Patents by Inventor Stephane Barral

Stephane Barral 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: 9726219
    Abstract: A thrust washer for a flange half-bearing may include a semi-annular panel having an inner edge and an outer edge. A plurality of hooking lugs may project inwardly from the inner edge of the panel. The hooking lugs may have at least one latching edge configured to engage with a corresponding opening in a bearing shell received by the thrust washer and prevent disconnection of the thrust washer and the bearing shell without deformation of the bearing shell. The hooking lugs may have a hooking lug inner portion proximate to a central part of the thrust washer around the inner edge of the panel for engaging against an edge of the corresponding opening of the bearing shell, and a hooking lug outer portion remote from the central part around the inner edge of the panel. The hooking lug inner portion may be thinner than the hooking lug outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: Mahle Engine Systems UK Ltd, Mahle Composants Moteur France SAS, Mahle Industries, Incorporated, Mahle Engine Components Slovakia S.R.O., Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Tino Gallas, Ha Tran, Mark Sharpe, Stephane Barral, Kevin Berkery, Miroslav Bukna, Murray Scott
  • Patent number: 9587675
    Abstract: A bearing shell for a sliding bearing may include a body having a convex outer surface and an alignment feature projecting from the outer surface. The alignment feature may be arranged at an end face of the body. The alignment feature may include a first tapered portion having an axial width that reduces in a direction away from the end face. The first tapered portion may include at least two axial sides extending circumferentially and angled away from parallel with respect to a corresponding axial end face of the body by an angle of 2° to 10°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignees: Mahle International GmbH, Mahle Engine Systems UK Limited, Mahle Composant Moteu France SAS
    Inventor: Stephane Barral
  • Publication number: 20160160908
    Abstract: A thrust washer for a flange half-bearing may include a semi-annular panel having an inner edge and an outer edge. A plurality of hooking lugs may project inwardly from the inner edge of the panel. The hooking lugs may have at least one latching edge configured to engage with a corresponding opening in a bearing shell received by the thrust washer and prevent disconnection of the thrust washer and the bearing shell without deformation of the bearing shell. The hooking lugs may have a hooking lug inner portion proximate to a central part of the thrust washer around the inner edge of the panel for engaging against an edge of the corresponding opening of the bearing shell, and a hooking lug outer portion remote from the central part around the inner edge of the panel. The hooking lug inner portion may be thinner than the hooking lug outer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Tino Gallas, Ha Tran, Mark Sharpe, Stephane Barral, Kevin Berkery, Miroslav Bukna, Murray Scott
  • Publication number: 20150292556
    Abstract: A bearing shell for a sliding bearing may include a body having a convex outer surface and an alignment feature projecting from the outer surface. The alignment feature may be arranged at an end face of the body. The alignment feature may include a first tapered portion having an axial width that reduces in a direction away from the end face. The first tapered portion may include at least two axial sides extending circumferentially and angled away from parallel with respect to a corresponding axial end face of the body by an angle of 2° to 10°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicants: Mahle International GmbH, Mahle Engimes Systems UK Ltd., Mahle Composants Moteur France SAS
    Inventor: Stephane Barral
  • Patent number: 8550719
    Abstract: There is disclosed a split bearing comprising a semi-cylindrical bearing member having a concave bearing surface extending throughout the length thereof to a parting face at each opposed circumferential end of the bearing member. The bearing surface has formed thereon a sprayed bearing overlay extending over the whole bearing surface except for crush relief regions adjacent to the parting faces. The bearing member has a substantially constant outer diameter and inner diameter except at the crush relief regions, where the inner diameter is larger than at other regions of the bearing surface. There is also disclosed a method of making such a bearing. Less overlay material is required than in conventional split bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignees: MAHLE International GmbH, MAHLE Composants Moteur France SAS, MAHLE Engine Systems UK Limited
    Inventors: Ian Laing, Stephane Barral, Cedric Fortune, Raphaelle Francois, Virginie Neyret, Lionel Menu
  • Publication number: 20130016933
    Abstract: There is disclosed a split bearing comprising a semi-cylindrical bearing member having a concave bearing surface extending throughout the length thereof to a parting face at each opposed circumferential end of the bearing member. The bearing surface has formed thereon a sprayed bearing overlay extending over the whole bearing surface except for crush relief regions adjacent to the parting faces. The bearing member has a substantially constant outer diameter and inner diameter except at the crush relief regions, where the inner diameter is larger than at other regions of the bearing surface. There is also disclosed a method of making such a bearing. Less overlay material is required than in conventional split bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicants: MAHLE INTERNATIONAL GMBH, MAHLE ENGINE SYSTEMS UK LIMITED, MAHLE COMPOSANTS MOTEUR FRANCE SAS
    Inventors: Ian Laing, Stephane Barral, Cedric Fortune, Raphaelle Francois, Virginie Neyret, Lionel Menu