Patents by Inventor Thomas Schafferus

Thomas Schafferus 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: 9494199
    Abstract: A rolling boot comprises a first fastening region for fastening the boot to a joint casing, a second fastening region for fastening the boot to a shaft, and a fold region between the first and the second fastening region with a first fold near to the first fastening region and a second fold near to the second fastening region. The boot further comprises, between the first fastening region and the first fold, a first transition region comprising a first flange neighboring the first fastening region with a bottom. A ratio between a first minimal diameter D1, defined by the bottom of the first flange of the first transition region, and a second maximal diameter D2, defined by the first fold, where both are viewed in a longitudinal section direction along the main axis, is between approximately 1:1.01 to approximately 1:1.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schumacher, Winfried Busch, Markus Deisinger, Joachim Wette, Wolfgang Hildebrandt, Thomas Schafferus, Achim Schmeink
  • Publication number: 20150119152
    Abstract: A rolling boot comprises a first fastening region for fastening the boot to a joint casing, a second fastening region for fastening the boot to a shaft, and a fold region between the first and the second fastening region with a first fold near to the first fastening region and a second fold near to the second fastening region. The boot further comprises, between the first fastening region and the first fold, a first transition region comprising a first flange neighbouring the first fastening region with a bottom. A ratio between a first minimal diameter D1, defined by the bottom of the first flange of the first transition region, and a second maximal diameter D2, defined by the first fold, where both are viewed in a longitudinal section direction along the main axis, is between approximately 1:1.01 to approximately 1:1.25.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Ralf Schumacher, Winfried Busch, Markus Deisinger, Joachim Wette, Wolfgang Hildebrandt, Thomas Schafferus, Achim Schmeink
  • Patent number: 6743482
    Abstract: The invention relates to an impregnating agent for a convoluted boot consisting of a thermplastic or elastomer material and used for covering the chamber of a joint, especially a rotating joint subjected to large articulation angles, which joint chamber is filled with a lubricant, said convoluted boot comprising a plurality of folds and two end collars, with the surfaces of the convoluted boot wall contacting one another when the joint is subjected to large articulation angles. It is the object of the invention to reduce the wear and eliminate squeaking symptoms of convoluted boots treated with the inventive impregnating agent. In accordance with the invention, the objective is achieved in that the impregnating agent contains a carrier fluid, an oil dissolved in the carrier fluid and having a molecular weight of >200, and a wetting agent which is soluble in oil and which reduces the surface tension of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: GKN Automotive AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schmidt, Joachim Wette, Thomas Schafferus, Herbert Konegen, Hans Schreiber
  • Publication number: 20030143355
    Abstract: The invention relates to an impregnating agent for a convoluted boot consisting of a thermplastic or elastomer material and used for covering the chamber of a joint, especially a rotating joint subjected to large articulation angles, which joint chamber is filled with a lubricant, said convoluted boot comprising a plurality of folds and two end collars, with the surfaces of the convoluted boot wall contacting one another when the joint is subjected to large articulation angles. It is the object of the invention to reduce the wear and eliminate squeaking symptoms of convoluted boots treated with the inventive impregnating agent. In accordance with the invention, the objective is achieved in that the impregnating agent contains a carrier fluid, an oil dissolved in the carrier fluid and having a molecular weight of>200, and a wetting agent which is soluble in oil and which reduces the surface tension of the oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Schmidt, Joachim Wette, Thomas Schafferus, Herbert Konegan, Hans Schreiber
  • Patent number: 6569021
    Abstract: The invention relates to an impregnating agent for a convoluted boot consisting of a thermplastic or elastomer material and used for covering the chamber of a joint, especially a rotating joint subjected to large articulation angles, which joint chamber is filled with a lubricant, said convoluted boot comprising a plurality of folds and two end collars, with the surfaces of the convoluted boot wall contacting one another when the joint is subjected to large articulation angles. It is the object of the invention to reduce the wear and eliminate squeaking symptoms of convoluted boots treated with the inventive impregnating agent. In accordance with the invention, the objective is achieved in that the impregnating agent contains a carrier fluid, an oil dissolved in the carrier fluid and having a molecular weight of >200, and a wetting agent which is soluble in oil and which reduces the surface tension of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: GKN Automotive AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schmidt, Joachim Wette, Thomas Schafferus, Herbert Konegen, Hans Schreiber
  • Patent number: 6426033
    Abstract: A rolling boot for sealing a universal joint, having a first collar with a larger diameter to be secured to the outer joint part of the universal joint and having a second collar with a smaller diameter to be secured to a shaft at the inner joint part of the universal joint, and having a semi-toroidal boot wall connecting the collars, wherein the rolling boot is an injection-moulded or blow-moulded product, the rolling boot consists of a thermo-plastic elastomer and the elastomer is irreversibly cross-linked up to a degree ranging between 15 and 85%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: GKN Automotive AG
    Inventors: Joachim Wette, Karl-Heinz Müller, Thomas Schafferus
  • Patent number: 5253947
    Abstract: The invention relates to a locking connection for transmitting torque in driveshafts and the like. An internally and/or externally positioned metallic connecting element having a hub journal is inserted into or slid onto a tubular shaft made of a fiber composite material. The wall of the hub journal is radially plastically deformed, its surface being made to establish a locking connection with a surface of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: GKN Automotive AG
    Inventors: Miloslav Petrzelka, Werner Hoffmann, Thomas Schafferus
  • Patent number: 5094894
    Abstract: A convoluted boot made of a thin-walled thermoplastic elastomer with at least one collar region which, on its inside, has an internal annular bead engaging a flat annular groove of a universal joint with a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section, where at least the one collar region, on its outside, has an annular groove with a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section for tensioning element, which annular groove is provided with a substantially flat bottom part resting against the tensioning element and is wider than the internal annular bead, and the collar region, within the flat annular groove in the region of the internal annular bead, has at least one recess-like annular gap with a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section whose cross-sectional depth is greater than its width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: GKN Automotive AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schafferus, Karl-Heinz Muller