Patents by Inventor Thomas Herzinger

Thomas Herzinger 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: 11331772
    Abstract: A method of connecting a first component having a first hole with a second component having a second hole includes the acts of placing together the two components so that the holes are situated above one another, and fixing the two components on one another. The fixing occurs by pushing a connection element projecting beyond the two components through the two components, the connection element having at least one clamping head which projects beyond a side of the first component facing away from the second component, and clipping a clamping element onto the clamping head, so that the clamping element is supported on a side of the first component facing away from the second component and exercises a clamping force onto the connection element which clamps together the two components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Herzinger, Sonja Wolf, Johann van Niekerk, Matthias Berger
  • Patent number: 10307878
    Abstract: A method produces a component, particularly a body component for a vehicle, or a component composite consisting of several components. The steps include forming a metal plate in a forming tool, particularly in a deep-drawing die, producing a reference marking at a predefined location of the metal plate, rough positioning of the formed metal plate by a positioning device such that the reference marking is situated in a predefined space area, identifying the reference marking of a position recognition device, such as a camera system, the position recognition device generating position data corresponding to the position of the reference marking, positioning of a first fixing element at the location of the reference marking based on the position data by an electronically controlled positioning device, and connecting the first fixing element with the formed metal plate, particularly by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Herzinger, Johann van Niekerk
  • Patent number: 9873186
    Abstract: A connection element is provided for connecting at least two components. The connection element has at least two spherical, sphere-shaped or sphere-type or sphere-like sections, wherein a first section of the at least two sections is provided for the connection with a first component, and the second section of the at least two sections is provided for the connection with a second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Herzinger, Sonja Wolf, Johann van Niekerk, Matthias Berger
  • Patent number: 9707644
    Abstract: A method is provided for connecting a first component to a second component. The two components are placed against each other and pre-fixed, wherein the two components are attached and immovably connected to each other at at least one first connection point via a first detachable component connection and are attached and connected to each other so as to be movable relative to each other in a sliding direction at at least one second connection point via a second detachable component connection. The pre-fixed components are rigidly connected, in particular, by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maik Hammer, Johann van Niekerk, Thomas Herzinger
  • Patent number: 9597755
    Abstract: A method for connecting components includes the acts of providing a first component, fixing the first component in a space, where the exact position of the first component in a space does not have to be known or is unknown, determining the exact position of the first component in a space by a position recognition device, which generates the position data that correspond to the position of the first component, attaching or producing at least one first fixing element on the first component by an electronically controlled device, which attaches or produces the at least one first fixing element in a specified position relative to the first component using the determined position data, and fixing a second component on the first component, where a second fixing element, which is provided on the second component, forms a detachable connection with the first fixing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Herzinger, Johann Van Niekerk
  • Patent number: 9296923
    Abstract: A vehicle body construction method is provided for connecting two components which are to be rigidly connected to one another. A first component is provided on which a first positive-fit element projects away from the first component. A second component is provided, which includes a second positive-fit element which cooperates with the first positive-fit element of the first component. The two components are detachably fixed by placing them against one another such that the positive-fit elements mesh with or latchingly engage one another. The components are held relative to one another at least in one direction and are permanently connected by use of an adhesive that is located between mutually facing surfaces of the two components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Herzinger, Johann van Niekerk
  • Patent number: 9222500
    Abstract: A connection between components includes a first component, a second component, and at least two pairs of fixing elements spaced apart by which the two components are detachably connected. Each pair of fixing elements has a female fixing element and a male fixing element that is inserted into the female fixing element. A fixing element of each pair of fixing elements is provided on the first component and the other fixing element of each pair of fixing elements is provided on the second component. The fixing elements are arranged such that on detachable connection of the two components by the pairs of fixing elements in the two components, a bending stress results in the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Herzinger, Johann van Niekerk
  • Patent number: 9050690
    Abstract: A component connection is provided and includes, a first vehicle component, which has a male fixing element that projects from the first vehicle component and that partially or completely has the shape of a sphere or completely or partially has a sphere-like shape, and a second vehicle component, which has a female fixing element that is intended to receive the male fixing element. The male fixing element is inserted into the female fixing element in an insertion direction. The male fixing element has an excessive dimension relative to the female fixing element substantially perpendicularly to the insertion direction so that the two vehicle components are detachably clamped together at the fixing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maik Hammer, Johann van Niekerk, Thomas Herzinger
  • Publication number: 20140147195
    Abstract: A connection element is provided for connecting at least two components. The connection element has at least two spherical, sphere-shaped or sphere-type or sphere-like sections, wherein a first section of the at least two sections is provided for the connection with a first component, and the second section of the at least two sections is provided for the connection with a second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas HERZINGER, Sonja WOLF, Johann van NIEKERK, Matthias BERGER
  • Publication number: 20140143989
    Abstract: A method of connecting a first component having a first hole with a second component having a second hole includes the acts of placing together the two components so that the holes are situated above one another, and fixing the two components on one another. The fixing occurs by pushing a connection element projecting beyond the two components through the two components, the connection element having at least one clamping head which projects beyond a side of the first component facing away from the second component, and clipping a clamping element onto the clamping head, so that the clamping element is supported on a side of the first component facing away from the second component and exercises a clamping force onto the connection element which clamps together the two components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas HERZINGER, Sonja WOLF, Johann van NIEKERK, Matthias BERGER
  • Publication number: 20140115895
    Abstract: A method produces a component, particularly a body component for a vehicle, or a component composite consisting of several components. The steps include forming a metal plate in a forming tool, particularly in a deep-drawing die, producing a reference marking at a predefined location of the metal plate, rough positioning of the formed metal plate by a positioning device such that the reference marking is situated in a predefined space area, identifying the reference marking of a position recognition device, such as a camera system, the position recognition device generating position data corresponding to the position of the reference marking, positioning of a first fixing element at the location of the reference marking based on the position data by an electronically controlled positioning device, and connecting the first fixing element with the formed metal plate, particularly by welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas HERZINGER, Johann van NIEKERK
  • Publication number: 20130269873
    Abstract: A vehicle body construction method is provided for connecting two components which are to be rigidly connected to one another. A first component is provided on which a first positive-fit element projects away from the first component. A second component is provided, which includes a second positive-fit element which cooperates with the first positive-fit element of the first component. The two components are detachably fixed by placing them against one another such that the positive-fit elements mesh with or latchingly engage one another. The components are held relative to one another at least in one direction and are permanently connected by use of an adhesive that is located between mutually facing surfaces of the two components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas HERZINGER, Johann van NIEKERK
  • Patent number: 7638733
    Abstract: Pulsed laser drilling is used to produce bore holes having a small diameter, for example, in hollow workpieces. Turbine blades, e.g., have a multitude of fine cooling air bore holes, which are able to be produced by this method, e.g., with high positional accuracy and in an automated manner. A checking method is provided by which drilling faults, e.g., with regard to piercing and bore-hole geometry, may be detected in a more reliable manner. A method is for checking a bore hole introduced in a workpiece by laser pulses, in which characteristic signals from the area of the bore hole are received with the aid of a sensor and compared to setpoint values and only signals received in a characteristic time interval following a laser pulse are taken into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Erwin Bayer, Mark Geisel, Thomas Herzinger
  • Patent number: 7620233
    Abstract: When laser beam welding one or more work pieces faults may occur, which lead to unacceptable losses in quality. A check process is provided, which reliably recognizes seam faults in a seam which is introduced into one or more workpieces by means of laser beam welding. Characteristic signals are detected from the region of the seam using a sensor and compared with an index value or set value, and only signals are taken into consideration which are detected in a characteristic time interval following the laser beam welding, which begins, at the earliest, following the solidification of the seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Markus Beck, Thomas Herzinger
  • Publication number: 20070210044
    Abstract: Pulsed laser drilling is used to produce bore holes having a small diameter, for example, in hollow workpieces. Turbine blades, e.g., have a multitude of fine cooling air bore holes, which are able to be produced by this method, e.g., with high positional accuracy and in an automated manner. A checking method is provided by which drilling faults, e.g., with regard to piercing and bore-hole geometry, may be detected in a more reliable manner. A method is for checking a bore hole introduced in a workpiece by laser pulses, in which characteristic signals from the area of the bore hole are received with the aid of a sensor and compared to setpoint values and only signals received in a characteristic time interval following a laser pulse are taken into account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2004
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
    Inventors: Erwin Bayer, Mark Geisel, Thomas Herzinger
  • Publication number: 20050163364
    Abstract: When laser beam welding one or more work pieces faults may occur, which lead to unacceptable losses in quality. For quality assurance, both subjective visual inspections as well as automated checks of the seam are the norm. In the automated processes the work site is conventionally monitored during welding using point or surface detectors (cameras). This type of process can not detect faults which do not occur until after the actual interaction of laser beam and work piece, in particular, solidification phenomena. Beyond this, certain irregularities relevant to quality are not recognized, since relevant process signals are overridden by stronger signals of the process illumination with no information value. It is the task of the present invention to provide a check process, which reliably recognizes seam faults.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventors: Markus Beck, Thomas Herzinger