Patents by Inventor Andrea Serafini

Andrea Serafini 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).

  • Publication number: 20160114624
    Abstract: A hub-bearing unit for rotatably is provided with a stationary radially outer ring, a radially inner ring, an annular gasket, and a second metal insert. The radially inner ring includes a flange for mounting a wheel and a sealing device having a first metal insert, annular shaped, steadily fixed at an end portion of the outer ring facing the flange. The annular gasket includes a plurality of elastomeric sealing lips and steadily fixed to the metal insert. The second metal insert is steadily fixed on an axial cylindrical surface of the inner ring. The gasket presents a first axial contacting lip. The first axial contacting lip slidingly contacts a substantially frustoconical portion of the metal insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Fausto MORELLO, Andrea SERAFINI
  • Patent number: 9321308
    Abstract: A wheel hub bearing unit including a plurality of rolling bodies disposed between annular elements. One of the annular elements is a rotating element that includes a spindle on a side facing the outboard side of the vehicle having a mounting flange adapted to receive a vehicle wheel. A frontal surface of the mounting flange is covered by a layer of UV photopolimerizable synthetic plastic material having a predetermined thickness deposited on the frontal surface of the flange in the non-polimerized state by a mixed air spraying nozzle, by rotating the wheel hub bearing unit about a symmetry axis thereof with the nozzle arranged at a radial distance from a peripherally outer edge of the flange, and has a spraying axis which forms, with the symmetry axis, an angle from 20° to 80°; the synthetic plastic material being sprayed by the nozzle at a temperature higher than the room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Paolo Baratti, Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 9297420
    Abstract: A bearing unit for a vehicle wheel having a radially outer stationary ring provided with an axial lug, with a flange transverse to an axis of rotation and with an annular channel formed between the axial lug and the flange and delimited axially by a bottom surface. A radially inner rotatable ring defining, together with the stationary ring, a space; an encoder fixed onto the inner ring and extending outside of the space and in front of the axial lug; a protective cover mounted on the axial lug to protect the encoder and close off the space and provided with a side wall mounted on the outer cylindrical surface and having a bent edge arranged axially in abutment against the bottom surface of the annular channel; sealing means disposed between the cylindrical side wall and the tubular axial lug to seal the cylindrical side wall on the outer cylindrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Paolo Baratti, Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 9272573
    Abstract: A hub-bearing assembly (10) is provided with an outer, stationary, ring (20), and an inner ring (30) with a flange (32) for mounting a wheel, and the flange (32) forms an annular relief (36) projecting in an axially inward direction and having an outer toroidal surface (42); a sealing device (50), mounted on the outer ring (20), has a non-contacting axial lip (61) which extends axially towards the flange (32) and has a free end portion (62) which creates a labyrinth seal with the outer toroidal surface (42) of the annular relief (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Daniele Duch, Fausto Morello, Andrea Serafini
  • Publication number: 20160039246
    Abstract: A sealing assembly comprises a first annular shield presenting an axial sleeve portion for the mounting angularly integral with one of said members, and a flange portion which radially extends from a first end of the sleeve portion, and a sealing member made of elastomeric material presenting an annular root portion, which overhangingly and radially extends from a peripheral edge of the flange portion and a first axially sealing annular lip, as well as a second radially sealing annular lip. The lips extend overhangingly and axially on the opposite side of the first end of the sleeve portion, from a same side as a thinned end of the root portion and are reciprocally and divergingly arranged to form in radial section a V-shape having a vertex facing towards the root portion and an axis parallel to the sleeve portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Marco Brunetti, Claudio Foti, Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 9169876
    Abstract: A bearing unit for a vehicle wheel is provided having an axis of rotation and a radially outer stationary ring including a tubular axial lug delimited by an outer cylindrical surface, and with a flange transverse to the axis of rotation and axially delimited. A radially inner rotatable ring defines, with the ring, a space. An encoder is fixed to the inner ring and extends outside of the space and in front of the axial lug. A protective cover mounted on the axial lug to protect the encoder and close off the space. The stationary ring includes a shaped annular channel formed across the axial surface and delimited axially by a bottom surface and the side wall with a bent edge arranged axially in abutment against the bottom surface of the annular channel. Sealing means are arranged between the bent edge and the bottom surface to seal the annular channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Paolo Baratti, Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 9139041
    Abstract: An arrangement including a portion of a radially outer lateral surface of an inner ring of wheel hub on which an annular step is formed on the side of a constant velocity joint. The step is an L-shaped fold of a sleeve portion of a first shield that is protrudingly mounted, a flange portion of which shield radially extends so as to protrude towards an outer ring of a wheel hub, in front of a flange portion of a second shield; the L-shaped fold defines, with a wing thereof, a tubular element arranged straddling wheel hub and an outer ring of the constant velocity joint, which has a free end supporting an annular seal; an annular signal generating insert completely covers a face of the flange portion where it is provided with a shallow recess defining, together with the L-shaped fold, a thrust shoulder for mounting the first shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Daniele Duch, Fausto Morello, Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 9074689
    Abstract: An arrangement including a first and second sealing assembly disposed between an inner ring and an outer ring of the wheel hub and straddling the wheel hub and an outer ring of a constant velocity joint, and an annular step formed on the side of the constant velocity joint on a radially outer lateral surface of the inner ring, in a position adjacent to a sleeve portion of a first shield of the first sealing assembly from a flange portion radially extends so as to protrude towards the outer ring, the flange portion being provided towards the constant velocity joint with a signal generating element (19) consisting of an annular insert; an end of a tubular core of the second sealing assembly is fitted angularly onto the step and is radially externally provided with an L-shaped edge arranged within the step and radially under the annular insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Daniele Duch, Fausto Morello, Andrea Serafini
  • Publication number: 20150115696
    Abstract: A wheel hub bearing unit including a plurality of rolling bodies disposed between annular elements. One of the annular elements is a rotating element that includes a spindle on a side facing the outboard side of the vehicle having a mounting flange adapted to receive a vehicle wheel. A frontal surface of the mounting flange is covered by a layer of UV photopolimerizable synthetic plastic material having a predetermined thickness deposited on the frontal surface of the flange in the non-polimerized state by a mixed air spraying nozzle, by rotating the wheel hub bearing unit about a symmetry axis thereof with the nozzle arranged at a radial distance from a peripherally outer edge of the flange, and has a spraying axis which forms, with the symmetry axis, an angle from 20° to 80°; the synthetic plastic material being sprayed by the nozzle at a temperature higher than the room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Paolo Baratti, Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 9016949
    Abstract: A bearing unit having an axis of rotation and provided with a stationary ring and a rotatable ring arranged coaxially with respect to one another, a magnetic encoder fixed onto the inner ring and extending in front of an annular surface of the stationary ring; and a protective cover mounted on the external ring to protect the encoder and close off a space defined between the two rings; an annular channel being formed in the stationary ring and sealing means being arranged between the side wall and the axial lug within the annular channel so as to seal the cover and prevent the infiltration of impurities between the cover and the axial lug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Paolo Baratti, Andrea Serafini
  • Publication number: 20150069825
    Abstract: Arrangement including a portion of a radially outer lateral surface of an inner ring of wheel hub having an annular step formed on a constant velocity joint. The step is adapted to receive a first shield, a flange portion that radially extends to protrude towards an outer ring of a wheel hub, in front of a flange portion of a second shield, from a first end of a sleeve portion of the first shield facing on the side opposite of the constant velocity joint and axially protrudes from the inner ring and towards the joint, defining a tubular element arranged straddling wheel hub and an outer ring of the constant velocity joint, having an opposite second end, supporting an annular seal; an annular signal generating insert covers a face of the flange portion, wherein a radially inner annular part of face defines a thrust shoulder for mounting the first shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Daniele Duch, Fausto Morello, Andrea Serafini
  • Publication number: 20150003766
    Abstract: An assembly providing a first annular shield including a sleeve portion integral with a rotating member and with a flange portion, which radially extends to protrude from the first sleeve portion; a second annular shield having a sleeve portion integral with a stationary member and with a flange portion that radially extends to protrude on the opposite side of the sleeve portion of the first shield and facing the flange portion; and an annular seal, which the flange portion of the first shield ends with an L-shaped annular portion that protrudingly radially and axially extends out of an annular gap delimited between the rotating and stationary members to define an L-shaped channel in radial section having constant width and forming a first labyrinth seal; the channel leads into an annular recess, delimited between the second shield and a first lip of the annular seal without contacting the first shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Daniele Duch, Fausto Morello, Andrea Serafini
  • Publication number: 20140376848
    Abstract: An arrangement including a portion of a radially outer lateral surface of an inner ring of wheel hub on which an annular step is formed on the side of a constant velocity joint. The step is an L-shaped fold of a sleeve portion of a first shield that is protrudingly mounted, a flange portion of which shield radially extends so as to protrude towards an outer ring of a wheel hub, in front of a flange portion of a second shield; the L-shaped fold defines, with a wing thereof, a tubular element arranged straddling wheel hub and an outer ring of the constant velocity joint, which has a free end supporting an annular seal; an annular signal generating insert completely covers a face of the flange portion where it is provided with a shallow recess defining, together with the L-shaped fold, a thrust shoulder for mounting the first shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Daniele Duch, Fausto Morello, Andrea Serafini
  • Publication number: 20140374996
    Abstract: An arrangement including a first and second sealing assembly disposed between an inner ring and an outer ring of the wheel hub and straddling the wheel hub and an outer ring of a constant velocity joint, and an annular step formed on the side of the constant velocity joint on a radially outer lateral surface of the inner ring, in a position adjacent to a sleeve portion of a first shield of the first sealing assembly from a flange portion radially extends so as to protrude towards the outer ring, the flange portion being provided towards the constant velocity joint with a signal generating element (19) consisting of an annular insert; an end of a tubular core of the second sealing assembly is fitted angularly onto the step and is radially externally provided with an L-shaped edge arranged within the step and radially under the annular insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Daniele Duch, Fausto Morello, Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 8905641
    Abstract: A hub bearing assembly (10) is provided with a stationary outer ring (20), an inner ring (30) with a flange (32) for mounting of a wheel, the flange (32) forming an annular relief (36) that protrudes in an axially inner direction and has an inner cylindrical surface (37); a sealing device (50), mounted on the outer ring (20), has a non-contacting axial lip (61) which extends towards the flange (32) and has a free end portion (62) which provides a labyrinth seal with the cylindrical surface (37) of the annular relief (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Daniele Duch, Fausto Morello, Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 8851757
    Abstract: A bearing unit has an axis of rotation and a stationary ring and a rotatable ring, these rings being coaxial with each other and axially delimited on one side by respective axial surfaces which are transverse to the axis. An encoder is fixed to an outer cylindrical surface of the inner ring, and a protective cover is mounted on the outer ring to protect the encoder and to close off a space formed between the two rings. The axial surface of the outer ring and the protective cover jointly delimit a compartment for housing the encoder that is positioned substantially outside the space and that extends radially from the outer cylindrical surface to a boundary in the proximity of an outer cylindrical surface of the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Andrea Serafini
  • Publication number: 20140193109
    Abstract: A bearing unit for a vehicle wheel having a radially outer stationary ring provided with an axial lug, with a flange transverse to an axis of rotation and with an annular channel formed between the axial lug and the flange and delimited axially by a bottom surface. A radially inner rotatable ring defining, together with the stationary ring, a space; an encoder fixed onto the inner ring and extending outside of the space and in front of the axial lug; a protective cover mounted on the axial lug to protect the encoder and close off the space and provided with a side wall mounted on the outer cylindrical surface and having a bent edge arranged axially in abutment against the bottom surface of the annular channel; sealing means disposed between the cylindrical side wall and the tubular axial lug to seal the cylindrical side wall on the outer cylindrical surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Paolo Baratti, Andrea Serafini
  • Publication number: 20140193107
    Abstract: A bearing unit having an axis of rotation and provided with a stationary ring and a rotatable ring arranged coaxially with respect to one another, a magnetic encoder fixed onto the inner ring and extending in front of an annular surface of the stationary ring; and a protective cover mounted on the external ring to protect the encoder and close off a space defined between the two rings; an annular channel being formed in the stationary ring and sealing means being arranged between the side wall and the axial lug within the annular channel so as to seal the cover and prevent the infiltration of impurities between the cover and the axial lug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Paolo Baratti, Andrea Serafini
  • Publication number: 20140193108
    Abstract: A bearing unit for a vehicle wheel is provided having an axis of rotation and a radially outer stationary ring including a tubular axial lug delimited by an outer cylindrical surface, and with a flange transverse to the axis of rotation and axially delimited. A radially inner rotatable ring defines, with the ring, a space. An encoder is fixed to the inner ring and extends outside of the space and in front of the axial lug. A protective cover mounted on the axial lug to protect the encoder and close off the space. The stationary ring includes a shaped annular channel formed across the axial surface and delimited axially by a bottom surface and the side wall with a bent edge arranged axially in abutment against the bottom surface of the annular channel. Sealing means are arranged between the bent edge and the bottom surface to seal the annular channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Paolo Baratti, Andrea Serafini
  • Patent number: 8763227
    Abstract: A rotation sensor (19) is used for detecting relative rotation between a rotatable member (11, 12) and a non-rotatable member (10) of a bearing unit. The sensor (19) is retained in a sensor carrier body (18) of plastic material and annular shape. An annular supporting insert (17) serves to mount the sensor carrier body (18) onto the non-rotatable member (10) with the sensor operatively facing an impulse ring (15) secured to a rotatable member (12) of the unit. The sensor carrier body (18) and the supporting insert (17) provide a lock and seats (18a, 18c, 18d, 18m, 18n; 17c, 17d, 17m, 17n) for releasably locking the sensor carrier body (18) to the supporting insert (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Raffaele Montagnoni, Andrea Serafini