Patents by Inventor Axel Grüneklee

Axel Grüneklee 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: 10532395
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a shaped sheet-metal part from a panel or a semifinished part made of a material consisting of steel with at least 60 wt. % Fe and a residual austenite content of at least 5%, in which the panel or the semifinished part is at least partially cooled to a temperature below ?20° C. before the shaping and is shaped at a temperature below ?20° C. in a forming tool. The object of providing a method for producing load-compliantly configured components, which on the one hand permits industrial-scale use of low-temperature forming and is configured particularly simply, is achieved by reducing the material temperature of the panel or semifinished part to below ?20° C. is carried out in a thermally regulated cooling apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignees: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, Outokumpu Nirosta GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Grüneklee, Markus Zörnack, Thomas Heller, Ekaterina Bocharova, Seyed Amin Mousavi Rizi
  • Patent number: 10363775
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel for motor vehicles may include a wheel-rim ring with an opening, a main member positioned at least partially in the opening of the wheel-rim ring, and a covering shell for at least partially covering the main member. The main member may include an attachment region with receptacles for attaching the main member and the wheel-rim ring to a vehicle. The wheel is configured to have a low weight and an adequate stiffness. Moreover, the wheel also exhibits a secure attachment and no pre-load losses while permitting a high degree of design flexibility. In some examples, the attachment region of the main member is free from the covering shell by way of, for example, a cut-out in the covering shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: David Pieronek, Axel Grüneklee, Markus Zörnack
  • Patent number: 10092944
    Abstract: A method for producing a wheel disk of a vehicle wheel may involve producing the wheel disk produced from a steel blank by hot forming. The blank may be at least partially hardened, preferably press-hardened, during or after the hot forming. The blank may be hot formed using at least one punch and at least one die, and at least one opening may be introduced into the blank using hot trimming means. At least one opening may be introduced during the hot trimming using at least one trimming bolt and an application bolt, wherein the application bolt may have at least one region having a cross-sectional shape that is variable in a longitudinal direction of the application bolt. Using the application bolt, the at least one opening may be calibrated via the variable cross sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Arndt Marx, Müller Christian, David Pieronek, Axel Grüneklee, Markus Zörnack
  • Patent number: 9724962
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wheel, in particular for vehicles, such as motor vehicles, with a rim ring having an opening defined there through, and with a main support at least partially arranged in the opening in the rim ring. The wheel, despite having a low weight, provides adequate rigidity and strength and can be produced in a simple manner, while maintaining design flexibility. The main support of the wheel has a plurality of spokes, and a plurality of covering parts for at least partially covering the spokes, wherein the main support and the covering parts support the rim ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
    Inventors: David Pieronek, Axel Grüneklee, Markus Zörnack
  • Publication number: 20170001670
    Abstract: A method for producing a large outer paneling part for a movable body part of a motor vehicle such as a door, a front hood, or a tailgate may involve using a forming die to form a large metallic panel part into formed panel part having a three-dimensional shape. A reinforcement made of plastic may be applied to at least a portion of an inside of the formed panel part by back injection molding. In some cases, the metallic panel has a sheet metal thickness of less than 0.6 mm, and in some cases less than 0.5 mm. The formed panel part provided with the at least one plastic reinforcement may be connected to an inner structure produced from metal sheet and/or plastic by folding and/or adhesive bonding the plastic reinforcement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Axel Grüneklee, Markus Zörnack, Andreas Keutz, Jens Winiarz
  • Publication number: 20160318091
    Abstract: A method for producing a wheel disk of a vehicle wheel may involve producing the wheel disk produced from a steel blank by hot forming. The blank may be at least partially hardened, preferably press-hardened, during or after the hot forming. The blank may be hot formed using at least one punch and at least one die, and at least one opening may be introduced into the blank using hot trimming means. At least one opening may be introduced during the hot trimming using at least one trimming bolt and an application bolt, wherein the application bolt may have at least one region having a cross-sectional shape that is variable in a longitudinal direction of the application bolt. Using the application bolt, the at least one opening may be calibrated via the variable cross sectional shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicants: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, ThyssenKrupp AG
    Inventors: Arndt Marx, Müller Christian, David Pieronek, Axel Grüneklee, Markus Zörnack
  • Publication number: 20160152069
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel for motor vehicles may include a wheel-rim ring with an opening, a main member positioned at least partially in the opening of the wheel-rim ring, and a covering shell for at least partially covering the main member. The main member may include an attachment region with receptacles for attaching the main member and the wheel-rim ring to a vehicle. The wheel is configured to have a low weight and an adequate stiffness. Moreover, the wheel also exhibits a secure attachment and no pre-load losses while permitting a high degree of design flexibility. In some examples, the attachment region of the main member is free from the covering shell by way of, for example, a cut-out in the covering shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
    Inventors: David PIERONEK, Axel GRÜNEKLEE, Markus ZÖRNACK
  • Patent number: 9283991
    Abstract: A front-end structure includes at least one lower longitudinal member and an absorber which is arranged on an outer side of a vehicle on the at least one lower longitudinal member and, in the event of an impact with a small overlap, provides an energy-absorbing load path into the at least one lower longitudinal member, wherein at least one deformation element is provided which is arranged at least between the absorber and a suspension strut dome and is connected to both thereof in a in a positive, non-positive and/or integrally bonded manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, ThyssenKrupp AG
    Inventors: Axel Grüneklee, Martin Kibben, Markus Zörnack
  • Publication number: 20150367677
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wheel, in particular for vehicles, such as motor vehicles, with a rim ring having an opening defined there through, and with a main support at least partially arranged in the opening in the rim ring. The wheel, despite having a low weight, provides adequate rigidity and strength and can be produced in a simple manner, while maintaining design flexibility. The main support of the wheel has a plurality of spokes, and a plurality of covering parts for at least partially covering the spokes, wherein the main support and the covering parts support the rim ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
    Inventors: David PIERONEK, Axel GRÜNEKLEE, Markus ZÖRNACK
  • Publication number: 20150360724
    Abstract: A front-end structure includes at least one lower longitudinal member and an absorber which is arranged on an outer side of a vehicle on the at least one lower longitudinal member and, in the event of an impact with a small overlap, provides an energy-absorbing load path into the at least one lower longitudinal member, wherein at least one deformation element is provided which is arranged at least between the absorber and a suspension strut dome and is connected to both thereof in a in a positive, non-positive and/or integrally bonded manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Axel Grüneklee, Martin Kibben, Markus Zörnack
  • Publication number: 20150082636
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a shaped sheet-metal part from a panel or a semifinished part made of a material consisting of steel with at least 60 wt. % Fe and a residual austenite content of at least 5%, in which the panel or the semifinished part is at least partially cooled to a temperature below ?20° C. before the shaping and is shaped at a temperature below ?20° C. in a forming tool. The object of providing a method for producing load-compliantly configured components, which on the one hand permits industrial-scale use of low-temperature forming and is configured particularly simply, is achieved by reducing the material temperature of the panel or semifinished part to below ?20° C. is carried out in a thermally regulated cooling apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicants: OUTOKUMPU NIROSTA GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Axel Grüneklee, Markus Zörnack, Thomas Heller, Ekaterina Bocharova, Seyed Amin Mousavi Rizi
  • Patent number: 8980020
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a metal structural component, in particular a vehicle structural component, in which a steel part is hot formed and is hardened at least over sections by contact with a tool surface, in which the steel part is during the hardening cooled in at least two partial regions at different cooling rates, so that the partial regions after the hardening differ in their microstructure, wherein the cooling rates differing from one another are produced by sections of the tool surface corresponding to the partial regions of the steel part, which differ from one another as regards their thermal conductivities. The invention also relates to a further method for producing a metal structural component, as well as a tool and a batch furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Sascha Sikora, Kai Schmitz, Axel Grüneklee
  • Patent number: 8925947
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bodywork of a motor vehicle comprising side members and a rear axle construction which is connected to the bodywork, the rear axle construction having means for attaching the rear axle construction to the bodywork and having a suspension, and the rear axle construction being configured as a torsion-beam axle or as a multi-link axle. The object to provide a generic bodywork of a motor vehicle with a rear axle construction which allows, in a financially favorable manner, a modular rear axle concept, i.e. the selective use of a torsion-beam axle or of a multi-link axle is achieved in that the bodywork has means for receiving the attachment means of a torsion-beam axle and of a multi-link axle and has means for receiving the attachment means and the suspension of a torsion-beam axle and of a multi-link axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Kai Schmitz, Axel Grüneklee, Burkhard Schulze-Bergkamen, Michael Brenneis
  • Patent number: 8662576
    Abstract: A body for a motor vehicle and a method for producing a motor vehicle body is provided. Such a body comprises two roof frame longitudinal profiles (6, 14), at least one roof frame cross profile (10) arranged between the roof frame longitudinal profiles (6, 14) and a body pillar (12), wherein in a connecting area (Y) a roof frame longitudinal profile (6; 14), a roof frame cross profile (10) and the body pillar (12) are connected or can be connected together using a mechanical connection. Here the roof frame longitudinal profile (6; 14) comprises a recess (16) in the connecting area (Y), as seen in a longitudinal section of the roof frame longitudinal profile (6; 14), the recess accommodating the roof frame cross profile (10), at least some areas of the circumferential contour of the profile being adapted to match the recess (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Alfred Lösch, Helmut Mebus, Axel Grüneklee, Joachim Quandt, Clemens Latuske
  • Publication number: 20120211962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bodywork of a motor vehicle comprising side members and a rear axle construction which is connected to the bodywork, the rear axle construction having means for attaching the rear axle construction to the bodywork and having a suspension, and the rear axle construction being configured as a torsion-beam axle or as a multi-link axle. The object to provide a generic bodywork of a motor vehicle with a rear axle construction which allows, in a financially favourable manner, a modular rear axle concept, i.e. the selective use of a torsion-beam axle or of a multi-link axle is achieved in that the bodywork has means for receiving the attachment means of a torsion-beam axle and of a multi-link axle and has means for receiving the attachment means and the suspension of a torsion-beam axle and of a multi-link axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicants: ThyssenKrupp Automotive Systems GmbH, ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Kai Schmitz, Axel Grüneklee, Burkhard Schulze-Bergkamen, Michael Brenneis
  • Publication number: 20120186705
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a metal structural component, in particular a vehicle structural component, in which a steel part is hot formed and is hardened at least over sections by contact with a tool surface, in which the steel part is during the hardening cooled in at least two partial regions at different cooling rates, so that the partial regions after the hardening differ in their microstructure, wherein the cooling rates differing from one another are produced by sections of the tool surface corresponding to the partial regions of the steel part, which differ from one another as regards their thermal conductivities. The invention also relates to a further method for producing a metal structural component, as well as a tool and a batch furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Sascha Sikora, Kai Schmitz, Axel Grüneklee
  • Patent number: 8215708
    Abstract: A body of a motor vehicle includes a lateral roof region that has an outer skin, an outer roof frame, and an inner roof frame, wherein the outer roof frame is arranged under the outer skin and the inner roof frame is arranged under the outer roof frame, and the outer skin, the outer roof frame, and the inner roof frame have a common welded flange, by means of which the outer skin and the outer and inner roof frames are connected to one another, and which is configured to receive an adhesive layer for a roof module having a roof module frame. An aspect of the invention is to provide an accident-optimized vehicle body at little expense that prevents a tearing off of the roof module, and is achieved in that the outer roof frame of the body is configured as a locking element for the roof module frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Axel Grüneklee, Lothar Patberg, Kai Schmitz, Alfred Lösch, Ralf Stegmeyer
  • Publication number: 20110266837
    Abstract: The invention relates to a body for a motor vehicle and to a method for producing a motor vehicle body. Such a body comprises two roof frame longitudinal profiles (6, 14), at least one roof frame cross profile (8; 10) arranged between the roof frame longitudinal profiles (6, 14) and a body pillar (12), wherein in a connecting area (Y) a roof frame longitudinal profile (6; 14), a roof frame cross profile (8; 10) and the body pillar (12) are connected or can be connected together using a mechanical connecting means (20). Here the roof frame longitudinal profile (6; 14) comprises a recess (16) in the connecting area (Y), as seen in a longitudinal section of the roof frame longitudinal profile (6; 14), said recess accommodating the roof frame cross profile (8; 10), at least some areas of the circumferential contour of said profile being adapted to match the recess (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP STEEL EUROPE AG
    Inventors: Alfred Lösch, Helmut Mebus, Axel Grüneklee, Joachim Quandt, Clemens Latuske
  • Publication number: 20100259073
    Abstract: A body of a motor vehicle includes a lateral roof region that has an outer skin, an outer roof frame, and an inner roof frame, wherein the outer roof frame is arranged under the outer skin and the inner roof frame is arranged under the outer roof frame, and the outer skin, the outer roof frame, and the inner roof frame have a common welded flange, by means of which the outer skin and the outer and inner roof frames are connected to one another, and which is configured to receive an adhesive layer for a roof module having a roof module frame. An aspect of the invention is to provide an accident-optimized vehicle body at little expense that prevents a tearing off of the roof module, and is achieved in that the outer roof frame of the body is configured as a locking element for the roof module frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Axel Grüneklee, Lothar Patberg, Kai Schmitz, Alfred Lösch, Ralf Stegmeyer
  • Patent number: 7690721
    Abstract: The invention relates to a junction structure for connecting two profiles(1, 2), especially in a vehicle support frame. The first profile (1) has at least two planar, parallel sides and the second profile (2) comprises two parallel, opposite girders (3, 4) and at least one strip (5, 6) connecting the girders (3, 4). The girders (3, 4), with their lateral ends, project relative to the strip (5, 6), the projections forming paired, parallel flanges (31, 41, 32, 42). The junction structure is characterized in that the first profile (1) at the location of connection, is provided with a recess (7) into which the second profile (2) is inserted on the front side in such a manner that the parallel sides of the opposite ends (8, 9) of the first profile limiting the recess (7) rest in a form fit against the insides (31a, 41a, 32a, 42a) of the opposite flanges (31, 41, 32, 42) of the second profile (2) and are connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Axel Grüneklee, Lothar Patberg