Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Voelkner

Wolfgang Voelkner 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).

  • Method, device and rivet for effecting a mechanical joining
    Patent number: 6763568
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mechanically joining stacked, plate-shaped objects, especially metal sheets by means of punch riveting with a semitubular rivet while using tools placed above and below the objects, whereby the semitubular rivet linearly penetrates into the objects. The inventive method is characterized in that, during the axial feed motion of the semitubular rivet, the upper tool and/or a portion of the lower tool is/are subjected to a wobbling additional movement in a radial and/or tangential direction. The invention also relates to an apparatus and to the semitubular rivet which are used for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Technische Universitaet Dresden
    Inventors: Reinhard Mauermann, Wolfgang Voelkner, Guenter Berger
  • Method and device for connecting overlapping flat parts
    Patent number: 6473957
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for connecting overlapping flat parts in a mechanical joining process, for example for connecting panels, using a mould stamp (1a) and a matrix which is provided with a recess, the parts to be connected being placed between the mould stamp and the matrix. The invention is characterized in that the active axial advancing movement of the mould stamp (1a) is impressed with a tumbling motion throughout the entire joining process or during a part of the joining process and will a variable stamping force (F) which is dependent on said tumbling motion, in or to produce a flow of material that is oriented towards the undercut (6). The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the inventive method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Technische Universitaet Dresden
    Inventors: Wolfgang Voelkner, Gerald Effenberg, Reinhard Mauermann
  • Tool for applying punched rivets
    Patent number: 6405420
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tool for applying punched rivets, either full rivets or semi-tubular rivets. The tool having a blank holder for pretensioning assembly pieces, especially metal sheets; a rivet punch movable in an axial direction within a cylinder of the blank holder; and a die that is arranged opposite the blank holder and punch and provided with an annular prominence on an end face thereof and facing the rivet punch. A radial outside section of said end face concentrically surrounds said annular prominence, the outside section of said end face being displaceable relative to the annular prominence as a function of one of the penetration depth of the rivet into the assembly pieces and the force that the rivet punch exerts on the rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Kerb-Konus-Vertriebs-GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Donhauser, Reinhard Mauermann, Gunter Quaisser, Wolfgang Voelkner, Michael Zimmermann