Patents by Inventor Dirk Sokolihs
Dirk Sokolihs 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).
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Patent number: 11313410Abstract: A sealing bellows for a ball joint having a housing-side sealing area, a stud-side sealing area, and an outlet opening arranged between the sealing areas and which penetrates a wall of the sealing bellows. The outlet opening is open in the unassembled state of the sealing bellows. The outlet opening is closed in the assembled state of a ball joint. The sealing bellows and/or the ball joint can be used for a multi-point link, particularly a two-point link.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2018Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Dirk Sokolihs, Uwe Petersen
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Patent number: 11268567Abstract: A sealing element for a ball joint has a sealing area on the housing side and a sealing area a distance away therefrom in an axial direction of the sealing element on the stud side. Arranged between the housing-side sealing area and the stud-side sealing area is an outlet opening which extends through the sealing element to allow the passage of spent lubricant. The outlet opening extends in the axial direction of the sealing element, passing all the way through the sealing element in the axial direction. Further, the sealing element is incorporated in a ball joint which is incorporated in a two-point control arm.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2018Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF Gainsville, LLCInventors: Dirk Sokolihs, Uwe Petersen, Joe Vierthaler, Marco Di Sarno, Holger Hardt
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Patent number: 11261906Abstract: A ball joint for a chassis component in the form of a two-point linkage. The ball joint includes a housing and a ball stud fitted and able to be deflected in the housing, as well as a sealing element arranged between the housing and the ball stud, which surrounds the ball stud all round. Deflection movement of the ball stud, relative to the housing, is restricted at least in some areas by the sealing element. The sealing element is attached to the housing by an interlocked connection. The sealing element of the ball joint is attached to the housing by a snap-on connection. A two-point linkage having such a ball joint, and the two-point linkage is a steering rod or a track rod.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Dirk Sokolihs, Uwe Petersen, Holger Hardt, Marco Di Sarno
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Patent number: 10844900Abstract: A radial ball joint (1, 50, 70) for a vehicle having a housing (2, 51) for holding a joint ball (11) of a ball stud (6) so that the ball stud can rotate and pivot. An upper bearing shell (7), made from a steel sheet, is arranged between an inside wall (10) of the housing (2, 51) and the joint ball (11). The upper bearing shell (7) is in contact with the joint ball (11) over a contact zone (21) to provide the joint ball (11) with a circumferential slide bearing between its equator (12) and its upper pole (13). The upper bearing shell (7) is in the form of an annular, circumferentially closed drawn component and has in the contact zone (21) with the joint ball (11). A number of lubrication grooves (14), pass through a wall (20) of the upper bearing shell (7), in an embossment manner.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Günter Reddehase, Uwe Petersen, Dirk Sokolihs, Frank Hensel
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Publication number: 20200182288Abstract: A sealing element for a ball joint. The sealing element has a sealing area on the housing side and a sealing area a distance away therefrom in an axial direction of the sealing element on the stud side. Arranged between the housing-side sealing area and the stud-side sealing area is an outlet opening which extends through the sealing element to allow the passage of spent lubricant. The outlet opening extends in the axial direction of the sealing element, passing all the way through the sealing element in the axial direction. Further, a ball joint having a sealing element and a two-point control arm with such a ball joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2018Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: Dirk SOKOLIHS, Uwe PETERSEN, Joe VIERTHALER, Marco DI SARNO, Holger HARDT
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Publication number: 20200056651Abstract: A sealing bellows for a ball joint having a housing-side sealing area, a stud-side sealing area, and an outlet opening arranged between the sealing areas and which penetrates a wall of the sealing bellows. The outlet opening is open in the unassembled state of the sealing bellows. The outlet opening is closed in the assembled state of a ball joint. The sealing bellows and/or the ball joint can be used for a multi-point link, particularly a two-point link.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2018Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: Dirk SOKOLIHS, Uwe PETERSEN
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Publication number: 20180355908Abstract: A ball joint for a chassis component in the form of a two-point linkage. The ball joint includes a housing and a ball stud fitted and able to be deflected in the housing, as well as a sealing element arranged between the housing and the ball stud, which surrounds the ball stud all round. Deflection movement of the ball stud, relative to the housing, is restricted at least in some areas by the sealing element. The sealing element is attached to the housing by an interlocked connection. The sealing element of the ball joint is attached to the housing by a snap-on connection. A two-point linkage having such a ball joint, and the two-point linkage is a steering rod or a track rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2018Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Dirk SOKOLIHS, Uwe PETERSEN, Holger HARDT, Marco DI SARNO
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Publication number: 20180258983Abstract: A radial ball joint (1, 50, 70) for a vehicle having a housing (2, 51) for holding a joint ball (11) of a ball stud (6) so that the ball stud can rotate and pivot. An upper bearing shell (7), made from a steel sheet, is arranged between an inside wall (10) of the housing (2, 51) and the joint ball (11). The upper bearing shell (7) is in contact with the joint ball (11) over a contact zone (21) to provide the joint ball (11) with a circumferential slide bearing between its equator (12) and its upper pole (13). The upper bearing shell (7) is in the form of an annular, circumferentially closed drawn component and has in the contact zone (21) with the joint ball (11). A number of lubrication grooves (14), pass through a wall (20) of the upper bearing shell (7), in an embossment manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2016Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Günter REDDEHASE, Uwe PETERSEN, Dirk SOKOLIHS, Frank HENSEL
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Patent number: 8696232Abstract: A structural unit having a tube (2) which is provided on at least one end with an internal thread (1) which is formed in a first direction of rotation. An adjustment sleeve (3) is screwed into the first end of the internal thread (1) of the tube (2), and the adjustment sleeve (3) has an internal thread (4) which is formed in the opposite direction to the first direction of rotation, and a shank (5) is screwed into the adjustment sleeve (3) and an adjustment travel of the shank (5) is limited by a blocking element (6). The adjustment sleeve (3) supports the blocking element (6) which is located within a groove (7), formed on the outer lateral surface of the shank (5), so as to limit adjustment travel over a range of motion.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2009Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: ZF FriedrichshafenInventor: Dirk Sokolihs
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Patent number: 8506199Abstract: A structural unit, e.g., a tie rod, that has a tube which is provided with an internal thread, on at least one surface thereof, which is threaded in a first rotational direction, and into the end of which a threaded sleeve is screwed. The threaded sleeve has an internal thread which is threaded in a second direction, opposite to the first rotational direction, and has a shank screwed into the sleeve. The entire threaded sleeve is accommodated within the tube, and the threaded sleeve has a coupling contour on the opening side of the tube. A method of applying the structural unit such that, by rotating the threaded sleeve within the tube, the shank and the tube are moved in opposite directions. In the method, the coupling contour of the threaded sleeve serves to introduce the torque required for rotational motion of the threaded sleeve by way of a tool or an adapter.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Stefan Rump, Andreas Rosengarten, Dirk Sokolihs
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Publication number: 20120114412Abstract: A ball joint for a motor vehicle having a housing and a ball pin (2) whose joint ball (3) is rotatably and pivotally supported in a bearing shell (6). The bearing shell (6) has a sheet-metal strip provided with recesses and which is formed for the formation of the bearing shell. A method for producing a component of a bearing shell of a ball joint is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2009Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Dirk Sokolihs, Sonja Ahlert, Frank Grundmann
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Publication number: 20120003032Abstract: A structural unit, e.g., a tie rod, that has a tube which is provided with an internal thread, on at least one surface thereof, which is threaded in a first rotational direction, and into the end of which a threaded sleeve is screwed. The threaded sleeve has an internal thread which is threaded in a second direction, opposite to the first rotational direction, and has a shank screwed into the sleeve. The entire threaded sleeve is accommodated within the tube, and the threaded sleeve has a coupling contour on the opening side of the tube. A method of applying the structural unit such that, by rotating the threaded sleeve within the tube, the shank and the tube are moved in opposite directions. In the method, the coupling contour of the threaded sleeve serves to introduce the torque required for rotational motion of the threaded sleeve by way of a tool or an adapter.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2010Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Stefan Rump, Andreas Rosengarten, Dirk Sokolihs
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Publication number: 20110038665Abstract: A structural unit having a tube (2) which is provided on at least one end with an internal thread (1) which is formed in a first direction of rotation. An adjustment sleeve (3) is screwed into the first end of the internal thread (1) of the tube (2), and the adjustment sleeve (3) has an internal thread (4) which is formed in the opposite direction to the first direction of rotation, and a shank (5) is screwed into the adjustment sleeve (3) and an adjustment travel of the shank (5) is limited by a blocking element (6). The adjustment sleeve (3) supports the blocking element (6) which is located within a groove (7), formed on the outer lateral surface of the shank (5), so as to limit adjustment travel over a range of motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2009Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventor: Dirk Sokolihs
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Publication number: 20110027013Abstract: A ball joint for a motor vehicle. The ball joint has a housing, a ball pin that is supported within the housing in a rotatable and pivotal manner, and a bellows seal. The bellows seal rests with a first bellows seal edge in a sealing manner against the ball pin, and with a second bellows seal edge rests in a sealing manner against the housing. The one-piece bellows seal comprises at least first and second sections, between its bellows seal edges, having different geometries, of which a first section forms a round bodied contour and a second section has an extension along the outer surface and in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing. The inner surface of the second section of the bellows seal and/or the outer surface of the housing corresponding thereto is provided with a surface geometry having alternating directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2009Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Dirk Sokolihs, Frank Grundmann, Sonja Ahlert
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Patent number: 6579025Abstract: A steering tie rod for motor vehicles with a pipe, which is provided with an internal thread in a first direction of rotation on at least one side and is slotted at least in some areas, is presented, into which an adjusting sleeve is screwed at its end, where a ball-and-socket joint housing shaft of a ball-and-socket joint present at the end of the steering tie rod is screwed into the internal thread of the adjusting sleeve, which latter internal thread has a second direction of rotation opposite the first direction of rotation. An axial adjusting movement of the pipe relative to the ball-and-socket joint is made possible by a wrench contact surface made in one piece with the adjusting sleeve. The adjusting sleeve (1) has at least one recessed slot (2) and a collar band (4), which is fixed on the outer jacket surface of the pipe (3) and fixes the components in their position in relation to one another.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2000Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AgInventors: Dirk Sokolihs, Norbert Schmudde, Herbert Holle
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Patent number: 6308959Abstract: An elastic sealing element in the form of bellows, which is used to seal the contact surface between at least two components movable in relation to one another is described, which has low-elasticity contact zones as well as a deformation zone whose elasticity is higher than that of the contact zones, wherein the said deformation zone defines a chamber for accommodating lubricants on its inner side facing the movable components. An overpressure relief means (14) is arranged at least in the area of one of the two low-elasticity contact zones (6 or 7). The overpressure relief means (14) has at least one relief opening (15) connecting the lubricant chamber (11) with the outside of the sealing element (1) and a closing element (16) covering the said relief opening. The closing element (16) is in turn made in one piece with the sealing element (1) and closes the relief opening (15) up to an overpressure limit in the lubricant chamber (11) due to the intrinsic elasticity of the material of the sealing element.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1999Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Dirk Sokolihs, Uwe Petersen