operating an automatically actuated friction clutch and/or a transmission within the drive train, in which a torque sensor is assigned to the input shaft of the transmission. In order to improve the operation of such a drive train, it is provided according to the invention that the curve of the measured transmission input torque is determined and evaluated in order to determine the load properties of the friction clutch and/or the transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2006Publication date: July 13, 2006Inventors: Rainer Petzold, Werner Wolfgang, Thomas Jager, Mario Steinborn, Rupert Kramer, Franz Bitzer
-
Patent number: 6691806Abstract: The invention concerns a drive unit for a tracked vehicle with a first and a second electric generator (6, 8) and with a first and a second internal combustion engine (10, 12), such that one generator (6, 8) can be driven respectively by one combustion engine (10, 12), and with electric drive motors (14, 16, 18, 20) for driving a right-hand and a left-hand drive track (4, 2). According to the invention it is proposed that the elements of the drive unit are linked in such manner that the right-hand drive track (4) is associated with first and second right-hand electric drive motors (14, 16), the left-hand drive track (2) is associated with first and second left-hand electric drive motors (18, 20), the two first drive motors (14, 18) being fed by the first generator (6) and the two second drive motors (16, 20) being fed by the second generator (8). Due to the wiring of the energy paths according to the invention, very great operational security is achieved even when the drive unit is partially damaged.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2002Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Werner Wolfgang, Hubert Hund, Thomas Rösch, Bruno Walter
-
Publication number: 20030015356Abstract: The invention concerns a drive unit for a tracked vehicle with a first and a second electric generator (6, 8) and with a first and a second internal combustion engine (10, 12), such that one generator (6, 8) can be driven respectively by one combustion engine (10, 12), and with electric drive motors (14, 16, 18, 20) for driving a right-hand and a left-hand drive track (4, 2). According to the invention it is proposed that the elements of the drive unit are linked in such manner that the right-hand drive track (4) is associated with first and second right-hand electric drive motors (14, 16), the left-hand drive track (2) is associated with first and second left-hand electric drive motors (18, 20), the two first drive motors (14, 18) being fed by the first generator (6) and the two second drive motors (16, 20) being fed by the second generator (8). Due to the wiring of the energy paths according to the invention, very great operational security is achieved even when the drive unit is partially damaged.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2002Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Hubert Hund, Thomas Rosch, Bruno Walter
-
Patent number: 6313592Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a motor vehicle having electric drive mechanism, especially a city autobus, in which one or more wheels are driven by one electric motor and which is provided with an electric brake and a control circuit, wherein when a first defined threshold value (1) of the rotational speed (n) of the electric motor is exceeded, the drive torque (m) is cut back and is reduced down to zero when the rotational speed (n) continues to increase, and that when a second defined threshold value (3) of the rotational speed (n) which is higher than the first threshold value (1) is exceeded, the electric brake is engaged and as the rotational speed increases exerts a maximum brake torque when a limit value (4) is reached.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Thomas Voss, Bernd Müller, Bert Hellwig, Gerald Karch, Werner Wolfgang