Patents by Inventor Wilfried Leutner

Wilfried Leutner 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: 10471983
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and to devices for operating a power steering system. wherein a motor torque applied by an electric motor is superposed on a specified manual torque, wherein a beginning freezing of the power steering system is detected by means of suitable measures, and wherein the electric motor is controlled with an oscillating control signal to avoid the freezing of the power steering system, whereby an oscillating application of a shaking torque to the power steering system, applied by the electric motor, is effected. A control signal that has first time spans in which the control signal has an increased amplitude and second time spans in which the control signal has no amplitude or a reduced amplitude is generated, whereby the shaking torque is produced with an increased maximum torque in the first time spans, without thermal overloading of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Leutner, Viktor Fast, Rainer Woeger
  • Publication number: 20180201301
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and to devices for operating a power steering system. wherein a motor torque applied by an electric motor is superposed on a specified manual torque, wherein a beginning freezing of the power steering system is detected by means of suitable measures, and wherein the electric motor is controlled with an oscillating control signal to avoid the freezing of the power steering system, whereby an oscillating application of a shaking torque to the power steering system, applied by the electric motor, is effected. A control signal that has first time spans in which the control signal has an increased amplitude and second time spans in which the control signal has no amplitude or a reduced amplitude is generated, whereby the shaking torque is produced with an increased maximum torque in the first time spans, without thermal overloading of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Wilfried Leutner, Viktor Fast, Rainer Woeger
  • Patent number: 8360910
    Abstract: A power-steering drive for a steering system in a motor vehicle includes a motor driving a motor shaft and a transmission situated between the motor shaft and an output shaft. The transmission takes the form of a combined worm-belt transmission. Furthermore, in a method for adjusting the transmission of a power-steering drive, the adjustment is performed by solely adjusting the intermediate shaft relative to the motor shaft and/or the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Leutner
  • Patent number: 7683563
    Abstract: A protective device for a power-assisted steering system, such a power-assisted steering system, and a method for protecting a power-assisted steering system are described. Provided in the described power-assisted steering system is a circuit that closes a separation in the neutral point of an electric motor when the rotational speed of the electric motor exceeds a prespecified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Leutner
  • Publication number: 20090250286
    Abstract: A power-steering drive for a steering system in a motor vehicle includes a motor driving a motor shaft and a transmission situated between the motor shaft and an output shaft. The transmission takes the form of a combined worm-belt transmission. Furthermore, in a method for adjusting the transmission of a power-steering drive, the adjustment is performed by solely adjusting the intermediate shaft relative to the motor shaft and/or the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventor: Wilfried Leutner
  • Publication number: 20090146522
    Abstract: An electric servomotor for a power-assisted steering system in a vehicle has a stator laminated core having an outer diameter and an active length. In order to provide an electric servomotor for a power-assisted steering system that has an optimum diameter/length ratio and that covers a steering performance range from compact cars to full-size vehicles using a reasonable change in volume, it is provided that, with a constant outer diameter, the ratio of the outer diameter to the active length of the stator laminated core can be varied such that the electric servomotor can be used for power-assisted steering systems for compact cars up to full-size cars and the outer diameter is constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Helmut Knoedler, Wilfried Leutner, Joerg Mayer, Michael Ochs, Thomas Kuehnhoefer, Wolfgang Runge
  • Publication number: 20080265818
    Abstract: A protective device for a power-assisted steering system, such a power-assisted steering system, and a method for protecting a power-assisted steering system are described. Provided in the described power-assisted steering system is a circuit that closes a separation in the neutral point of an electric motor when the rotational speed of the electric motor exceeds a prespecified value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Wilfried Leutner
  • Patent number: 7232006
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system has a steering wheel actuator and a braking device that acts on the steering column. The braking device is activated when the vehicle steering wheel is to be blocked or at least sharply braked, such as when the steering stop is reached or a wheel goes over the edge of a curb. The braking device functions like a switchable freewheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Dominke, Chi-Thuan Cao, Wolfgang Pfeiffer, Klaus-Dieter Leimbach, Werner Harter, Jens Hafermalz, Helmut Knoedler, Wilfried Leutner, Juergen Schuele, Herbert Lohner
  • Patent number: 7140465
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system is proposed, having a steering wheel actuator and a braking device that acts on the steering column (3). The braking device is activated when the vehicle steering wheel is to be blocked or at least sharply braked, such as when the steering stop is reached or a wheel goes over the edge of a curb. The braking device functions like a switchable freewheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Dominke, Chi-Thuan Cao, Wolfgang Pfeiffer, Klaus-Dieter Leimbach, Werner Harter, Jens Hafermalz, Helmut Knoedler, Wilfried Leutner, Juergen Schuele, Herbert Lohner
  • Publication number: 20060201733
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system has a steering wheel actuator and a braking device that acts on the steering column. The braking device is activated when the vehicle steering wheel is to be blocked or at least sharply braked, such as when the steering stop is reached or a wheel goes over the edge of a curb. The braking device functions like a switchable freewheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Peter Dominke, Chi-Thuan Cao, Wolfgang Pfeiffer, Klaus-Dieter Leimbach, Werner Harter, Jens Hafermalz, Helmut Knoedler, Wilfried Leutner, Juergen Schuele, Herbert Lohner
  • Publication number: 20050258384
    Abstract: A valve providing a controlled pressure for a hydraulic device includes a first control element and with a second control element, the first and second control elements being movable relative to one another under the influence of a nominal value input at a steering device and being brought into a neutral position with respect to one another by means of a restoring element, and a driving device with which the control elements can be moved relative to one another independently of the nominal value input at the steering device, in order to shift the hydraulic center of the valve. In order to create a valve with small overall dimensions and simple and reliable functions, provisions are made pursuant so that the driving device is constructed as an electrodynamic driving mechanism formed coaxially with the valve, and/or with an electrostatic stepper motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventor: Wilfried Leutner
  • Patent number: 6948584
    Abstract: A steering system, e.g., a hydraulic rack and pinion steering system for motor vehicles, includes a steering handle for prescribing a steering intention, a pressure medium source and a control valve device for controlling a flow of pressure medium to and from a servomotor in order to deflect vehicle wheels. The control valve device has a closed center, and a pressure medium accumulator is provided for producing and/or assisting a flow of pressure medium to and from the servomotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Budaker, Wilfried Leutner, Helmut Knoedler
  • Publication number: 20040149509
    Abstract: A steering system, in particular a hydraulic rack and pinion steering system for motor vehicles, has the following features:
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Martin Budaker, Wilfried Leutner, Helmut Knoedler
  • Publication number: 20030127274
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system is proposed, having a steering wheel actuator and a braking device that acts on the steering column (3). The braking device is activated when the vehicle steering wheel is to be blocked or at least sharply braked, such as when the steering stop is reached or a wheel goes over the edge of a curb. The braking device functions like a switchable freewheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Dominke, Chi-Thuan Cao, Wolfgang Pfeiffer, Klaus-Dieter Leimbach, Werner Harter, Jens Hafermalz, Helmut Knoedler, Wilfried Leutner, Juergen Schuele, Herbert Lohner
  • Patent number: 5860351
    Abstract: A hydraulic steering arrangement with a steering device (2) and an oil tank (3) which are connected with each other via a supply line (5) and a return line (6), wherein a hydraulic pump (1) is integrated into the supply line (5), has an oil reservoir (7) communicating with the return line (6) and a backpressure valve (8) opening in the direction toward the oil tank (3), which is disposed between the oil tank (3) and the oil reservoir (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Armin Lang, Wilfried Leutner, Helmut Knodler
  • Patent number: 5184691
    Abstract: An auxiliary power steering system, especially for motor vehicles is provided with a pump (6), a servomotor (5) supplied with flow under pressure from a distribution valve (4) and with a quantity regulating valve (2), by means of which a regulated pressure is applied to a pressure control valve (3) for controlling pressure flow to cylinder chambers of a servomotor (5). The flow under regulated pressure is supplied to the servomotor cylinder chambers (17, 18) via the distribution valve (4) and initial pressure regulation is effected by the pressure control valve (3) wherein initial flow pressure is at less than the full pump operating pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.
    Inventor: Wilfried Leutner