Patents by Inventor Donald W Cotton

Donald W Cotton 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).

  • Electromagnetic shape calibration of tubes
    Patent number: 8099989
    Abstract: Articles are often formed from a tubular workpiece in a process which does not usefully shape the ends of the tube. In an embodiment of the invention, tube ends may be mechanically reduced in cross section and then expanded against a secondary forming surface(s) using an electromagnetic force to obtain desired shapes for the tube ends and minimize scrapping of workpiece material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: John R. Bradley, Michael H. Lovell, Kevin R. Marks, Terry A. Kent, Donald W Cotton
  • Electromagnetic shape calibration of tubes
    Publication number: 20100024503
    Abstract: Articles are often formed from a tubular workpiece in a process which does not usefully shape the ends of the tube. In an embodiment of the invention, tube ends may be mechanically reduced in cross section and then expanded against a secondary forming surface(s) using an electromagnetic force to obtain desired shapes for the tube ends and minimize scrapping of workpiece material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John R. Bradley, Michael H. Lovell, Kevin R. Marks, Terry A. Kent, Donald W. Cotton