Patents by Inventor Jurgen Graber
Jurgen Graber 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: 20190390706Abstract: A ball joint with a housing having a housing opening with which a central axis (5) extending in an axial direction (z) and emerging through the housing opening is associated. A ball journal (12) having a joint ball (11) which, with its joint ball (11), is fitted and able to move within the housing and which extends out of the housing through the housing opening. A locking ring (13) is securely fitted into the housing which surrounds the central axis (5) and supports the joint ball (11) in the axial direction (z). The ring delimits a locking ring opening (25) through which the ball journal (12) extends, such that the locking ring opening (25) is larger, in a longitudinal direction (x), that extends transversely to the central axis (5) than in a transverse direction (y), that extends transversely to the central axis (5) and to the longitudinal direction (x).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2018Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventor: Jürgen GRÄBER
-
Publication number: 20180163775Abstract: A ball joint having a housing, an opening and an inner circumferential surface facing the opening and extending around a longitudinal axis. The housing holds a ball socket that opens toward the opening and has an overlap region that is inclined radially inward, in the direction of the opening, and which, with the circumferential surface, delimits an annular space. A ball pin having a joint ball is mounted in the socket and extends out of the housing through the opening. A locking ring is inserted into the annular space and fixed axially between the socket and an inner shoulder located adjacent the opening. An outer circumferential surface of the locking ring abuts the circumferential surface and a surface which abuts an area of the overlap region and which is inclined inwardly toward the longitudinal axis in the direction of the pin opening. The locking ring is an open ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2016Publication date: June 14, 2018Inventors: Jürgen GRÄBER, Harold HOPKINSON, Wolfgang EULERICH
-
Patent number: 9841051Abstract: A ball joint, in particular for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle, with a housing. A joint ball is arranged inside the housing and a ball shell is arranged therebetween. The outer surface of the joint ball contacts the inner surface of the housing and on its inner surface against the surface of the ball, such that the ball shell holds the joint ball so that it can move by sliding. The shell is elastic such that when a force acts upon the ball joint, the joint ball can move relative to the housing. As viewed in at least one cross-section plane passing through the mid-point of the ball, the ball shell has a radial thickness that varies, in the circumferential direction, in such manner that the force acting on the ball shell in the circumferential direction is distributed uniformly, particularly over enlarged areas thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Jürgen Gräber, Martin Rechtien
-
Patent number: 9541124Abstract: A ball joint, in particular, an axial joint, having a ball stud, which is enclosed in a ball socket. The ball socket is enclosed in a joint housing and is integrally formed having at least one spring element in a region of the ball socket that faces away from the opening of the joint housing. The spring element has discontinuities, in particular in the form of slots, so that wear compensation is created by the spring element within the ball joint.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Jürgen Gräber, Rainer Ungruh, Cord Fricke
-
Publication number: 20160238064Abstract: A ball joint, in particular for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle, with a housing. A joint ball is arranged inside the housing and a ball shell is arranged therebetween. The outer surface of the joint ball contacts the inner surface of the housing and on its inner surface against the surface of the bail, such that the ball shell holds the joint ball so that it can move by sliding. The shell is elastic such that when a force acts upon the ball joint, the joint ball can move relative to the housing. As viewed in at least one cross-section plane passing through the mid-point of the ball, the bail shell has a radial thickness that varies, in the circumferential direction, in such manner that the force acting on the ball shell in the circumferential direction is distributed uniformly, particularly over enlarged areas thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2014Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Jürgen GRÄBER, Martin RECHTIEN
-
Publication number: 20150337892Abstract: A ball joint, in particular, an axial joint, having a ball stud, which is enclosed in a ball socket. The ball socket is enclosed in a joint housing and is integrally formed having at least one spring element in a region of the ball socket that faces away from the opening of the joint housing. The spring element has discontinuities, in particular in the form of slots, so that wear compensation is created by the spring element within the ball joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2013Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Jürgen GRÄBER, Rainer UNGRUH, Cord FRICKE
-
Patent number: 7325289Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 28, 2004Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AGInventors: Frank Budde, Thomas Richter, Achim Möll, Jürgen Gräber
-
Patent number: 7305864Abstract: A ball joint for a motor vehicle includes a housing (6) having a cavity (5), and with a ball pivot (1), which has a pin (2) and a joint ball (3) and which, with its joint ball (3), is mounted in the cavity (5) of the housing (6) in a manner that permits it to rotate and pivot. The journal (2) extends through an opening (7) provided in the housing and out therefrom. The inventive ball joint also comprises sealing bellows (11), which are placed between the housing (6) and the journal (2). A multipart measuring arrangement is provided having at least one signal transmitter (17, 18) and at least one sensor (20, 21, 22). The measuring arrangement is placed between the pin-side end of the joint ball (3) and the pin-side end of the sealing bellows (11).Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2004Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Jürgen Gräber, Joachim Spratte
-
Patent number: 7244074Abstract: A ball and socket joint (1) is provided, for example, for a chassis bearing, with a ball (2), a pivot (3) originating from the ball (2), a housing (4) accommodating the ball, and a sealing bellows (5), which extends between the housing (4) and the pivot (3) and has a housing-side opening (6) and a pivot-side opening (7). The sealing bellows (5) has a circumferential sealing lip (8) for sealing at the pivot-side opening (7). The ball and socket joint (1) has a first guide ring (9), which guides the sealing bellows (5). The first guide ring (9) is arranged at the pivot (3). An especially favorable functional separation is achieved as a result between the guiding function and the sealing function.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2004Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Olaf Abels, Jürgen Gräber, Jochen Kruse, Volker Grube, Dirk Lamla, Manfred Bohne, Melanie Enkler, Metin Ersoy, Achim Möll, Thomas Rösler, Wolfgang Schmitt
-
Publication number: 20070051171Abstract: A ball joint for a motor vehicle includes a housing (6) having a cavity (5), and with a ball pivot (1), which has a pin (2) and a joint ball (3) and which, with its joint ball (3), is mounted in the cavity (5) of the housing (6) in a manner that permits it to rotate and pivot. The journal (2) extends through an opening (7) provided in the housing and out therefrom. The inventive ball joint also comprises sealing bellows (11), which are placed between the housing (6) and the journal (2). A multipart measuring arrangement is provided having at least one signal transmitter (17, 18) and at least one sensor (20, 21, 22). The measuring arrangement is placed between the pin-side end of the joint ball (3) and the pin-side end of the sealing bellows (11).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2004Publication date: March 8, 2007Inventors: Jurgen Graber, Joachim Spratte
-
Patent number: 7090425Abstract: The present invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint, especially for steering mechanisms and/or wheel suspensions of motor vehicles, with a ball pivot (1), which is accommodated rotatably and tiltably in a one-part or multipart bearing shell (4) within a joint housing (7), wherein the bearing shell (4) is fixed in the joint housing by a closing ring (9), wherein a metallic compressible element (18), which provides a sealing contact surface between the joint housing (7) and the closing ring (9) in the assembled state of the ball-and-socket joint, is arranged between the closing ring (9) and the joint housing (7).Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Manfred Bohne, Jürgen Gräber, Manfred Heidemann, Guido Remme, Hans Prins
-
Patent number: 7083199Abstract: The present invention pertains to a chassis part for connection and force transmission between a vehicle chassis of at least one wheel, consisting of fiber-reinforced plastics or plastic composite systems, preferably for a passenger car or utility vehicle. The present invention is characterized in that at least one means for measuring forces acting on the chassis parts is integrated in the plastic portions of the chassis parts.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2002Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Jürgen Gräber, Jochen Kruse, Joachim Spratte, Stefan Schönhoff
-
Patent number: 7073970Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint for a motor vehicle, especially for a rocker pendulum of a motor vehicle, is provided with a housing (1), which is open on at least one side and into the interior space (2) of which a bearing shell (3) is inserted, which in turn accommodates a joint ball (4) of a ball pivot (5) in a slidingly movable manner. The interior space (2) has elevations and/or depressions (7) along its inner jacket surface (6) or a polygonal cross section, so that the bearing shell (3), which is provided with an oversize in relation to the inner jacket surface (6), can be inserted into the housing (1) in a positive-locking manner while its outer surface undergoes a partial plastic deformation. The inner jacket surface (6) may have pressure zones (19) which shorten the effective length of the elevations and/or depressions (7).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Matthias Gercke, Christian Maassmann, Jean-Paul Castanet, Jürgen Gräber, Thomas Catterfeld
-
Publication number: 20050042022Abstract: The present invention pertains to a ball and socket joint (1), for example, for a chassis bearing, with a ball (2), a pivot (3) originating from the ball (2), a housing (4) accommodating the ball, and a sealing bellows (5), which extends between the housing (4) and the pivot (3) and has a housing-side opening (6) and a pivot-side opening (7), wherein the sealing bellows (5) has a circumferential sealing lip (8) for sealing at the pivot-side opening (7). The ball and socket joint (1) according to the present invention is characterized in that a first guide ring (9), which guides the sealing bellows (5), is arranged at the pivot (3). An especially favorable functional separation is achieved as a result between the guiding function and the sealing function.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2004Publication date: February 24, 2005Inventors: Olaf Abels, Jurgen Graber, Jochen Kruse, Volker Grube, Dirk Lamla, Manfred Bohne, Melanie Enkler, Metin Ersoy, Achim Moll, Thomas Rosler, Wolfgang Schmitt
-
Publication number: 20050005440Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2004Publication date: January 13, 2005Inventors: Frank Budde, Thomas Richter, Achim Moll, Jurgen Graber
-
Publication number: 20040105722Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint for a motor vehicle, especially for a rocker pendulum of a motor vehicle, is provided with a housing (1), which is open on at least one side and into the interior space (2) of which a bearing shell (3) is inserted, which in turn accommodates a joint ball (4) of a ball pivot (5) in a slidingly movable manner. The interior space (2) has elevations and/or depressions (7) along its inner jacket surface (6) or a polygonal cross section, so that the bearing shell (3), which is provided with an oversize in relation to the inner jacket surface (6), can be inserted into the housing (1) in a positive-locking manner while its outer surface undergoes a partial plastic deformation. The inner jacket surface (6) may have pressure zones (19) which shorten the effective length of the elevations and/or depressions (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Matthias Gercke, Christian Maassmann, Jean-Paul Castanet, Jurgen Graber, Thomas Catterfeld
-
Publication number: 20040057781Abstract: The present invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint, especially for steering mechanisms and/or wheel suspensions of motor vehicles, with a ball pivot (1), which is accommodated rotatably and tiltably in a one-part or multipart bearing shell (4) within a joint housing (7), wherein the bearing shell (4) is fixed in the joint housing by a closing ring (9), wherein a metallic compressible element (18), which provides a sealing contact surface between the joint housing (7) and the closing ring (9) in the assembled state of the ball-and-socket joint, is arranged between the closing ring (9) and the joint housing (7).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2003Publication date: March 25, 2004Inventors: Manfred Bohne, Jurgen Graber, Manfred Heidemann, Guido Remme, Hans Prins
-
Publication number: 20040046380Abstract: The present invention pertains to a chassis part for connection and force transmission between a vehicle chassis of at least one wheel, consisting of fiber-reinforced plastics or plastic composite systems, preferably for a passenger car or utility vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Jurgen Graber, Jochen Kruse, Joachim Spratte, Stefan Schonhoff
-
Patent number: 6702502Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint, preferably for motor vehicles, in which a joint ball formed on a pivot pin is mounted movably in a bearing shell consisting of a plastic, is presented. The bearing shell has recesses accommodating lubricant on its inner jacket surface facing the joint ball and is itself inserted into a housing. According to the present invention, the recesses may be grooves as a structural system with groove sections or depressions of microscopic size extending obliquely in relation to the central longitudinal axis of the ball-and-socket joint. Due to this novel design, a pumping effect is achieved during movements of the joint ball over the groove sections, and this pumping effect draws the lubricant present in the groove sections into the gap between the joint ball and the bearing shell, so that improved lubrication of the ball-and-socket joint compared with the state of the art is guaranteed under all operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2001Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Jürgen Gräber, Werner Stehr
-
Patent number: 5814548Abstract: A method for producing an electronic component with a plurality of layers fabricating in a laminated composite, comprising laterally structuring at least one of the layers having a p or n conductivity characteristic by forming one of the layers in a sieve shape with a multiplicity of openings therein on a second layer of a different p or n conductivity characteristic than that of the one of the layers so that a space charge zone is formed in the second of the layers at boundaries of the one of the layers along the openings in the one of the layers.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1997Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Forschungszentrum Julich GmbHInventor: Jurgen Graber