Patents by Inventor Dirk TEGETHOFF

Dirk TEGETHOFF 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: 11873944
    Abstract: This invention concerns a tubular element for a gas pressure vessel of an airbag module, in particular of a vehicle, wherein the tubular element (1) consists of high-strength steel, has a first and a second end (17, 18) and from the first end (17) to the second end (18) the tubular element (1) has an undeformed section (11), a transition section (12) and a tapering section (13) and on the tapering section (13) at least one radially outwardly extending collar (14) is formed, characterized in that the collar (14) is separated from the transition section (12) by a first length section (130) having an outer diameter (A1) smaller than the outer diameter (A2) of the collar (14) and the wall thickness of the collar (14) is greater than the wall thickness of the first length section (130). Furthermore, the invention concerns a gas pressure vessel and a process for manufacturing a tubular element according to the invention (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel Lücke, Michael Markert, Dirk Tegethoff, Marcel Wellpott
  • Publication number: 20230061970
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for production of a steel tubular product (1), in particular an airbag tubular product, with the following steps: a) provision of a steel tube (2), b) shaping of the steel tube (2) into a pre-geometry (3), wherein in an end region (4), an outer diameter (5) of the steel tube (2) is reduced by axial movement into an outer tool, c) calibration of an inner diameter (7) of the pre-geometry (3), wherein the pre-geometry (3) is still laid in the outer tool, and an inner mandrel, with an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter (7) of the calibrated pre-geometry (3), is introduced into the end region (4) of the pre-geometry (3), and the pre-geometry (3) is pressed against the outer tool such that the inner diameter (7) of the pre-geometry (3) is calibrated by shaping, d) removal of the pre-geometry (3) from the outer tool (5) and removal of the inner mandrel from the pre-geometry (3), e) axial movement of the pre-geometry (3) into a drawing tool with a roll-in contour hav
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: BENTELER STEEL/TUBE GMBH
    Inventors: DANIEL LUECKE, DIRK TEGETHOFF, MARCEL WELLPOTT
  • Patent number: 11446729
    Abstract: An inner diameter of a first end of a tubular component, positioned in relation to a first die, is reduced through relative movement between the tubular component and the first die such as to produce a first conical area between first and second ends of the tubular component. The first conical area is then formed through relative movement of a second die to create in a longitudinal section of the first conical area an outer circumferential embossment and an inner bead having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first end. The first end is widened through insertion of an inner tool, while the tubular component is supported on an outside in a mold cavity of an outer tool. An inner contour with an internal stop is formed as an outer surface of the first end of the tubular component rests flatly in the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Benteler Steel/Tube GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Lücke, Michael Markert, Marcel Wellpott, Dirk Tegethoff
  • Publication number: 20220244219
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing and testing a high-strength tube product of steel, having the following steps: a) providing a steel tube, b) forming the steel tube to afford the tube product, with the steel tube being formed at least in one of its end regions, c) testing the inner wall and the outer wall in at least one formed end region of the tube product for defects by means of a test probe, which is matched to at least one formed end region and comprises at least one eddy current sensor for testing the inner wall and at least one eddy current sensor for testing the outer wall of the at least one formed end region of the tube product, with multiple sensors being provided on at least one arm and/or multiple sensors being provided on an inner part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: BENTELER STEEL/TUBE GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk TEGETHOFF, Daniel THOELE, Harald KRAUSE, Daniel LUECKE
  • Publication number: 20220176436
    Abstract: An inner diameter of a first end of a tubular component, positioned in relation to a first die, is reduced through relative movement between the tubular component and the first die such as to produce a first conical area between first and second ends of the tubular component. The first conical area is then formed through relative movement of a second die to create in a longitudinal section of the first conical area an outer circumferential embossment and an inner bead having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first end. The first end is widened through insertion of an inner tool, while the tubular component is supported on an outside in a mold cavity of an outer tool. An inner contour with an internal stop is formed as an outer surface of the first end of the tubular component rests flatly in the mold cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Benteler Steel/Tube GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Lücke, Michael Markert, Marcel Wellpott, Dirk Tegethoff
  • Patent number: 11235372
    Abstract: In a method of producing a tubular structure for a gas generator, a tubular body is positioned relative to a forming device having inner and outer tools, which are moved relative to an end portion of the tubular body until an inner circumferential surface of a neck of the end portion rests against a support surface of the inner tool to reduce a diameter of the end portion by a tool contour of the outer tool and thereby form a shoulder. The outer tool is held in position upon the end portion and the neck inner circumferential surface is calibrated by a calibrating surface on a calibrating member of the inner tool while an outer circumferential surface of the neck is supported by the outer tool, as the inner tool is removed from the end portion. The outer tool is then removed from the end portion of the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BENTELER STEEL/TUBE GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Lücke, Leonhard Rose, Dirk Tegethoff, Marcel Wellpott
  • Patent number: 11097684
    Abstract: The invention relates to a housing of a gas generator module for an airbag system of a motor vehicle, wherein the housing is of substantially tubular design and has a tube portion in which a plurality of stamped formations pointing into the interior of the housing are introduced over an external circumference of the housing, wherein the stamped formations in the interior of the tube portion have a stop for an internal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: BENTELER STEEL/TUBE GMBH
    Inventors: Marcel Wellpott, Daniel Luecke, Dirk Tegethoff
  • Patent number: 10625326
    Abstract: A tubular product includes a tubular body made of steel and having a tube wall which includes an opening. The opening is produced by a high-speed stamping process at a stamping speed of more than 4 m/s. The opening is situated in the tube wall in a region thereof which has a tensile strength Rm>800 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Benteler Steel/Tube GmbH
    Inventors: Leonhard Rose, Jerry Mfosolem Konneh, Dirk Tegethoff
  • Publication number: 20200094773
    Abstract: This invention concerns a tubular element for a gas pressure vessel of an airbag module, in particular of a vehicle, wherein the tubular element (1) consists of high-strength steel, has a first and a second end (17, 18) and from the first end (17) to the second end (18) the tubular element (1) has an undeformed section (11), a transition section (12) and a tapering section (13) and on the tapering section (13) at least one radially outwardly extending collar (14) is formed, characterized in that the collar (14) is separated from the transition section (12) by a first length section (130) having an outer diameter (A1) smaller than the outer diameter (A2) of the collar (14) and the wall thickness of the collar (14) is greater than the wall thickness of the first length section (130). Furthermore, the invention concerns a gas pressure vessel and a process for manufacturing a tubular element according to the invention (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Lücke, Michael Markert, Dirk Tegethoff, Marcel Wellpott
  • Patent number: 10507786
    Abstract: A gas pressure container for an airbag system of a motor vehicle is disclosed having a tube element with a high bursting resistance when internal pressure is being applied. The tube element includes a steel alloy and a first longitudinal portion of the tube element has a tensile strength Rm,11 higher than (>) 800 MPa, a transition temperature Tu,11 of at least ?40° C., and an outer circumference U1. The tube element also includes at least one second longitudinal portion and/or additional longitudinal portions, which extend axially from the first longitudinal portion. The second longitudinal portion or the additional longitudinal portions and the first longitudinal portion are formed from a seamless or welded single-piece tube made of a uniform material, and more specifically from a hot-rolled or cold-drawn tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BENTELER STEEL/TUBE GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Tegethoff, Leonhard Rose, Darius Wrobel, Jozef Balun
  • Publication number: 20190275980
    Abstract: The invention relates to a housing of a gas generator module for an airbag system of a motor vehicle, wherein the housing is of substantially tubular design and has a tube portion in which a plurality of stamped formations pointing into the interior of the housing are introduced over an external circumference of the housing, wherein the stamped formations in the interior of the tube portion have a stop for an internal component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Marcel WELLPOTT, Daniel LUECKE, Dirk TEGETHOFF
  • Publication number: 20180169732
    Abstract: In a method of producing a tubular structure for a gas generator, a tubular body is positioned relative to a forming device having inner and outer tools, which are moved relative to an end portion of the tubular body until an inner circumferential surface of a neck of the end portion rests against a support surface of the inner tool to reduce a diameter of the end portion by a tool contour of the outer tool and thereby form a shoulder. The outer tool is held in position upon the end portion and the neck inner circumferential surface is calibrated by a calibrating surface on a calibrating member of the inner tool while an outer circumferential surface of the neck is supported by the outer tool, as the inner tool is removed from the end portion. The outer tool is then removed from the end portion of the tubular body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Benteler Steel/Tube GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Lücke, Leonhard Rose, Dirk Tegethoff, Marcel Wellpott
  • Publication number: 20180117659
    Abstract: A tubular product includes a tubular body made of steel and having a tube wall which includes an opening. The opening is produced by a high-speed stamping process at a stamping speed of more than 4 m/s. The opening is situated in the tube wall in a region thereof which has a tensile strength Rm>800 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Benteler Steel/Tube GmbH
    Inventors: Leonhard Rose, JERRY MFOSOLEM KONNEH, DIRK TEGETHOFF
  • Publication number: 20170341619
    Abstract: A gas pressure container for an airbag system of a motor vehicle is disclosed having a tube element with a high bursting resistance when internal pressure is being applied. The tube element includes a steel alloy and a first longitudinal portion of the tube element has a tensile strength Rm,11 higher than (>) 800 MPa, a transition temperature Tu,11 of at least ?40° C., and an outer circumference U1. The tube element also includes at least one second longitudinal portion and/or additional longitudinal portions, which extend axially from the first longitudinal portion. The second longitudinal portion or the additional longitudinal portions and the first longitudinal portion are formed from a seamless or welded single-piece tube made of a uniform material, and more specifically from a hot-rolled or cold-drawn tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Dirk TEGETHOFF, Leonhard ROSE, Darius WROBEL