Patents by Inventor Robert Vehof

Robert Vehof 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).

  • Publication number: 20230332276
    Abstract: A method for producing three-dimensional magnetic shields with a sufficient permeability from unannealed, soft-annealed, or magnetization annealed magnetically soft metal sheets, wherein the metal sheet is either cold formed into the three-dimensional component in a one-step or multi-step process, then is subjected to a (magnetization) annealing to increase the permeability, and is then transferred to a forming tool, in which it is held and/or pressed in a tool, which has the desired contour of the component, and is optionally shape-corrected or calibrated by the tool, and allowed to cool in the tool, or a sheet is heated and then formed to the desired geometry in a hot-forming tool and held in it, and is allowed to cool in the tool, or the three-dimensional component is generated by additive production and then is subjected to a (magnetization) annealing to increase the permeability; the invention also relates to a shielding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Bas-Jan Hoogenberg, Robert Vehof, Brian Brady, Guillermo Domínguez, Karl Radlmayr
  • Patent number: 8613819
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing quenched components consisting of sheet steel, comprising the following steps: a) shaped parts are formed from sheet steel; b) the end of the shaped part is cut and the sheet steel is optionally punched or provided with a desired hole pattern prior to, during, or after the forming of the shaped part; c) at least some sections of the shaped part are subsequently heated to a temperature that permits the steel material to austenitize; and d) the component is then transferred to a quenching die, where it is subjected to a quenching process, during which the component is cooled and thus quenched by the contact of the quenching die with some sections of the component and the compression of said sections. The invention is characterized in that the component is supported by the quenching die in the vicinity of the positive radii and that some sections of said component are clamped in a secure manner without distortion in the vicinity of the cut edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: voestalpine Metal Forming GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Vehof
  • Patent number: 8181331
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hardened structural parts from sheet steel. The method includes shaping at least one shaped part made of sheet steel provided with a cathodic corrosion protection coating, performing any required final trim of the shaped part and possibly any required punching, or the creation of a perforation pattern, subsequently heating the shaped part, at least over partial areas, under the admission of atmospheric oxygen to a temperature which permits austenizing of the steel material, and thereafter transferring the structural part to a mold-hardening tool and performing mold-hardening in the mold-hardening tool, wherein the structural part is cooled by the contact with and pressing by the mold-hardening tool and is hardened thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignees: voestalpine Automotive GmbH, voestalpine Stahl GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Brandstätter, Josef Faderl, Martin Fleischanderl, Siegfried Kolnberger, Gerald Landl, Anna Elisabeth Raab, Robert Vehof, Wolfgang Stall
  • Patent number: 8153051
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for heating steel components in a continuous furnace, wherein a first transport device having an external drive receives the components in a precise position and transports them through the furnace in order to heat them, and a second transport device receives the parts, after the heating, from the first transport device at a predetermined transfer point or transfer region and conveys them out of the furnace at an increased speed and places them in a precise position at a further receiving point ready for further processing. The components are mounted on a support having engagement means for the different transport devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: voestalpine Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Vehof, Peter Buitenhuis, Alfons Heetjans, Marcel Hartgers, Toon Van Eck, Marcel Jaspers Focks
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090211669
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing quenched components consisting of sheet steel, comprising the following steps: a) shaped parts are formed from sheet steel; b) the end of the shaped part is cut and the sheet steel is optionally punched or provided with a desired hole pattern prior to, during, or after the forming of the shaped part; c) at least some sections of the shaped part are subsequently heated to a temperature that permits the steel material to austenitize; and d) the component is then transferred to a quenching die, where it is subjected to a quenching process, during which the component is cooled and thus quenched by the contact of the quenching die with some sections of the component and the compression of said sections. The invention is characterised in that the component is supported by the quenching die in the vicinity of the positive radii and that some sections of said component are clamped in a secure manner without distortion in the vicinity of the cut edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: Robert Vehof
  • Publication number: 20090127753
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for heating steel components in a continuous furnace, wherein a first transport device having an external drive receives the components in a precise position and transports them through the furnace in order to heat them, and a second transport device receives the parts, after the heating, from the first transport device at a predetermined transfer point or transfer region and conveys them out of the furnace at an increased speed and places them in a precise position at a further receiving point ready for further processing. The components are mounted on a support having engagement means for the different transport devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Vehof, Peter Buitenhuis, Alfons Heetjans, Marcel Hartgers, Toon Van Eck, Marcel Jaspers Focks
  • Publication number: 20070000117
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hardened structural parts from sheet steel. The method includes shaping at least one shaped part made of sheet steel provided with a cathodic corrosion protection coating, performing any required final trim of the shaped part and possibly any required punching, or the creation of a perforation pattern, subsequently heating the shaped part, at least over partial areas, under the admission of atmospheric oxygen to a temperature which permits austenizing of the steel material, and thereafter transferring the structural part to a mold-hardening tool and performing mold-hardening in the mold-hardening tool, wherein the structural part is cooled by the contact with and pressing by the mold-hardening tool and is hardened thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Werner Brandstatter, Josef Faderl, Martin Fleischanderl, Siegfried Kolnberger, Gerald Landl, Anna Raab, Robert Vehof, Wolfgang Stall