Patents by Inventor Helmut Kirmsze

Helmut Kirmsze 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: 11414121
    Abstract: A steering column may include a casing unit in which a steering spindle is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis and which is connectable via a height adjustment lever to a vehicle. The height adjustment lever has two opposing sidewalls between which the casing unit is received pivotably about a joint axis. The casing unit may have guide grooves that extend in a direction of the longitudinal axis. A sliding body may be disposed between each sidewall and the casing unit. Each sliding body may be displaceable in a sliding manner in a guide groove in the direction of the longitudinal axis and is supported on the respective sidewall. A supporting element may be arranged between each sliding body and the respective sidewall, which supporting element is supported from the inside against the respective sidewall and pushes the respective sliding body from the outside into the respective guide groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Sascha Rist, Helmut Kirmsze
  • Publication number: 20210309282
    Abstract: A steering column may include a casing unit in which a steering spindle is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis and which is connectable via a height adjustment lever to a vehicle. The height adjustment lever has two opposing sidewalls between which the casing unit is received pivotably about a joint axis. The casing unit may have guide grooves that extend in a direction of the longitudinal axis. A sliding body may be disposed between each sidewall and the casing unit. Each sliding body may be displaceable in a sliding manner in a guide groove in the direction of the longitudinal axis and is supported on the respective sidewall. A supporting element may be arranged between each sliding body and the respective sidewall, which supporting element is supported from the inside against the respective sidewall and pushes the respective sliding body from the outside into the respective guide groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicants: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Sascha RIST, Helmut KIRMSZE
  • Patent number: 11014599
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column includes an actuating unit for rotatably mounting a steering shaft, a carrying unit in which the actuating unit is mounted so as to be axially displaceable via a motorized longitudinal adjustment drive, a transmission device coupled to the actuating unit and to the longitudinal adjustment drive, an energy absorption apparatus for absorbing energy when the actuating unit moves relative to the transmission device, and a coupling device connected to the actuating unit and to the transmission device. The coupling device may be disconnected from the actuating unit and/or the transmission device in a crash event, allowing movement between the actuating unit and the transmission device. The coupling device may have a pin-shaped holding element that protrudes into a slot. A blocking element may block movement of the holding element in the slot, and in a crash event permit movement of the holding element in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Helmut Kirmsze
  • Patent number: 10773746
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly includes a lower jacket, a rake bracket, a rake guide, and a fastener coupling each. The lower jacket has an attachment portion with an end, and a passage extends from that end at least partially through the attachment portion. The attachment portion end has upper and lower seating faces extending into the passage. The rake bracket has a base portion and an arm with an aperture. The rake guide has upper and lower ends and a hole. The upper and lower ends respective have configurations complementary to configurations of the upper and lower seating faces, and the rake guide is positioned in the end of the lower jacket attachment portion such that the rake guide upper end mates with the upper seating face and such that the rake guide lower end mates with the lower seating face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Helmut Kirmsze, Sascha Fricke, Thomas Raich
  • Publication number: 20200207403
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column includes an actuating unit for rotatably mounting a steering shaft, a carrying unit in which the actuating unit is mounted so as to be axially displaceable via a motorized longitudinal adjustment drive, a transmission device coupled to the actuating unit and to the longitudinal adjustment drive, an energy absorption apparatus for absorbing energy when the actuating unit moves relative to the transmission device, and a coupling device connected to the actuating unit and to the transmission device. The coupling device may be disconnected from the actuating unit and/or the transmission device in a crash event, allowing movement between the actuating unit and the transmission device. The coupling device may have a pin-shaped holding element that protrudes into a slot. A blocking element may block movement of the holding element in the slot, and in a crash event permit movement of the holding element in the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicants: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Helmut KIRMSZE
  • Publication number: 20200101999
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly includes a lower jacket, a rake bracket, a rake guide, and a fastener coupling each. The lower jacket has an attachment portion with an end, and a passage extends from that end at least partially through the attachment portion. The attachment portion end has upper and lower seating faces extending into the passage. The rake bracket has a base portion and an arm with an aperture. The rake guide has upper and lower ends and a hole. The upper and lower ends respective have configurations complementary to configurations of the upper and lower seating faces, and the rake guide is positioned in the end of the lower jacket attachment portion such that the rake guide upper end mates with the upper seating face and such that the rake guide lower end mates with the lower seating face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Helmut Kirmsze, Sascha Fricke, Thomas Raich
  • Patent number: 9999916
    Abstract: A method for working a functional part, which extends in a longitudinal direction and has a lateral surface that surrounds a longitudinal central axis of the functional part running in the longitudinal direction and has an end face bounding the functional part at a free end in the axial direction, may involve pressing a punch that can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the functional part against the end face of the functional part, while the functional part is initially located in a cavity of a tool, at least over a partial portion of its longitudinal extent that adjoins its free end, which cavity is bounded in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal central axis by a wall surface surrounding the lateral surface and lying at least partially against the lateral surface, and pulling off the tool from the functional part over the free end of the functional part over a pulling-off travel, while the punch remains pressed against the end face of the functional part, at least over a partial tra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Keppler-Ott, Helmut Kirmsze
  • Publication number: 20150117943
    Abstract: In a method for working a functional part, which extends in a longitudinal direction and has a lateral surface that surrounds a longitudinal central axis of the functional part running in the longitudinal direction and has an end face bounding the functional part at a free end in the axial direction, a punch that can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the functional part is pressed against the end face of the functional part, while the functional part is initially located in a cavity of a tool, at least over a partial portion of its longitudinal extent that adjoins its free end, which cavity is bounded in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal central axis by a wall surface surrounding the lateral surface and lying at least partially against the lateral surface, and furthermore the tool, is pulled off from the functional part over the free end of the functional part over a pulling-off travel, while the punch remains pressed against the end face of the functional part, at least over a par
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Keppler-Ott, Helmut Kirmsze
  • Publication number: 20130006471
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of regulating a controllable energy absorber in a steering system for a motor vehicle, having the following steps: determination of a parameter (selected from travel vs. time, speed, and acceleration) of a relative movement between a bracket unit intended for fixing to the motor vehicle to be solidly secured thereto and a steering shaft mounting unit, held by the bracket unit, for the mounting of a steering shaft in such a way as to be rotatable, the steering shaft mounting unit being displaceable relative to the bracket unit along a travel in displacement within a limited interval, output of a control signal to a controllable energy absorber for the setting of a resisting force against a displacement of the steering shaft mounting unit relative to the bracket unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Thyssen Krupp Presta AG
    Inventor: Helmut Kirmsze
  • Patent number: 8251402
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing apparatus for occupant protection in vehicles, has a receptacle with a magneto-rheological fluid which in the event of an impact is pressed through a flow zone determining the flow velocity. A device generating a variable magnetic field has pole faces in the flow zone, the magnetic field acting on the magneto-rheological fluid between the pole faces in order to regulate the flow velocity. The flow zone is divided into at least two flow routes by at least one partition forming two additional planar pole faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Gernot Elsensohn, Helmut Kirmsze, Jürgen Pösel
  • Patent number: 7922202
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing apparatus for occupant protection in vehicles has a receptacle in which a magnetorheological fluid is present, which in the event of an impact is pressed through a flow zone. The apparatus further has a device generating a variable magnetic field and which has a core which is wound with a coil. The magnetic field acts on the magnetorheological fluid in order to regulate the flow properties. The coil together with the core is arranged in the flow zone. The axis of the coil lies perpendicularly to the direction of flow of the magnetorheological fluid, and the flow zone has a sheathing formed of a magnetically conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Gernot Elsensohn, Helmut Kirmsze, Jürgen Pösel
  • Publication number: 20100045011
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing apparatus for occupant protection in vehicles, has a receptacle with a magneto-rheological fluid which in the event of an impact is pressed through a flow zone determining the flow velocity. A device generating a variable magnetic field has pole faces in the flow zone, the magnetic field acting on the magneto-rheological fluid between the pole faces in order to regulate the flow velocity. The flow zone is divided into at least two flow routes by at least one partition forming two additional planar pole faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Gernot Elsensohn, Helmut Kirmsze, Jürgen Pösel
  • Publication number: 20100045010
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing apparatus for occupant protection in vehicles has a receptacle in which a magnetorheological fluid is present, which in the event of an impact is pressed through a flow zone. The apparatus further has a device generating a variable magnetic field and which has a core which is wound with a coil. The magnetic field acts on the magnetorheological fluid in order to regulate the flow properties. The coil together with the core is arranged in the flow zone. The axis of the coil lies perpendicularly to the direction of flow of the magnetorheological fluid, and the flow zone has a sheathing formed of a magnetically conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Gernot Elsensohn, Helmut Kirmsze, Jürgen Pösel