Patents Assigned to SKF
  • Patent number: 7543385
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing improved contact surfaces, particularly contact surfaces in rolling bearing components such as rings or rolling bodies, is disclosed. The method subjects a surface of the rolling bearing component to a hard turning machining operation for forming by means of a hard turning tool a rolling or sliding contact surface. The hard turned surface is subjected to a finishing operation to remove the basic turning groove structure in a light machining way such that micro-pockets created in the hard turning operation remain. The hard turning tool during the hard turning machining operation is subjected to a vibration, substantially in the longitudinal direction of the tool, thereby creating in a controlled manner in the hard-turned surface a number of indentations, which are substantially arc-shaped in cross-sectional direction, prior to the finishing operation. Indentations improve lift-off and lubricating properties during later operation of the rolling bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Jacek Kaminski, Henning Wittmeyer
  • Patent number: 7543894
    Abstract: A rotatable flanged hub for the wheel of a motor vehicle forms, in a single piece: a cylindrical central part adapted for being coupled to a bearing unit; a flange extending in a radially outer direction starting from an end of the cylindrical part; a tubular appendix projecting from the axially outer side of the hub beyond the flange and joined to the central part by means of a root portion; and a cylindrical inner cavity defined by an inner cylindrical surface of the appendix and a radial surface of an axially outer end of the central part. A circumferential groove extends into the root portion starting from the cylindrical inner cavity in order to increase flexibility of the tubular appendix with respect to the central part of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Massimo Paolotti
  • Publication number: 20090126677
    Abstract: A device includes a functional element of an internal combustion engine and a carrier fastened to a load-bearing structure on or in the internal combustion engine, preferably by a plurality of fastening elements. In order to obtain insensitiveness with respect to thermal deformations, the invention provides that the connection between the functional element and carrier is formed by means of at least one connecting wall which is composed of elastomeric material or of rubber material. The connecting wall extends at least generally parallel to and is spaced from a holding section of the carrier so as to define an air gap between the connecting wall and the carrier holding section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Vom Stein
  • Publication number: 20090103998
    Abstract: This anti-rotation lock device (2) for preventing movement in an assembly comprising an endpiece (210) carrying a thread (211) screwed into a tube (200), together with a nut (280) suitable for being screwed on the endpiece (210) comprises: a first washer (220) provided with an anti-rotation lock component; and a second washer (240) comprising at least one key. The first or the second washer (220, 240) includes a lug, and the faces of the first and second washers (220, 240) comprise means for locking them mutually against rotation. The device further comprises a third washer (260) including a member (268, 269) for locking the nut (280) against rotation. The outer periphery of the third washer (260) comprises a tab (265) adapted to co-operate with said lug (225) so as to lock the first or the second washer (220, 240) provided with the lug (225) against rotation relative to the third washer (260).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: SKF AEROSPACE FRANCE
    Inventor: Didier Gagneur
  • Patent number: 7510053
    Abstract: A plug assembly for the oil gallery of an internal combustion engine. The engine has a cylindrical passage leading from the interior to the exterior thereof. There is a circumferential groove in the passage. The plug includes a seal piece and an outer skirt portion subdivided into a piece having an outer end portion with a radial flange for snugly engaging said engine block, and an axially extending free end portion with a radially extending locking tab porting engaging the circumferential groove. The locking tab can move into and out of registration with the circumferential groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: SKF USA Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 7510333
    Abstract: Arrangements may include a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly having a bearing housing ring, the housing ring having an inner bore, at least a portion of the inner bore including a dry lubricant coating; a bearing, the bearing including: an outer race, the outer race having an outer surface received within the inner bore of the housing ring, at least a portion of the outer surface including a chromate anti-corrosive coating; and an inner race, the inner race having an inner race bore, and outer surface, and two radial end surfaces each extending between the inner race bore and the outer surface, at least a portion of the inner race bore, outer surface, and radial end surfaces include the chromate coating disposed thereon. Associated methods and arrangements are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Colin R. Tanner, Manuel Bautista
  • Patent number: 7511442
    Abstract: To obtain an improved possibility of establishing the causes of failure in linear drive devices with an electric drive, operational data logging means shall be provided for logging data in connection with operational loads and/or an operating state of the electric drive, which occur over a certain period of time, wherein the operational data logging means can be connected to the power connection means for data logging. Means for storing data, which are based on a plurality of measurements of the same measured variable, which measurements are performed one after another, make it possible to log and evaluate data over a long period of time, preferably during the entire service life of the linear drive device. The measurements are carried out during the use of the linear drive device (14) during which it is in a loaded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventors: Thomas Jehle, Peter Buchmann, Stefan Griner
  • Publication number: 20090078339
    Abstract: A workpiece is designed for rolling stresses and includes a body having a core zone and a carbonitrided surface zone which surrounds the core zone. The workpiece body is formed of a fully hardening steel. The core zone has a bainite microstructure as its main constituent. The surface zone of the workpiece has a mixed microstructure comprising martensite and bainite and the martensite in the surface zone constitutes a proportion of at least twenty percent by volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Johann Volkmuth, Michael Jung
  • Patent number: 7497629
    Abstract: Sealing device (1) for rolling contact bearings provided with a shield (2) which may be installed onto an outer race (11) of the bearing (12), and presenting a lateral cylindrical wall (21) which is suitable for being arranged in a radially intermediate position between an encoder (16) and a reading sensor (17) of the bearing (12), and a passing window (29) which is obtained through the lateral cylindrical wall (21) in order to permit the sensor (17) to face the encoder (16); a cover (40) made of plastic material being arranged in such a way as to close the window (29), and being selectively mobile in order to effect variations in pressure between the inside and outside of the bearing (12) between two extreme operating positions in at least one of which the cover (40) is suitable for substantially sealing the window (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Angelo Vignotto, Claudio Savarese, Alfredo Monetti
  • 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: 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: 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: 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