Patents by Inventor Wolfram Hofschulte

Wolfram Hofschulte 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: 11813967
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a linear drive (1), comprising a drive shaft (10) arranged along a longitudinal axis (X), at least two propulsion teeth (20), and at least one rack (30) having a plurality of teeth (31), wherein the propulsion teeth (20) can move in a stroke transversely to the longitudinal axis (X) and are drivingly coupled to the drive shaft (10) in such a manner that the at least two propulsion teeth (20) perform at least one cyclical stroke movement (21) in the course of one rotation (?) of the drive shaft (10) and enter and exit the at least one rack (30) to generate a propulsion in the longitudinal axis (X), and wherein the cyclical stroke movement (21) of the at least two propulsion teeth (20) takes place with a phase shift (??). In addition, the present invention relates to a longitudinal adjustment unit and to a motor vehicle having such a longitudinal adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: IMS GEAR SE & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Wolfram Hofschulte, Jens Fechler, Marco Werschler, Marcel Mittelbach, Nikolai Benz, Stephan Oberle
  • Publication number: 20220371424
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automated guide vehicle (10) for transporting objects (38) comprising a support structure (12) with an outer contour (14), a chassis (16) fastened to the support structure (12) having at least one first wheel (18) and one second wheel (20), wherein the first wheel (18) and the second wheel (20) are respectively rotatably mounted in the chassis (16) about a first axis of rotation (D1) and a second axis of rotation (D2), a drive unit (22), with which the first wheel (18) and the second wheel (20) can be driven independently from one another, a lifting mechanism (32) cooperating with the support structure (12) for lifting and lowering at least one support portion (39) which cooperates therewith to transport the objects, and a store (70) for electrical energy, which in plan view protrudes in portions beyond the outer contour (14) of the support structure (12), wherein the energy store (70) is movably fastened to the support structure (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Benedikt NAGEL, Carsten BELZ, Egor MELNIKOV, Fabian GRULER, Johannes STÖHR, Matthias HUBER, Michael ROSEN, Robin TEICHMANN, Wolfram HOFSCHULTE, Yannik ABELMANN, Yvonne FÜRDERER, Simon SCHWÖRER
  • Publication number: 20220325784
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a linear drive (1), comprising a drive shaft (10) arranged along a longitudinal axis (X), at least two propulsion teeth (20), and at least one rack (30) having a plurality of teeth (31), wherein the propulsion teeth (20) can move in a stroke transversely to the longitudinal axis (X) and are drivingly coupled to the drive shaft (10) in such a manner that the at least two propulsion teeth (20) perform at least one cyclical stroke movement (21) in the course of one rotation (?) of the drive shaft (10) and enter and exit the at least one rack (30) to generate a propulsion in the longitudinal axis (X), and wherein the cyclical stroke movement (21) of the at least two propulsion teeth (20) takes place with a phase shift (4). In addition, the present invention relates to a longitudinal adjustment unit and to a motor vehicle having such a longitudinal adjustment unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Wolfram HOFSCHULTE, Jens FECHLER, Marco WERSCHLER, Marcel MITTELBACH, Nikolai BENZ, Stephan OBERLE
  • Publication number: 20220281338
    Abstract: A charging robot for charging an electrical energy store of a vehicle, includes a supporting structure, at least one wheel which is fastened rotatably to the supporting structure, a drive unit which is fastened to the supporting structure and with which the wheel can be driven, a first receiving compartment which is fastened to the supporting structure or is formed by the supporting structure, and a second receiving compartment which is fastened to the supporting structure or is formed by the supporting structure. The first receiving compartment and the second receiving compartment are arranged next to each other. A lifting device is arranged in the first receiving compartment and has a contact portion fastened thereto. The contact portion is connectable in an electrically transmitting manner to a mating contact portion of the vehicle. A charging cable is conductively connected to the contact portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Wolfram HOFSCHULTE, Marco WERSCHLER, Jens FECHLER, Uwe BAUMEISTER, Daniel REHLE, Robin TEICHMANN, Marcel MITTELBACH, Benedikt NAGEL, Gabriel FUCHS
  • Patent number: 10906517
    Abstract: A planetary gear assembly, in particular for an electromechanical service or parking brake for a motor vehicle. The planetary gear assembly can include a central sun gear, a plurality of planetary gears rotatably mounted on a planetary carrier, and a ring gear enclosing the planetary gears. The planetary gears can be mounted by the planetary carrier, such that the planetary gears roll off both the sun gear and the ring gear, whereby the sun gear, the planetary carrier or the ring gear is non-rotatably held by a holding unit with a holding torque. A force-sensing device can be arranged between the holding unit and the non-rotatably held element, or between the holding unit and an intermediate component non-rotatably connected to the held component. The force-sensing device can measure the force acting between the held component and the holding unit as a result of the holding torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignees: IMS Gear SE & Co. KGaA, Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Wolfram Hofschulte, Wilfried Synovzik, Johannes Stöhr, Johann Jungbecker, Paul Linhoff, Jürgen Böhm
  • Publication number: 20180354481
    Abstract: A planetary gear assembly, in particular for an electromechanical service or parking brake for a motor vehicle. The planetary gear assembly can include a central sun gear, a plurality of planetary gears rotatably mounted on a planetary carrier, and a ring gear enclosing the planetary gears. The planetary gears can be mounted by the planetary carrier, such that the planetary gears roll off both the sun gear and the ring gear, whereby the sun gear, the planetary carrier or the ring gear is non-rotatably held by a holding unit with a holding torque. A force-sensing device can be arranged between the holding unit and the non-rotatably held element, or between the holding unit and an intermediate component non-rotatably connected to the held component. The force-sensing device can measure the force acting between the held component and the holding unit as a result of the holding torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicants: IMS Gear SE & Co. KGaA, Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Wolfram Hofschulte, Wilfried Synovzik, Johannes Stöhr, Johann Jungbecker, Paul Lindhoff, Jürgen Böhm
  • Patent number: 10145431
    Abstract: A parking brake, particularly for a vehicle, includes a brake piston, supported to be movable along a longitudinal axis between a braking position and an open position, by which a brake disk is immobilizable by applying a braking force, when the brake piston is in the braking position, a drive unit for moving the brake piston along the longitudinal axis, and a toggle lever interacting with the brake piston and having at least first and second legs. The first and second legs are connected rotatably with a joint element and are actuatable by the drive unit, such that the toggle lever provides the braking force and applies it to the brake piston. An immobilizing device having such a parking brake, as well as a vehicle having the immobilizing device, and a method for immobilizing a vehicle by such an immobilizing device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: IMS Gear SE & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Wolfram Hofschulte, Jens Fechler, Ronny Goepfert, Roland Michel
  • Publication number: 20170191537
    Abstract: A parking brake, particularly for a vehicle, includes a brake piston, supported to be movable along a longitudinal axis between a braking position and an open position, by which a brake disk is immobilizable by applying a braking force, when the brake piston is in the braking position, a drive unit for moving the brake piston along the longitudinal axis, and a toggle lever interacting with the brake piston and having at least first and second legs. The first and second legs are connected rotatably with a joint element and are actuatable by the drive unit, such that the toggle lever provides the braking force and applies it to the brake piston. An immobilizing device having such a parking brake, as well as a vehicle having the immobilizing device, and a method for immobilizing a vehicle by such an immobilizing device are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Wolfram HOFSCHULTE, Jens FECHLER, Ronny GOEPFERT, Roland MICHEL
  • Patent number: 9273764
    Abstract: Drive of a seat adjusting device, especially for motor vehicles, with a spindle that is fastened on a first of two rails, which are adjustable with respect to each other by at least one mounting on one end of the spindle, and with a transmission driven by a motor that is mounted on the second rail, whereby the mounting is a single piece stamped bent part with a first area with at least one fastener opening and a second area that is offset upward relative to the first area for holding one end of the spindle, whereby the first area and the second area are connected to form a single piece by a transition area, whereby the second area is designed with a slot with legs lying opposite each other, at least in sections, and opposite a slot between which the end of the spindle can be fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: IMS GEAR GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Geiges, Wolfram Hofschulte, Michael Woehrle, Guenter Weissenseel
  • Patent number: 9266448
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism, particularly for the longitudinal adjustment of a seat of a motor vehicle, with a transmission housing (30) fastened at a first part (10), which is displaceable in reference to a second part (12), with a transmission being arranged inside the transmission housing (30). A spindle (40) projects from the transmission housing (30). The spindle (40) is coupled via a nut element (50) to a second part (12). The transmission housing (30) is made from plastic, with at least one repeatedly angled metal insert (60, 70) being embedded in the plastic. At least one wall (60b) of the metal insert (60, 70) is aligned orthogonal in reference to the axis (A) of the spindle and at least partially encompasses the spindle (40) on the side of the transmission housing (60) allocated to the nut element (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: IMS GEAR GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Urban, Robert Landskron, Arif Karadag, Wolfram Hofschulte, Fred Krimmel
  • Patent number: 8870286
    Abstract: An adjusting device (10) is provided for a vehicle subassembly to be adjusted. The adjusting device has an adjusting motor which, via an adjusting mechanism, drives a toothed rocker (12) assigned to the vehicle subassembly to be adjusted. The adjusting mechanism structurally reinforces the vehicle subassembly to be adjusted, and an adjusting worm (20) of the structurally reinforcing adjusting mechanism acts directly on the toothed rocker (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft, IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Jungert, Tassilo Gilbert, Thomas Heger, Nino Andricevic, Jens Fechler, Matthias Koop, Wilfried Synovzik, Wolfram Hofschulte, Stephan Oberle
  • Publication number: 20140123788
    Abstract: Drive of a seat adjusting device, especially for motor vehicles, with a spindle that is fastened on a first of two rails, which are adjustable with respect to each other, by means of at least one mounting on one end of the spindle, and with a transmission driven by a motor that is mounted on the second rail, whereby the mounting is a single piece stamped bent part with a first area with at least one fastener opening and a second area that is offset upward relative to the first area for holding one end of the spindle, whereby the first area and the second area are connected to form a single piece by a transition area, whereby the second area is designed with a slot with legs lying opposite each other, at least in sections, and opposite a slot between which the end of the spindle can be fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: IMS GEAR GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Geiges, Wolfram Hofschulte, Michael Woehrle, Guenter Weissenseel
  • Publication number: 20130328363
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism, particularly for the longitudinal adjustment of a seat of a motor vehicle, with a transmission housing (30) fastened at a first part (10), which is displaceable in reference to a second part (12), with a transmission being arranged inside the transmission housing (30). A spindle (40) projects from the transmission housing (30). The spindle (40) is coupled via a nut element (50) to a second part (12). The transmission housing (30) is made from plastic, with at least one repeatedly angled metal insert (60, 70) being embedded in the plastic. At least one wall (60b) of the metal insert (60, 70) is aligned orthogonal in reference to the axis (A) of the spindle and at least partially encompasses the spindle (40) on the side of the transmission housing (60) allocated to the nut element (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicants: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG, IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Urban, Robert Landskron, Arif Karadag, Wolfram Hofschulte, Fred Krimmel
  • Patent number: 8485489
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjustment mechanism is provided for a seat, with a spindle guide nut (12) that can move on a spindle (10), which can be driven by a worm gear (14) with bearing sleeves (15) on both sides, as well as with a multi-part casing (20, 30) that receives the worm gear (14) and the spindle (10). The casing (20, 30) consists of two casing sections (20, 30) made of plastic, which can be inserted into one another in the axial direction (X) of the spindle (10); each casing section (20, 30) has a plate (21, 31), from which bars (22, 23, 24; 33) jut out on one side and the casing sections (20, 30) are permanently joined to one another. The mechanism provides a compact transmission for longitudinal seat adjustment mechanisms that is easy to assemble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfram Hofschulte, Fred Krimmel, Rolf-Dieter Lohner
  • Publication number: 20120104817
    Abstract: An adjusting device (10) is provided for a vehicle subassembly to be adjusted. The adjusting device has an adjusting motor which, via an adjusting mechanism, drives a toothed rocker (12) assigned to the vehicle subassembly to be adjusted. The adjusting mechanism structurally reinforces the vehicle subassembly to be adjusted, and an adjusting worm (20) of the structurally reinforcing adjusting mechanism acts directly on the toothed rocker (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicants: IMS GEAR GMBH, DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Dieter Jungert, Tassilo Gilbert, Thomas Heger, Nino Andricevic, Jens Fechler, Matthias Koop, Wilfried Synovzik, Wolfram Hofschulte, Stephan Oberle
  • Patent number: 7828662
    Abstract: A plastic slip clutch for an adjustable drive in an automobile includes a hub (3) which exhibits an inner profile (4), and a shaft (1) which exhibits an outer profile (2). For the purpose of transmitting torque, the shaft with the outer profile is introduced into the inner profile of the hub in form-fitting and force-fitting fashion. The inner profile (4) of the hub (3) exhibits plastic elements (5) for the transmission of force, such that the plastic elements (5) become elastically deformed under the effect of a force exceeding a given threshold force and thereby permit the outer profile (2) of the shaft (1) to slip through inside of the hub (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: IMS GEAR GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfram Hofschulte, Urban Knöpfle
  • Patent number: 7802487
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gear for adjusting two parts (60, 61) that can be displaced in relation to each other, particularly vehicle parts of a seat adjustment device, of a window lifter or of a sliding roof, wherein the first one of the parts (60) comprises a non-rotatable spindle (62) or a fixed toothed rack. The gear comprises a worm wheel (4, 41), with a spindle nut (42) non-rotatable thereto for driving the spindle (62) or a worm non-rotatable thereto for driving the toothed rack, a drivable worm (3, 31) for transmitting a driving force to the worm wheel (4, 41) and a gear housing (1), which accommodates and supports the worm (3) and the worm wheel (4) and which can be non-rotatably connected to the second one of the parts (61) in the displacement direction thereof, the gear housing (1) being formed by a single-piece body with a worm bearing (14) and a worm wheel bearing (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Urban Knöpfle, Wolfram Hofschulte
  • Patent number: 7712391
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gearing mechanism for the adjustment of two reciprocally adjustable parts (60, 61), especially vehicle parts of a seat adjustment device, a window lifter or a sunroof, wherein the first of the parts (60) has a nonrotating spindle (62) or a fixed tooth rack. The gearing mechanism is formed with a wormwheel (4, 41), which has a spindle nut (42) non-rotatingly connected thereto in order to drive the spindle (62) or a worm non-rotatingly connected thereto in order to drive the tooth rack, with a worm (3, 31) that can be driven so as to transfer a driving force to the wormwheel (4, 41), and with a gear housing (1), which houses the worm (3) and wormwheel (4) in a supporting manner, and which can be connected immovably with the second of the parts (61) in its adjusting direction, wherein the gear housing (1) is formed of a single-piece body with a worm support (14) and a wormwheel support (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfram Hofschulte, Urban Knöpfle, Olav Schulte
  • Patent number: 7571666
    Abstract: Case parts of an adjustment mechanism for a seat adjustment device of a motor vehicle can be joined together along a parting line via joint surfaces. The joint surfaces are provided for the purpose of reciprocal placement of the case parts by way of a joining process. Contact surfaces of the case parts are present in addition to the joint surfaces The contact surfaces are in non-parallel alignment to the joint surfaces. Transferred gear forces running parallel to at least a section of the joint surfaces are absorbed by the contact surfaces. The case parts are fastened to one another by way of screw connections. The contact surfaces of the one case part are respectively held in position with respect to the contact surfaces of the other case part solely due to the screw connections. With such a case, high loads can be absorbed in spite of a small size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignees: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG, IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Borbe, Stefan Wetzig, Wolfram Hofschulte, Michael Wöhrle
  • Publication number: 20080105810
    Abstract: The invention concerns a longitudinal adjustment mechanism for a seat, particularly for motor vehicles, with a spindle guide nut (12) that can move on a spindle (10), which can be driven by a worm gear (14) with bearing sleeves (15) on both sides, as well as with a multi-part casing (20, 30) that receives the worm gear (14) and the spindle (10). The casing (20, 30) consists of two casing sections (20, 30) made of plastic, which can be inserted into one another in the axial direction (X) of the spindle (10); each casing section (20, 30) has a plate (21, 31), from which bars (22, 23, 24; 33) jut out on one side and the casing sections (20, 30) are permanently joined to one another. Advantage: A compact transmission for a longitudinal seat adjustment mechanisms that is easy to assemble.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: IMS GEAR GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfram Hofschulte, Fred Krimmel, Rolf-Dieter Lohner