Patents by Inventor Karl-Heinz Gruenthaler

Karl-Heinz Gruenthaler 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: 6537683
    Abstract: A method is described for producing composite multilayer materials which exhibit optimum properties throughout their entire service life. The composite multilayer material comprises a backing layer, a bearing metal layer, an intermediate layer and an electrodeposited overlay, which exhibits a hardness which increases continuously from its surface in the direction of the bearing metal layer. The method provides for the electrodeposition as overlay of a lead-free alloy with at least one hard and one soft component, the current density being modified within the range of from 0.3 to 20 A/dm2 during the deposition process and/or the temperature of the electroplating bath being modified within the range of from 15° C. to 80° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Wiesbaden GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Staschko, Karl-Heinz Gruenthaler
  • Patent number: 6528143
    Abstract: A multilayer material for sliding elements with a metallic backing layer and a plastics overlay applied thereto achieves good adhesion to the substrate without the disadvantages of known PVDF-based bearing materials. The plastics overlay comprises a PVDF content of 60-95 vol. %, the remainder consisting of PTFE or PTFE and at least one further component with a density of <7 g/cm3. The content of this further component may amount to a maximum of 5 vol. %. The other components comprise fully or partially aromatic polymers such as PI, PAE, polyamides, PPS, PES, PEEK, PSU or polyester, carbon variants such as graphite, carbon black, C fibers or coke, as well as MoS2, BN or CaF2 or CaCo3. The production method consists in scattering a powder mixture of these components onto the metallic backing material and then heating it to above the softening point of the PVDF component to form the plastics overlay, the plastics overlay thereafter being rolled smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Wiesbaden GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Achim Adam, Karl-Heinz Gruenthaler
  • Patent number: 6451452
    Abstract: A lead-free multilayer material for plain bearings and a process for the production of corresponding bearing shells for improved emergency running and mechanical load-carrying capacity characteristics. The multilayer bearing material comprises a lead-free copper alloy having a copper content ranging from 50 to 95 wt. %, and an overlay formed of a lead-free tin and copper having a tin content ranging from 70 to 97 wt. % and a copper content ranging from 3 to 20 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Weisbaden GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Fritz Niegel, Karl-Heinz Gruenthaler, Werner Lucchetti, Hans-Ulrich Huhn
  • Publication number: 20020031684
    Abstract: A lead-free multilayer material for plain bearings and a process for the production of corresponding bearing shells for improved emergency running and mechanical load-carrying capacity characteristics. The multilayer bearing material comprises a lead-free copper alloy having a copper content ranging from 50 to 95 wt. %, and an overlay formed of a lead-free tin and copper having a tin content ranging from 70 to 97 wt. % and a copper content ranging from 3 to 20 wt. %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Fritz Niegel, Karl-Heinz Gruenthaler, Werner Lucchetti, Hans-Ulrich Huhn
  • Patent number: 6301784
    Abstract: A lead-free multilayer material for plain bearings and a process for the production of corresponding bearing shells for improved emergency running and mechanical load-carrying capacity characteristics. The multilayer bearing material comprises a lead-free copper alloy having a copper content ranging from 50 to 95 wt. %, and an overlay formed of a lead-free tin and copper having a tin content ranging from 70 to 97 wt. % and a copper content ranging from 3 to 20 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Wiesbaden GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Fritz Niegel, Karl-Heinz Gruenthaler, Werner Lucchetti, Hans-Ulrich Huhn
  • Patent number: 6194087
    Abstract: A composite material for plain bearings comprises a backing layer, a bearing metal layer consisting of a copper alloy with a copper content of from 50 to 95 wt. % or an aluminum alloy with an aluminum content of from 60 to 95 wt. %, a diffusion barrier layer and an overlay, applied by electroplating, consisting of a lead-free, tin and copper-containing alloy. The invention provides a composite multilayer material whose overlay, applied by electroplating, does not exhibit any embrittlement even at relatively high temperatures, irrespective of the copper content. The overlay preferably comprises from 8 to 30 wt. % copper, 60 to 97 wt. % tin and 0.5-19 wt. % cobalt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Clyco-Metall-Werke Glyco B.V. & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Huhn, Dietmar Wiebach, Karl-Heinz Gruenthaler, Peter Spahn