Patents by Inventor Thomas Zika

Thomas Zika 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: 11608860
    Abstract: A force-transmitting assembly includes a metal shaft having at least two longitudinally-extending grooves defined in an outer surface, and a metal hub having at least two longitudinally-extending grooves defined in an inner surface that surrounds the outer surface of the shaft. A plurality of discrete parts is disposed in the at least two longitudinally-extending grooves of the shaft and the hub in an interference-fit manner so as to transmit a torque from the shaft to the hub. Each of the discrete parts is composed of at least 50 mass % of technical ceramic selected from Si3N4, SiAlON, Al2O3, ZrO2, or a mixture of two or more of Si3N4, SiAlON, Al2O3, and ZrO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Thomas Zika, Gerwin Preisinger
  • Patent number: 11313416
    Abstract: An assembly tool for a bearing ring having roller members, the tool including a ring configured to be arranged on a side face of the bearing ring and including sliding elements received in receiving members on the ring. The sliding elements are distributed peripherally in a uniform manner around the ring and are configured to be displaced from a starting position into an end position relative to the ring. When the tool is mounted on the ring, the sliding elements, positioned in their end positions, extend between adjacent roller members and limit a radial movability of the roller members relative to the bearing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Dominik Fritz, Michael Reugels, Jesko-Henning Tanke, Thomas Zika
  • Publication number: 20210095723
    Abstract: An assembly tool for a bearing ring having roller members, the tool including a ring configured to be arranged on a side face of the bearing ring and including sliding elements received in receiving members on the ring. The sliding elements are distributed peripherally in a uniform manner around the ring and are configured to be displaced from a starting position into an end position relative to the ring. When the tool is mounted on the ring, the sliding elements, positioned in their end positions, extend between adjacent roller members and limit a radial movability of the roller members relative to the bearing ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Dominik Fritz, Michael Reugels, Jesko-Henning Tanke, Thomas Zika
  • Publication number: 20180087579
    Abstract: A force-transmitting assembly includes a metal shaft having at least two longitudinally-extending grooves defined in an outer surface, and a metal hub having at least two longitudinally-extending grooves defined in an inner surface that surrounds the outer surface of the shaft. A plurality of discrete parts is disposed in the at least two longitudinally-extending grooves of the shaft and the hub in an interference-fit manner so as to transmit a torque from the shaft to the hub. Each of the discrete parts is composed of at least 50 mass % of technical ceramic selected from Si3N4, SiAlON, Al2O3, ZrO2, or a mixture of two or more of Si3N4, SiAlON, Al2O3, and ZrO2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Zika, Gerwin Preisinger
  • Patent number: 9778139
    Abstract: A load structure for testing a loadability of a large bearing includes a housing, a force-transmitting structure configured to generate a force or a moment relative to the housing and to transmit the force or the moment to a bearing ring of the large bearing, and a force-receiving element connected to the housing and configured to contact a counter ring of the large bearing. The housing is configured to support the counter ring indirectly via the force-receiving element such that the transmitted force or moment is transmitted to the housing at least partially via the counter ring and the force-receiving element, and a material of the force-receiving element has a higher degree of hardness than a material of the housing. Also a method of load testing a bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Thomas Zika
  • Publication number: 20160091395
    Abstract: A load structure for testing a loadability of a large bearing includes a housing, a force-transmitting structure configured to generate a force or a moment relative to the housing and to transmit the force or the moment to a bearing ring of the large bearing, and a force-receiving element connected to the housing and configured to contact a counter ring of the large bearing. The housing is configured to support the counter ring indirectly via the force-receiving element such that the transmitted force or moment is transmitted to the housing at least partially via the counter ring and the force-receiving element, and a material of the force-receiving element has a higher degree of hardness than a material of the housing. Also a method of load testing a bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Thomas Zika