Patents by Inventor Stefan Frei

Stefan Frei 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: 11592089
    Abstract: A spindle nut (S) for a ball screw is conventionally designed as a hollow cylinder with a central-symmetrical middle longitudinal axis (Z). The spindle nut has an internal thread, which is designed as a ball groove (K) arranged on the cylinder inner surface. Pairs of load-relief bores (B) serve as substantially cylindrical channels for guiding the balls out of and into the ball channel (K) through the wall of the spindle nut. Each load-relief bore (B) is distinguished by a generatrix (L), which has an intersection point (C) with the thread base line of the ball channel (K) and constitutes the geometric continuation of the traveling path of a ball from the ball channel (K) into the load-relief bore (B). A tangent (T) to the cylinder surface (G) runs in a parallel manner at a spacing a >0 to the generatrix (L), both T and L being perpendicular to a common normal (R) to the middle longitudinal axis (Z).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SFS Group International AG
    Inventors: Andras Nagypal, Stefan Frei, David Fischlin, Marijo Zach
  • Patent number: 11572937
    Abstract: A ball screw including a threaded spindle and a spindle nut has a ball deflector arranged in an opening in the lateral surface of the spindle nut. The ball deflector is formed with an upper shell and a lower shell, the lower shell being arranged radially inwardly closer to the spindle nut longitudinal axis than the upper shell. The lower shell has a substantially half-shell-shaped contour. Both the upper shell and the lower shell are fastened in the spindle nut without any further, discrete mechanical fastening elements, and the ball deflector formed thereby does not protrude beyond the outer contour defined by the spindle nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: SFS intec Holding AG
    Inventors: Andre Schadlich, Stefan Frei, Daniel Sinz, Marijo Zach
  • Publication number: 20230003270
    Abstract: An operating unit for a parking brake of motor vehicles including an operatively connected unit having of a drive spindle and nut, which forms an axially longitudinally adjustable element of a linear drive. The drive spindle has a drive side for connection to an electric drive and a substantially cylindrical spindle portion having an external thread. The nut has a sleeve-shaped central body having an internal thread and a head portion designed to act as a pressure piston on a brake element of the parking brake. The internal and external threads intermesh in the operative connection and define a common axial axis of rotation. The thread is a symmetrical thread, and the flank angles, relative to a radial reference plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, have angle values which are substantially equal in magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: SFS Group International AG
    Inventors: Edi PERIC, Stefan FREI, Christian SUTTER
  • Patent number: 11506267
    Abstract: A ball screw drive (10) including a threaded spindle (12) and a spindle nut (14) which at least partially coaxially encloses the threaded spindle (12) and has a stop at an axial end face (18). A multiplicity of balls can circulate in the space (16) between the threaded spindle (12) and the spindle nut (14). A radial stop element (22) is connected to the threaded spindle (12) in a force-fitting manner and adapted to interact with the complementary axial end face (18) of the spindle nut (14). A bearing element is provided for receiving a first longitudinal end of the spindle nut (12). The radial stop element (22) and the bearing element are designed in combination as an integral bearing/stop element (24) which has two anti-rotation features (26, 28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SFS intec Holding AG
    Inventors: Edi Peric, Andre Schadlich, Stefan Frei, Marijo Zach
  • Publication number: 20220356934
    Abstract: A tolerance ring is an intermediate element for a shaft/hub connection that is positioned in a groove between shaft and hub and that produces a force-fitting connection between these two elements. It has substantially the shape of a hollow cylinder, wherein the lateral surface thereof has embossments in the form of radially inwardly and/or outwardly pointing elevations. Here, provision is made at one longitudinal end of a flange-like collar, which is applied in a radial plane with respect to the central longitudinal axis. The tolerance ring is preferably manufactured in one piece with the flange-like collar from metal as a deep-drawn part, preferably being manufactured from aluminum or an aluminum alloy. An assembly method for such a tolerance ring, and a ball screw drive, and a screw drive, having such a tolerance ring are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: SFS Group International AG
    Inventors: Stefan FREI, Markus SCHÖNENBERGER, Alexander Christoph STAUDIGL
  • Patent number: 11473657
    Abstract: A method for producing a spindle nut (10) for a ball screw (12) is provided, having the following steps: providing a substantially cylindrical workpiece (50) with first and second end faces (46, 44) and a lateral surface (14), shaping the workpiece (50) by pressing in an axially symmetrical central opening (16) and by simultaneously pressing in at least one first (18) and one second (20) channel which are arranged axially in parallel in the lateral surface (14) of the workpiece (50), the central opening (16) and the channels (18, 20) being open toward the first end face (46), introducing an internal thread (34) into the central opening (16), and introducing at least two radially running through-openings (22, 24) at least into the first channel in the form of a transfer channel for receiving diverting inserts (26, 28). A spindle nut (10) produced by the method and to a ball screw (12) having such a spindle nut (10) are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SFS intec Holding AG
    Inventors: Daniel Sinz, Stefan Frei
  • Publication number: 20220090660
    Abstract: A spindle nut (S) for a ball screw is conventionally designed as a hollow cylinder with a central-symmetrical middle longitudinal axis (Z). The spindle nut has an internal thread, which is designed as a ball groove (K) arranged on the cylinder inner surface. Pairs of load-relief bores (B) serve as substantially cylindrical channels for guiding the balls out of and into the ball channel (K) through the wall of the spindle nut. Each load-relief bore (B) is distinguished by a generatrix (L), which has an intersection point (C) with the thread base line of the ball channel (K) and constitutes the geometric continuation of the traveling path of a ball from the ball channel (K) into the load-relief bore (B). A tangent (T) to the cylinder surface (G) runs in a parallel manner at a spacing a >0 to the generatrix (L), both T and L being perpendicular to a common normal (R) to the middle longitudinal axis (Z).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: SFS intec Holding AG
    Inventors: Andras NAGYPAL, Stefan FREI, David FISCHLIN, Marijo ZACH
  • Publication number: 20210301911
    Abstract: A method for producing a spindle nut (10) for a ball screw (12) is provided, having the following steps: providing a substantially cylindrical workpiece (50) with first and second end faces (46, 44) and a lateral surface (14), shaping the workpiece (50) by pressing in an axially symmetrical central opening (16) and by simultaneously pressing in at least one first (18) and one second (20) channel which are arranged axially in parallel in the lateral surface (14) of the workpiece (50), the central opening (16) and the channels (18, 20) being open toward the first end face (46), introducing an internal thread (34) into the central opening (16), and introducing at least two radially running through-openings (22, 24) at least into the first channel in the form of a transfer channel for receiving diverting inserts (26, 28). A spindle nut (10) produced by the method and to a ball screw (12) having such a spindle nut (10) are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: SFS intec Holding AG
    Inventors: Daniel SINZ, Stefan FREI
  • Patent number: 10948057
    Abstract: A ball screw drive having a threaded spindle and a spindle nut which coaxially encloses it at least partially. The spindle nut receives a ball deflector and therefore has an imbalance caused thereby. A force transmission element is positively connected to the spindle nut. The outer surface of the spindle nut has a recess which is dimensioned and arranged to serve as a stop or groove for the force transmission element and also contributes to the imbalance compensation of the spindle nut. An imbalance compensation method is also provided by fixing the action surface as a surface recess such that the smallest width of the recess is at least 3 times as large as the maximum radial indentation thereof. The filling up of at least parts of the recess by the force transmission element is accounted for and the recess is lengthened along the spindle nut for imbalance reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SFS intec Holding AG
    Inventors: Edi Peric, Stefan Frei, Andre Schadlich, Marijo Zach
  • Patent number: 10883580
    Abstract: A ball screw having a spindle nut (21), a threaded spindle, and a retaining element (23) is provided. The retaining element (23) is connected in a form-fitting, play-free manner to the threaded nut (21) by a projection (24) which fits around the outside of the threaded nut (21) in an end region. The threaded nut (21) and the retaining element (23) functioning as a force transmission member are first positioned precisely during manufacture and then connected by a form-fitting, in particular play-free connection, in particular by caulking, crimping, clinching or other deformation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SFS intec Holding AG
    Inventors: Hanspeter Kuster, Marijo Zach, Andreas Kalb, Stefan Frei, Pascal Hutter
  • Publication number: 20200049238
    Abstract: A ball screw drive (10) including a threaded spindle (12) and a spindle nut (14) which at least partially coaxially encloses the threaded spindle (12) and has a stop at an axial end face (18). A multiplicity of balls can circulate in the space (16) between the threaded spindle (12) and the spindle nut (14). A radial stop element (22) is connected to the threaded spindle (12) in a force-fitting manner and adapted to interact with the complementary axial end face (18) of the spindle nut (14). A bearing element is provided for receiving a first longitudinal end of the spindle nut (12). The radial stop element (22) and the bearing element are designed in combination as an integral bearing/stop element (24) which has two anti-rotation features (26, 28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: SFS intec Holding AG
    Inventors: Edi Peric, Andre Schadlich, Stefan Frei, Marijo Zach
  • Publication number: 20190323586
    Abstract: A ball screw drive having a threaded spindle and a spindle nut which coaxially encloses at least partially the threaded spindle. The spindle nut receives a ball deflector and therefore has an imbalance caused by the structure. A force transmission element is positively connected to the spindle nut. Here, the outer surface of the spindle nut has at least one recess which is dimensioned and arranged to serve as a stop or groove for the force transmission element and at the same time contributes to the imbalance compensation of the spindle nut. An imbalance compensation method is also provided by fixing the action surface as a surface recess such that the smallest width b of the recess is at least 3 times as large as the maximum radial indentation t thereof. The filling up of at least parts of the recess by the force transmission element is then taken into account and the recess is lengthened along the spindle nut for imbalance reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: SFS intec Holding AG
    Inventors: Edi Peric, Stefan Frei, Andre Schadlich, Marijo Zach
  • Publication number: 20190186606
    Abstract: A ball screw including a threaded spindle and a spindle nut has a ball deflector arranged in an opening in the lateral surface of the spindle nut. The ball deflector is formed with an upper shell and a lower shell, the lower shell being arranged radially inwardly closer to the spindle nut longitudinal axis than the upper shell. The lower shell has a substantially half-shell-shaped contour. Both the upper shell and the lower shell are fastened in the spindle nut without any further, discrete mechanical fastening elements, and the ball deflector formed thereby does not protrude beyond the outer contour defined by the spindle nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: SFS intec Holding AG
    Inventors: Andre Schadlich, Stefan Frei, Daniel Sinz, Marijo Zach
  • Publication number: 20180112751
    Abstract: A ball screw having a spindle nut (21), a threaded spindle, and a retaining element (23) is provided. The retaining element (23) is connected in a form-fitting, play-free manner to the threaded nut (21) by a projection (24) which fits around the outside of the threaded nut (21) in an end region. The threaded nut (21) and the retaining element (23) functioning as a force transmission member are first positioned precisely during manufacture and then connected by a form-fitting, in particular play-free connection, in particular by caulking, crimping, clinching or other deformation processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: SFS intec Holding AG
    Inventors: Hanspeter Kuster, Marijo Zach, Andreas Kalb, Stefan Frei, Pascal Hutter
  • Publication number: 20170329975
    Abstract: A system and method for modeling viable threats and for evading deployed defenses on a network are described. As a defensive tool used for threat modeling, the system and method allows those responsible for the safety of their critical infrastructure and intellectual property to have a clear view of all failures in the security countermeasure products they have deployed. As an offensive tool used for defense evasion modeling, the system and method can be used to quickly ascertain a viable attack vector, select exploitation code, and cross-reference those exploits that will bypass every layer of countermeasure technologies to commercially- and publicly-accessible crimeware and security testing tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Francisco S. Artes, Stefan Frei
  • Patent number: 9665721
    Abstract: A system and method for modeling viable threats and for evading deployed defenses on a network are described. As a defensive tool used for threat modeling, the system and method allows those responsible for the safety of their critical infrastructure and intellectual property to have a clear view of all failures in the security countermeasure products they have deployed. As an offensive tool used for defense evasion modeling, the system and method can be used to quickly ascertain a viable attack vector, select exploitation code, and cross-reference those exploits that will bypass every layer of countermeasure technologies to commercially- and publicly-accessible crimeware and security testing tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: NSS LABS, INC.
    Inventors: Francisco S. Artes, Stefan Frei
  • Publication number: 20150310217
    Abstract: A system and method for modeling viable threats and for evading deployed defenses on a network are described. As a defensive tool used for threat modeling, the system and method allows those responsible for the safety of their critical infrastructure and intellectual property to have a clear view of all failures in the security countermeasure products they have deployed. As an offensive tool used for defense evasion modeling, the system and method can be used to quickly ascertain a viable attack vector, select exploitation code, and cross-reference those exploits that will bypass every layer of countermeasure technologies to commercially- and publicly-accessible crimeware and security testing tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Francisco S. Artes, Stefan Frei
  • Patent number: 8294906
    Abstract: A measuring head system for a coordinate measuring machine, having a scanning element for contacting a measured object as a contacting part, which can be moved such that an object to be measured can be mechanically scanned using the scanning element. An optical sensor is fixed on the measuring head base. Means are provided to generate a projection on the sensor line using at least one radiation source. The means have at least one first mask element to generate a first partial projection on the sensor line such that said partial projection is optimized to determine an x displacement and a y displacement of the contacting part in relation to the measuring head base in the x direction or y direction. An analysis unit is configured to determine the x displacement and the y displacement from signals only generated by the one sensor line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Knut Siercks, Heinz Lippuner, Ursula Schwitter, Stefan Frei, Baptiste Wusk, Claus P. Keferstein
  • Publication number: 20110013199
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring head system (1) for a coordinate measuring machine, having a scanning element (6), which has a part provided for contacting a measured object as a contacting part (5), which can be moved in relation to a fixed measuring head base (2) in a lateral x direction (20) and a lateral y direction (21), such that an object to be measured can be mechanically scanned using the scanning element (6). An optical sensor (10), having a sensor line (11) which can be read out and comprises a plurality of array sensor elements, is fixed on the measuring head base (2). Furthermore, means are provided, which are particularly disposed spatially fixed to the contacting part (5), generate a projection—as a function of displacements of the contacting part (5) in relation to the measuring head base (2)—on the sensor line (11) using at least one radiation source (15). In addition, an analysis unit is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Knut Siercks, Heinz Lippuner, Ursula Schwitter, Stefan Frei, Baptiste Wusk, Claus P. Keferstein