Patents by Inventor Tomas Smetana

Tomas Smetana 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: 8663059
    Abstract: A transmission device for an automotive vehicle, which device includes a first spur gear transmission section, a second spur gear transmission section and a plurality of double planet pins. The double planet pins extend from a first side section to a second side section. Each of the double planet pins carries one first planet of the first set of planets and one second planet of the second set of planets. A plurality of supporting pins are also provided, each of the supporting pins carrying one third planet of the third set of planets. The supporting pins extend from the first side section to the second side section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tomas Smetana, Ramon Jurjanz
  • Patent number: 8646982
    Abstract: A rolling bearing that has at least one first row of rolling elements and one second row of rolling elements as well as a common bearing ring for both rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Radinger, Tomas Smetana
  • Patent number: 8579512
    Abstract: A drive unit for motor vehicles which has at least one electrical motor and at least one transmission assembly. The electrical motor and the transmission assembly are operatively connected to one another by at least one shaft and the shaft is rotatably mounted by at least one first rolling bearing which sits in a rotary union for the shaft in the transmission assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Radinger, Tomas Smetana
  • Publication number: 20130190130
    Abstract: A planetary gear system having at least two planetary steps, each of which is made up of at least one set of planets and one sun, whereby the teeth of the gearwheels in the planetary drive mesh with each other in such a way that, in each of the meshing points, at least one first tooth on a first toothing of first teeth positively engages into a tooth gap of a second toothing of second teeth. First teeth of the first toothing have a tooth flank profile concavely arched, and second teeth of the second toothing have a tooth flank profile convexly arched, so that the tooth flanks in contact with each other are arched in the same directions, at least when in contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thorsten Biermann, Tomas Smetana, Florian Doerrfuss
  • Publication number: 20130172142
    Abstract: A planetary gear and a drive unit having the planetary gear, the planetary gear being characterized by very good integratability. For this purpose, a planetary gear (5) for transmitting a drive torque in a vehicle is proposed, having a first sun wheel attachment (12a) and a second sun wheel attachment (12b), each of the sun wheel attachments (12a, b) being coupled to a shaft (2a, b) in a rotationally fixed manner, and the sun wheel attachments (12a, b) being rotatable relative to one another, and the sun wheel attachments (12a, b) being situated in an overlapping area (11), overlapping in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co., KG
    Inventors: Tomas Smetana, Philip Wurzberger
  • Patent number: 8448766
    Abstract: A coupling having at least two concentric rings, each having a circumferential surface and a recess, and at least two roller elements. The roller elements are each disposed in a channel formed by the circumferential surface of one of the rings and the recess of another of the rings. In some example embodiments of the invention, the coupling includes a coupling member with a bearing surface, at least one of the rings includes a split and the split ring is urged against the bearing surface when there is relative rotation between the rings. The coupling member is, for example, a shaft or a gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tomas Smetana, Brian Lee
  • Patent number: 8444523
    Abstract: Disclosed is a biasing device comprising a first ramp disc and a second ramp disc, a plurality of ramp contours being formed in one side of an annular surface of each of said ramp discs. Through a slewing of one of the two ramp discs relative to the other, non-slewing ramp disc about an axis, the rolling elements ascend and/or descend along the ramp contours. At least the first ramp disk, the cage and the second ramp disc are inserted into a retaining pot that is connected rotationally fast to a housing through at least one retaining element. For axial guidance, a plurality of rolling elements is arranged between the retaining pot and the non-slewing ramp disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ramon Jurjanz, Tomas Smetana
  • Publication number: 20130053203
    Abstract: A transmission device for an automotive vehicle, which device includes a first spur gear transmission section, a second spur gear transmission section and a plurality of double planet pins. The double planet pins extend from a first side section to a second side section. Each of the double planet pins carries one first planet of the first set of planets and one second planet of the second set of planets. A plurality of supporting pins are also provided, each of the supporting pins carrying one third planet of the third set of planets. The supporting pins extend from the first side section to the second side section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tomas Smetana, Ramon Jurjanz
  • Publication number: 20130037331
    Abstract: A displaceable system including at least one set of at least two wheels arranged in pairs for movement in a plane, said set being disposed on at least one wheel axle parallel to the plane. A single electric drive motor, a differential having variable torque distribution, and an electric servomotor are provided on the wheel axle for both wheels of a set. The electrical servomotor acts on the differential such that the torque generated by the single electric drive motor is distributed within the wheel axle individually to the wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Tomas Smetana, Raphael Fischer, Bernd Gombert
  • Patent number: 8365891
    Abstract: A positively locking overrunning clutch, which has a damping device, a drive input element and a drive output element and also at least one blocking element which blocks a rotation of the drive output element relative to the drive input element in a first rotational direction and enables the rotation in the opposite rotational direction. The blocking element has two clamping rings which are pivotable relative to one another and damped with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Tomas Smetana
  • Patent number: 8348040
    Abstract: A form-fitting freewheel coupling, which has a first and second clamping track with latching structures, a gap space between the clamping tracks, and a clamping ring arranged in the gap space. The clamping ring has clamping tongues facing toward the first clamping track and clamping tongues facing toward the second clamping track. A drag ring is arranged in the gap space. The drag ring is pivotable to a limited extent, relative to the clamping ring and is spring-loaded against one of the clamping tracks and interacts with the clamping ring in such a way that, in the event of a rotation of the first clamping track relative to the second clamping track in the freewheel direction, the clamping ring is lifted fully from one of the clamping tracks, while the clamping tongues, which face away from the clamping track, protrude into the latching structures of the opposite clamping track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Tomas Smetana
  • Patent number: 8348039
    Abstract: A clamping roller freewheel, which has an inner ring, an outer ring and clamping rollers arranged between the inner ring and outer ring. The clamping rollers interact, in each case, with one clamping ramp formed on the outer circumference of the inner ring. The clamping rollers are surrounded by an elastically expandable protective ring which is concentric with respect to the freewheel axis. Retaining lugs prevent the protective ring from being driven in rotation by the outer ring in idle running operation. In this way, the outer ring is prevented from grinding against the clamping rollers, and the clamping rollers are prevented from being driven in rotation, with the resulting wear to the clamping ramps, in idle running operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Tomas Smetana
  • Patent number: 8261897
    Abstract: A freewheel clutch that has sprags, which are located between an inner locking track and an outer locking track and two sliding discs which each feature one inner axis adjacent to the inner locking track, one outer axis adjacent to the outer locking track as well as one middle section which connects the axes, and has an axial inwardly directed bending. The bending extends from the outer axis to the inner axis and preferably features a maximum embossing depth which is lower than the wall thickness of the middle section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Tomas Smetana
  • Publication number: 20120213460
    Abstract: A drive unit for motor vehicles having which has at least one electrical motor and at least one transmission assembly. The electrical motor and the transmission assembly are operatively connected to one another by at least one shaft and the shaft is rotatably mounted by at least one first rolling bearing which sits in a rotary union for the shaft in the transmission assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Radinger, Tomas Smetana
  • Patent number: 8202170
    Abstract: Example aspects of the present invention broadly comprise at least two concentric rings with complementary ramped surfaces, at least one of the rings being rotatable relative to another one of the rings so that contact is made at the ramped surfaces. The complementary ramped surfaces form respective circumferences of the rings. At least one of the ramped surfaces may have a sinusoidal profile, or a profile forming at least one of a straight line, concave, or convex. In some example embodiments of the invention, a first one of the rings is a coupling member and a second one of the rings is a tubular slipper with a friction surface radially opposite of the ramped surface. The tubular slipper is arranged to radially expand or contract upon contacting the coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Tomas Smetana, Brian Lee
  • Publication number: 20120141058
    Abstract: A rolling bearing that has at least one first row of roiling elements and one second row of rolling elements as well as a common bearing ring for both rows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Radinger, Tomas Smetana
  • Publication number: 20120006150
    Abstract: A controlled axial biasing unit (1) is provided which substantially includes a first ramp disk (11) and a second ramp disk (12), each of which disks is configured with a plurality of ramp contours (8). An annular cage (2) that carries a plurality of rolling elements (3) is inserted between the first ramp disk (11) and the second ramp disk (12). At least the first ramp disk (11), the second ramp disk (12) and the cage (2) are made by a shaping method without chip removal. Each of the first ramp disk (11) and the second ramp disk (12) is configured with a continuous wall (32). Likewise through this shaping method, the first ramp disk (11) and the second ramp disk (12) have on an outer periphery (UA) an integrally formed safety stop device (14) for respective end positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GBMH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Radinger, Tomas Smetana, Fritz Wiesinger
  • Patent number: 7997396
    Abstract: An overrunning clutch clamping body for an overrunning clutch comprises a first contact surface and a second contact surface for contacting respective clamping raceways. The curvature of the contact surfaces deviates from zero in each direction. Each of the contact surfaces is configured symmetrically both to a first plane (E1) extending normal to the axis of rotation of the overrunning clutch and to a second plane (E2) that is perpendicular to the first plane (E1), and the shape of the first contact surface corresponds to the shape of the second contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Horst Döppling, Swen Dörrie, Tomas Smetana
  • Publication number: 20110100780
    Abstract: Disclosed is a biasing device comprising a first ramp disc and a second ramp disc, a plurality of ramp contours being formed in one side of an annular surface of each of said ramp discs. Through a slewing of one of the two ramp discs relative to the other, non-slewing ramp disc about an axis, the rolling elements ascend and/or descend along the ramp contours. At least the first ramp disk, the cage and the second ramp disc are inserted into a retaining pot that is connected rotationally fast to a housing through at least one retaining element. For axial guidance, a plurality of rolling elements is arranged between the retaining pot and the non-slewing ramp disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ramon Jurjanz, Tomas Smetana
  • Publication number: 20110000755
    Abstract: A coupling having at least two concentric rings, each having a circumferential surface and a recess, and at least two roller elements. The roller elements are each disposed in a channel formed by the circumferential surface of one of the rings and the recess of another of the rings. In some example embodiments of the invention, the coupling includes a coupling member with a bearing surface, at least one of the rings includes a split and the split ring is urged against the bearing surface when there is relative rotation between the rings. The coupling member is, for example, a shaft or a gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Tomas Smetana, Brian Lee