Patents by Inventor Helmut Oberhoffer

Helmut Oberhoffer 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: 10227671
    Abstract: A method for producing a corrosion-resistant steel sheet made of an unalloyed or low-alloy and cold-rolled steel having a carbon content of less than 0.1 wt %. The method includes the following steps: applying a metal coating to the steel sheet; annealing the coated steel sheet in a recrystallizing manner by heating the coated steel sheet to temperatures in the recrystallization range by electromagnetic induction in an inert-gas atmosphere; and quenching the coated and annealed steel sheet. The metal coating is fused on during the recrystallization annealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP RASSELSTEIN GMBH
    Inventors: Helmut Oberhoffer, Anika Szesni, Manuel Köhl, Dimitrios Nouskalis, Reiner Sauer
  • Patent number: 9650692
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing packaging steel consisting of a cold-rolled steel sheet made of unalloyed or low-alloy steel having a carbon content of less than 0.1%. In order to provide high-strength packaging steel that has good formability and high corrosion resistance and can be produced in as energy-saving a manner as possible, the steel sheet according to the invention is first coated with a metallic coating and then annealed in a recrystallizing manner at a heating rate of more than 75 K/s and preferably more than 100 K/s to temperatures of more than 700° C., such that the metallic coating melts. The coated and annealed steel sheet is then quenched to normal temperature at a cooling rate of at least 100 K/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Rasselstein GmbH
    Inventors: Anika Szesni, Helmut Oberhoffer, Martin Schlupp, Dirk Matusch, Reiner Sauer
  • Patent number: 9580646
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating a steel band or steel plate provided with a metal coating with an after-treatment agent, which contains at least one polyalkylene glycol and is applied as a liquid solution to the surface of the metal coating. According to the invention, in order to achieve improved wetting and adhesion of the covering and at the same time the lowest possible coefficient of friction of the coated surface and in order to ensure good workability of the coated steel band or plate, the after-treatment agent contains a fluorescent antioxidant in addition to the polyalkylene glycol. The invention further relates to a steel band or steel plate provided with a metal coating, particularly a tin plate, which, on the surface of the metal coating, has a thin coat of an after-treatment agent which contains polyalkylene glycol and a fluorescent antioxidant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP RASSELSTEIN GMBH
    Inventors: Harold Baulig, Reiner Sauer, Helmut Oberhoffer, Martin Schlupp
  • Publication number: 20160002748
    Abstract: A method for producing a corrosion-resistant steel sheet made of an unalloyed or low-alloy and cold-rolled steel having a carbon content of less than 0.1 wt %. The method includes the following steps: applying a metal coating to the steel sheet; annealing the coated steel sheet in a recrystallizing manner by heating the coated steel sheet to temperatures in the recrystallization range by electromagnetic induction in an inert-gas atmosphere; and quenching the coated and annealed steel sheet. The metal coating is fused on during the recrystallization annealing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Helmut OBERHOFFER, Anika SZESNI, Manuel KÖHL, Dimitrios NOUSKALIS, Reiner SAUER
  • Patent number: 9115428
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for enhancing a metallic coating on a steel strip or steel plate, the coating being melted by heating to a temperature above the melting temperature of the material of the coating, the heating taking place by irradiation of the surface of the coating with electromagnetic radiation having a high power density over a limited irradiation time of not more than 10 ?s, and the mandated irradiation time and the energy density introduced into the coating by the electromagnetic radiation being selected such that the coating melts completely over its entire thickness down to the boundary layer with the steel strip, thereby forming a thin alloy layer at the boundary layer between the coating and the steel strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Rasselstein GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Hoehn, Helmut Oberhoffer, Benjamin Johannes Liebscher, Reiner Sauer
  • Publication number: 20150050517
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating a steel band or steel plate provided with a metal coating with an after-treatment agent, which contains at least one polyalkylene glycol and is applied as a liquid solution to the surface of the metal coating. According to the invention, in order to achieve improved wetting and adhesion of the covering and at the same time the lowest possible coefficient of friction of the coated surface and in order to ensure good workability of the coated steel band or plate, the after-treatment agent contains a fluorescent antioxidant in addition to the polyalkylene glycol. The invention further relates to a steel band or steel plate provided with a metal coating, particularly a tin plate, which, on the surface of the metal coating, has a thin coat of an after-treatment agent which contains polyalkylene glycol and a fluorescent antioxidant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP RASSELSTEIN GMBH
    Inventors: Harald Baulig, Reiner Sauer, Helmut Oberhoffer, Martin Schlupp
  • Publication number: 20150024222
    Abstract: A process for passivation of strip steel plate, having the following steps: electrochemical treatment of the black plate by passing the black plate through an electrolyte to form an inert steel surface; rinsing the black plate; and application of an aqueous chromium-free treatment solution to at least one surface of the black plate to form a conversion layer that protects against corrosion and an adhesion layer for paints and organic coating materials. The black plate treated in accordance with this process is characterized by high corrosion resistance and has good bonding capacity for paints and organic coatings and therefore is very suitable as a substitute for tin-free steel (TFS or ECCS) and tinplate for the production of packagings, in particular cans. In contrast to the traditional manufacturing and passivation processes for tin-free steel and tinplate, no chromium VI, which is environmentally hazardous and hazardous to health, is used in this process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Reiner SAUER, Andrea MARMANN, Helmut OBERHOFFER, Tatjana KASDORF, Gerhard MENZEL, Dirk MATUSCH, Rainer GOERTZ
  • Publication number: 20150010773
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for passivating the surface of a tinned steel strip which is moved through a coating system at a strip speed of at least 200 m/min. After the steel strip is tinned, the surface is anodically oxidized, and a liquid solution of a chromium-free aftertreatment agent is applied onto the oxide layer. The invention further relates to a tinned steel strip or sheet with a support layer made of a fine or ultrafine sheet of steel, a tin layer which is deposited thereon, and a surface layer of a chromium-free aftertreatment agent. An oxide layer is formed between the tin layer and the surface layer of the aftertreatment agent, said oxide layer substantially consisting of tetravalent tin oxide (SnO2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Reiner Sauer, Andrea Marmann, Helmut Oberhoffer, Tatjana Kasdorf
  • Publication number: 20150010779
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing packaging steel consisting of a cold-rolled steel sheet made of unalloyed or low-alloy steel having a carbon content of less than 0.1%. In order to provide high-strength packaging steel that has good formability and high corrosion resistance and can be produced in as energy-saving a manner as possible, the steel sheet according to the invention is first coated with a metallic coating and then annealed in a recrystallising manner at a heating rate of more than 75 K/s and preferably more than 100 K/s to temperatures of more than 700° C., such that the metallic coating melts. The coated and annealed steel sheet is then quenched to normal temperature at a cooling rate of at least 100 K/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Anika Szesni, Helmut Oberhoffer, Martin Schlupp, Dirk Matusch, Reiner Sauer
  • Publication number: 20150001089
    Abstract: A method for improving a metal coating on a steel strip or a steel sheet or plate. The coating is melted to a maximum temperature above the melting temperature of the material of the coating by inductive heating performed by at least one induction coil and subsequently cooled to a quenching temperature, below the melting temperature, in a cooling device. In order to improve the corrosion stability of the coating, even in the case of thin coating layers, the coating is kept at a temperature above the melting temperature during a holding time and the holding time is adapted to the maximum temperature and the thickness of the coating by moving at least one of the induction coils with respect to the cooling device, in order to melt the coating completely over its entire thickness to the boundary layer with the steel strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Dirk Matusch, Reiner Sauer, Helmut Oberhoffer, Thomas Rainer, Markus Opper
  • Publication number: 20140349135
    Abstract: A method for coating a steel sheet with a metal layer includes the following steps: application of a first thin metal layer as a flash coating; melting the metal layer from the flash coating; and application of at least one additional metal layer onto the metal layer from the flash coating. To increase the corrosion resistance of the coated steel sheet and to improve the energy and resource efficiency of the coating method, with which a steel sheet having a high corrosion resistance and good weldability and with a good deep drawing and ironing behavior is to be produced, the thickness of the metal layer from the flash coating is at most 200 mg/m2 and the metal layer from the flash coating is melted with electromagnetic radiation of high energy density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP RASSELSTEIN GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut OBERHOFFER, Benjamin LIEBSCHER, Anika SZESNI, Reiner SAUER, Karl-Ernst FRIEDRICH
  • Publication number: 20140162087
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for enhancing a metallic coating on a steel strip or steel plate, the coating being melted by heating to a temperature above the melting temperature of the material of the coating, the heating taking place by irradiation of the surface of the coating with electromagnetic radiation having a high power density over a limited irradiation time of not more than 10 ?s, and the mandated irradiation time and the energy density introduced into the coating by the electromagnetic radiation being selected such that the coating melts completely over its entire thickness down to the boundary layer with the steel strip, thereby forming a thin alloy layer at the boundary layer between the coating and the steel strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP RASSELSTEIN GMBH
    Inventors: Winfried Hoehn, Helmut Oberhoffer, Benjamin Johannes Liebscher, Reiner Sauer
  • Publication number: 20120325379
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing corrosion-resistant and workable sheet metal consisting of uncoated steel sheets (1, 1?), comprising the following steps: —placing the steel sheets (1, 1?) in abutting relationship, —welding the or each joint groove (14) by butt joint welding by means of a welding beam (13) for forming a weld (2) along the respective joint groove (4), —thermal treatment of the or each weld (2) directly after or even during the forming of the weld (2) by means of an annealing beam (15), —full-surface coating of the joined steel sheets (1, 1?), including the or each weld (2), after cooling the welds (2), with a metallic coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: RASSELSTEIN GMBH
    Inventors: Harald Baulig, Bernd Baumann, Josef Kesselem, Helmut Oberhoffer, Andrea Link, Reiner Sauer