Patents by Inventor Ralf Dittes

Ralf Dittes 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).

  • Hydrodynamic thrust bearing
    Patent number: 6945696
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust bearing, particularly forming a part of a bearing system for a rotary bearing of spindle motors utilized to power hard disk drives. The thrust bearing includes at least one annular thrust plate and a counter bearing corresponding to the thrust plate. The thrust plate is fixedly mounted on a shaft rotatably supported by means of a radial bearing system. The thrust plate is arranged on the shaft which is provided with an axial bore in the area where the thrust plate is to be positioned. A spherical element fixing the thrust plate is pressed into the axial bore. An outer diameter of the fixing element is greater than the inner diameter of the axial bore. This type of press connection between the thrust plate and the shaft allows comparatively thinner thrust plates to be used while the performance of the thrust bearing remains the same or improves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ralf Dittes, Helmut Hueneke, Joerg Hoffman, Jürgen Oelsch, Thilo Rehm, Mathias Wildpreth, Olaf Winterhalter
  • Hydrodynamic thrust bearing
    Publication number: 20040081378
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust bearing, particularly forming a part of a bearing system for a rotary bearing of spindle motors utilized to power hard disk drives. The thrust bearing includes at least one annular thrust plate and a counter bearing corresponding to the thrust plate. The thrust plate is fixedly mounted on a shaft rotatably supported by means of a radial bearing system. The thrust plate is arranged on the shaft which is provided with an axial bore in the area where the thrust plate is to be positioned. A spherical element fixing the thrust plate is pressed into the axial bore. An outer diameter of the fixing element is greater than the inner diameter of the axial bore. This type of press connection between the thrust plate and the shaft allows comparatively thinner thrust plates to be used while the performance of the thrust bearing remains the same or improves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Applicant: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ralf Dittes, Helmut Hueneke, Joerg Hoffman, Jurgen Oelsch, Thilo Rehm, Mathias Wildpreth, Olaf Winterhalter