Patents by Inventor Heinz Kupka

Heinz Kupka 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: 6659153
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for fitting motor vehicle tires onto rims of disk wheels having a tire fitting tool (17) which can rotate about an axis and is mounted at a distance from the axis, an electric motor (2) as a drive motor for a rotational drive of the tire fitting tool (17) about the axis and a power supply device for the drive motor, the power supply device being connected to a gradient-limiting device which, when a predefined gradient of the torque transmitted from the drive motor (2) to the tire fitting tool (17) is exceeded, causes a braking current for stopping the rotational drive to be supplied to the drive motor (2). With the gradient as switch-off criterion, switching off takes place significantly before the limiting value of the torque or of the motor current is reached, so that the tire is handled more gently and it is ensured that the tire is not damaged by the interrupted fitting procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hofmann Maschinen-und Anlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz Kupka
  • Publication number: 20030213563
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for fitting motor vehicle tires onto rims of disk wheels having a tire fitting tool (17) which can rotate about an axis and is mounted at a distance from the axis, an electric motor (2) as a drive motor for a rotational drive of the tire fitting tool (17) about the axis and a power supply device for the drive motor, the power supply device being connected to a gradient-limiting device which, when a predefined gradient of the torque transmitted from the drive motor (2) to the tire fitting tool (17) is exceeded, causes a braking current for stopping the rotational drive to be supplied to the drive motor (2). With the gradient as switch-off criterion, switching off takes place significantly before the limiting value of the torque or of the motor current is reached, so that the tire is handled more gently and it is ensured that the tire is not damaged by the interrupted fitting procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: Hofmann Maschinen- und Anlagenbau
    Inventor: Heinz Kupka
  • Patent number: 5196772
    Abstract: Apparatus for fitting a motor vehicle tire on a disc wheel comprises a tire fitting tool mounted rotatably about an axis, an electric drive motor to drive the tire fitting tool about the axis, a current supply means for the drive motor, and a torque limiting means to terminate the rotary drive to the motor when a predetermined torque transmitted to the tire fitting tool is exceeded, thereby to protect the tire from overloading in the fitting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Hofmann Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Kupka, Heinz Ronge