Patents by Inventor Reiner Kelsch

Reiner Kelsch 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: 11225038
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semifinished product or component is disclosed in which a metal support embodied as a split strip is covered with at least one prepreg containing a thermally cross-linkable thermosetting matrix with endless fibers, the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg is pre-cross-linked by means of heating, and the metal support covered with the pre-cross-linked prepreg is formed into a semifinished product or component by means of roll forming. In order to enable plastic deformation in fiber-reinforced regions of the metal support, it is proposed that during the pre-cross-linking of the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg, its matrix is transferred into a viscosity state that is higher than its minimum viscosity and prior to reaching its gel point, the prepreg is formed together with the metal support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignees: voestalpine Stahl GmbH, voestalpine Metal Forming GmbH
    Inventors: Carola Eyssell, Rüdiger Heinritz, Reiner Kelsch, Gerhard Mayrhofer, Christian Rouet, Johannes Riegler
  • Patent number: 10974469
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semifinished product or part is disclosed in which a metal support embodied as a metal sheet or blank is covered with at least one prepreg containing a thermally cross-linkable thermosetting matrix with endless fibers, the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg is pre-cross-linked by means of heating, and the metal support covered with the pre-cross-linked prepreg is formed into a semifinished product or part by means of deep drawing or stretch deep drawing. In order to enable plastic deformation in fiber-reinforced regions of the metal support, it is proposed that during the pre-cross-linking of the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg, its matrix is transferred into a viscosity state that is higher than its minimum viscosity and prior to reaching its gel point, the prepreg is formed together with the metal support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: voestalpine Stahl GmbH
    Inventors: Carola Eyssell, Rüdiger Heinritz, Reiner Kelsch, Gerhard Mayrhofer, Christian Rouet, Johannes Riegler
  • Patent number: 10294536
    Abstract: A method for producing partially hardened steel components in which a blank composed of a hardenable sheet steel is subjected to a temperature increase and shaped into a component; the component is transferred to a tool in which the heated component is cooled and thus quench hardened; during the heating of the blank or component in order to achieve the temperature increase to a temperature required for the hardening in regions that are to have a lower hardness and/or higher ductility, cooling elements are spaced apart from the surface by a small gap; the cooling element is dimensioned so that the thermal energy acting on the region that remains ductile flows through the component into the cooling element, characterized in that in order to space the cooling element apart from the component, micro-nubs or knobs are used, which are distributed over the area of the cooling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: voestalpine Metal Forming GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Sommer, Tobias Hägele, Reiner Kelsch, Dieter Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20190039109
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for heating sheet steel blanks, in particular for shaping and hardening in a press hardening process, wherein there is a heating device, and the heating device includes at least one heating module; the at least one heating module has a boxlike element embodied in cassette-like fashion, which has a plate-shaped or rectangular cavity that has a flat plate on an underside; at least one heating element is positioned in the cavity, which element is embodied as an electrical resistance heating element, and the cavity is completely filled in an embedding fashion so that it is completely enclosed by a highly heat-conductive material, preferably copper, and relates to a method therefor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: MICHAEL HASLMAYR, ANDREAS SOMMER, REINER KELSCH, BENEDIKT TUTEWOHL, LEOPOLD STEGFELLNER
  • Publication number: 20180370162
    Abstract: A method for mar manufacturing a semifinished product or part is disclosed in which a metal support embodied as a metal sheet or blank is covered with at least one prepreg containing a thermally cross-linkable thermosetting matrix with endless fibers, the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg is pre-cross-linked by means of heating, and the metal support covered with the pre-cross-linked prepreg is formed into a semifinished product or part by means of deep drawing or stretch deep drawing. In order to enable plastic deformation in fiber-reinforced regions of the metal support, it is proposed that during the pre-cross-linking of the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg, its matrix is transferred into a viscosity state that is higher than its minimum viscosity and prior reaching its gel point, the prepreg is formed together with the metal support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Carola Eyssell, Rüdiger Heinritz, Reiner Kelsch, Gerhard Mayrhofer, Christian Rouet, Johannes Riegler
  • Publication number: 20180354207
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semifinished product or component is disclosed in which a metal support embodied as a split strip is covered with at least one prepreg containing a thermally cross-linkable thermosetting matrix with endless fibers, the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg is pre-cross-linked by means of heating, and the metal support covered with the pre-cross-linked prepreg is formed into a semifinished product or component by means of roll forming, in order to enable plastic deformation in fiber-reinforced regions of the metal support, it is proposed that during the pre-cross-linking of the thermosetting matrix of the prepreg, its matrix is transferred into a viscosity state that is higher than its minimum viscosity and prior to reaching its gel point, the prepreg is formed together with the metal support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Carola Eyssell, Rüdiger Heinritz, Reiner Kelsch, Gerhard Mayrhofer, Christian Rouet, Johannes Riegler
  • Publication number: 20180245173
    Abstract: A method for producing a hardened steel component in which a sheet blank is stamped out and the stamped sheet blank is heated to a temperature ?Ac3 and as needed, is kept at this temperature for a predetermined time in order to carry out the austenite formation and then the sheet blank, which has been heated all over or only in some regions, is transferred to a forming die, is formed in the forming die, and in the forming die, is cooled at a speed that lies above the critical hardening speed and is thus hardened or else the sheet blank is completely cold formed and the formed sheet blank is heated all over or only in some regions to a temperature >Ac3 and as needed, is kept at this temperature for a predetermined time in order to carry out the austenite formation and then the sheet blank, which has been heated and formed all over or only in some regions, is transferred to a hardening die, and is hardened in the hardening die at a speed that lies above the critical hardening speed; the steel material is adj
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Markus Brummayer, Kurt Etzelsdorfer, Reiner Kelsch, Andreas Sommer, Benedikt Tutewohl
  • Patent number: 9901971
    Abstract: A forming tool (1) for the production of a semifinished product or end product from a metal sheet (2) has a first tool part (3) that has an upper tool part (5), a die (6), and at least one first floating bearing (7), which attaches the die (6) to the upper tool part (5) with bearing play (18) in the bearing plane (33), for equalization of its thermal contraction or expansion, has a second tool part (4) that has a lower tool part (9), a punch (8), and at least one second floating bearing (11), which attaches the punch (8) to the lower tool part (9) with bearing play (32) in the bearing plane (34), for equalization of its thermal contraction or expansion, wherein punch (8) and die (6) work together for forming of the metal sheet (2). The two tool parts (3, 4) each have at least one further bearing (12, 13), which bearings attach die (6) and punch (8) to the upper tool part (5) or lower tool part (9) without play in the bearing plane (33, 34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: voestalpine Metal Forming GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Kelsch, Robert Schneider
  • Publication number: 20160296991
    Abstract: A forming tool (1) for the production of a semifinished product or end product from a metal sheet. (2) has a first tool part (3) that has an upper tool part (5), a die (6), and at least one first floating bearing (7), which attaches the die (6) to the upper tool part (5) with bearing play (18) in the bearing plane (33), for equalization of its thermal contraction or expansion, has a second tool part (4) that has a lower tool part (9), a punch (8), and at least one second floating bearing (11), which attaches the punch (8) to the lower tool part (9) with bearing play (32) in the bearing plane (34), for equalization of its thermal contraction or expansion, wherein punch (8) and die (6) work together for forming of the metal sheet (2). The two tool parts (3, 4) each have at least one further bearing (12, 13), which bearings attach die (6) and punch (8) to the upper tool part (5) or lower tool part (9) without play in the bearing plane (33, 34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Applicant: voestalpine Metal Forming GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner KELSCH, Robert SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20150027601
    Abstract: A method for producing partially hardened steel components in which a blank composed of a hardenable sheet steel is subjected to a temperature increase and shaped into a component; the component is transferred to a tool in which the heated component is cooled and thus quench hardened; during the heating of the blank or component in order to achieve the temperature increase to a temperature required for the hardening in regions that are to have a lower hardness and/or higher ductility, cooling elements are spaced apart from the surface by a small gap; the cooling element is dimensioned so that the thermal energy acting on the region that remains ductile flows through the component into the cooling element, characterized in that in order to space the cooling element apart from the component, micro-nubs or knobs are used, which are distributed over the area of the cooling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas Sommer, Tobias Hägele, Reiner Kelsch, Dieter Hartmann
  • Patent number: 8047037
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shaping tool which is used to shape a workpiece, in particular, a sheet steel component, comprising at least two shaping tool halves. Contoured regions are provided in the region of the shaping tool halves in order to give the workpiece a corresponding contour, at least in sections. Each shaping tool half has a shaping surface shell which is oriented towards the workpiece and a support shaping half. The shaping surface shell is arranged on the support shaping half and comprises a shaping surface, which is oriented towards the workpiece, and a rear side which is oriented away from the workpiece. The support shaping half comprises a contoured area which essentially corresponds to the contour of the workpiece which is to be produced and the contoured area is surrounded by a flange area. Grooves are provided in the contoured area in the region of the rear side of the shaping surface shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: voestalpine Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Vehof, Peter Weber, Armin Meier, Dieter Hartmann, Falk Leitner, Mathieu Brand, Reiner Kelsch
  • Publication number: 20090293571
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shaping tool which is used to shape a workpiece, in particular, a sheet steel component, comprising at least two shaping tool halves. Contoured regions are provided in the region of the shaping tool halves in order to give the workpiece a corresponding contour, at least in sections. Each shaping tool half has a shaping surface shell which is oriented towards the workpiece and a support shaping half. The shaping surface shell is arranged on the support shaping half and comprises a shaping surface, which is oriented towards the workpiece, and a rear side which is oriented away from the workpiece. The support shaping half comprises a contoured area which essentially corresponds to the contour of the workpiece which is to be produced and the contoured area is surrounded by a flange area. Grooves are provided in the contoured area in the region of the rear side of the shaping surface shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: VOESTALPINE AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Vehof, Peter Weber, Armin Meier, Dieter Hartmann, Falk Leitner, Mathieu Brand, Reiner Kelsch