Patents by Inventor Thomas Henksmeier

Thomas Henksmeier 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: 11577294
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a shaped sheet metal component from a billet by means of U O forming, wherein firstly a preform is created by the U-forming and then a final shaping is performed by the O forming to give a final form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Guenter Fortmeier, Aloys Schroeder, Matthias Koerner, Eugen Seibel, Thomas Henksmeier
  • Patent number: 11141770
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for producing a shaped sheet metal part from a billet by UO forming. First, a preform is created by the U-forming. Then, final forming to give a final form is carried out by the O-forming. The preform has in cross section a maximum width that is smaller than the maximum width of the final form produced after the O-forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Guenter Fortmeier, Thomas Henksmeier, Matthias Koerner, Aloys Schroeder, Eugen Seibel
  • Patent number: 10633036
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an axle carrier 1 and to a method for the production of the axle carrier 1. The axle carrier 1 has an upper shell 2 from an aluminum die-casting and a lower shell 3 from a fiber composite material. On a ribbed structure of the lower shell 3, an upper end 14 of the reinforcing ribs 9 is preferably configured so as to be widened such that the bearing face between the reinforcing rib 9 and the upper shell 2 is enlarged and, on account thereof, the strength of the axle carrier 1 produced is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Koerner, Thomas Henksmeier, Guenter Fortmeier, Frank Hoecker, Aloys Schroeder
  • Patent number: 10603969
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a wheel suspension system for a wheel suspension on an axle beam of a vehicle using a fastening screw, including: an entrainment element non-rotatably joinable with the fastening screw and configured to apply a torque to the fastening screw to release a force-locking fastening; and a control arm configured to be attached to the axle beam by the fastening screw and configured to act on the entrainment element during a rotational movement of the control arm with respect to the axle beam to produce the torque to release the force-locking fastening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Fluerenbrock, Thomas Henksmeier, Aloys Schroeder, Peter Stastny
  • Patent number: 10479412
    Abstract: A body connection and a method of manufacturing the body connection is disclosed. A body connecting sleeve is formed in two parts from a spacer sleeve arranged in an axle auxiliary frame and from a body connecting sleeve which is coupled only to the upper shell of the axle auxiliary frame and substantially corresponds to the length of the centering extension. The body connecting sleeve is coupled exclusively in a form-fitting manner to the upper shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Michael Stastny, Dieter Friesen, Reinhard Jaeger, Thomas Henksmeier
  • Publication number: 20190143624
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a downholding press for producing a semi-finished product from sheet-metal material having thickness-reduced regions, wherein the semi-finished product after forming has regions with mutually dissimilar wall thicknesses and the downholding press has an upper tool and a lower tool as well as a downholding element, and a convexity on the sheet-metal material is generated between the upper tool and the lower tool such that the sheet-metal material is reduced in thickness in regions by elongation, wherein a blocking cam is configured on the downholding element in such a manner that a follow-on of the sheet-metal material is impeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Erik HOCHAPFEL, Thomas HENKSMEIER
  • Patent number: 10226809
    Abstract: A method for producing a shaped sheet metal component having wall thicknesses differing from each other is disclosed including providing a sheet metal material having a constant wall thickness, pre-shaping the sheet metal material into a preform by means of a hold-down press, producing at least one bulge in an inner region such that the material is stretched and has a reduced wall thickness, flattening and/or extending the produced preform, cutting the sheet metal material in order to form a blank before, during, or after the pre-shaping, and shaping the blank into the shaped sheet metal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Henksmeier, Erik Hochapfel, Dieter Friesen
  • Publication number: 20190023329
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an axle carrier 1 and to a method for the production of the axle carrier 1. The axle carrier 1 has an upper shell 2 from an aluminum die-casting and a lower shell 3 from a fiber composite material. On a ribbed structure of the lower shell 3, an upper end 14 of the reinforcing ribs 9 is preferably configured so as to be widened such that the bearing face between the reinforcing rib 9 and the upper shell 2 is enlarged and, on account thereof, the strength of the axle carrier 1 produced is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Matthias KOERNER, Thomas HENKSMEIER, Guenter FORTMEIER, Frank HOECKER, Aloys SCHROEDER
  • Publication number: 20180281044
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for producing a shaped sheet metal part from a billet by UO forming. First, a preform is created by the U-forming. Then, final forming to give a final form is carried out by the O-forming. The preform has in cross section a maximum width that is smaller than the maximum width of the final form produced after the O-forming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Guenter FORTMEIER, Thomas HENKSMEIER, Matthias KOERNER, Aloys SCHROEDER, Eugen SEIBEL
  • Publication number: 20180178853
    Abstract: An axle or chassis component for an axle of a motor vehicle is disclosed. At least a part of the axle or chassis component is provided by a one-piece and single-material formed component. The formed component has at least three regions, wherein one region has a smaller wall thickness in relation to the other two regions, and the region with a smaller wall thickness is arranged between the two regions with a greater wall thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventors: Dieter FRIESEN, Thomas HENKSMEIER, Erik HOCHAPFEL
  • Publication number: 20180154947
    Abstract: A body connection and a method of manufacturing the body connection is disclosed. A body connecting sleeve is formed in two parts from a spacer sleeve arranged in an axle auxiliary frame and from a body connecting sleeve which is coupled only to the upper shell of the axle auxiliary frame and substantially corresponds to the length of the centering extension. The body connecting sleeve is coupled exclusively in a form-fitting manner to the upper shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Peter Michael STASTNY, Dieter FRIESEN, Reinhard JAEGER, Thomas HENKSMEIER
  • Publication number: 20180126814
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a wheel suspension system for a wheel suspension on an axle beam of a vehicle using a fastening screw, including: an entrainment element non-rotatably joinable with the fastening screw and configured to apply a torque to the fastening screw to release a force-locking fastening; and a control arm configured to be attached to the axle beam by the fastening screw and configured to act on the entrainment element during a rotational movement of the control arm with respect to the axle beam to produce the torque to release the force-locking fastening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Dennis Fluerenbrock, Thomas Henksmeier, Aloys Schroeder, Peter Stastny
  • Publication number: 20180050380
    Abstract: A method for producing a shaped sheet metal component having wall thicknesses differing from each other is disclosed including providing a sheet metal material having a constant wall thickness, pre-shaping the sheet metal material into a preform by means of a hold-down press, producing at least one bulge in an inner region such that the material is stretched and has a reduced wall thickness, flattening and/or extending the produced preform, cutting the sheet metal material in order to form a blank before, during, or after the pre-shaping, and shaping the blank into the shaped sheet metal component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas HENKSMEIER, Erik HOCHAPFEL, Dieter FRIESEN
  • Patent number: 9821624
    Abstract: An axle arrangement is provided having a wheel carrier with fastening arms. By placement of an assembly opening in the fastening arm in a motor vehicle transverse direction (Y), it is possible to fix the track width with the use of identical parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Niggemeyer, Thomas Henksmeier, Peter Stastny, Waldemar Bera, Andreas Janzen
  • Publication number: 20160221408
    Abstract: An axle arrangement is provided having a wheel carrier with fastening arms. By placement of an assembly opening in the fastening arm in a motor vehicle transverse direction (Y), it is possible to fix the track width with the use of identical parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: BENTELER Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert NIGGEMEYER, Thomas HENKSMEIER, Peter STASTNY, Waldemar BERA, Andreas JANZEN
  • Patent number: 8573568
    Abstract: A leaf spring attachment for connecting a leaf spring to an axle or frame of a motor vehicle includes a clamp to maintain the leaf spring under tension between elastomer bodies. At least one of the elastomer bodies is connected to the leaf spring by a material joint. The clamp is split to define an upper clamp member and a lower clamp member in opposition to the upper clamp member. The upper clamp member has a U-shaped configuration to embrace a topside and opposite length sides of the leaf spring. The lower clamp member includes a plurality of retention plates in spaced-apart relationship for connection with the axle by material joint. Screw fasteners are provided to secure legs of the upper clamp member to the lower clamp member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Henksmeier, Erik Hochapfel, Waldemar Bera
  • Patent number: 8480107
    Abstract: A wheel suspension for a motor vehicle includes a suspension arm having a base body and support elements formed on the base body. Pivotally mounted on the suspension arm for rotation about a rotation axis is a wheel carrier which defines a wheel axis. An adjustment screw is arranged in substantial orthogonal relationship to the wheel axis and received at least one installation opening of the wheel carrier for securing the wheel carrier to the suspension arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Henksmeier, Erik Hochapfel, Waldemar Bera
  • Patent number: 8382128
    Abstract: An axle arrangement includes an axle member and an axle member bracket arranged on the axle member. A wheel suspension having a wheel carrier bracket is constructed in the form of a fork-shaped metal sheet and swingably supported on the axle member bracket for wheel alignment, with a wheel carrier being arranged on the wheel carrier bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Henksmeier, Erik Hochapfel
  • Publication number: 20120056396
    Abstract: A wheel suspension for a motor vehicle includes a suspension arm having a base body and support elements formed on the base body. Pivotally mounted on the suspension arm for rotation about a rotation axis is a wheel carrier which defines a wheel axis. An adjustment screw is arranged in substantial orthogonal relationship to the wheel axis and received at least one installation opening of the wheel carrier for securing the wheel carrier to the suspension arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: THOMAS HENKSMEIER, ERIK HOCHAPFEL
  • Publication number: 20110285101
    Abstract: An axle arrangement includes an axle member and an axle member bracket arranged on the axle member. A wheel suspension having a wheel carrier bracket is constructed in the form of a fork-shaped metal sheet and swingably supported on the axle member bracket for wheel alignment, with a wheel carrier being arranged on the wheel carrier bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Henksmeier, Erik Hochapfel