Patents by Inventor Volker Wendt

Volker Wendt 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: 11867232
    Abstract: A forged outer ring of a tapered wheel bearing incudes a conical ring section having a first end and a second end, a flange section and a central ring section having a first end at the flange section and a second end at the conical ring section. An inner surface of the conical ring section is configured to form a raceway for a first set of tapered rollers. An inner diameter of the first end of the conical ring section is smaller than an inner diameter of the second end of the central ring section and a wall thickness of the second end of the conical ring section is greater than a wall thickness of the first end of the conical ring section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Volker Wendt
  • Publication number: 20230265881
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly includes at least two rolling-element bearings which participate together in a bearing assembly. At least one of the rolling-element bearings includes at least one bearing ring, which, for transmitting a propulsion, is attached to a drive shaft . At least one brake element of the wheel bearing assembly is immovable relative to the bearing ring and a connecting unit of the wheel bearing assembly connects the brake element to the bearing ring. By a removal of the connecting element from the bearing ring in which none of the rolling-element bearings need to be removed, even only partially, the brake element is removable from the rolling-element bearings and is displaceable to any distance from the bearing ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Volker WENDT, Rico DITTMAR, Juergen EYRICH
  • Publication number: 20230226846
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly includes a bearing unit having first and second bearing rings mounted for relative rotation, the first bearing ring including a flange configured to connect the first bearing ring to a wheel rim, the flange including a plurality of threaded bores. A plurality of stud bolts each having a first portion, a second portion and an intermediate collar separating the first portion from the second portion are mounted in the bores such that the first portions are located in the bores and the first axial face of the intermediate collar abuts the flange. A second axial face and/or a radially outer portion of the intermediate collar includes at least one projection or groove configured to form an interference fit with another component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventor: Volker WENDT
  • Patent number: 11633981
    Abstract: A wheel hub includes a one-piece hub base body configured to surround at least a portion of a rolling-element bearing, the base body having a first axial end region configured to attach to a wheel adapter and/or to a wheel and a second axial end region axially opposite the first axial end region. An annular reinforcing body, which may be a metal band, is mounted on a radially outer surface of the second axial end region and connected to the radially outer surface at a joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Padelis Katsaros, Volker Wendt
  • Publication number: 20230040525
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly for trucks includes a brake element and a wheel adapter defining a rotating component, an axle element defining a stationary component, and a multi-row, preferably double-row, bearing unit. The bearing unit has a first bearing ring, a second bearing ring and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the first and the second bearing ring. The first bearing ring is connected to a drive shaft, the second bearing ring is connected to the axle element and the wheel adapter is configured to connect the first bearing ring to the wheel and the brake element. A shield is disposed between the brake element and the first bearing ring and/or disposed between the brake element and the axle element and is configured to shield a space defined by the first bearing ring, the wheel adapter and the brake element from entry of particles and/or water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Volker WENDT, Rico Dittmar
  • Publication number: 20230042260
    Abstract: A subassembly includes a wheel hub and a constant velocity joint having a bell in which the wheel hub is connected to the bell by friction welding. A first one of the wheel hub and the bell may include an axial projection and the other one of the wheel hub and the bell may include a recess in which the axial projection is received. Also a method of connecting a wheel hub to a constant velocity joint by friction welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Tom SCHMITZ, Klaus Dietmar RIPPSTEIN, Lisa BAIERL, Volker WENDT
  • Publication number: 20220389966
    Abstract: A forged outer ring of a tapered wheel bearing incudes a conical ring section having a first end and a second end, a flange section and a central ring section having a first end at the flange section and a second end at the conical ring section. An inner surface of the conical ring section is configured to form a raceway for a first set of tapered rollers. An inner diameter of the first end of the conical ring section is smaller than an inner diameter of the second end of the central ring section and a wall thickness of the second end of the conical ring section is greater than a wall thickness of the first end of the conical ring section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventor: Volker Wendt
  • Publication number: 20220170506
    Abstract: A wheel bearing unit includes a first inner ring having an axial end side, a second inner ring having an axial end side contacting the axial end side of the first inner ring at a joint, and a seal unit that seals the joint between the first inner ring and the second inner ring. The seal unit includes at least one seal element and at least one further component that exerts pressure on the at least one seal element, and the at least one further component is at least partially comprised of sheet metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventor: Volker Wendt
  • Patent number: 11015655
    Abstract: A bearing seal assembly includes at least one seal unit and at least one pulse wheel attached to the seal unit in an interference-fit and/or a materially bonded manner. The seal unit may include a radially outer member surrounding a radially inner member, the radially inner member may have a cylindrical seal surface and a flange projecting radially outwardly from an end of the seal surface and the radially outer member may have a metal profile element at least partially covered by an elastomer body that defines a first seal lip that directly contacts the cylindrical seal surface of the radially inner member. The pulse wheel may be attached to the radially outer member by a radially inwardly directed flange of the metal profile element overlying a radially outer edge of the pulse wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Dominique Shah, Volker Wendt
  • Patent number: 11002310
    Abstract: A rolling-element bearing unit includes at least one outer ring and at least one inner ring, and a plurality of rolling elements between the at least one outer ring and the at least one inner ring. The inner ring has a surface, which may be cylindrical, at an axial end region of the rolling-element bearing unit which surface is configured to contact a seal element. A projection extends radially outwardly from the surface at an angle and forms a guide surface facing the plurality of rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Ralf Siebenbrodt, Volker Wendt, Karsten Zuhl
  • Patent number: 10968951
    Abstract: A roller bearing includes an inner ring and an outer ring and a cage between the inner ring and the outer ring in which a plurality of rollers are retained. The inner ring or the outer ring includes a guide flange for guiding the rollers, and a biasing member exerts a biasing force, directed toward the guide flange, on the rollers and/or on the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Padelis Katsaros, Volker Wendt
  • Publication number: 20210016602
    Abstract: A wheel hub includes a one-piece hub base body configured to surround at least a portion of a rolling-element bearing, the base body having a first axial end region configured to attach to a wheel adapter and/or to a wheel and a second axial end region axially opposite the first axial end region. An annular reinforcing body, which may be a metal band, is mounted on a radially outer surface of the second axial end region and connected to the radially outer surface at a joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Padelis Katsaros, Volker Wendt
  • Patent number: 10794420
    Abstract: A universal joint includes a bush, a bearing journal supported in the bush by a bearing and a seal assembly configured to form a seal between the bearing journal and the bush. The seal assembly includes an outer body formed from a first material having a first hardness, and a reinforcing body at least partially embedded in the outer body is formed from a second material having a hardness greater than the hardness of the first material. The reinforcing body contacts and forms a slip surface for a rolling element of the bearing. The reinforcing body and the outer body are configured such that the reinforcing body compresses a portion of the outer body against the journal when the seal assembly is mounted on the bearing journal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Volker Wendt, Padelis Katsaros
  • Publication number: 20200224717
    Abstract: A rolling-element bearing unit includes at least one outer ring and at least one inner ring, and a plurality of rolling elements between the at least one outer ring and the at least one inner ring. The inner ring has a surface, which may be cylindrical, at an axial end region of the rolling-element bearing unit which surface is configured to contact a seal element. A projection extends radially outwardly from the surface at an angle and forms a guide surface facing the plurality of rolling elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Ralf Siebenbrodt, Volker Wendt, Karsten Zuhl
  • Publication number: 20200182301
    Abstract: A roller bearing includes an inner ring and an outer ring and a cage between the inner ring and the outer ring in which a plurality of rollers are retained. The inner ring or the outer ring includes a guide flange for guiding the rollers, and a biasing member exerts a biasing force, directed toward the guide flange, on the rollers and/or on the cage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Padelis Katsaros, Volker Wendt
  • Patent number: 10668770
    Abstract: A motor vehicle wheel bearing assembly includes a hub configured to be supported by at least one rolling-element bearing and to provide a seat for a wheel. The hub includes a first hollow-cone-shaped element manufactured from light metal and having a first axial end section having a first diameter and a second axial end section having a second, larger, diameter and at least one bearing raceway or raceway support at the first axial end section. The hub also includes a second element extending radially from an end of the first hollow-cone-shaped element, the second element having a radially inner section and a radially outer section. The second axial end section of the first element is connected to the radial outer section of the second element, for example, at a joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Volker Wendt, Padelis Katsaros, Dominique Shah
  • Publication number: 20200166082
    Abstract: A bearing seal assembly includes at least one seal unit and at least one pulse wheel attached to the seal unit in an interference-fit and/or a materially bonded manner. The seal unit may include a radially outer member surrounding a radially inner member, the radially inner member may have a cylindrical seal surface and a flange projecting radially outwardly from an end of the seal surface and the radially outer member may have a metal profile element at least partially covered by an elastomer body that defines a first seal lip that directly contacts the cylindrical seal surface of the radially inner member. The pulse wheel may be attached to the radially outer member by a radially inwardly directed flange of the metal profile element overlying a radially outer edge of the pulse wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Dominique Shah, Volker Wendt
  • Patent number: 10598227
    Abstract: An installation unit for installing a bearing unit includes a carrier having an interior and the bearing unit mounted in the interior. The bearing unit includes a first rolling-element row and a second rolling-element row, and both the first rolling-element row and the second rolling-element row are at least partially disposed inside the carrier. The bearing unit is slidingly mounted in the carrier such that, when an end opening of the carrier is aligned with an opening in a bearing housing, applying a force against the bearing unit will slide the bearing unit out of the carrier and into the opening in the bearing housing. Also, a method of installing the bearing unit in the opening in the housing using the installation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Volker Wendt, Johannes Zang
  • Patent number: 10465748
    Abstract: A component of a universal joint bearing includes at least one casing having a cylindrical wall and a base and at least one formation projecting from the base. The at least one formation is receivable in a clamp of a rotational processing machine to secure the component to the rotational processing machine during a rotational machining of a wall of the component. Also a method that includes clamping the component by the formation and machining inner and outer surfaces of the component without unclamping the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Volker Wendt, Padelis Katsaros
  • Patent number: 10400827
    Abstract: A universal joint including a joint cross having a bearing journal supported in a trunnion bearing having a bearing bushing and a seal assembly including a one-piece seal body sealing the journal cross against the bearing bushing, the seal body having a first lip configured to form a dynamic seal on the bearing bushing or on a U-shaped sleeve connected to the bearing bushing, a second lip configured to form a dynamic seal on the bearing bushing or on the sleeve, a first arm of the sleeve being press-fit in a cylindrical receiving surface of the bearing bushing, or the sleeve having a section that is rounded or doubly corrugated in radial section, or wherein between the seal body and rolling elements of the trunnion bearing a separate ring part is disposed and pressed towards the rolling elements by at least one elastic element projecting from the seal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Rico Dittmar, Padelis Katsaros, Volker Wendt