Patents by Inventor Jorg Hoffmann

Jorg Hoffmann 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: 10424992
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid-dynamic bearing system, in particular for the rotary support of a spindle motor, the bearing system comprising: a first conical bearing and a second conical bearing counteracting the first conical bearing, a fixed shaft along which the two conical bearings are arranged, a sleeve, a first and a second conical bearing component, which together with the sleeve form the first and second conical bearings, bearing structures applied to the sleeve and/or the conical bearing components, a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid extending between the sleeve and the shaft and between the sleeve and the conical bearing components and sealed at each of its ends by a conical capillary seal, and a hub which rotates together with the sleeve about a rotation axis. The invention is characterized in that a pump seal is arranged between the first conical bearing and the adjacent capillary seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
    Inventors: Michael Bruckhoff, Tobias Kirchmeier, Olaf Winterhalter, Andreas Kull, Jorg Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20160102706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid-dynamic bearing system, in particular for the rotary support of a spindle motor, the bearing system comprising: a first conical bearing and a second conical bearing counteracting the first conical bearing, a fixed shaft along which the two conical bearings are arranged, a sleeve, a first and a second conical bearing component, which together with the sleeve form the first and second conical bearings, bearing structures applied to the sleeve and/or the conical bearing components, a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid extending between the sleeve and the shaft and between the sleeve and the conical bearing components and sealed at each of its ends by a conical capillary seal, and a hub which rotates together with the sleeve about a rotation axis. The invention is characterized in that a pump seal is arranged between the first conical bearing and the adjacent capillary seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Michael BRUCKHOFF, Tobias KIRCHMEIER, Olaf WINTERHALTER, Andreas KULL, Jorg HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20070084487
    Abstract: A surface cleaning device has a cleaning chamber for goods to be cleaned with a cleaning medium. At least one tank for the cleaning medium is provided. A cleaning medium circuit is provided that has a supply device that conveys the cleaning medium from the at least one tank to the cleaning chamber and a return device that returns the cleaning medium from the cleaning chamber to the at least one tank. An analytical device for measuring contamination of the cleaning medium is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Applicant: BVL OBERFLACHENTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Jorg Hoffmann, Werner Trentmann, Christian Duker, Bernhard Sievering
  • Publication number: 20050110363
    Abstract: In a method for the manufacture of a spindle motor for a hard disk drive comprising a stator, a rotor and a hydrodynamic bearing arrangement that rotatably supports the rotor, it is provided that the hydrodynamic bearing arrangement is prefabricated and fixedly connected to the rotor or the stator in a prefabricated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Jorg Hoffmann, Andreas Kull, Jurgen Oelsch, Olaf Winterhalter
  • Patent number: 6848829
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing system for use in a spindle motor, especially for the actuation of hard disk drives, wherein the bearing arrangement features a shaft and a sleeve which, supported by a lubricant circulating between their bearing surfaces, are rotatable relative to one another. A reservoir for the lubricant is formed by a recess provided in the shaft and the inner surface of the sleeve. The reservoir is provided in the area of the face of at least one opening in the sleeve. To enable the fill level of the lubricant in the reservoir to be checked, the recess is provided with tapering transitional areas contours of which form an acute angle with the cutting plane of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Hafen, Jorg Hoffmann, Andreas Kull, Mathias Wildpreth
  • Publication number: 20030123764
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing system for use in a spindle motor, especially for the actuation of hard disk drives, wherein the bearing arrangement features a shaft and a sleeve which, supported by a lubricant circulating between their bearing surfaces, are rotatable relative to one another. A reservoir for the lubricant is formed by a recess provided in the shaft and the inner surface of the sleeve. The reservoir is provided in the area of the face of at least one opening in the sleeve. To enable the fill level of the lubricant in the reservoir to be checked, the recess is provided with tapering transitional areas contours of which form an acute angle with the cutting plane of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Andreas Kull, Mathias Wildpreth, Martin Hafen, Jorg Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20020185924
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor comprising a casing part with a horizontal flange portion and a vertically oriented receiving sleeve for receiving and fastening a corresponding bearing configuration. According to the invention a bottom portion, integrally connected with the horizontal flange portion, is provided, which unilaterally closes the receiving sleeve. Consequently, the mounting of a separate cover for closing the receiving sleeve can be omitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Jorg Hoffmann, Martin Hafen, Matthias Wildpreth
  • Publication number: 20020120671
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a process for the data communication between a system unit (8) and technical facilities (2, 3, 4) in buildings for the flexible and convenient parameterization and remote monitoring of the facilities (2, 3, 4), an existing communication infrastructure being usable to reduce the expenditure resulting from cabling and to enable cost-effective data communication. The apparatus comprises a system unit (8) which is suited for data transmission according to a first data transmission protocol, at least one facility (2, 3, 4) which is suited for data transmission according to a second data transmission protocol, a protocol converter (1) which is connected to system unit (8) and converts data of the first data transmission protocol into data of the second data transmission protocol and vice versa, and a bus system (5) to which the facilities (2, 3, 4) and the protocol converter (1) can be connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Klaus-Josef Daffner, Gerhard Heinmoller, Jorg Hoffmann, Andreas Ciliox
  • Publication number: 20020070614
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor for hard disk drives with improved running accuracy where either the sheet metal package or the complete stator consisting of sheet metal package and windings is encompassed by a centering casing of plastic, which is preferably applied by means of an injection molding operation. Depending on the design of the spindle motor the centering casing can be centered on the stationary shaft and/or on the outer rings/inner raceways pertaining to the sets of rolling bodies. Furthermore, a stator without centering casing is described whose sheet metal package is centered directly on the outer rings/inner raceways.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Thilo Rehm, Jorg Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20010033061
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor having a sealing support film which prevents exchange of air between the interior and surroundings of the spindle motor. In spindle motors for hard disk drives it is extremely important to construct the spindle motor so that it is sealed tight against the external environment, ie so that from the connecting side of the spindle motor no admission of air to the interior of the spindle motor can occur. A further characteristic of the invention consists in that the support film is bonded and fixed in place in sealing manner by means of an adhesive which does not give off gas or does so only very slightly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Jorg Hoffmann, Thilo Rehm
  • Patent number: 5504157
    Abstract: A homogeneous polymer blend is disclosed containing components A and B. Accordingly A is about 1 to 30% by weight of a rigid, rod-shaped polymer having a persistence length of at least 10 nm and a ratio of molecular length to molecular diameter of at least 30, and B) is about 70 to 99% by weight of a flexible polymer which contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of non-ionic polar groups, ionic groups and groups convertible into ions. The flexible polymer is any one of polyolefins, polyacrylates, polyamides and polyurethanes. Component A) contains at least one chemically fixed member selected from the group consisting of non-ionic polar group, ionic group and a group convertible into ionic group, in an amount sufficient to render said A) and B) compatible one with the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Claus D. Eisenbach, Karl Fischer, Jorg Hoffmann