Patents by Inventor Gerd Mülhöfer

Gerd Mülhöfer 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: 11339597
    Abstract: A flap assembly for a vehicle includes a flap, which by way of a linear actuator drive is pivotably drivable about a pivot axis from a closed position to an opened position. The drive includes a spring assembly that acts in a supporting manner on the flap. The actuator drive has an actuator housing that has one end articulated on the body of the vehicle, and an actuator rod being deployable from the other end of the housing. An external end of the actuator rod is articulated on the flap at a radial spacing from the pivot axis. The spring assembly is releasably disposed on the other end of the housing and has a compression spring supported by the actuator housing. The compression spring acts on the flap between a closed position and an initial opening angle of the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: STABILUS GMBH
    Inventors: Gerd Mülhöfer, Dirk Rennecke
  • Publication number: 20190194996
    Abstract: A flap assembly for a vehicle includes a flap, which by way of a linear actuator drive is pivotably drivable about a pivot axis counter to the gravity of the flap from a closed position to an opened position. The flap assembly includes a spring assembly that acts in a supporting manner on the flap. The actuator drive has an actuator housing that has one end articulated on a component of the body of the vehicle, and an actuator rod being deployable from the other end of the housing. An external end of said actuator rod is articulated on the flap at a radial spacing from the pivot axis. The spring assembly is releasably disposed on the flap-side end region of the housing of the actuator drive and has a compression spring supported on the actuator housing and the flap at an initial opening angle of the flap <10°. In the closed position of the flap, the spring is pretensioned by the flap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Gerd MÜLHÖFER, Dirk RENNECKE
  • Patent number: 10174538
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a second component part at a stationary first component part to be swivelable around a swiveling axis 2 having a cylinder that is displaceable transverse to the swiveling axis and filled with a fluid, a piston displaceably guided in the cylinder that divides the interior of the cylinder into a first working chamber and a second working chamber, with a first valve device that connects the first working chamber to the second working chamber when pressure in the first working chamber is higher than the pressure in the second working chamber, and a second valve device that connects the second working chamber to the first working chamber when pressure in the second working chamber is higher than the pressure in the first working chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Born, Gerd Mülhöfer
  • Publication number: 20170314312
    Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a second component part at a stationary first component part to be swivelable around a swiveling axis 2 having a cylinder that is displaceable transverse to the swiveling axis and filled with a fluid, a piston displaceably guided in the cylinder that divides the interior of the cylinder into a first working chamber and a second working chamber, with a first valve device that connects the first working chamber to the second working chamber when pressure in the first working chamber is higher than the pressure in the second working chamber, and a second valve device that connects the second working chamber to the first working chamber when pressure in the second working chamber is higher than the pressure in the first working chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Frank BORN, Gerd MÜLHÖFER
  • Patent number: 9109676
    Abstract: An adjusting drive for adjusting a first structural component part relative to a second structural component part has a linear drive and a piston-cylinder unit connected in parallel with the linear drive for drive purposes. A control is provided for controlling the adjusting speed of the adjusting drive depending upon the adjusting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Arnold, Gerd Mülhöfer
  • Publication number: 20130340606
    Abstract: A housing having a first housing end and a second housing end, a substantially cylindrical work chamber formed in the housing, a piston which is arranged in the work chamber so as to be displaceable and which divides the work chamber into a first work space near the first housing end and a second work space near the second housing end, a piston rod which is arranged at one side of the piston and which projects through the first work space and is guided out of the work chamber in a sealed manner at the first housing end through a guiding and sealing device, and a valve chamber which is formed in the housing parallel to the work chamber and in which a first valve assembly and a second valve assembly are arranged. The work chamber is always completely filled with a liquid medium and the valve chamber is at least partially filled with a liquid medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Frank Born, Frank Doffing, Thomas Klar, Rolf Mintgen, Gerd Muelhoefer, Timo Schumacher, Wilhelm Schwab
  • Publication number: 20130340607
    Abstract: A continuously blockable locking device with a cylindrical housing forming a work chamber, a closed first end and a second end located opposite from the closed end, a piston rod which is guided out of the housing in a sealed manner through the second end so as to be arranged coaxial to the center longitudinal axis by means of a guiding and sealing device, a piston which is arranged at the end of the piston rod situated in the housing and which divides the work chamber into a first work space, through which the piston rod extends, and a second work space, and a housing which is connected to, or can be connected to, the housing and which forms a valve chamber, a first valve assembly and a second valve assembly being arranged therein. The work chamber is always completely filled with a liquid medium and the valve chamber is at least partially filled with a liquid medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Frank Born, Frank Doffing, Thomas Klar, Rolf Mintgen, Gerd Müelhoefer, Timo Schumacher, Wilhelm Schwab
  • Publication number: 20120256146
    Abstract: An adjusting drive 2, according to the invention, for adjusting a first structural component part relative to a second structural component part has a linear drive 6 and a piston-cylinder unit 8 which is connected in parallel with the linear drive for drive purposes. According to the invention, control means are provided for controlling the adjusting speed of the adjusting drive 2 depending upon the adjusting path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg ARNOLD, Gerd Mülhöfer
  • Publication number: 20090293714
    Abstract: A continuously blockable locking device with a cylindrical housing forming a work chamber, a closed first end and a second end located opposite from the closed end, a piston rod which is guided out of the housing in a sealed manner through the second end so as to be arranged coaxial to the center longitudinal axis by means of a guiding and sealing device, a piston which is arranged at the end of the piston rod situated in the housing and which divides the work chamber into a first work space, through which the piston rod extends, and a second work space, and a housing which is connected to, or can be connected to, the housing and which forms a valve chamber, a first valve assembly and a second valve assembly being arranged therein. The work chamber is always completely filled with a liquid medium and the valve chamber is at least partially filled with a liquid medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Born, Frank Doffing, Thomas Klar, Rolf Mintgen, Gerd Mülhöfer, Timo Schumacher