Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Wickler

Wolfgang Wickler 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: 6829943
    Abstract: The invention relates to a weight monitoring system for a motor vehicle (1) which can, if appropriate, be connected to a trailer (2). The system uses weight sensors to determine the weights (F1, F2) acting on the axles of the motor vehicle, in order to calculate from them the overall weight of the vehicle, and the axle loads. In addition, a tractive force sensor may be provided in the trailer hitch so that the mass of the trailer (2) can be determined by means of the tractive force (F3) and the acceleration of the vehicle. The weight monitoring system calculates various weight variables from the measured values and monitors to determine whether they remain within defined limits. In this context, it is possible, in particular, to take into account a planned route in such a way that the limiting values of the charge are adapted with respect to the maximum altitude (Hmax) above sea level and/or the maximum gradient (smax) of the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang Weyand, Wolfgang Wickler
  • Publication number: 20030154798
    Abstract: The invention relates to a weight monitoring system for a motor vehicle (1) which can, if appropriate, be connected to a trailer (2). The system uses weight sensors to determine the weights (F1, F2) acting on the axles of the motor vehicle, in order to calculate from them the overall weight of the vehicle, and the axle loads. In addition, a tractive force sensor may be provided in the trailer hitch so that the mass of the trailer (2) can be determined by means of the tractive force (F3) and the acceleration of the vehicle. The weight monitoring system calculates various weight variables from the measured values and monitors to determine whether they remain within defined limits. In this context, it is possible, in particular, to take into account a planned route in such a way that the limiting values of the charge are adapted with respect to the maximum altitude (Hmax) above sea level and/or the maximum gradient (smax) of the route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Weyand, Wolfgang Wickler
  • Patent number: 6170506
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a solenoid-operated regulator valve wherein command current applied to a solenoid actuator establishes a defined response of a valve. Cleaning current pulses applied to the solenoid establish a response that does not interfere with the effectiveness of the valve function. The pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse direction and pulse period are determined by the degree of contamination of the valve environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Butwin, Michael J. Monaghan, Maria Eugenia Protopapas, Robert Cary Haase, Stephen Michael Cicala, Wolfgang Wickler
  • Patent number: 6007445
    Abstract: A control valve system for a multiple ratio automatic transmission having a reaction brake for forward drive and a reaction brake for reverse drive. A first clutch establishes a driving connection between an input gear element and a torque input shaft establishes a forward drive torque flow path when the forward drive brake is engaged. A second clutch connects a different torque input gear element of the transmission to the torque input member when the reverse reaction brake is applied. A pressurized valve circuit with three variable force solenoids, including one variable force solenoid, establishes a controlled circuit pressure, a second variable force solenoid is dedicated for reverse engagement control and a third variable force solenoid is dedicated for forward engagement control, whereby independent reverse engagement pressures and independent forward engagement pressures on the clutches and brakes, are established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Kirchhoffer, Werner Croonen, Thomas Martin, Eric Reichert, Thomas Wagner, Wolfgang Wickler
  • Patent number: 5835875
    Abstract: An automatic transmission having a multiple ratio gearset arranged in series with an overdrive gearset wherein ratio upshifts and downshifts are effected by separate reaction brakes for each gearset, each brake being independently controlled to achieve an enhancement of shift quality using closed loop control of reaction brake pressure and high ratio clutch pressure as a function of turbine speed, output shaft speed, brake drum speed for the multiple ratio gearset and input shaft speed in establishing control of upshifts and downshifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Kirchhoffer, Thomas Martin, Eric Reichert, Werner Croonen, Thomas Wagner, Wolfgang Wickler
  • Patent number: 5722519
    Abstract: A control system for engaging and releasing a torque converter bypass clutch and for varying the torque capacity of the clutch by adjusting the torque converter torus chamber pressure in accordance with changing operating variables, the bypass clutch including a clutch release pressure chamber that is maintained at a calibrated pressure threshold valve whereby pressure clutch capacity control is achieved by controlling pressure differential in the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Johann Kirchhoffer, Thomas Martin, Eric Reichert, Werner Croonen, Thomas Wagner, Wolfgang Wickler