Patents Assigned to SKF
  • Publication number: 20090039816
    Abstract: A system is provided that furnishes expert procedural guidance based upon patient-specific data gained from surgical instruments incorporating sensors on the instrument's working surface, one or more reference sensors placed about the patient, sensors implanted before, during or after the procedure, the patient's personal medical history, and patient status monitoring equipment. Embodiments include a system having a surgical instrument with a sensor for generating a signal indicative of a property of a subject tissue of the patient, which signal is converted into a current dataset and stored. A processor compares the current dataset with other previously stored datasets, and uses the comparison to assess a physical condition of the subject tissue and/or to guide a procedure being performed on the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: AB SKF
    Inventors: Frank Buschbeck, Martin Groeschl, Gerwin Preisinger, Andreas Jagenbrein
  • Patent number: 7488046
    Abstract: A hub-bearing unit (10) has a rotatable outer race (30) fixable to a wheel and an inner stationary hub (20) forming a passage (27) for pressurized air coming from a source of pressurized air mounted onboard of a vehicle. Tightly fitted on the axially outer side of the unit (10) is a cylindrical cover (50) defining with the unit (10) an airtight chamber (51) communicating with the passage (27). The cover (50) has a through bore (55) for establishing air communication between the chamber (51) and a tube (A, B) for conveying pressurized air to the tire. The cover has an outer wall (52) with a cylindrical portion (52b) axially protruding beyond the hub-bearing unit (10) so as to provide a cylindrical surface for centering the wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Angelo Vignotto, Claudio Savarese, Patrick Le Reun, Fulvio Nicastri
  • Patent number: 7486178
    Abstract: Electrical connection system between a wheel and a bearing-hub assembly, the wheel being mounted on an outer flange of the bearing-hub assembly, and the bearing-hub assembly comprising a rotationally fixed outer ring attached to the vehicle's suspension and an inner ring provided with a centering collar, an open frontal cavity defined in the said centering collar and an axial cavity opening into the said cavity; the connection system having a first connection cable attached to the inner ring and extending inside the axial cavity and the frontal cavity, a second connection cable integrated with the wheel, and a connection element associated with the said centering collar to provide electrical contact that can be selectively disconnected between the first cable and the second cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., SKF Industrie SpA
    Inventors: Christophe Criaud, Sébastien Drap, Salima Fahas, Bruno Giai, Alexander Molenaar, Rafaële Montagnoni, Simona Pilone
  • Publication number: 20090028480
    Abstract: A slide bearing bush with an integrated sealing element permits a relatively simple and economical production of the slide bearing bush. The slide bearing bush includes a bush part and a cover part. The bush part and/or the cover part is provided with an annular groove formed for holding the sealing element, and the slide bearing bush comprised of the bush part and the cover part possesses a cylindrical outside contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Thomas KRAUSE, Burkard BECK, Peter SCHMEHR
  • Patent number: 7481620
    Abstract: A wind power plant comprises an outside ring, an inside ring and roll bodies arranged between an inside jacket of the outside ring and an outside jacket of the inside ring for permitting twisting or rotation of the bearing rings against one another. One of the rings on the jacket comprises an auxiliary sensor at least along a portion of the periphery. The auxiliary sensor together with the primary sensor provided in the other bearing ring are configured in such a way that a twisting or rotational position of the two bearing rings relative to one another can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventors: Reinhard Kirsch, Siegfried Derrer
  • Publication number: 20090005184
    Abstract: This shaft comprises firstly a tube made of a composite material having a plastic matrix and secondly a metallic tubular insert arranged fixedly around a longitudinal portion of the tube and designed to link the tube mechanically to a functional mechanical assembly which is supported by the insert and is for instance a pin. To significantly improve the mechanical performance of this shaft in torsion, the insert has in cross section a noncircular inner profile, for example an oblong shape, to which the outer surface of the tube is adapted in a substantially complementary manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: SKF AEROSPACE FRANCE
    Inventors: Michel Genot, Jean-Michel Buchin
  • Publication number: 20090000399
    Abstract: A bearing and shaft assembly comprises a shaft and at least one bearing, and is provided with at least one strain sensor. An elastic component is provided between the shaft and the at least one bearing, and the elastic component comprises the at least one strain sensor. In one disclosed embodiment, the elastic component forms an integral part with one of the bearing and the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: AB SKF Group Headquarters
    Inventors: Henk Mol, Erik Zaaijer, Fabio Falsetti, Carl Vissers
  • Publication number: 20080318498
    Abstract: A vibration device for a super finishing apparatus for super finishing a mechanical object is disclosed. It comprises at least two sliding means (1, 3), each comprising a guide (5, 7) and an element (9, 11) provided with a through hole (13) for receiving the guide (5, 7), allowing a relative movement between the guide (5, 7) and the element (9, 11) provided with the through hole (13), and a movable structure (15) fixed to the at least two sliding means (1, 3). Further, each sliding means (1, 3) presents at least one liquid fluid inlet (19) allowing a liquid fluid to enter the through hole (13) and suspend the guide (5, 7) in relation to an inner surface of the through hole (13). An attachment tool comprising the vibration device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Martin Gustafsson, Paul Shore
  • Patent number: 7467702
    Abstract: Hydraulically operated clutch release bearing device of the type including an operating element provided with an annular piston and a seal in contact with the piston, and a rolling-contact bearing axially secured to the operating element, the piston including a rear surface in contact with the said seal, at least one concave region being formed locally in the said rear surface of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Sylvain Bussit, Claude Caillault
  • Publication number: 20080310781
    Abstract: A method for lubricating a rolling element bearing by an ultra low viscosity volatile fluid comprises injecting a liquefied fluid flow into the bearing, lubricating rolling contacts between the rings and the rolling elements of the bearing by the liquefied fluid, providing a flow restriction for the liquefied fluid so as to maintain at least part of the fluid at a pressure which is above the evaporation pressure which is defined by evaporation of the fluid at the temperature or temperatures which prevail(s) in the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: AB SKF
    Inventors: Guillermo Enrique Morales Espejel, Hans Wallin, Goran Lindsten
  • Publication number: 20080304785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel bearing for a driven wheel provided with a roller bearing module, comprising an outer ring and a hub which can be slide onto the outer ring from at least from one side such that it encompasses a partial area of the outer covering of the outer ring, wherein at least one area of the outer covering of the outer ring and one area of an inner covering of the hub are embodied in the form of a conical covering so that they match each other and can be arranged adjacent to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2005
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: AB SKF
    Inventors: Bernd Stephan, Jesko-Henning Tanke
  • Patent number: 7461462
    Abstract: A device is provided for measuring roundness of a mechanical object even if the mechanical object performs an orbit movement. The orbital movement and the surface roundness are separated. It is even possible to divide the orbital movement into an x component and a y component. The measurement is accomplished in a single measurement. After measuring it is possible to decide what to indicate: the orbit of the mechanical object, the deviation from a nominally round surface, or the combination of both. This is possible since once the data has been obtained it is then possible to use the data once or a number of times to indicate the orbit of the mechanical object, the deviation from a nominally round surface, or the combination of both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Jan-Olof Bankestrom, Goran Gabrielsson, Anders Gothberg
  • Publication number: 20080273825
    Abstract: A sliding bearing, e.g. journal bearing, including at least two bearing elements the bearing surfaces of which are slidably supported with respect to each other. At least one of the surfaces is provided with a first type of cavity which may comprise a lubricating substance, the first type of cavity being defined by a specific range of geometric properties. At least one surface is provided with at least a second type of cavity which may comprise a lubricating surface, the second type of cavity being defined by geometric properties which are different from the geometric properties of the first type of cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: AS SKF
    Inventors: Guillermo Enrique Morales Espejel, Eric Robert, Frederic Ponson
  • Publication number: 20080272557
    Abstract: A seal assembly including a first rigid shield having an annular sealing member of elastomeric material, and a second rigid shield mounted facing the first and having respective sliding surfaces for a first and second annular sealing lip of the annular sealing member, which extend towards the second rigid shield to exert axial sealing pressure and radial sealing pressure, respectively; wherein the first annular sealing lip has a radial seat facing the opposite way to the second annular sealing lip and housing a toroidal spring, which exerts a radial thrust on the first annular sealing lip eccentrically with respect to an elastic hinge defined by a root portion common to the first and second annular sealing lip, and having a centre of rotation located along a line extending through a V-shaped sealing edge of the first annular sealing lip and forming a 20° to 60° angle with a radial plane; the root portion being defined between two opposite annular recesses of the annular sealing member, which have a U-shaped r
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Claudio Foti
  • Patent number: 7444888
    Abstract: Method and sensor arrangement for determining a contact force vector acting on a rolling element hearing in operation. Sensor signals are received from a plurality of sensors measuring performance characteristics of the rolling element bearing. The received sensor signals are processed to determine the contact force vector. The plurality of sensors are arranged to measure a bearing component deformation, and the step of processing comprises the step of determining the contact force vector using an inverse transformation of a finite element analysis model which describes the rolling element bearing. The finite element analysis model is simplified using at least one generalized mode shape, the at least one generalized mode shape being a mathematical description of a natural mode deformation of a component of the rolling element bearing, such as the inner or outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventors: Hendrik Anne Mol, Gerrit Cornelis Van Nijen
  • Patent number: 7446989
    Abstract: A device for protecting the bearing of an electrical machine against the damaging passage of current, wherein the electrical machine comprises a stator and a rotor pivotally mounted relative to the stator by the bearing. The device is provided with a compensation circuit which produces a compensation current which compensates for a parasitic current formed during operation of the electrical machine by the bearing and a coupling element for directly or indirectly coupling the compensation current into the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventors: Gerwin Preisinger, Frank Buschbeck, Martin Gröschl
  • Publication number: 20080265522
    Abstract: A sealing device is to be fitted at a side of a bearing unit in order to seal a gap (15) between a stationary race (11) and a rotatable race (10) of the bearing unit. The device includes a relatively rigid reinforcing insert (16) of disc-annular shape, and a gasket (17) of relatively soft rubber or elastomeric material, over-moulded or vulcanized onto the insert (16). The gasket forms two opposite peripheral sealing portions (18, 19) intended to perform a static sealing action against the rotatable race (10) and a dynamic sealing action on the stationary race (11), respectively. The insert (16) includes magnetized or magnetizable material for forming, at predetermined angular zones or fields, a sequence of alternate and/or spaced north/south poles, in order to act as an encoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Stellario Barbera
  • Publication number: 20080265520
    Abstract: A sealing element is provided for placement between first and second components, wherein the first component includes a cylindrical cavity with a step-shaped shoulder which narrows the cavity, and the second component is a cylindrical component for placement in the cavity. The sealing element comprises a stiffening body with a L-shaped longitudinal cut surface, with the first leg of the L, shape being provided extending between the jackets of the cavity and of the second component, and the second leg being provided essentially in the region of the shoulder extending between the two components and at least in partial regions for touching the shoulder and the end side of the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Jurgen Kurth
  • Patent number: 7441960
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement for a medical device in which a rotating component is supported relative to a stationary housing includes a bearing with an inner ring and an outer ring. The inner ring is connected to the component which is to be supported and the outer ring is connected to the housing by way of at least one damping element. To increase quiet running of the rotating component, both the inner ring and also the outer ring are made as integral elements and have an essentially hollow cylindrical base contour, with an extension of the outer ring in the radial direction being at least twice the extension of the inner ring in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventors: Manfred Brandenstein, Heinz Breunig, Jurgen Neder, Gunter Neder, Armin Olschewski
  • Publication number: 20080257458
    Abstract: A method for treating a component comprising a metallic or ceramic material with a crystalline, semi-crystalline or amorphous structure. According to the method, to caseharden the component, at least part of the surface of the component is exposed to an oil jet, while the temperature of the oil and/or the component is regulated. Also disclosed is a device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2005
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: AB SKF
    Inventors: Wolfgang Nierlich, Jurgen Gegner