Patents by Inventor Erik Hochapfel
Erik Hochapfel 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).
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Publication number: 20230303173Abstract: A chassis component having a receptacle for an elastomer bearing(s), the receptacle has a first cylinder section and a second cylinder section. The first cylinder section is formed by a rim hole and the second cylinder section is formed by a sleeve. The chassis component is formed from a first and a second sheet metal shell, and the sleeve is joined materially to the second sheet metal shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Erik HOCHAPFEL, Thomas PRUS-THORNS, Juergen HUMMELT
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Publication number: 20190143624Abstract: The disclosure relates to a downholding press for producing a semi-finished product from sheet-metal material having thickness-reduced regions, wherein the semi-finished product after forming has regions with mutually dissimilar wall thicknesses and the downholding press has an upper tool and a lower tool as well as a downholding element, and a convexity on the sheet-metal material is generated between the upper tool and the lower tool such that the sheet-metal material is reduced in thickness in regions by elongation, wherein a blocking cam is configured on the downholding element in such a manner that a follow-on of the sheet-metal material is impeded.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Erik HOCHAPFEL, Thomas HENKSMEIER
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Patent number: 10226809Abstract: A method for producing a shaped sheet metal component having wall thicknesses differing from each other is disclosed including providing a sheet metal material having a constant wall thickness, pre-shaping the sheet metal material into a preform by means of a hold-down press, producing at least one bulge in an inner region such that the material is stretched and has a reduced wall thickness, flattening and/or extending the produced preform, cutting the sheet metal material in order to form a blank before, during, or after the pre-shaping, and shaping the blank into the shaped sheet metal component.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBHInventors: Thomas Henksmeier, Erik Hochapfel, Dieter Friesen
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Publication number: 20180178853Abstract: An axle or chassis component for an axle of a motor vehicle is disclosed. At least a part of the axle or chassis component is provided by a one-piece and single-material formed component. The formed component has at least three regions, wherein one region has a smaller wall thickness in relation to the other two regions, and the region with a smaller wall thickness is arranged between the two regions with a greater wall thickness.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Dieter FRIESEN, Thomas HENKSMEIER, Erik HOCHAPFEL
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Publication number: 20180050380Abstract: A method for producing a shaped sheet metal component having wall thicknesses differing from each other is disclosed including providing a sheet metal material having a constant wall thickness, pre-shaping the sheet metal material into a preform by means of a hold-down press, producing at least one bulge in an inner region such that the material is stretched and has a reduced wall thickness, flattening and/or extending the produced preform, cutting the sheet metal material in order to form a blank before, during, or after the pre-shaping, and shaping the blank into the shaped sheet metal component.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2016Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Thomas HENKSMEIER, Erik HOCHAPFEL, Dieter FRIESEN
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Patent number: 8959308Abstract: The invention relates to a device for monitoring and using internal signals in a programmable system (2), wherein said device includes at least one programmable system (2) including at least one programmable circuit (10, 20, 30), and at least one host system (3) capable of communicating with said programmable system for controlling the monitoring and the use of internal signals in at least one programmable circuit, characterized in that the device further comprises at least one local storage unit (12, 22, 32), at least one control and data-exchange logic unit (4) controlled by a host system, and at least one processing and control unit (8) connected to the at least one host system for communication between the associated host system and at least one storage unit, and for indexing the internal signals of each programmable circuit associated with at least one interface relative to each storage unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: AdacsysInventors: Erik Hochapfel, Pascal Remy
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Patent number: 8573568Abstract: A leaf spring attachment for connecting a leaf spring to an axle or frame of a motor vehicle includes a clamp to maintain the leaf spring under tension between elastomer bodies. At least one of the elastomer bodies is connected to the leaf spring by a material joint. The clamp is split to define an upper clamp member and a lower clamp member in opposition to the upper clamp member. The upper clamp member has a U-shaped configuration to embrace a topside and opposite length sides of the leaf spring. The lower clamp member includes a plurality of retention plates in spaced-apart relationship for connection with the axle by material joint. Screw fasteners are provided to secure legs of the upper clamp member to the lower clamp member.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Thomas Henksmeier, Erik Hochapfel, Waldemar Bera
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Patent number: 8480107Abstract: A wheel suspension for a motor vehicle includes a suspension arm having a base body and support elements formed on the base body. Pivotally mounted on the suspension arm for rotation about a rotation axis is a wheel carrier which defines a wheel axis. An adjustment screw is arranged in substantial orthogonal relationship to the wheel axis and received at least one installation opening of the wheel carrier for securing the wheel carrier to the suspension arm.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2011Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Thomas Henksmeier, Erik Hochapfel, Waldemar Bera
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Patent number: 8454042Abstract: A wheel suspension of a motor vehicle includes a transverse leaf spring arranged along a transverse axis of the motor vehicle. The transverse leaf spring is connected via two bearings with a body of the vehicle and is connected in an articulated manner at its two mutually opposite ends with a stub axle or suspension arm. The bearings are arranged such that the transverse leaf spring is stiffly fixed in a direction of a vertical axis of the vehicle and is movable in a translatory manner in a direction of the transverse axis of the vehicle and is rotationally movable around an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2011Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Erik Hochapfel, Tobias Ebbing, Hendrik Reineke, Jürgen Von Der Kall, Aloys Schröder, Rodscha Drabon, Christian Schnabel, Armin Zuber
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Patent number: 8382128Abstract: An axle arrangement includes an axle member and an axle member bracket arranged on the axle member. A wheel suspension having a wheel carrier bracket is constructed in the form of a fork-shaped metal sheet and swingably supported on the axle member bracket for wheel alignment, with a wheel carrier being arranged on the wheel carrier bracket.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Thomas Henksmeier, Erik Hochapfel
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Publication number: 20120098229Abstract: A wheel suspension of a motor vehicle includes a transverse leaf spring arranged along a transverse axis of the motor vehicle. The transverse leaf spring is connected via two bearings with a body of the vehicle and is connected in an articulated manner at its two mutually opposite ends with a stub axle or suspension arm. The bearings are arranged such that the transverse leaf spring is stiffly fixed in a direction of a vertical axis of the vehicle and is movable in a translatory manner in a direction of the transverse axis of the vehicle and is rotationally movable around an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicant: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBHInventors: ERIK HOCHAPFEL, TOBIAS EBBING, HENDRIK REINEKE, JÜRGEN VON DER KALL, ALOYS SCHRÖDER, RODSCHA DRABON, CHRISTIAN SCHNABEL, ARMIN ZUBER
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Publication number: 20120056396Abstract: A wheel suspension for a motor vehicle includes a suspension arm having a base body and support elements formed on the base body. Pivotally mounted on the suspension arm for rotation about a rotation axis is a wheel carrier which defines a wheel axis. An adjustment screw is arranged in substantial orthogonal relationship to the wheel axis and received at least one installation opening of the wheel carrier for securing the wheel carrier to the suspension arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: THOMAS HENKSMEIER, ERIK HOCHAPFEL
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Publication number: 20110285101Abstract: An axle arrangement includes an axle member and an axle member bracket arranged on the axle member. A wheel suspension having a wheel carrier bracket is constructed in the form of a fork-shaped metal sheet and swingably supported on the axle member bracket for wheel alignment, with a wheel carrier being arranged on the wheel carrier bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Thomas Henksmeier, Erik Hochapfel
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Publication number: 20110221105Abstract: A leaf spring attachment for connecting a leaf spring to an axle or frame of a motor vehicle includes a clamp to maintain the leaf spring under tension between elastomer bodies. At least one of the elastomer bodies is connected to the leaf spring by a material joint. The clamp is split to define an upper clamp member and a lower clamp member in opposition to the upper clamp member. The upper clamp member has a U-shaped configuration to embrace a topside and opposite length sides of the leaf spring. The lower clamp member includes a plurality of retention plates in spaced-apart relationship for connection with the axle by material joint. Screw fasteners are provided to secure legs of the upper clamp member to the lower clamp member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbHInventors: Thomas Henksmeier, Erik Hochapfel
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Publication number: 20100332742Abstract: The invention relates to a device for monitoring and using internal signals in a programmable system (2), wherein said device includes at least one programmable system (2) including at least one programmable circuit (10, 20, 30), and at least one host system (3) capable of communicating with said programmable system for controlling the monitoring and the use of internal signals in at least one programmable circuit, characterised in that the device further comprises at least one local storage unit (12, 22, 32), at least one control and data-exchange logic unit (4) controlled by a host system, and at least one processing and control unit (8) connected to the at least one host system for communication between the associated host system and at least one storage unit, and for indexing the internal signals of each programmable circuit associated with at least one interface relative to each storage unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: ADACSYSInventors: Erik Hochapfel, Pascal Remy