Patents Assigned to Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
  • Patent number: 10632523
    Abstract: A self-piercing riveting die for a setting device, by which a self-piercing riveting connection in a plurality of components is establishable by forming a closing head. This self-piercing riveting die may include a main body with an upper side and a recess arranged rotationally symmetrically to the central axis of the self-piercing riveting die formed therein. In the cross-section of the self-piercing riveting die, the recess has a demolding inclination of the demolding section, which radially transitions via a step into a circular arc-shaped lowering of the annular channel section, wherein the circular arc-shaped lowering radially inwardly rises straight-lined or circular arc-shaped or curvilinearally to the die bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Henke, Daniel Junklewitz, Andreas Marxkors, Franz Ferdinand Menne
  • Patent number: 10626900
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a spring connection element, by means of which at least two components can be connected to each other by means of a claw-fit in at least one component opening. The spring connection element is characterized by the following features: a spiral spring-like wire coil with a first and a second end, said coil comprising a plurality of axially spaced windings, a spiral collar which extends radially beyond a circumference of the wire coil and which is arranged at the first end of the wire coil, and a central traction element protruding radially into the wire coil, which is arranged at the second end of the wire coil, which does not extend axially beyond the wire coil, and by means of which the spring connection element can be pulled into a component opening substantially rotation-free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Petr Stastny, Alexander Vorderwisch, Michael Kahre
  • Patent number: 10589341
    Abstract: A joining device, in particular a self-piercing rivet tool, is disclosed that is operated with the assistance of different drive steps. These drive steps comprise at least one movement step with a fast punch speed, and a power step with a low punch speed and strong punch force. In combination with the joining device, a clamping device module is use that, based on the at least one spring in the clamping device module, generates discernible threshold values in the force/punch path diagram, with the assistance of which a switchover between different drive steps of the joining device is activated. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a joining method for the above-described joining device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Draht, Andre Kleinemeier
  • Patent number: 10589374
    Abstract: A welding auxiliary joining part in the shape of a stud having a head, a shank and a tip is disclosed. The welding auxiliary joining part is driven into a component made of a non- or poorly weldable material by means of a setting method. A welding head is created during driving-in due to mechanical deformation such that subsequently the component can be connected by welding via the welding auxiliary joining part to a further component made of a weldable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Draht, Sergej Hartwig-Biglau
  • Patent number: 10570942
    Abstract: An annular plug coupling which can be fastened within an opening in a first component and has the following features: a central coupling seat, in particular a ball socket, to which a coupling head of a second part can be releasably connected, and an intermediate ring that includes a plurality of curved, radially inward-extending first spring elements connected to the ball socket, and a plurality of curved, radially outward-extending second spring elements which are provided with a locking connection at a radially outward end such that the plug coupling can be locked within the opening in the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Metten, Jasmin Fritzsch
  • Patent number: 10441997
    Abstract: A metal casting method and a plastic injection molding method in which an insert is molded in molten material such that no molten material enters the interior of the insert. The usage of a wire thread insert as insert has the advantage that for example in an aluminum cast part thread holes can be produced already as part of the casting process. For this purpose, the casting mold, the insert, as well as the casting method are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignees: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Michael Stumpf, Francisco Tovar, Marco Haesche, Franz-Josef Wöstmann, Christoph Pille, Michael Heuser, Tobias Beyer
  • Patent number: 10400806
    Abstract: The connecting element for gluing onto a component surface B comprises a retaining pin having a pin section, to which a structural component can be attached. An anchor of the retaining pin is attached in a disk made of a material which can be penetrated by light such that due to the rotation-inhibiting and removal-inhibiting shape of the anchor, a reliable connection is established between the retaining pin and the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Drüke
  • Patent number: 10384295
    Abstract: A welding auxiliary joining part is disclosed in the shape of a stud having a head, a shank and a tip. The welding auxiliary joining part is driven in by means of a mechanical-thermal setting method into a component of non- or poorly weldable material. During the driving in, a welding head is created due to mechanical deformation so that the component may be connected subsequently via the welding auxiliary joining part to a further component of weldable material by means of welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Draht, Sergej Hartwig-Biglau
  • Patent number: 10344786
    Abstract: A quick fastener by means of which at least a first and a second component are connectable to each other. The quick fastener includes a fastening bolt having a fastening thread of a first spiral direction, which is fastenable at the second component, and a compressible pretension element which is fastenable at the first component. The compressible pretension element includes a pretension thread at a radial inner side having a second spiral direction opposite to the first spiral direction, a hollow cylindrical thread element which is screwable with an outer thread at a radial outer side into the pretension thread of the pretension element having an inner thread at its radial inner side into which the fastening thread of the fastening bolt is screwable. At least a constructive rotation protection is provided between the hollow cylindrical thread element and the compressible pretension element. A production method for the quick fastener is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Jodeleit, Hans-Joachim Dembowsky, Jörg Matthes, André Janßen, Torsten Hübner
  • Publication number: 20190154073
    Abstract: A fastener having a damping function with which at least a first and a second component can be connected via a screw connection. The fastener consists of the following components: an elastically deformable outer sleeve, a support sleeve arranged therein and a screw sleeve with telescopic portion arranged in the outer sleeve. When establishing the connection between the components, the outer sleeve folds, whereby the support sleeve and the screw sleeve are moved into each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: BÖLLHOFF VERBINDUNGSTECHNIK GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Figge, Viktor Zelmer
  • Publication number: 20190084032
    Abstract: A self-piercing riveting die for a setting device, by which a self-piercing riveting connection in a plurality of components is establishable by forming a closing head. This self-piercing riveting die may include a main body with an upper side and a recess arranged rotationally symmetrically to the central axis of the self-piercing riveting die formed therein. In the cross-section of the self-piercing riveting die, the recess has a demolding inclination of the demolding section, which radially transitions via a step into a circular arc-shaped lowering of the annular channel section, wherein the circular arc-shaped lowering radially inwardly rises straight-lined or circular arc-shaped or curvilinearally to the die bottom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: BÖLLHOFF VERBINDUNGSTECHNIK GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Henke, Daniel Junklewitz, Andreas Marxkors, Franz Ferdinand Menne
  • Patent number: 10228010
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a closure element of a drive means opening of a connection element. Further, the present disclosure relates to an installation holding element with a plurality of closure elements of the drive means opening of a connection element, wherein the closure elements can be installed manually without tool in the drive means opening of the connection element. For this purpose, the installation holding element comprises a holding element, a handle portion as well as a plurality of closure elements arranged at the holding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Arndt, Maximilian Betz, André Röhr, Daniel Tovar Escolar
  • Patent number: 10207458
    Abstract: A setting welding device is set forth for setting stud-like auxiliary joining parts in a plurality of layers of material and subjecting them to a mechanical-thermoforming process on a second layer of material and connecting them to said second layer by way of a welding operation. For this purpose, the punch is used to apply to the welding auxiliary joining part mechanical and thermal loads that follow prescribed characteristic force and current curves. Furthermore, a corresponding connecting method that can be realized with the aid of the setting welding device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Draht, Sergej Hartwig-Biglau, Holger Thommes
  • Publication number: 20190031083
    Abstract: The invention relates to an alignment element (10), with which an attachment part (50) can be positioned on a structure part (42) of a motor vehicle. The alignment element (10) is also suitable for retaining the attachment part (50) at a defined distance to the structure part (42) under non-destructive force transmission, and for compensating an occurring angular adjustment (W). The invention also relates to an illumination assembly (28) for a vehicle having the alignment element (10) and a corresponding method for mounting an illumination device (34) on the vehicle. Finally, a vehicle (32) comprising the illumination assembly (28) is also an object of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten HÜBNER, Andreas BORSUTZKY, Martin JODELEIT
  • Publication number: 20190001392
    Abstract: A method for determining the quality of a joint fabricated in a plurality of metal sheets by a joining device and a control method. The joining device comprises a drive element, and a hold-down device The method may have the following steps: moving the drive element to move the punch and, via at least one first and one second spring, the hold-down device; recording of a force applied by the drive element with a first sensor and of a distance covered by the drive element with a second sensor during a movement of the drive element in a mating direction and opposite thereto as a force/displacement curve; and comparing a linear relief range in the recorded curve with a reference curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: BÖLLHOFF VERBINDUNGSTECHNIK GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Draht, Stefan Rehling
  • Patent number: 10167890
    Abstract: An elastically deformable coupling part for a plug-in connection for connecting a first component and a second component, has an inner connection portion, in which a head of a pin-like element of the second component can be accommodated by a detent or snap-in connection. In addition, the coupling part has an outer fastening portion, which can be connected to a keyhole of the first component by a bayonet closure. The fastening portion comprises at least one radial contact surface. At least one first radial projection, which forms a bayonet gap for a rotational accommodation of the first component, is arranged at an axial distance from the radial contact surface. At least one second radial projection, which forms a locking gap for the first component between the second projection and the radial contact surface by a movability directed inward, is arranged at an axial distance from the radial contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Sandra Steffenfauseweh, Wolfgang Hesse
  • Patent number: 10058911
    Abstract: A die chanter for a die of a joining device, a die dome adapted to the die and a method for removing a die of a joining device and a method for inserting a die into a joining device. The die has a head having upper and bottom sides, and a shaft extending from the bottom side and receivable and lockable in a dome without rotation. The shaft comprises: at least one first web forming an undercut on two sides by which the shaft is lockable in the dome by a linear inserting movement, at least one second web, the length of which is adaptable to a diameter of the dome to ensure a lateral guiding of the shaft in the dome and which is arranged between the head and the first web, and an ejection surface by which the die can be moved out of the dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Fabian Ahlemeyer, Peter Peters
  • Patent number: 10047778
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connection comprising at least two components having the following features: a first component and a second component, of which at least the second component comprises reinforced plastic, a self-piercing connection element having a head and a shaft, the head thereof being supported on the first component and the shaft thereof running completely through the first and the second component, and a disc-shaped counter bearing to which the shaft is fastened such that the at least two components are fastened between the head and the counter bearing. The invention further relates to a method for the production of said connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH, Audi AG
    Inventors: Jochen Rintelmann, Michael Stumpf, Carsten Bär, Torsten Draht, Marc Steinig
  • Patent number: 10005211
    Abstract: A moldable wire thread insert for reinforcing a screw-in opening of a component has the following characteristics: a cylindrical spiral made of a helically, wound wire, the neighboring coils of which are arranged such that a closed cylindrical spiral wall is present, while at least one end of the cylindrical spirals has a fastening flange, which extends radially outwards over the cylindrical spiral wall and with which the wire thread insert is anchorable in the component and/or one end of the cylindrical spiral is designed in a planar manner in order to form an even axial front surface of the cylindrical spiral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Friedrich Grubert, Michael Stumpf, Xavier Sutz, Jochen Rintelmann
  • Patent number: 9995331
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a coupling element for the releasable connection of a first component to a second component. The coupling element has an annular basic element comprising a fastening structure at a radially outer side. Further, the basic element comprises a socket-like holding structure at a radially inner side. The socket-like holding structure comprises a centrally arranged supporting element as well as a plurality of holding webs. The holding webs comprise at least a first and a second web section. The first web section encloses with an axis of symmetry S of the coupling element an angle ? from a range of 45°???90° and the first web section and the second web section are arranged in an obtuse angle with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: BÖLLHOFF VERBINDUNGSTECHNIK GmbH
    Inventors: Vanessa Heimann, Alexander Vorderwisch