Patents by Inventor Manfred Niederhufner

Manfred Niederhufner 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: 8070376
    Abstract: A system for connecting a shaft to a joint, and a corresponding method are provided, wherein a shaft journal embodied on the end of the shaft that is to be connected to the joint can be inserted into a recess of a joint connection. The aim of the invention is to be able to pre-assemble and axially align the shaft and the recess in a simple manner. To this end, the shaft journal and the recess are adapted to each other in such a way that the shaft journal can be displaced in the recess in an essentially weak manner in a first section T1 of the insertion path E, and a large amount of force is expended for the displacement of the shaft journal in the recess in a section T2 of the insertion path E.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Shaft-Form-Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Disser, Manfred Niederhüfner
  • Patent number: 7736239
    Abstract: A homokinetic joint includes an inner hub and an outer hub, wherein several pathways are associated together in pairs, wherein balls which are guided in a cage are received in order to transmit torque between the inner hub and the outer hub. A sealing arrangement includes a set of bellows and seals the homokinetic joint. The radially outer edge of the set of bellows is coupled to the outer hub and/or to a carrier housing engaging therewith. The radially inner edge is secured in a stationary manner on the inner hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Shaft-From-Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Niederhüfner, Claus Disser
  • Publication number: 20080194344
    Abstract: The invention relates to a homocinetic joint (1, 1?) comprising an inner hub (2, 2?) and an outer hub (3), wherein several pathways (4, 5) are associated together in pairs, wherein balls (6) which are guided in a cage (7) are received in order to transmit torque between the inner hub and the outer hub. A sealing arrangement (10, 11, 16) comprising a set of bellows (11, 16) is provided in order to seal the homocinetic joint. The radially outer edge (11b 16b) of the set of bellows is coupled to the outer hub (3) and/or to a carrier housing (9, 9?) engaging therewith. The radially inner edge (11a, 16a) is secured in a stationary manner on the inner hub (2, 2?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Manfred Niederhufner, Claus Disser
  • Publication number: 20070032303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for connecting a shaft to a joint, and to a corresponding method, wherein a shaft journal embodied on the end of the shaft that is to be connected to the joint can be inserted into a recess of a joint connection. The aim of the invention is to be able to pre-assemble an d axially align the shaft and the recess in a simple manner. To this end, the shaft journal and the recess are adapted to each other in such a way that the shaft journal can be displaced in the recess in an essentially weak manner in a first section T1 of the insertion path E, and a large amount of force is expended for the displacement of the shaft journal in the recess in a section T2 of the insertion path E.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Claus Disser, Manfred Niederhufner
  • Patent number: 5762559
    Abstract: A wheel bearing unit (9) rotatably supports a drivable wheel on a wheel carrier (10) around a rotational axis (15) and has a double-row tapered seat ball bearing with an outer bearing ring (20) attached to the wheel carrier (10) and a central bearing plane (24). The inner tracks (16, 17) are worked into the outer face (19) of an outer joint member (11) which carries a flange (12). The outer ball running grooves (30), formed into the outer joint member (11), are arranged opposite inner running grooves (35) of an inner joint member (34). The grooves, together with a cage (36) and guide balls (37), transmit torque. The inner joint member (34) is pivotable around the joint center (42) relative to the outer joint member (11). The central bearing plane (24) is offset from the joint center (42) by a distance sufficient to achieve the smallest possible rolling circle diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Lohr & Bromlamp GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Jacob, Manfred Niederhufner
  • Patent number: 5665001
    Abstract: A coupling (14) axially and non-rotatingly connects two shafts (8, 12). Both shafts, at their ends facing one another, includes shoulders (18, 19) provided with teeth (24). A first tensioning sleeve (29) which, in its bore (28), has a set of teeth (26) matching the teeth (24), is slid onto the two sets of teeth (24) of the shoulders (18, 19), to achieve a non-rotating connection between the two shafts (8, 12). A second tensioning sleeve (30) is threaded onto the outer thread (29) of the first tensioning sleeve (25). The two tensioning sleeves (25, 30) have radially inwardly directed collars (27, 31), which axially contact a contact face (22, 23) of the two shoulders (18, 19). When threaded together, the sleeves cause the two shafts (8, 12) to be axially tensioned so that their end faces (20, 21) are axially tensioned relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Lohr & Bromkamp GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Jacob, Manfred Niederhufner, Olaf Orlamunder
  • Patent number: 5651738
    Abstract: A clamping mechanism (12) connects a tubular shaft (4) to a journal (11). In its bore, the tubular shaft (4) has a profile which is engaged by the journal (11) by a corresponding counter-profile on its outer face along a length of overlap. The profile and counter-profile are tensioned relative to one another by the clamping mechanism (12). The clamping effect is achieved by taking advantage of the possibility of deforming the cross-section of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Lohr & Bromkamp GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Jacob, Manfred Niederhufner, Matthias Wiemer
  • Patent number: 5624318
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint (2) with a connecting shaft (4). The inner part (12) of the constant velocity joint (2) includes a through-bore (28) with a first portion in the form of inner teeth (29) and a second bore portion in the form of a circular-cylindrical bore portion (32). A coupling sleeve is inserted into the inner part (12). The coupling sleeve (33) includes outer teeth (34) which engage the inner teeth (29). These are followed by a circular-cylindrical portion (35) centered in the bore portion (32). The coupling sleeve (33), on its inner face, has first longitudinal grooves (37) arranged opposite second longitudinal grooves (39) of the connecting shaft (4). Rolling-contact members (40) are received between the first and second longitudinal grooves and are held so as to be guided in a cage. Members (40) serve to transmit torque between the coupling sleeve (33) and the connecting shaft (4) and enable a linear adjustment between the coupling sleeve (33) and the connecting shaft (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Lohr & Broomkamp GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Jacob, Manfred Niederhufner, Jurgen E. Heyne
  • Patent number: 5611733
    Abstract: A driveshaft (1) for driving the wheels of a motor vehicle has two constant velocity joints (2, 3) and a connecting shaft (4). The two constant velocity joints (2, 3) are provided in the form of constant velocity fixed joints. The plunging assembly required to change the longitudinal distance (L) includes a plunging journal (21), formed onto the second joint part (20) of the second constant velocity joint (3), and a plunging portion (26) of the connecting shaft (4). The shaft (4) surrounds the plunging journal (21) and is provided in the form of a tubular shaft. The cross-section of the plunging portion (26) has the shape of a corrugated shaft. Each outer corrugation peak, in the bore of the plunging portion (26), includes a second running groove (29) positioned opposite a running groove (22) in the plunging journal (21). Balls (23) are rollingly arranged between the two running grooves (29, 22) and held by a cage (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Lohr & Bromkamp GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Jacob, Manfred Niederhufner, Jurgen E. Heyne