Patents by Inventor Jeffrey L. Hoff

Jeffrey L. Hoff 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).

  • Adjusting and maintaining bearing preload in an axle assembly
    Patent number: 7794153
    Abstract: An axle differential mechanism includes a carrier, a bearing supporting the carrier in rotation about an axis, a bearing adjuster including a adjuster sleeve held against rotation and axial displacement, and an adjuster nut formed with first teeth, and engaged by screw threads with the adjuster sleeve such that rotation of the adjuster nut about the axis causes the adjuster nut to contact the bearing and produce a preload force on the bearing between the adjuster nut and the carrier, and a locking device secured against displacement for engaging the adjuster nut, said engagement preventing rotation of the adjuster nut relative to the bearing and maintaining the preload on the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald S. Szczepanski, Charles Krysztof, Jeffrey L. Hoff
  • Adjusting and Maintaining Bearing Preload in an Axle Assembly
    Publication number: 20090145683
    Abstract: An axle differential mechanism includes a carrier, a bearing supporting the carrier in rotation about an axis, a bearing adjuster including a adjuster sleeve held against rotation and axial displacement, and an adjuster nut formed with first teeth, and engaged by screw threads with the adjuster sleeve such that rotation of the adjuster nut about the axis causes the adjuster nut to contact the bearing and produce a preload force on the bearing between the adjuster nut and the carrier, and a locking device secured against displacement for engaging the adjuster nut, said engagement preventing rotation of the adjuster nut relative to the bearing and maintaining the preload on the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Gerald S. Szczepanski, Charles Krysztof, Jeffrey L. Hoff