Patents by Inventor Frank Budde

Frank Budde 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).

  • Patent number: 8333513
    Abstract: A bearing shell made of plastic material is provided for a ball and socket joint for mounting a ball and socket joint pivot mounted rotatably and pivotably in the bearing shell with at least two shell parts (1a, 1b) forming a bearing surface with an inner, hollow spherical shape is presented, wherein the shell parts form in their entirety the shape of a bearing ring (1) with an opening (2, 3) each arranged on the front sides of the bearing ring, which front sides are located opposite each other, at least one web (4) connecting the shell parts (1a, 1b) being arranged crosswise above one of the opening cross sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Frank Budde, Hans-Gerd Brunneke, Martin Rechtien, Volker Grube, Rainer Ungruh, Michael Rossol
  • Patent number: 8100423
    Abstract: A connector piece for the articulated connection of structural elements of a chassis of a motor vehicle. The connector piece has a main body, formed from at least one metal sheet, which has at least one bearing or joint and includes a housing connected to the main body and an inner part which is fitted within an inside space of the housing and can move relative to the housing. The housing comprises a housing portion that surrounds the inside space and includes at least two sheet-metal strips that are arranged adjacent one another, in a longitudinal direction, and are bent between their ends, in opposite directions transverse to the longitudinal direction, such that the metal strips partially surround the inside space on different sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jochen Kruse, Frank Budde, Frank Nachbar, Stefan Schönhoff
  • Patent number: 7963536
    Abstract: A plastic rocker pendulum is provided with a rod-shaped basic body (1) and mounting elements (2, 3) arranged at the free ends of the basic body (1) for the ball heads of ball pins. The cross section of the basic body (1) has an essentially S-shaped design with at least three crossbars (5, 6, 7) arranged in parallel at spaced locations from one another and connection webs (8, 9) coupling two adjacent crossbars (5, 6, 7) each. The connection webs (8, 9) are arranged at opposite end areas of the crossbars (5, 6, 7). The geometrical moment of inertia can be substantially increased compared to conventional cross sections due to this cross section shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Frank Budde
  • Patent number: 7938417
    Abstract: A connecting piece for the articulated connection of components disposed in the chassis of a vehicle. The connecting piece comprises a base body (1) made out of sheet metal in which at least one through bore (3) is provided, a plastic part (13) is rigidly connected to the base body (1), and at least one articulated joint (5), comprising a housing (4), rigidly connected to the base body (1). The housing (4) is inserted into the through bore (3), in an axial direction (24), and has a housing section (22) with a radial shoulder (23) disposed outside the hole (3) and embedded in the plastic part (13), by which the housing section (22), rigidly connected to the housing (4), is axially supported on the base body (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Volker Grube, Frank Nachbar, Frank Budde, Karl-Heinz Kallwass, Ulrich Bladt, Günter Lohfink, José Ramón Izquierdo Nuñez, Jesús Santiago Miguel Pérez, Esteban Cañibano Alvarez, Ignacio Lobo Casanova
  • Publication number: 20100086346
    Abstract: A connector piece for the articulated connection of structural elements of a chassis of a motor vehicle. The connector piece has a main body, formed from at least one metal sheet, which has at least one bearing or joint and includes a housing connected to the main body and an inner part which is fitted within an inside space of the housing and can move relative to the housing. The housing comprises a housing portion that surrounds the inside space and includes at least two sheet-metal strips that are arranged adjacent one another, in a longitudinal direction, and are bent between their ends, in opposite directions transverse to the longitudinal direction, such that the metal strips partially surround the inside space on different sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Jochen Kruse, Frank Budde, Frank Nachbar, Stefan Schonhoff
  • Publication number: 20100084834
    Abstract: A connecting piece for the articulated connection of components disposed in the chassis of a vehicle. The connecting piece comprises a base body (1) made out of sheet metal in which at least one through bore (3) is provided, a plastic part (13) is rigidly connected to the base body (1), and at least one articulated joint (5), comprising a housing (4), rigidly connected to the base body (1). The housing (4) is inserted into the through bore (3), in an axial direction (24), and has a housing section (22) with a radial shoulder (23) disposed outside the hole (3) and embedded in the plastic part (13), by which the housing section (22), rigidly connected to the housing (4), is axially supported on the base body (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Volker Grube, Frank Nachbar, Frank Budde, Karl-Heinz Kallwass, Ulrich Bladt, Gunter Lohfink, Jose Ramon Izquierdo Nunez, Jesus Santiago Miguel Perez, Esteban Canibano Alvarez, Ignacio Lobo Casanova
  • Publication number: 20100025950
    Abstract: A ball and socket joint is provided preferably for use in vehicles and especially in the area of the chassis of motor vehicles. The joint has a ball and socket joint housing having a joint opening, with a ball pivot, which is arranged in the ball and socket joint housing, extends through the joint opening and has a shaft. A support ring is arranged on the shaft of the ball pivot and has a radially extending flange. A sealing element is arranged between the support ring as well as an adjoining component formed by a profiled body (15), which is connected to the support ring (5) in substance, is provided with at least one sealing segment (16) and is in contact with the shaft (10) of the ball pivot (1) and/or with a connection component (11) in at least one profiled section via a sealing segment (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Frank Budde, Markus Thoelking, Olaf Abels, Werner Duesing
  • Publication number: 20090232590
    Abstract: A joint for a motor vehicle is provided with a housing (5), a bearing shell (4) arranged in the housing (5), a bearing journal (3), which has a bearing area (1) and a pivot area (2) and which is mounted pivotably and/or rotatably in the bearing shell (4) with the bearing area (1). The joint has at least one tensioning device (33), which is arranged in the housing 5, is designed as a solid body and by which a mechanical stress exerted by the bearing shell 4 on the bearing area 1 can be changed. The bearing shell 4 is springy at least in some areas and is deformable by the tensioning means 33 in a springy manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Martin Rechtien, Joachim Spratte, Frank Budde, Armin Müller
  • Publication number: 20090202291
    Abstract: A plastic rocker pendulum is provided with a rod-shaped basic body (1) and mounting elements (2, 3) arranged at the free ends of the basic body (1) for the ball heads of ball pins. The cross section of the basic body (1) has an essentially S-shaped design with at least three crossbars (5, 6, 7) arranged in parallel at spaced locations from one another and connection webs (8, 9) coupling two adjacent crossbars (5, 6, 7) each. The connection webs (8, 9) are arranged at opposite end areas of the crossbars (5, 6, 7). The geometrical moment of inertia can be substantially increased compared to conventional cross sections due to this cross section shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: Frank Budde
  • Publication number: 20090196681
    Abstract: A joint and/or bearing arrangement (1) is provided with a joint pin (2), whose head area (3) is mobile in relation to a receiving joint shell (4), and with a gasket (9), which adjoins in the area of a passage opening (6) left for the pin by a housing (5) receiving the joint shell (4) and which is formed with the joint shell (4) into a common one-piece unit. The joint shell (4) is surrounded by a metallic housing (5) and has, in the area of the passage opening (6), a deflector (7) provided with a radially outwardly pointing component for shielding the gasket (9) from the housing (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Frank Budde
  • Patent number: 7478968
    Abstract: A rocker pendulum for a motor vehicle has an oblong basic body via at least one fastening element, wherein the basic body is a hollow extruded section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Georg Wolf, Frank Budde
  • Patent number: 7441978
    Abstract: A bearing shell for a ball and socket joint has a core made of plastic, which is jacketed by a film at least in some areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Frank Budde
  • Publication number: 20080255673
    Abstract: A bearing shell made of plastic material is provided for a ball and socket joint for mounting a ball and socket joint pivot mounted rotatably and pivotably in the bearing shell with at least two shell parts 1a, 1b forming a bearing surface with an inner, hollow spherical shape is presented, wherein the shell parts form in their entirety the shape of a bearing ring 1 with an opening 2, 3 each arranged on the front sides of the bearing ring, which said front sides are located opposite each other, at least one web 4 connecting the shell parts 1a, 1b being arranged crosswise above one of the opening cross sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Frank Budde, Hans-Gerd Brunneke, Martin Rechtien, Volker Grube, Rainer Ungruh, Michael Rossol
  • Publication number: 20080138150
    Abstract: A ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, especially for a rocker pendulum of a motor vehicle, has a housing (1), which is open on at least one side, and into the interior space of which a bearing shell is inserted, which in turn accommodates a joint ball of a ball pivot in a slidingly movable manner. According to a first variant, the interior space has elevations along its inner jacket surface, which said elevations mesh with the bearing shell in a positive-locking manner. The elevations are designed as triangular webs (13). According to a second variant, the interior space has depressions along its inner jacket surface, which said depressions mesh with the bearing shell in a positive-locking manner, said depressions being designed as undercuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Frank Budde, Thomas Richter
  • Publication number: 20080063466
    Abstract: A bearing shell for a ball and socket joint made of plastic as well as the ball and socket joint per se, wherein the bearing shell has first areas, which are subject to higher mechanical loads than the other areas of the bearing shell, wherein the material of the bearing shell forming the first areas is formed from a reinforced plastic, and the other areas are made of a less reinforced or unreinforced plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Frank BUDDE
  • Patent number: 7334828
    Abstract: A force connection strut (1) of a chassis of a passenger car or utility vehicle is provided for the non-positive connection between a chassis and a wheel carrier, preferably an axle strut or a chassis control arm. An elongated basic body (G) and at least two end-side mount supports (5) are provided for introducing and leading out forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Frank Budde, Jochen Kruse, Stefan Schönhoff
  • Patent number: 7331733
    Abstract: A rocker pendulum for a motor vehicle, has an elongated, especially hollow basic body (1). The basic body (1, 11, 21, 31) has at least one section (1a, 11a, 21a, 31a), which forms or has a bearing shell of a ball and socket joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Georg Wolf, Frank Budde
  • Patent number: 7325289
    Abstract: A process is provided for manufacturing a ball and socket joint that has a ball pivot (2) that is composed of a pivot pin (3) with an essentially spherical ball head (4) arranged or made integrally in one piece on one side. A bearing shell (5) is provided as well as a preformed plastic film as a thin-walled ball socket (7) with a joint surface (8) enclosing the ball head at least partially. A lubricant (9) is introduced between the surface of the ball head (4) and the joint surface (8) of the thin-walled ball socket (7). According to the process, the thin-walled ball socket (7) is filled first with the lubricant (9). The ball head (4) of the ball pivot (2) is then introduced into the thin-walled ball socket (7) filled with lubricant (9), and the ball head (4) provided with the thin-walled ball socket (7) is subsequently introduced into the housing (10). Finally, the free space between the thin-walled ball socket (7) and the housing (10) is filled up with a material to form a bearing shell (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Frank Budde, Thomas Richter, Achim Möll, Jürgen Gräber
  • Patent number: 7322769
    Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint for a motor vehicle, and especially for the chassis of the motor vehicle, with a ball-and-socket joint housing is provided with a joint opening (6), in which housing there is arranged a bearing shell (5). The ball-and-socket joint has a ball pivot (3) with a pin (2) and with a joint ball (1), which is rotatably and pivotably mounted in the bearing shell (5), in which case the pin extends out of the ball-and-socket joint housing (4) through the bearing shell (5) and the joint opening (6). The bearing shell (5) is made at least partially of a plastic mixed with an anti-adhesive material and reinforced with fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder MetallWaren AG
    Inventors: Frank Heuser, Frank Budde
  • Patent number: 7320548
    Abstract: A bearing shell with a spherical bearing surface for a ball and socket joint preferably for use in chassis suspensions or steering mechanisms of motor vehicles, which has essentially a joint housing and a bearing journal, which comprises a spherical surface and a pivot part and which is mounted with the spherical surface rotatably and deflectably in the spherical bearing surface of the bearing shell fixed in the joint housing, is presented, in which a filament fabric is embedded according to the present invention in the thermoplastic of the bearing shell (5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) at least in a partial area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Frank Budde