Patents by Inventor Rainer Massmann

Rainer Massmann 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: 8240440
    Abstract: Apparatus for lifting a hatch which can pivot around a pivot axis, especially a hatch of a motor vehicle, by means of a piston-cylinder unit. The piston-cylinder unit has a closed cylinder filled with a pressurized fluid, the interior of the cylinder 6 being divided by a piston into a first working chamber and a second working chamber. A piston rod passes through the second working chamber and is guided to the outside through a seal at the end of the cylinder and then hinged to the hatch, whereas the other end of the cylinder is hinged to a stationary component. A through-opening leading from the first working chamber to the second working chamber, is provided in the piston. The through-opening can be opened by an electrically actuated valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Kathrin Peifer, Moritz Starkmeth, Udo Wendland
  • Patent number: 8205540
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a piston-cylinder unit for a hinged lid, especially a motor vehicle hinged lid, with a closed first end, a cylinder, a piston installed in the cylinder with freedom to slide back and forth, the piston dividing the cylinder into a working chamber remote from the first end and a second working near the first end; and a piston rod, which is attached to one side of the piston, projects through the first working chamber, and passes out of the cylinder concentrically to the central longitudinal axis of the cylinder through a guide and sealing device at the second end opposite the first end, where a first locking element is provided on the piston rod, and a second locking element is provided on the cylinder to establish a mechanical interlock, and where one of the locking elements comprises a sleeve, which cooperates with the other locking element to establish an interlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Marian Bochen, Rainer Massmann, Mihai Augustin Vidrean
  • Patent number: 7975994
    Abstract: A displacement element includes a first piston, a second piston, a cylindrical housing filled with a fluid under pressure, a piston rod, and a spring. Each of the pistons is adapted to the respective internal diameter of its section and divides the respective section into two pressure chambers. The first piston is arranged at one end of the piston rod, and both pistons each include means for damping the movement of the piston rod respectively in one direction. The second piston is arranged on the side of the first piston facing away from the piston rod and is capable of displacement by means of the first piston in a direction facing away from the open end. The spring is arranged on the side of the second piston facing away from the first piston, and supported by the second piston and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Born, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Dirk Rennecke, Wilhelm Schwab
  • Patent number: 7806244
    Abstract: A piston/cylinder unit includes a closed cylinder filled with a fluid under pressure, a piston dividing the cylinder into a first working chamber and a second working chamber, and a piston rod extending through the second working chamber. A passage through the piston connects the first working chamber to the second working chamber, and a valve closing member is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein the member closes the passage. A solenoid includes a coil, a coil core, and an armature in the piston, the armature driving the valve closing member between the closed position and the open position in response to a magnetic field produced by a current applied to the coil, the cylinder forming a magnetic field guide tube. The coil is supplied with current by a power line in the piston rod, and may be grounded to the piston rod or the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Marian Bochen, Thomas Ehre, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen
  • Patent number: 7798556
    Abstract: An opening device for a flap of a vehicle, in particular for a rear flap, pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis on the upper edge of an opening in the vehicle body from a closed position into an open position having a gas-filled spring coupled to the body by the free end of its piston rod at a distance from the pivot axis and coupled to the flap by its pressure tube at a distance from the pivot axis. The gas-filled spring in the exload direction applies a force to the flap in the opening direction. Furthermore, an actuator can act on the flap in the opening direction. The actuator is an energy accumulator which, applies a force to the flap during its opening stroke from the closed position until a relaxed position of the energy accumulator is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Arenz, Michael Kleinmann, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Andreas Ritter, Heiko Schilken
  • Patent number: 7784772
    Abstract: A spring system has a first pulling part with a first fastening element connected by a tension spring to a second pulling part with a second fastening element. The pulling parts are moveable relative to one another so as to increase or relieve stressing on the tension spring. A damping device damps the movement of the pulling parts in relation to one another. A cylinder is fastened on the first pulling part and a piston 3 is axially displacesably arranged therein, subdividing the interior of the cylinder into a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber. A piston rod connected to the piston is arranged on the second pulling part. The interior of the cylinder is connected to the surroundings via one or more restrictor openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Knopp, Karl-Heinz Darscheid, Stefan Bonnekessel, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Torsten Rickenberg, Jörg-Erwin Scheuer, Dirk Schweinberger, Daniel Herbst, Joachim Völlinger
  • Publication number: 20090301294
    Abstract: A pressure medium connection with a pressure connection element and a pressure line connector. The pressure connection element includes a contact surface for contacting the outside surface of a cylinder, a bore, divided into a first bore section of larger diameter and a second bore section of smaller diameter. A shoulder is formed at the transition from the first bore section to the second bore section, and two slots formed in the wall of the pressure connection element. A piston-cylinder unit, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator or a hydropneumatic actuator in motor vehicles, especially for moving vehicle devices, tops, doors, hinged lids, or the like, includes the pressure medium connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Massmann, Kathrin Peifer, Ulrich Probst, Reiner Wendling
  • Patent number: 7628255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) Of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Ansel, Meik Broeder, Stefan Bonnekessel, Stephan Enders, Alexander Koehl, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Marc Nadler, Willi Nieratschker, Rainer Sauer
  • Publication number: 20090236783
    Abstract: A gas spring includes a center longitudinal axis and a closed first end, a cylinder filled with gas under pressure, a piston displaceably arranged in the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into a first work chamber near the closed end and a second work chamber remote of the closed end, a piston rod passing through the second work chamber and guided out of the cylinder through a guiding and sealing device, and a mechanical blocking device whose action depends upon the internal pressure. The piston has a piston chamber connected to the outside of the cylinder. A first safety element and a second safety element form the mechanical blocking device. The first safety element connects the first work chamber to the outside via the piston chamber when the pressure in the cylinder is too low and brings the second safety element into contact with the inner wall of the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Doffing, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Mihai Augustin Vidrean
  • Publication number: 20090020005
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a piston-cylinder unit for a hinged lid, especially a motor vehicle hinged lid, with a closed first end, a cylinder, a piston installed in the cylinder with freedom to slide back and forth, the piston dividing the cylinder into a working chamber remote from the first end and a second working near the first end; and a piston rod, which is attached to one side of the piston, projects through the first working chamber, and passes out of the cylinder concentrically to the central longitudinal axis of the cylinder through a guide and sealing device at the second end opposite the first end, where a first locking element is provided on the piston rod, and a second locking element is provided on the cylinder to establish a mechanical interlock, and where one of the locking elements comprises a sleeve, which cooperates with the other locking element to establish an interlock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Marian Bochen, Rainer Massmann, Mihai Augustin Vidrean
  • Publication number: 20080315470
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) Of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Holger ANSEL, Meik Broeder, Stefan Bonnekessel, Stephan Enders, Alexander Koehl, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Marc Nadler, Willi Nieratschker, Rainer Sauer
  • Publication number: 20080289327
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid linear drive having a cylinder (1) which is entirely or partially filled with a pressure medium. A piston (2) is arranged inside said cylinder so as to be displaced and has a piston rod (10) which is arranged at one end of the piston (2) and is led out of the cylinder (1) in a scaling manner. The piston subdivides the interior space of the cylinder into a first chamber (6) and a second chamber (7), the piston rod (10) extending through the second chamber (7). A pump (17), which is particularly reversible and by means of which the pressure medium can be pumped into the first chamber (6) and pumped off from the first chamber (6), has a first intake and/or pressure connection (18) and a second intake and/or pressure connection (19). The first intake and/or pressure connection of the pump (17) is connected to the first chamber (6) and the second intake and/or pressure connection is connected to a storage chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Rolf Mintgen, Frank Born, Rainer Massmann, Moritz Starkmeth, Stefan Nissl, Robert Geiger
  • Publication number: 20080245631
    Abstract: A piston/cylinder unit includes a closed cylinder filled with a fluid under pressure, a piston dividing the cylinder into a first working chamber and a second working chamber, and a piston rod extending through the second working chamber. A passage through the piston connects the first working chamber to the second working chamber, and a valve closing member is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein the member closes the passage. A solenoid includes a coil, a coil core, and an armature in the piston, the armature driving the valve closing member between the closed position and the open position in response to a magnetic field produced by a current applied to the coil, the cylinder forming a magnetic field guide tube. The coil is supplied with current by a power line in the piston rod, and may be grounded to the piston rod or the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Marian Bochen, Thomas Ehre, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen
  • Patent number: 7431134
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: STABILUS GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Ansel, Meik Broeder, Stefan Bonnekessel, Stephan Enders, Alexander Koehl, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Marc Nadler, Willi Nieratschker, Rainer Sauer
  • Publication number: 20070267258
    Abstract: Apparatus for lifting a hatch which can pivot around a pivot axis, especially a hatch of a motor vehicle, by means of a piston-cylinder unit. The piston-cylinder unit has a closed cylinder filled with a pressurized fluid, the interior of the cylinder 6 being divided by a piston into a first working chamber and a second working chamber. A piston rod passes through the second working chamber and is guided to the outside through a seal at the end of the cylinder and then hinged to the hatch, whereas the other end of the cylinder is hinged to a stationary component. A through-opening leading from the first working chamber to the second working chamber, is provided in the piston. The through-opening can be opened by an electrically actuated valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Kathrin Peifer, Moritz Starkmeth, Udo Wendland
  • Publication number: 20070187194
    Abstract: A spring system has a first pulling part with a first fastening element connected by a tension spring to a second pulling part with a second fastening element. The pulling parts are moveable relative to one another so as to increase or relieve stressing on the tension spring. A damping device damps the movement of the pulling parts in relation to one another. A cylinder is fastened on the first pulling part and a piston 3 is axially displacesably arranged therein, subdividing the interior of the cylinder into a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber. A piston rod connected to the piston is arranged on the second pulling part. The interior of the cylinder is connected to the surroundings via one or more restrictor openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Axel Knopp, Karl-Heinz Darscheid, Stefan Bonnekessel, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Torsten Rickenberg, Jorg-Erwin Scheuer, Dirk Schweinberger, Daniel Herbst, Joachim Vollinger
  • Publication number: 20070114103
    Abstract: A displacement element includes a first piston, a second piston, a cylindrical housing filled with a fluid under pressure, a piston rod, and a spring. Each of the pistons is adapted to the respective internal diameter of its section and divides the respective section into two pressure chambers. The first piston is arranged at one end of the piston rod, and both pistons each include means for damping the movement of the piston rod respectively in one direction. The second piston is arranged on the side of the first piston facing away from the piston rod and is capable of displacement by means of the first piston in a direction facing away from the open end. The spring is arranged on the side of the second piston facing away from the first piston, and supported by the second piston and the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Frank Born, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Dirk Rennecke, Wilhelm Schwab
  • Publication number: 20070045916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Ansel, Meik Broeder, Stefan Bonnekessel, Stephan Enders, Alexander Koehl, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Marc Nadler, Willi Nieratschker, Rainer Sauer
  • Publication number: 20070007796
    Abstract: The invention relates to an opening device for a flap of a vehicle, in particular for a rear flap, which can be pivoted about a horizontal pivot axis on the upper edge of an opening in the vehicle body from a downwardly directed closed position into an upwardly directed open position. It has a gas-filled spring coupled to the body by the free end of its piston rod at a distance from the pivot axis and coupled to the flap by its pressure tube at a distance from the pivot axis. In this case, the gas-filled spring in the extension direction applies a force to the flap in the opening direction. Furthermore, there is an actuator by means of which a torque can act on the flap in the opening direction. The actuator is an energy accumulator which, from its tensioned position, applies a force to the flap during its opening stroke from the closed position until a relaxed position of the energy accumulator is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 11, 2007
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Arenz, Michael Kleinmann, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Andreas Ritter, Heiko Schilken
  • Publication number: 20060290037
    Abstract: A gas spring is configured with a cylinder divided into first and second chambers by a cylinder piston provided with a rod which is displaceable within the cylinder, and a damping piston dividing the second chamber into a partial chamber and a damping chamber. The cylinder piston and damping pistons are operative to move in opposite axial push-in and push-out direction so that the damping piston is born against the piston in the push-in direction and trails the piston in the push-out direction. The gas spring further has a first choke assembly generating a greater chocking effect when both pistons move in the push-in direction than in the opposite push-out direction; and a second choke assembly generating a smaller choking effect upon displacement of the pistons in the push-in direction than in the push-out direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Inventors: Frank Born, Rainer Massmann, Rolf Mintgen, Wilhelm Schwab