Patents by Inventor Wolfram Ehling

Wolfram Ehling 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: 20240116141
    Abstract: A welded steel part with a very high mechanical strength is provided. The welded steel part is obtained by heating followed by hot forming, then cooling of at least one welded blank obtained by butt welding of at least one first and one second sheet. The at least one first and second sheets including, at least in part, a steel substrate and a pre-coating which includes an intermetallic alloy layer in contact with the steel substrate, topped by a metal alloy layer of aluminum or aluminum-based alloy. A method for the fabrication of a welded steel part and the fabrication of structural or safety parts for automotive vehicles are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Laurent Cretteur, Qingdong Yin, Francis Schmit, Wolfram Ehling
  • Publication number: 20240042556
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes a step of removing at least part of the first and second metal alloy layers in first and second peripheral zones of pre-coated steel first and second sheets, respectively, by simultaneously ablating the first and second precoatings in the first and second peripheral zones of the pre-coated steel first and second sheets to define first and second ablation zones, the first and second peripheral zones being zones of the first and second principal faces closest to the median plane and located on either side of the median plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Francis SCHMIT, Rene VIERSTRAETE, Qingdong YIN, Wolfram EHLING
  • Patent number: 11826856
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes a step of removing at least part of the first and second metal alloy layers in first and second peripheral zones of pre-coated steel first and second sheets, respectively, by simultaneously ablating the first and second precoatings in the first and second peripheral zones of the pre-coated steel first and second sheets to define first and second ablation zones, the first and second peripheral zones being zones of the first and second principal faces closest to the median plane and located on either side of the median plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Francis Schmit, Rene Vierstraete, Qingdong Yin, Wolfram Ehling
  • Publication number: 20220347797
    Abstract: A welded steel part with a very high mechanical strength is provided. The welded steel part is obtained by heating followed by hot forming, then cooling of at least one welded blank obtained by butt welding of at least one first and one second sheet. The at least one first and second sheets including, at least in part, a steel substrate and a pre-coating which includes an intermetallic alloy layer in contact with the steel substrate, topped by a metal alloy layer of aluminum or aluminum-based alloy. A method for the fabrication of a welded steel part and the fabrication of structural or safety parts for automotive vehicles are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Laurent Cretteur, Qingdong Yin, Francis Schmit, Wolfram Ehling
  • Patent number: 11426820
    Abstract: A welded steel part with a very high mechanical strength is provided. The welded steel part is obtained by heating followed by hot forming, then cooling of at least one welded blank obtained by butt welding of at least one first and one second sheet. The at least one first and second sheets including, at least in part, a steel substrate and a pre-coating which includes an intermetallic alloy layer in contact with the steel substrate, topped by a metal alloy layer of aluminum or aluminum-based alloy. A method for the fabrication of a welded steel part and the fabrication of structural or safety parts for automotive vehicles are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Laurent Cretteur, Qingdong Yin, Francis Schmit, Wolfram Ehling
  • Patent number: 11154950
    Abstract: A method for creating a welded steel part includes providing a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer; providing a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer; butt welding the first and second steel plates at a weld so as to melt material from at least the first base, the first intermetallic alloy layer, the second base and the second intermetallic layer to form a molten weld material; austenizing the welded steel plates at a temperature between Ac1 and Ac3+100 degrees C. for a time greater than or equal to 20 seconds; and cooling the welded steel plates so as to render a uniform microstructure to the weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal France
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Canourgues, Aurelien Pic, Pascal Verrier, Rene Vierstraete, Wolfram Ehling, Bernd Thommes
  • Patent number: 11097377
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes procuring at least two pre-coated steel sheets, each having a pre-coating of an intermetallic alloy layer, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy. The sheets have a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face. The sheets are positioned so a gap between 0.02 and 2 mm exists between the secondary faces. The secondary faces face each other. The positioning of the first and second sheets defines a median plane perpendicular to the principal faces. Layers of metal alloy are removed by melting and vaporization simultaneously on the principal faces, in a peripheral zone of the sheets, the peripheral zones being the zones of the principal faces closest in relation to the median plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Francis Schmit, Rene Vierstraete, Qingdong Yin, Wolfram Ehling
  • Publication number: 20210162550
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes a step of removing at least part of the first and second metal alloy layers in first and second peripheral zones of pre-coated steel first and second sheets, respectively, by simultaneously ablating the first and second precoatings in the first and second peripheral zones of the pre-coated steel first and second sheets to define first and second ablation zones, the first and second peripheral zones being zones of the first and second principal faces closest to the median plane and located on either side of the median plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Francis SCHMIT, Rene VIERSTRAETE, Qingdong YIN, Wolfram EHLING
  • Publication number: 20210046577
    Abstract: A method for producing a welded metal blank (16) includes cutting a first initial metal sheet (1) and a second initial metal sheet (3) from a first and second metal strip (4); joining the first and second initial metal sheets (1,3) by welding so as to obtain an initial welded metal blank (9), the initial welded metal blank (9) comprising a weld joint (10) joining the first and the second initial metal sheets (1,3); and cutting said initial welded metal blank (9) by a process involving metal melting so as to obtain at least one final welded metal blank (16) comprising a first metal blank portion (17) and a second metal blank portion (18) joined by a weld joint portion (19) consisting of a portion of the weld joint (10) obtained during the joining step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Wolfram EHLING, Niko VAN DER BORGHT
  • Patent number: 10919117
    Abstract: The invention relates principally to a welded steel part with a very high mechanical strength characteristics obtained by heating followed by hot forming, then cooling of at least one welded blank obtained by butt welding of at least one first and one second sheet consisting at least in part of a steel substrate and a pre-coating which is constituted by an intermetallic alloy layer in contact with the steel substrate, topped by a metal alloy layer of aluminum or aluminum-based alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ARCELORMITTAL INVESTIGACIÓN Y DESARROLLO, S.L.
    Inventors: Laurent Cretteur, Qingdong Yin, Francis Schmit, Wolfram Ehling
  • Patent number: 10828729
    Abstract: A welded steel part with a very high mechanical strength is provided. The welded steel part is obtained by heating followed by hot forming, then cooling of at least one welded blank obtained by butt welding of at least one first and one second sheet. The at least one first and second sheets including, at least in part, a steel substrate and a pre-coating which includes an intermetallic alloy layer in contact with the steel substrate, topped by a metal alloy layer of aluminum or aluminum-based alloy. A method for the fabrication of a welded steel part and the fabrication of structural or safety parts for automotive vehicles are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Laurent Cretteur, Qingdong Yin, Francis Schmit, Wolfram Ehling
  • Patent number: 10780529
    Abstract: A welded blank includes a first pre-coated steel sheet, a second pre-coated steel sheet the first pre-coated steel sheet including a principal first face and an opposite principal first face, the first layer being removed by melting and vaporization in a first peripheral zone of the first pre-coated steel sheet, and the second pre-coated steel sheet including a second principal face and an opposite second principal face, the second layer being removed by melting and vaporization in a second peripheral zone of the second pre-coated steel sheet. At least one welded joint defining a median plane perpendicular to the first and second principal faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Francis Schmit, Rene Vierstraete, Qingdong Yin, Wolfram Ehling
  • Publication number: 20200277975
    Abstract: A method for creating a welded steel part includes providing a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer; providing a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer; butt welding the first and second steel plates at a weld so as to melt material from at least the first base, the first intermetallic alloy layer, the second base and the second intermetallic layer to form a molten weld material; austenizing the welded steel plates at a temperature between Ac1 and Ac3+100 degrees C. for a time greater than or equal to 20 seconds; and cooling the welded steel plates so as to render a uniform microstructure to the weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Jean-Francois CANOURGUES, Aurelien PIC, Pascal VERRIER, Rene VIERSTRAETE, Wolfram EHLING, Bernd THOMMES
  • Patent number: 10668570
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the preparation of steel sheets to be fabricated into a welded steel blank. The method includes procuring at least one pre-coated first steel sheet and one pre-coated second steel sheet, made up of a steel substrate and a pre-coating made up of an intermetallic alloy layer in contact with the steel substrate, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy, the first sheet having a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face, the second sheet having a principal face, an opposite principal face and at least one secondary face, positioning the first and second sheets, leaving a gap of between 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Francis Schmit, René Vierstraete, Qingdong Yin, Wolfram Ehling
  • Patent number: 10654134
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes procuring at least two pre-coated steel sheets, each having a pre-coating of an intermetallic alloy layer, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy. The sheets have a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face. The sheets are positioned so a gap between 0.02 and 2 mm exists between the secondary faces. The secondary faces face each other. The positioning of the first and second sheets defines a median plane perpendicular to the principal faces. Layers of metal alloy are removed by melting and vaporization simultaneously on the principal faces, in a peripheral zone of the sheets, the peripheral zones being the zones of the principal faces closest in relation to the median plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ArcelorMittal
    Inventors: Francis Schmit, Rene Vierstraete, Qingdong Yin, Wolfram Ehling
  • Patent number: 10626903
    Abstract: A formed steel part includes a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer, the first steel part having a first area without the first metal alloy layer and having at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer; and a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer, the second steel part having a second area without the second metal alloy layer and having at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area. The first and second steel plates are joined together. The formed steel part may also include a butt-weld joining the first and second steel plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ARCELOEMITTAL FRANCE
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Canourgues, Aurelien Pic, Pascal Verrier, Rene Vierstraete, Wolfram Ehling, Bernd Thommes
  • Patent number: 10626902
    Abstract: A formed steel part includes a first steel plate having a first base, a first intermetallic alloy layer on the first base and a first metal alloy layer on the first intermetallic alloy layer, the first steel part having a first area without the first metal alloy layer and having at least part of the first intermetallic alloy layer; and a second steel plate having a second base, a second intermetallic alloy layer on the second base and a second metal alloy layer on the second intermetallic alloy layer, the second steel part having a second area without the second metal alloy layer and having at least part of the second intermetallic alloy layer in the second area. The first and second steel plates are joined together. The formed steel part may also include a butt-weld joining the first and second steel plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ARCELORMITTAL FRANCE
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Canourgues, Aurelien Pic, Pascal Verrier, Rene Vierstraete, Wolfram Ehling, Bernd Thommes
  • Publication number: 20200016697
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes procuring at least two pre-coated steel sheets, each having a pre-coating of an intermetallic alloy layer, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy. The sheets have a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face. The sheets are positioned so a gap between 0.02 and 2 mm exists between the secondary faces. The secondary faces face each other. The positioning of the first and second sheets defines a median plane perpendicular to the principal faces. Layers of metal alloy are removed by melting and vaporization simultaneously on the principal faces, in a peripheral zone of the sheets, the peripheral zones being the zones of the principal faces closest in relation to the median plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Francis SCHMIT, Rene VIERSTRAETE, Qingdong YIN, Wolfram EHLING
  • Publication number: 20200001403
    Abstract: A welded blank includes a first pre-coated steel sheet, a second pre-coated steel sheet the first pre-coated steel sheet including a principal first face and an opposite principal first face, the first layer being removed by melting and vaporization in a first peripheral zone of the first pre-coated steel sheet, and the second pre-coated steel sheet including a second principal face and an opposite second principal face, the second layer being removed by melting and vaporization in a second peripheral zone of the second pre-coated steel sheet. At least one welded joint defining a median plane perpendicular to the first and second principal faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Francis SCHMIT, Rene VIERSTRAETE, Qingdong YIN, Wolfram EHLING
  • Publication number: 20200001402
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of steel sheets for fabricating a welded steel blank is provided. The method includes procuring at least two pre-coated steel sheets, each having a pre-coating of an intermetallic alloy layer, topped by a layer of aluminum metal or aluminum alloy or aluminum-based alloy. The sheets have a principal face, an opposite principal face, and at least one secondary face. The sheets are positioned so a gap between 0.02 and 2 mm exists between the secondary faces. The secondary faces face each other. The positioning of the first and second sheets defines a median plane perpendicular to the principal faces. Layers of metal alloy are removed by melting and vaporization simultaneously on the principal faces, in a peripheral zone of the sheets, the peripheral zones being the zones of the principal faces closest in relation to the median plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Francis SCHMIT, Rene VIERSTRAETE, Qingdong YIN, Wolfram EHLING