Patents by Inventor Heinrich Hofmann

Heinrich Hofmann 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: 7891880
    Abstract: A radial rolling bearing, which has an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring, and rollers, which are arranged between the bearing rings and held at uniform distances from one another in a peripheral direction by a bearing cage in individual cage pockets. The rollers are spherical disks that have parallel lateral surfaces which are symmetrically flattened from a basic spherical shape and which roll in groove-type raceways with their faces. The raceways are incorporated into the inner face of the outer bearing ring and the outer face of the inner bearing ring. The rollers are axially guided between the bearing rings via two low-friction line contacts between lateral surfaces and the longitudinal webs of the cage pockets. The rollers are configured to have a defined degree of freedom for self-alignment to the pressure angle of the radial rolling bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Horst Doppling, Andreas Bohr, Rainer Eidloth
  • Publication number: 20110033149
    Abstract: A double roller bearing which has an outer and inner bearing ring and ball rollers, which have lateral faces and are arranged next to each other in rows, arranged between the bearing rings. The rollers roll in raceways incorporated into the inner face of the outer bearing ring and outer face of the inner bearing ring. The raceways run in parallel and have pressure angle axes that are pitched at a pressure angle relative to a bearing radial axis. The rollers have a distance relative to each other which excludes mutual frictional contacts. For this purpose, the distance of the pressure angle axes of the raceways is enlarged and both rows of rollers are guided in separate bearing cages, while the raceway of the rollers of the row with the larger reference circle arranged on the inner bearing ring has a one-sided axial extension using the distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Bohr, Horst Doeppling, Heinrich Hofmann, Peter Martin
  • Publication number: 20110026866
    Abstract: A ball roller bearing and to a method for the installation thereof. The ball roller bearing has an outer bearing race, and an inner bearing race, and a plurality of ball rollers, which are disposed between the bearing races and are held at equal distances to each other by a bearing cage. For this purpose, the ball rollers have a width of approximately 70% of the diameter of a spherical shape thereof, and roll with bearing surfaces thereof in two groove-shaped raceways, the depth of which is smaller than the distance between the outer and inner bearing race. The cage pockets of the bearing cage have a cross-sectional contour of a ball roller disposed in the longitudinal and transverse directions to the circumferential direction. The method for installation of the ball roller bearing is a cross/oblique pivot mount between the inner and outer bearing races and the ball rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Horst Doeppling, Ernst Geiger, Heinrich Hofmann, Werner Wirth
  • Patent number: 7871134
    Abstract: A wheel hub, which has a central section and a radial section that is radially connected to the central section, a bearing section which axially protrudes from the central section and is used to receive a wheel bearing, and an axially opposing receiving section for receiving a brake disk and a wheel rim. Holes for receiving lug bolts are formed in the radial section. In order to produce an especially light wheel hub that can withstand all operating loads and provides a brake disk with a secure abutment surface under all operating conditions, the wheel hub has recesses at least between some holes, which fully penetrate the wall of the radial section of the wheel hub, and at least one reinforcing element is embodied on the radial end of the wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Horst Doeppling, Peter Niebling, Robert Plank
  • Publication number: 20110007993
    Abstract: A method for filling a ball roller bearing with roll bodies, and a ball roller bearing, which is filled according to the method and has an outer and an inner bearing ring and a plurality of ball rollers, which are arranged between these bearing rings and have two side surfaces, which are flattened symmetrically from a basic spherical shape, parallel to one another and held at uniform distances from one another by a bearing cage. The ball rollers roll in groove-shaped raceways recessed in the inner face of the outer bearing ring and the outer face of the inner bearing ring. The ball roller bearing is filled by an eccentric axial, tilting fitting of the ball rollers through the interval between the bearing rings in the form, that the filled ball roller bearing is filled to the extent of about 94% and has a service life of up to 253%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Horst Doeppling, Ernst Geiger, Heinrich Hofmann, Joachim Muser
  • Publication number: 20100296761
    Abstract: A double-row angular contact bearing and which has outer and inner bearing rings with two rows of rolling elements disposed between the bearing rings that are held by two bearing cages interspaced at even distances. At least one row is configured as balls with parallel lateral faces that are symmetrically flattened. Both rows of rolling elements roll in adjacent races machined into the inner face of the outer ring and the outer face of the inner ring. The contact angle axes are pitched towards each other in an O-arrangement or X-arrangement and the races are axially delimited only on one side by shoulders. Additional clearance and supporting contours are formed at axial edge sections, opposite the shoulders, onto the races. The contours can be used to fit the balls into angular contact by axially inserting them into the clearance between the bearing rings and then tilting them into the races.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Bohr, Horst Doepping, Heinrich Hofmann
  • Patent number: 7828484
    Abstract: The radial antifriction bearing has an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring and roller bodies, which are arranged between the bearing rings, are held at uniform distances from one another in the peripheral direction by a bearing cage. The roller bodies are discs that each have two parallelly arranged lateral surfaces which are symmetrically flattened from a spherical basic shape. In order to prevent edge stresses between the discs and the raceways, at least the raceway in the inner bearing ring, on its outer edge areas, transition into a logarithmically decreasing profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Horst Doeppling, Robert Plank, Arbogast Grunau
  • Patent number: 7819589
    Abstract: A radial roller bearing, which is a single-grooved ball bearing. The bearing bodies are spherical disks with two symmetrical, parallel lateral surfaces from a spherical base shape. The bearing has a larger contact surface of the spherical disk in relation to the bearing body tracks thereof, as well as, an increased number of bearing bodies. One part of the width of the disks, between the lateral surfaces thereof, is larger than the distance between the inner side of the external bearing ring and the external side of the inner bearing ring, but equal to or smaller than the width of the bearing body tracks. Also, the use of the disks in the bearing takes place according to an eccentric mounting method where the disks are arranged in a transversal manner in the bearing body tracks and are arranged on top of each other in relation to the lateral surfaces thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Horst Doeppling, Robert Plank
  • Publication number: 20100247019
    Abstract: A wheel mounting for automotive vehicles substantially comprising a multi-row angular contact rolling bearing comprising an inner bearing ring arranged on or at least partially integrated in a hub of a wheel side-fixing flange, an outer bearing ring coaxial to the inner bearing ring and arranged in or at least partially integrated in a hub of a vehicle side-fixing flange, and a plurality of rolling elements arranged in a plurality of rows next to one another between the inner and the outer bearing rings, which rolling elements roll on defined, inclined pressure angle axes in groove-shaped raceways of the inner and the outer bearing rings and are retained uniformly spaced from one another in peripheral direction in a plurality of bearing cages wherein all the rolling elements of the angular contact rolling bearing are configured in form of ball-rollers comprising two parallel side surfaces obtained by symmetric flattening of a basic ball shape such that a width of the ball-rollers between these side surfaces i
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Horst Döppling, Heinrich Hofmann, Rainer Eidloth, Robert Plank, Ludwig Winkelmann
  • Publication number: 20090324676
    Abstract: Porous coating for the controlled release of fluids such as drugs comprising a porous structure with internal reservoirs and passages, said reservoirs communicating with the external environment through said passages, in such a way that a fluid can move between the reservoirs and the external environment, characterized by the fact that for at least a group of said passages, each passage contains a restricting element which partially restricts the passage cross section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Laurent-Dominique Piveteau, Frederic Neftel
  • Publication number: 20090317030
    Abstract: The invention relates to an angular contact roller bearing having an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring, a plurality of ball rollers arranged between the rings, and a bearing cage. The ball rollers in the two adjacent rows have pressure angle axes extending parallel to one another and are arranged directly one next to the other with their side faces point toward one another. Adjacent ball rollers in the two rows are arranged on a common rotational axis. The ball rollers have diameters and widths which are dimensioned in such a way that envelope cones which form tangents with all the ball rollers at their diameters are arranged with their cone tips precisely at the intersection point of the common rotational axes of the bearing longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Horst Doeppling, Rainer Eidloth, Gottfried Ruoff
  • Patent number: 7632020
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement (2) that seals at least one radial intermediate space (21) between at least one inner bearing ring (3) and at least one outer bearing ring (5). Said sealing arrangement (2) comprises at least one first support (17) that supports at least one elastic seal (18) and a second support (19) which supports at least one encoder (10) located outside the intermediate space (21). The encoder (10) is radially oriented towards at least one sensor (14) that is disposed above the encoder (10) in a radially outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Jens Heim, Heinrich Hofmann, Darius Dlugai, Roland Langer
  • Patent number: 7631948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel hub having a central section and a radial section which is radially connected to the central section, a bearing section which axially protrudes from the central section and is used to receive a wheel bearing, and an axially opposing receiving section for receiving a brake disk and a wheel rim. Holes for receiving wheel nuts are formed in the radial section. In order to produce an especially light wheel hub that can withstand all operating loads and provides a brake disk with a secure abutment surface under all operating conditions, the wheel hub has recesses at least between some holes, the recesses fully penetrating the wall of the radial section of the wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Horst Doeppling, Peter Niebling, Robert Plank
  • Publication number: 20090285516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement that seals at least one radial intermediate space between at least one inner bearing ring and at least one outer bearing ring. Said sealing arrangement comprises at least one first support that supports at least one elastic seal and a second support which supports at least one encoder located outside the intermediate space. The encoder is radially oriented towards at least one sensor that is disposed above the encoder in a radially outward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Peter NIEBLING, Jens HEIM, Heinrich HOFMANN, Darius DLUGAI, Roland LANGER
  • Patent number: 7607837
    Abstract: A wheel bearing module in a wheel carrier that has a wheel bearing and a wheel flange. The wheel flange is mounted using the wheel bearing which allows it to rotate relative to the wheel carrier about a rotation axis. The wheel bearing has at least one outer ring. The wheel bearing is supported, at least in areas and via an outer ring, at least radial to the rotation axis in the wheel carrier. The outer ring has, at the axial end of the outer ring, a flange radially pointing away from the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Jens Heim, Heinrich Hofmann, Roland Langer, Darius Dlugai, Horst Doeppling, Wolfgang Steinberger
  • Patent number: 7604416
    Abstract: The invention relates to an outer ring of a wheel bearing and the axial securing element thereof, which comprises a radial flange. Said radial flange extends radially outward from the axial end of the tubularly embodied outer ring. The flange is provided with recesses which penetrate the flange in an axial direction, are radially open towards the outside, and are used for fastening the flange to a wheel support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Jens Heim, Heinrich Hofmann, Roland Langer, Darius Dlugai, Horst Doeppling, Wolfgang Steinberger
  • Patent number: 7600923
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel bearing in a wheel carrier. This wheel bearing has at least one outer race with at least one row of roll bodies, whereby the wheel bearing is supported at least on a cylindrical section of the outer race at least radial to the rotation axis in the wheel carrier, and the outer race has a flange radial pointing away from the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Jens Heim, Heinrich Hofmann, Roland Langer, Darius Dlugai, Horst Doeppling, Wolfgang Steinberger
  • Patent number: 7600614
    Abstract: An assembly comprised of a brake disk with a hub. Webs which are adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction extend between and are anchored to the brake disk and are attached to the hub. At least two of the webs which are adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction are formed together in one piece, either from a bent section joining the webs or because adjacent segments having respective adjacent webs are attached. The webs absorb stresses between the brake disk and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer AG
    Inventors: Horst Doppling, Jochen Burgdorf, Peter Niebling, Heinrich Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20090185770
    Abstract: A radial anti friction bearing (1) which is configured as a single-row spherical roller bearing, which includes an outer bearing ring (2), an inner bearing ring (3) and a plurality of spherical rollers (5) that are arranged between the bearing rings (2, 3). The spherical rollers have respectively two side faces (6, 7) which are flattened symmetrically from a spherical base shape, are retained with uniform spacing to each other by a bearing cage (4) and roll with their running faces (8) in two groove-shaped raceways (11, 12) which are defined, respectively, by two axial rims (13, 14 and 15, 16). The width (bK) of the spherical rollers (5) between their side faces (6, 7) is at least 70% of the diameter (dK) of the spherical base shape and as a result, is greater than the distance (aB) between the axial rims (13, 15 and 14, 16) of the raceways (11, 12) in the bearing rings (2, 3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Horst Doppling, Rainer Eidloth, Georg Goppelt
  • Publication number: 20090180724
    Abstract: A radial anti friction bearing (1) which is configured as a single-row spherical roller bearing, which includes an outer bearing ring (2), an inner bearing ring (3) and a plurality of spherical rollers (5) that are arranged between the bearing rings (2, 3). The spherical rollers have respectively two side faces (6, 7) which are flattened symmetrically from a spherical base shape, are retained with uniform spacing to each other a bearing cage (4) and roll with their running faces (8) in two groove-shaped raceways (11, 12) which are defined, respectively, by two axial rims (13, 14 and 15, 16). The width (bK) of the spherical rollers (5) between their side faces (6, 7) is smaller than the distance (aB) between the radially opposing axial rims (13, 15 and 14, 16), such that the spherical rollers (5) can be in the space therebetween via the axial mounting method in the radial anti friction bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Hofmann, Horst Doppling, Rainer Eidloth, Georg Goppelt