Patents by Inventor Thomas Flehmig

Thomas Flehmig 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: 7909226
    Abstract: A method for producing a longitudinally welded hollow profile from a sheet metal blank having defined longitudinal edges, in which the sheet metal blank is initially preformed into an open seam profile with the aid of at least two tool parts allows for the economical production of accurately formed hollow profiles. This is achieved in that to produce the open seam profile, the sheet metal blank, by a change in the relative position of the tools parts, is placed freely around a mandrel positioned between the tool parts and extending in the longitudinal direction of the sheet metal blank, the outer shape of which mandrel determines the inner shape of the hollow profile to be produced, and in that the shaping of the open seam profile obtained is then completed in one or more stages in each case by a further change of the relative position of the tool parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel AG
    Inventors: Michael Brüggenbrock, Thomas Flehmig, Wladimir Rituper, Mohamed Tohfa
  • Publication number: 20110045216
    Abstract: A hollow profile that has improved handling ability and a good ability to be attached to other components and a method for producing the hollow profile. In the method for producing a hollow profile having at least two half shell sheets, a first half shell sheet is applied to a first side of web plate along two axially running joint edges of the first half shell sheet, a second half shell sheet is applied to a second side of the web plate along two axially running joint edges of the second half shell sheet, and then the joint edges of the half shell sheets are subsequently joined to the web plate. An edge section of the web plate projects beyond the contact area of at least one joint edge so that at least one flange is formed for attaching other components. The hollow profile formed has two half shell sheets and a web plate disposed between the half shell sheets, which can form part of a vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel
    Inventors: Thomas Flehmig, Lothar Patberg, Markus Zörnack
  • Patent number: 7878037
    Abstract: A device for the free-form bending of longitudinal profiles, in particular pipes, in which an axial sleeve is arranged downstream of a feed unit in its direction of feed. Arranged downstream of the axial sleeve in the direction of feed, is a bending sleeve. The feed unit and the axial sleeve in each case have a drive pointing in the direction of feed, wherein the axial sleeve can be adjusted independently of the feed unit. The feed unit and the axial sleeve further have rotary drives for the simultaneous rotation in the same direction of the longitudinal profile held and guided by them. The bending sleeve can only be adjusted in a translatory manner by means of a drive in an axis running transverse to the axis of the longitudinal profile and the feed device. In addition to this, it can be pivoted by means of a drive about an axis lying transverse to the axis of the longitudinal profile and the feed device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignees: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, Mewag Maschinenfabrik AG
    Inventors: Thomas Flehmig, Martin Kibben, Urs Kühni, Jacob Ziswiler
  • Publication number: 20100294014
    Abstract: A process for producing a metal hollow body comprising a first axial portion with a first cross-sectional area and a second axial portion with a second cross-sectional area, and in which the two axial portions are connected to one another by means of a shape transition running in the axial direction, the method includes producing a preform body having at least one transition region which extends in the axial direction and is arranged between the first and second axial portions, wherein, in the transition region, the cross-sectional area of the preform body continuously changes from the cross-sectional area of the first axial portion into the cross-sectional area of the second axial portion, accommodating the preform body in a die, a shaping mandrel into the preform body, and axially moving the shaping mandrel to upset the preform body in the die into the final shape of the hollow body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Thomas Flehmig, Jörg Gorschlüter, Oliver Mertens
  • Publication number: 20100251795
    Abstract: A device for manufacturing profiles from a sheet includes at least one work station with a base plate and two die halves, wherein the die halves and the base plate extend in the longitudinal direction of the profile to be manufactured, and the die halves are arranged on the base plate movable relative to one another perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the profile. A generic device and method for manufacturing profiles with which even heavily structured profiles can be economically produced with high flexibility, is provided by a punch for forming the sheet. The punch is movable perpendicular to the relative movement of the die halves and perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the profile to be manufactured. The base plate has a die adapted to the punch, in which the sheet is formed, and the die of the base plate and the punch pertaining to it are exchangeable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Michael Brüggenbrock, Thomas Flehmig, Mohamed Tohfa, Alexander Herold, Peter Münchenbach, Joachim Raps
  • Publication number: 20100242565
    Abstract: A device for producing at least partly closed profiles from a blank includes at least one first die and at least one second die which can be positioned opposite the first die. The first die has a cavity and two side walls, wherein the side walls and the cavity of the first die can be raised and lowered relative to one another. A U-punch is provided to produce a U-shaped cross-sectional shape of the blank with the first die. The second die of the device has a cavity for producing an at least partly closed cross-sectional shape from a U-shaped blank. The device also has at least one supporting core. The cavity of the second die has elongated side walls in the direction of the first die, with which, the side walls of the first die can be lowered relative to the cavity of the first die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Thomas Flehmig, Michael Brüggenbrock
  • Publication number: 20100236316
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sheet metal blank, in particular a tailored blank, in which at least two metal sheets are connected to one another at their respective connecting edges, the two metal sheets displaying differing thickness is provided herein and allows in a simple manner an application-specific configuration of the region of transition from one metal sheet thickness to another metal sheet thickness. The method includes a step in which, prior to the connecting of the two metal sheets, at least the region of the connecting edge of the thicker of the two metal sheets is pressed to a predefinable thickness in a forming tool in such a way that the connecting edges of the metal sheets display substantially the same thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventor: Thomas Flehmig
  • Publication number: 20100133724
    Abstract: A method for producing highly dimensionally accurate, deep-drawn half shells with a base region, a body region and a flange region, includes firstly forming a pre-formed half shell from a blank and then shaping the pre-formed half shell into a finally formed half shell, wherein the pre-formed half shell has excess blank material due to its geometric shape and wherein, owing to the excess material during the shaping of the pre-formed half shell into its final shape the half shell is compressed into the finally formed half shell by at least one further pressing process. The method requires that the pre-formed half shell has excess blank material in a transition region between the body region and flange region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Thomas Flehmig, Konstantinos Savvas, Lothar Hömig
  • Patent number: 7637135
    Abstract: A method for producing hollow profiles provided with different cross sections along the length thereof includes shaping the profiles in a die from one piece of cut metal sheet. According to said method, a convex or concave rounding produced on the edges of a longitudinal section results in material excess or material shortage in the transition regions, thereby preventing the material thinning or thickening in said transition regions during forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Lothar Hömig, Uwe Kneiphoff, Thomas Flehmig
  • Publication number: 20090305075
    Abstract: A method for producing low-springback half shells made of a metal, in particular steel or a steel alloy, includes drawing in at least one drawing die a blank, such that the blanks have flange regions on the deep drawn body after the deep drawing. The flange regions are shaped by upsetting a corner substantially perpendicularly to a wall of the deep drawn region of the blank and the flange regions are subsequently trimmed in a shearing die, such that half shells without margins are produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel AG
    Inventors: Thomas Flehmig, Lothar Hömig, Konstantinos Savvas
  • Publication number: 20090255317
    Abstract: A method for converting blanks by drawing in a tool with a ram, a die and a pressure pad wherein, converted blanks with high dimensional precision can be produced, includes feeding a blank with a plurality of bulges to the tool. In flange regions of the blank the pressure pad is moved in a first process step of the method into a first position, which corresponds to the height of the bulges of the flange region of the blank added to the blank thickness. In the first process step the blank is preformed in the tool using the ram and in a second process step the pressure pad and the ram are moved into the end positions, so that the blank is converted by the ram to the end form and the pressure pad smoothes the bulges of the flange regions of the blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel AG
    Inventors: Thomas Flehmig, Konstantinos Savvas
  • Publication number: 20090178455
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for shaping a blank into a hollow profiled element comprising at least one base plate, onto which the blank that is to be shaped can be placed, at least one die core for the hollow profiled element and at least two die halves for shaping the blank into the hollow profiled element, as well as a method for producing a hollow profiled element with at least one molded-on stiffening and/or functional element made from a blank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel AG
    Inventors: Michael Brüggenbrock, Thomas Flehmig, Lothar Patberg
  • Publication number: 20090126441
    Abstract: A device for the free-form bending of longitudinal profiles, in particular pipes, in which an axial sleeve is arranged downstream of a feed unit in its direction of feed. Arranged downstream of the axial sleeve in the direction of feed, is a bending sleeve. The feed unit and the axial sleeve in each case have a drive pointing in the direction of feed, wherein the axial sleeve can be adjusted independently of the feed unit. The feed unit and the axial sleeve further have rotary drives for the simultaneous rotation in the same direction of the longitudinal profile held and guided by them. The bending sleeve can only be adjusted in a translatory manner by means of a drive in an axis running transverse to the axis of the longitudinal profile and the feed device. In addition to this, it can be pivoted by means of a drive about an axis lying transverse to the axis of the longitudinal profile and the feed device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas Flehmig
  • Publication number: 20090114703
    Abstract: A method for producing a longitudinally welded hollow profile from a sheet metal blank having defined longitudinal edges, in which the sheet metal blank is initially preformed into an open seam profile with the aid of at least two tool parts allows for the economical production of accurately formed hollow profiles. This is achieved in that to produce the open seam profile, the sheet metal blank, by a change in the relative position of the tools parts, is placed freely around a mandrel positioned between the tool parts and extending in the longitudinal direction of the sheet metal blank, the outer shape of which mandrel determines the inner shape of the hollow profile to be produced, and in that the shaping of the open seam profile obtained is then completed in one or more stages in each case by a further change of the relative position of the tool parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel AG
    Inventors: Michael Bruggenbrock, Thomas Flehmig, Wladimir Rituper, Mohamed Tohfa
  • Publication number: 20090044394
    Abstract: A method for the production of a hollow section from a blank, wherein the blank is introduced between two coreless halves of a die which have a desired section shape and can be displaced relative to one another and the blank is formed into a slotted hollow section by a closing movement of the halves of the die, includes preventing edges of the blank from sliding ahead during the closing movement of the die. A device for the production of hollow sections, which device has two coreless halves of a die which are positioned displaceably relative to one another and optionally a base plate, the halves of the die having the desired section shape of the hollow section which is to be formed includes means which, when the coreless halves are closing, prevent edges of a blank from sliding ahead to produce a slotted hollow section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel AG
    Inventors: Torsten Brösske, Michael Bruggenbrock, Thomas Flehmig, Mohamed Tohfa
  • Publication number: 20080311422
    Abstract: A method for producing a composite part is provided. The method includes a first and at least one second part, wherein the first part at least in part is made of a first metal and the second part at least in part is made of another metal that has a lower melting temperature than that of the first metal. Composite parts produced by the method are also provided. The method for producing composite parts which have an improved load-bearing capacity and yet low weight, is achieved by the fact that at least one breakthrough encompassing a breakthrough collar is introduced into the first part and the second part is non-positively and/or positively moulded onto the first part at least in the area of the breakthrough and the breakthrough collar by heating the second part and applying pressure to said second part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: ThyssenKrupp Steel Ag
    Inventors: Thomas Flehmig, Lothar Patberg
  • Patent number: 7290422
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for the 3D free-form bending of profiles with arbitrary, but constant outside dimensions over the profile length, particularly hollow profiles, wherein the profile to be bent has a longitudinal axis and is moved through the through-opening-of a guide element adjoining the profile surface and a bending sleeve that is arranged downstream of the guide element referred to the feed direction and held in a carrier element in a feed direction that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis, namely by means of a feed unit that contains a rotary drive. The bending sleeve can be pivoted about an axis that extends perpendicular to the feed direction and displaced perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the profile. When turning the profile about its longitudinal axis by means of the feed unit, the guide element and the bending sleeve can be turned with the profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Stahl AG
    Inventors: Thomas Flehmig, Martin Kibben
  • Publication number: 20070175261
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hollow profiles provided with different cross sections along the length thereof. Said profiles are shaped in a die from one piece of cut metal sheet (5, 6, 7). According to said invention, a convex or concave rounding produced on the edges of a longitudinal section (8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) results in material excess or material shortage in the transition regions (8, 9), thereby preventing the material thinning or thickening in said transition regions (8, 9) during forming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Lothar Hornig, Uwe Kneiphoff, Thomas Flehmig
  • Publication number: 20060201218
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for the 3D free-form bending of profiles with arbitrary, but constant outside dimensions over the profile length, particularly hollow profiles, wherein the profile (7) to be bent has a longitudinal axis (L) and is moved through the through-opening (1c) of a guide element (1) adjoining the profile surface and a bending sleeve (5) that is arranged downstream of the guide element (1) referred to the feed direction (V) and held in a carrier element (4) in a feed direction (V) that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis (L), namely by means of a feed unit (3) that contains a rotary drive. The bending sleeve (5) can be pivoted about an axis that extends perpendicular to the feed direction (V) and displaced perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the profile (7) such that it acts upon the profile (7) in a bending fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Thomas Flehmig, Martin Kibben
  • Patent number: 6941787
    Abstract: A bending device is described for thin-walled metal tubes (R) made of a straight tube guide (1), a core template (2), which adjoins the tube guide (1) and is pivotable in relation thereto, having a connection strip (3), and a mandrel, having a mandrel tip (4), which is flexible in the region of the core template (2), and a mandrel shaft (5), which adjoins the mandrel tip (4) and is rigidly connected thereto and is axially fixed (1) in the tube guide. In order to support the metal tube (R) to be bent over its entire surface on the inside in the active bending region during the bending procedure, the flexible mandrel tip (4), which comprises a radially incompressible solid cylinder made of elastomer, extends only over the starting section of the bending curve, where the bending procedure occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Stahl AG
    Inventors: Thomas Flehmig, Uwe Kneiphoff, Thomas Neuhausmann, Martin Kibben