Patents by Inventor Rico Dittmar
Rico Dittmar 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).
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Patent number: 11796003Abstract: A seal assembly is for a wheel bearing assembly including an inner axle and a rotatable outer hub disposed about the axle. The seal assembly includes an annular inner case having an axial portion disposable about the axle and a radial portion extending radially outwardly from the axial portion. A seal is coupled with the hub and has sealing lip(s) sealingly engageable with the annular case. Further, an annular flinger has an inner radial end coupled with or integrally formed with the annular inner case and an outer radial end including an outer axial portion spaced radially inwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the hub so as to define an annular labyrinth gap. The flinger includes a central portion that is at least partially frustoconical and extends between the inner and outer axial ends so as to obstruct an annular space between the inner case and the seal.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKFInventor: Rico Dittmar
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Patent number: 11761488Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly includes a fixed inner axle with at least one inner race, a rotatable outer hub disposed about the axle and having at least one outer race and rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races. An annular seal is disposed between the axle and the hub and is located adjacent to the inner and outer races. A shield is spaced axially from the seal such that the seal is disposed between the rolling elements and the shield. The shield includes a rigid annular body having an outer radial end coupled with the outer hub, preferably by a plurality of couplers, and an inner radial end defining a central opening for receiving the axle and located adjacent to the inner axle or a component disposed upon the axle. As such, the annular body substantially obstructs an annular interior space to prevent substances from contacting the seal.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKFInventor: Rico Dittmar
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Patent number: 11746828Abstract: An axial seal assembly includes an inner annular shield having an axial portion disposable about the shaft at a position adjacent to the bearing and a radial portion extending radially outwardly from the axial portion. An outer annular seal has an axial portion engageable with the outer member bore, a radial portion extending radially inwardly from the axial portion and on or more axial sealing lips engaged with the shield radial portion. The seal radial portion is spaced from the shield radial portion by a predetermined axial distance during use. The seal has at least one coupler section engageable with the shield radial portion or the shield axial portion when an axial spacing distance between the seal radial portion and the shield radial portion is less than the predetermined distance to retain the shield coupled with the seal when the seal assembly is separate from an outer member bore.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKFInventor: Rico Dittmar
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Publication number: 20230265881Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly includes at least two rolling-element bearings which participate together in a bearing assembly. At least one of the rolling-element bearings includes at least one bearing ring, which, for transmitting a propulsion, is attached to a drive shaft . At least one brake element of the wheel bearing assembly is immovable relative to the bearing ring and a connecting unit of the wheel bearing assembly connects the brake element to the bearing ring. By a removal of the connecting element from the bearing ring in which none of the rolling-element bearings need to be removed, even only partially, the brake element is removable from the rolling-element bearings and is displaceable to any distance from the bearing ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: August 24, 2023Inventors: Volker WENDT, Rico DITTMAR, Juergen EYRICH
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Patent number: 11668348Abstract: A secondary sealing device is for a wheel bearing assembly including a fixed inner axle with an outer circumferential surface and a bearing inner race, an outer hub rotatable about the inner axle and having an inner circumferential surface and a bearing outer race, rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races, and a primary seal(s) connected with the inner axle and sealingly engaged with the outer hub. The secondary sealing device includes a rigid annular body having an inner radial end coupled with the inner axle and an outer radial end spaced radially inwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the outer hub so as to define an annular gap between the body and the outer ring. The body is located between the primary seal and an axial end of the hub so as to provide a barrier configured to prevent contaminants from contacting the primary seal.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKFInventors: Rico Dittmar, Johannes Klaus Zang
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Publication number: 20230160432Abstract: A seal assembly is for a wheel bearing assembly including an inner axle and a rotatable outer hub disposed about the axle. The seal assembly includes an annular inner case having an axial portion disposeable about the axle and a radial portion extending radially outwardly from the axial portion. A seal is coupled with the hub and has sealing lip(s) sealingly engageable with the annular case. Further, an annular flinger has an inner radial end coupled with or integrally formed with the annular inner case and an outer radial end including an outer axial portion spaced radially inwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the hub so as to define an annular labyrinth gap. The flinger includes a central portion that is at least partially frustoconical and extends between the inner and outer axial ends so as to obstruct an annular space between the inner case and the seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2021Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventor: Rico Dittmar
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Publication number: 20230160434Abstract: An axial seal assembly includes an inner annular shield having an axial portion disposeable about the shaft at a position adjacent to the bearing and a radial portion extending radially outwardly from the axial portion. An outer annular seal has an axial portion engageable with the outer member bore, a radial portion extending radially inwardly from the axial portion and on or more axial sealing lips engaged with the shield radial portion. The seal radial portion is spaced from the shield radial portion by a predetermined axial distance during use. The seal has at least one coupler section engageable with the shield radial portion or the shield axial portion when an axial spacing distance between the seal radial portion and the shield radial portion is less than the predetermined distance to retain the shield coupled with the seal when the seal assembly is separate from an outer member bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2021Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventor: Rico Dittmar
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Publication number: 20230160435Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly includes a fixed inner axle with at least one inner race, a rotatable outer hub disposed about the axle and having at least one outer race and rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races. An annular seal is disposed between the axle and the hub and is located adjacent to the inner and outer races. A shield is spaced axially from the seal such that the seal is disposed between the rolling elements and the shield. The shield includes a rigid annular body having an outer radial end coupled with the outer hub, preferably by a plurality of couplers, and an inner radial end defining a central opening for receiving the axle and located adjacent to the inner axle or a component disposed upon the axle. As such, the annular body substantially obstructs an annular interior space to prevent substances from contacting the seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2021Publication date: May 25, 2023Inventor: Rico Dittmar
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Patent number: 11592109Abstract: A bearing seal includes at least one first metal-plate element having an attachment region for attaching the first metal-plate element to a bearing inner ring, at least one seal element attached to the first metal-plate element, and at least one spring element configured to press at least one region of the seal element in a radially outward direction. Also a wheel bearing assembly including the bearing seal.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKFInventor: Rico Dittmar
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Publication number: 20230040525Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly for trucks includes a brake element and a wheel adapter defining a rotating component, an axle element defining a stationary component, and a multi-row, preferably double-row, bearing unit. The bearing unit has a first bearing ring, a second bearing ring and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the first and the second bearing ring. The first bearing ring is connected to a drive shaft, the second bearing ring is connected to the axle element and the wheel adapter is configured to connect the first bearing ring to the wheel and the brake element. A shield is disposed between the brake element and the first bearing ring and/or disposed between the brake element and the axle element and is configured to shield a space defined by the first bearing ring, the wheel adapter and the brake element from entry of particles and/or water.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Volker WENDT, Rico Dittmar
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Publication number: 20230016354Abstract: A seal assembly is for a wheel hub assembly and includes an inner annular case disposable about an axle and having a radial portion extending radially outwardly from the axle. An outer annular case is coupleable with a hub bore and has a radial portion extending radially inwardly from the bore. An annular elastomeric seal member has a base portion disposed on the outer case and at least one flexible axial seal lip with a first end integrally formed with the base portion and a second, free end sealingly engageable with the radial portion of the inner case. The lip extends generally axially and radially outwardly from the first end to the second end such that the lip is biased radially outwardly by centrifugal force during rotation of the hub to reduce sealing pressure of the lip second end on the inner case radial portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2021Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventor: Rico Dittmar
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Publication number: 20230015151Abstract: A seal assembly for a truck wheel hub assembly includes an inner annular case having an axial portion disposable about an axle and a radial portion extending radially outwardly from the axial portion. An outer annular case is coupleable with a hub bore and has a radial portion extending radially inwardly from the bore. An annular elastomeric seal member has a base portion disposed on the outer case and at least one flexible axial seal lip with a first end integrally formed with the base portion and a second, free end sealingly engageable with the radial portion of the inner case. A radial projection extends radially inwardly from the outer case radial portion and has an inner radial end located adjacent to and spaced radially outwardly from the inner case axial portion or an outer circumferential surface disposed about the axle so as to form a labyrinth seal gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2021Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventor: Rico Dittmar
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Publication number: 20220355615Abstract: A secondary sealing device is for a wheel bearing assembly including a fixed inner axle with an outer circumferential surface and a bearing inner race, an outer hub rotatable about the inner axle and having an inner circumferential surface and a bearing outer race, rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races, and a primary seal(s) connected with the inner axle and sealingly engaged with the outer hub. The secondary sealing device includes a rigid annular body having an inner radial end coupled with the inner axle and an outer radial end spaced radially inwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the outer hub so as to define an annular gap between the body and the outer ring. The body is located between the primary seal and an axial end of the hub so as to provide a barrier configured to prevent contaminants from contacting the primary seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2021Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Rico Dittmar, Johannes Klaus Zang
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Patent number: 10899173Abstract: A bearing assembly configured to rotationally support a first component relative to a second component includes at least one bearing and at least one closure element configured to close an opening in the first component, which opening is disposed axially adjacent to the bearing. The closure element may be a cured body of foam that conforms to the shape of the opening or a ring mounted on the first component such that it covers the opening.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKFInventors: Rico Dittmar, Roderich Schultze
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Publication number: 20200166081Abstract: A bearing seal includes at least one first metal-plate element having an attachment region for attaching the first metal-plate element to a bearing inner ring, at least one seal element attached to the first metal-plate element, and at least one spring element configured to press at least one region of the seal element in a radially outward direction. Also a wheel bearing assembly including the bearing seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2019Publication date: May 28, 2020Inventor: Rico Dittmar
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Patent number: 10619674Abstract: A bearing assembly includes an outer ring, an inner ring, a cage between the inner ring and the outer ring, a plurality of rolling elements disposed in the cage, and at least one seal unit configured to seal an interior of the bearing assembly on one side with respect to an outer space. The seal unit includes a carrier element and an elastomer element attached to the carrier element, and a ring is mounted axially between the plurality of rolling elements and the carrier element, in the carrier element, for example, which ring is spaced from the cage and distinct from the cage.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKFInventors: Rico Dittmar, Fabricio Teixeira
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Publication number: 20200047550Abstract: A bearing assembly configured to rotationally support a first component relative to a second component includes at least one bearing and at least one closure element configured to close an opening in the first component, which opening is disposed axially adjacent to the bearing. The closure element may be a cured body of foam that conforms to the shape of the opening or a ring mounted on the first component such that it covers the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2019Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Rico Dittmar, Roderich Schultze
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Patent number: 10400827Abstract: A universal joint including a joint cross having a bearing journal supported in a trunnion bearing having a bearing bushing and a seal assembly including a one-piece seal body sealing the journal cross against the bearing bushing, the seal body having a first lip configured to form a dynamic seal on the bearing bushing or on a U-shaped sleeve connected to the bearing bushing, a second lip configured to form a dynamic seal on the bearing bushing or on the sleeve, a first arm of the sleeve being press-fit in a cylindrical receiving surface of the bearing bushing, or the sleeve having a section that is rounded or doubly corrugated in radial section, or wherein between the seal body and rolling elements of the trunnion bearing a separate ring part is disposed and pressed towards the rolling elements by at least one elastic element projecting from the seal body.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKFInventors: Rico Dittmar, Padelis Katsaros, Volker Wendt
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Patent number: 10240635Abstract: A bearing assembly includes at least one rolling-element bearing that includes a bearing outer ring and a bearing inner ring and rolling elements disposed therebetween. The at least one rolling-element bearing is mounted in a component with the bearing outer ring in contact with the component, and the outer bearing ring includes a first edge surface extending between a rolling-element raceway and a radial end surface of bearing ring, and/or a second edge surface extending between an axial outer fitting surface and the radial end surface of the bearing ring. The component includes, on a surface facing the first and/or second edge surface, at least one material accumulation that interacts with the first and/or second edge surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKFInventors: Volker Wendt, Rico Dittmar, Padelis Katsaros
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Patent number: 10087986Abstract: A temperature compensation ring configured to compensate for a temperature-dependent distance change between two components includes a base body made from an elastic material, and at least a section of at least one surface of the base body is configured to reduce a friction in the axial direction between the temperature compensation ring and an abutment surface, by, for example, being coated with a friction reducing coating and/or by including one or more grooves for receiving a lubricant.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKFInventors: Volker Wendt, Rico Dittmar