Patents by Inventor ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG

ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG 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: 20160204958
    Abstract: A telemetry network may be a communication network that comprises a plurality of telemetry devices. The plurality of telemetry devices may comprise a parent device and at least one child device. The parent device may be capable of sending data to and receiving data from an external network outside the communication network; and the child device may connect to the parent device and may be capable of sending data to and receiving data from the parent device and communicating with the external network via the parent device. Each telemetry device of the plurality of telemetry devices may provide an individual local network to end users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20140064914
    Abstract: A control rod configuration for adjusting a position of a rotor blade of a helicopter. The control rod configuration includes a control rod which has a bearing eye, adjacent the swash plate, which is penetrated by an axle shaft which has a bearing supported by a bearing bracket. The control rod configuration, which can be simply constructed and is less susceptible to malfunction, has an eccentric with its pivotable bearing in the bearing bracket and which is provided between the bearing bracket and the bearing eye. In addition, a method in which a rotor blade of a helicopter has an assigned control rod which is supported by an axle shaft with a bearing in the bearing bracket which is mounted to the swash plate so as to enable adjustment of the control rod by pivoting the axle shaft during flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130220053
    Abstract: A method of determining an operating state of a form-locking shift element of a transmission apparatus that, at least for changing one operating state between a disengaged operating state and an engaged operating state, is pressurized with an actuating pressure by a pressure-conducting region of the transmission apparatus. The pressure of the pressure-conducting region is monitored. Depending on the progression of the pressure of the pressure-conducting region, while pressurizing the form-locking shift element with the actuating pressure for changing the operating state, checking whether the form-locking shift element has the requested operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130220054
    Abstract: A shift safety device for a manual transmission having a gear shift shaft that rotates to select shift gates and moves to shift gears. The device has a blocking element which, during selector motion towards a shift gate, is driven by the gear shift shaft, against a spring, from a starting position into a blocked position, in which the device blocks further selector motion of the gearshift shaft, and which, during subsequent shifting motion of the gearshift shaft, is released and returned back to the starting position, by the spring, thereby permitting further selector motion. A driver arm, disposed on the gear shift shaft, moves the blocking element tangential to the arc traversed during selector motion by the driver arm between the starting and blocking positions. The blocking element moves in the linear track traversed during shifting of the driver arm and is pretensioned toward the starting and center positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • Publication number: 20130225366
    Abstract: A method of operating a motor vehicle having a drive aggregate, a transmission and a hydraulic system. The transmission has shift elements and, for each gear, only a portion of the elements are engaged while a remainder are disengaged. The hydraulic system has main pump driven by the drive aggregate and an auxiliary pump. The method tests the functionality of the auxiliary pump. The drive aggregate and the main pump are insufficiently driven such that the shift elements can not engage. The auxiliary pump is driven to provide required pressure such that all but one of the shift elements fully engages. The remaining shift element is then first engaged up to its engagement point and then either engaged beyond its engagement point or another unengaged shift element is engaged beyond its engagement point. The functionality of the auxiliary pump is determined based on changes in the drive aggregate's rotational speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130213165
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission for a motor vehicle which comprises at least two transmission parts and each transmission part comprise at least one input shaft. Drive is outputted from the transmission parts via a common output shaft. The at least one input shaft is arranged on a main axis and the output shaft is arranged on the main axis or a parallel secondary axis. An intermediate transmission has at least one countershaft that is arranged on the secondary axis. At least one of the input shafts can be connected to the output shaft via at least two gear planes and/or at least one shifting element. At least three shifting mechanisms are provided and at least one shifting mechanism is arranged on each of the main and the secondary axes such that one of the at least two gear planes is arranged between two of the at least three shifting mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130213758
    Abstract: A multi-disk shifting element of a motor vehicle transmission, which includes a plurality of outer disks (2) and a plurality of lining disks (1) which, when viewed axially, are arranged in alternation one after another. The outer disks include a number of flat outer disks (AL1) and a number of corrugated outer disks (AL2, AL3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130196818
    Abstract: A method of monitoring an emergency condition in an automatic transmission, with which, by comparing a theoretical with an actual rotational speed, measured on the transmission input side, overlap of the activated emergency condition, with a gear engagement process called for during the normal condition, is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130178333
    Abstract: A method for operating a transmission of a vehicle drivetrain. A transmission ratio can be automatically changed during an operating state depending on a comparison of current operating state parameters with operating parameters stored in a control unit, and can be manually changed depending on a driver's request. Accordingly when the driver requests a change of the transmission ratio, the transmission ratio changes, and a timer starts. If the driver continues the ratio change from an actual transmission ratio value toward a larger or smaller transmission ratio value, the current operating parameters are compared with the stored operating parameters. Upon this comparison, the transmission shifts to higher ratios in comparison to the operating parameters stored in a control device at higher vehicle speeds, and/or a delay between sequential, cyclical transmission ratio changes varies depending on a vehicle deceleration and/or braking pressure in the region of a vehicle brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130174722
    Abstract: A hydraulic shifting device for an automatic transmission for engaging and disengaging a parking lock. The shifting device comprises a parking lock cylinder (203) for actuating the parking lock, and a parking lock valve (201) which, for hydraulic control of the parking lock cylinder (203), can be switched to at least first and second shift positions. In this case the hydraulic shifting device comprises a further parking lock valve (202), and the two parking lock valves (201, 202) and the parking lock cylinder (203) are designed and connected with one another in such manner that the parking lock can only be disengaged by pressurizing the parking lock cylinder (203) if the two parking lock valves (201, 202) are each switched to a particular shift position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • Publication number: 20130154432
    Abstract: A stator of a rotating electric machine includes a circular stator lamination stack having stator teeth projecting radially therefrom and distributed over the circumference and axial slots formed between the teeth. The stator carries a winding of an insulated conductor which is designed for the application of a maximum electric voltage in the low-voltage range up to about 1 kV. The winding is constructed as concentric winding in the form of individual tooth coils, and voltage insulating material is provided inside the slots between the teeth and the winding. To reduce the electric field strength in manufacture-induced voids of the varnish-impregnated or resin-impregnated stator, the voltage insulating material comprises an areally shaped layer of a high-resistance conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130158825
    Abstract: A method of determining a touch-point of a friction clutch of a motor vehicle that is relevant for control purposes such that a current, actual touch-point of the friction clutch is determined adaptively, and such that the current touch-point is modified, with a correction value that depends on the elasticity of the friction clutch, in order to determine the control-relevant touch-point. The control device comprises elements for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130151094
    Abstract: A method of controlling the system pressure in an automatic transmission having interlocking shifting elements in which, during shifts and gear engagement and gear disengagement processes involving interlocking shifting elements, as a function of the engagement and disengagement times of the interlocking shifting elements involved and the shift conditions of the frictional shifting elements involved, the system pressure is increased to an elevated pressure that enables rapid engagement or disengagement of the interlocking shifting elements, in such manner that the system pressure is increased in at least two phases whose timing depends on the shift conditions of at least one of the shifting elements involved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130150199
    Abstract: The pump unit has a pump and a hybrid drive. The pump comprises a pump housing and a pump shaft. The hybrid drive comprises an electric motor and a driveshaft connection to a driveshaft. The electric motor and the driveshaft connection are each in driving mechanical functional connection with the pump shaft by way of a planetary gearset for driving the pump shaft. A stator of the electric motor is at least partially integrated in the pump housing. A rotor of the electric motor is mechanically connected fixed to a sun gear of the planetary gearset. The driveshaft connection is mechanically connected fixed to a ring gear of the planetary gearset. The pump shaft is mechanically connected fixed to a planetary carrier of the planetary gearset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130133412
    Abstract: A method of producing an insert molded sensor assembly having at least one sensor element accommodated on a first side of a circuit board of the sensor assembly. During a first step, a plurality of pins are introduced and penetrate through the circuit board. The circuit board, including the at least one sensor element, is then disposed, during a second step, into a two-part insert mold tool so that the pins are supported on both sides of the circuit board in a direction transverse to a plane defined by the circuit board. A defined spacing distance, between a surface of the sensor element and the insert mold tool, is produced by the pins. During a third step of the method, the insert mold tool is filled with insert molding material, particularly a duroplast.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • Publication number: 20130138308
    Abstract: A control device of a motor vehicle for controlling a gear change in a transmission of the motor vehicle by generating control signals for transmission shift elements utilized during a gear change. If a gear increment of the gear change to be performed is greater than two gears, and/or if the driver activates a sport gear shift program, and/or if a detection device detects a sporty type of driver, and/or if the driver actuates a kickdown of an accelerator pedal, and/or if the driver actuates the accelerator pedal with a temporal gradient that is greater than a defined limit, the control device generates control signals for the shift elements, being utilized for performing the gear change, with an interruption of tractive force, and the control device, in all other instances, generates control signals for the shift elements, being utilized for performing the gear change, without interrupting the tractive force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • Publication number: 20130133451
    Abstract: A transmission, for a motor vehicle with an auxiliary drive (EM), having a first housing part (2a), a second housing part, a transmission shaft (GW), an auxiliary drive shaft which can be driven by the auxiliary drive (EM), a lay shaft (VW) that is positioned axially parallel to the transmission shaft (GW) and coaxial to the auxiliary drive shaft. The lay shaft (VW) is connected, via a spur wheel stage (Z22, Z23) with the transmission shaft (GW), and the lay shaft (VW) is connected in a rotationally fixed manner with the auxiliary drive shaft and is supported on both sides of the spur wheel stage (Z22, Z23) in a bearing device (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • Publication number: 20130134007
    Abstract: A double clutch transmission of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a clutch chamber (3) which is designed as a first oil chamber, for accommodating a double clutch, and a transmission chamber (8) which is designed as a second oil chamber, for accommodating a double clutch transmission gear set. A partition wall (9) separates the oil chambers from one another. An oil pump (11) is positioned in the transmission chamber (8) and can be driven by a drive shaft (7) which extends through the partition wall (9) from the transmission chamber (8) into the clutch chamber (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130133767
    Abstract: A pressure-control valve device for a fluid, having at least one inlet area and first and second outlet areas that can be flow-connected to one another by two seat valves coupled to one another, in which a fluid flow from the inlet area to the first and second outlet areas can be adjusted by the first seat valve and a fluid flow between the first and second outlet areas can be adjusted by the second seat valve. The first seat valve is designed as a valve aperture with a valve opening and a valve control edge and with a ball-shaped closing element that co-operates with the valve control edge. The valve opening and the ball-shaped closing element are designed such that the ratio of the diameter of the valve opening to the diameter of the ball-shaped closing element is equal to at least 0.75.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
  • Publication number: 20130126766
    Abstract: A valve device (14) of a hydraulic system (1) for actuating at least one shifting element (2) of a transmission. The valve device comprising a pilot-controlled control valve device (3) with a valve slide (9) and, functionally connected with this is, an also pilot-controlled switching valve device (4) which is also formed with a valve slide (7). The valve slides (7, 9) are arranged to move longitudinally in a common bore (15) of a valve housing (16) and are positioned coaxially with one another, and an inner valve slide (7) is arranged to move longitudinally at least partially within the outer valve slide (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: ZF Friedrichshafen AG