US Patent Issued to Schaeffler Technologies on Sept. 16 for "Heavy-duty thrust washer with lubricant passages for e-axle" (North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 17 -- United States Patent no. 12,416,328, issued on Sept. 16, was assigned to Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG (Herzogenaurach, Germany).

"Heavy-duty thrust washer with lubricant passages for e-axle" was invented by Guihui Zhong (Charlotte, N.C.), James Brown (Rock Hill, S.C.), Florin Muscas (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and Joseph T. Griffin (Monroe, N.C.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A thrust washer for a bearing assembly having increased strength, decreased weight and improved oil flow for lubrication and/or cooling of the bearing assembly. The thrust washer includes an annular washer body surrounding a central axis. The washer body has first and second opposite axi...