Patents by Inventor Al Thomas

Al Thomas 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).

  • Method for producing a planetary gear shaft having increased hardness
    Patent number: 10077484
    Abstract: A method of hardening a planetary gear shaft includes carbonitriding an outer peripheral surface of the planetary gear shaft and quenching the planetary gear shaft in oil at a temperature between approximately 120 and 150° C. The method also includes quenching the planetary gear shaft in a liquid at a temperature between approximately ?70 and ?120° C., and tempering the planetary gear shaft. After tempering, the outer peripheral surface of the planetary gear shaft includes a surface hardness of HV 832 or more and with the shaft material maintaining a hardness of at least HV 513 to a depth of at least 0.5 mm. High temperature tempering and induction hardening steps may be added to obtain soft ends of the shaft suitable for a staking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joseph T. Griffin, Earl Goldsberry, Shawn Pierce, Al Thomas
  • METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PLANETARY GEAR SHAFT HAVING INCREASED HARDNESS
    Publication number: 20180119243
    Abstract: A method of hardening a planetary gear shaft includes carbonitriding an outer peripheral surface of the planetary gear shaft and quenching the planetary gear shaft in oil at a temperature between approximately 120 and 150° C. The method also includes quenching the planetary gear shaft in a liquid at a temperature between approximately ?70 and ?120° C., and tempering the planetary gear shaft. After tempering, the outer peripheral surface of the planetary gear shaft includes a surface hardness of HV 832 or more and with the shaft material maintaining a hardness of at least HV 513 to a depth of at least 0.5 mm. High temperature tempering and induction hardening steps may be added to obtain soft ends of the shaft suitable for a staking operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joseph T. Griffin, Earl Goldsberry, Shawn Pierce, Al Thomas