Patents by Inventor James Hengel

James Hengel 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: 20070262057
    Abstract: A method is provided for adhesively bonding together a pair of metal sheets to form a laminated sheet metal assembly. A coating of heat curable adhesive is placed on the bottom sheet. The top sheet is placed on top of the coating of adhesive. The stacked metal sheets are then placed between a pair of electrodes. One of the electrodes has a pointed projection that pierces through at least the adjacent sheet and into the adhesive. Electrical current is then conducted between the electrodes so that current flows through the projection to create electric resistance heating and thereby cure the adhesive. The electrodes can be rotating rollers and the metal sheets are fed between the rollers. The electrodes can provide heating and curing of the adhesive in a spot surrounding the pointed electrode and then the remaining uncured adhesive can be cured during later heating of the laminated assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: James Hengel, Pei-Chung Wang
  • Publication number: 20070209757
    Abstract: A method is provided for attaching together a pair of telescoped tubes. Prior to telescoping the tubes together, an adhesive storage cavity is formed on the surface of at least one of the tubes, and the adhesive cavity is filled with adhesive, so that adhesive within the adhesive cavity faces toward the surface of the other tube when the tubes are telescoped together. After the tubes are telescoped together, with the inner tube inside the outer tube, the adhesive within the storage cavity is cured so that the inner and outer tubes are adhesively attached together. During the curing of the adhesive, the adhesive will flow or expand out of the storage cavity to coat a portion of the opposing surfaces of the inner and outer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: James Hengel, Pei-Chung Wang
  • Publication number: 20070212188
    Abstract: A nut and a method of attaching the nut to a work piece includes the nut having a top side with a threaded bore therein to receive a bolt and the nut having an underside with a skirt depending from the outer periphery thereof. A shank depends from the nut and extends into a hole in the work piece to which the nut is to be attached. A heat curable adhesive coats the shank and also coats the underside of the nut between the depending shank and the depending skirt so that upon curing of the heat curable adhesive the nut is adhesively secured to the work piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, John Fickes, James Hengel, Mark Gugel
  • Publication number: 20070175867
    Abstract: A method of improving a single-sided resistance spot weld includes forming an adhesive bond between a sheet and a tube to thereby form a two-ply structure by which the sheet metal and the tube wall stiffen each other against bending. The adhesive bond is preferably formed by heat curable adhesive and the adhesive is partially cured by applying the electrode to a spot on the sheet and then conducting current through the electrode to induce electric resistance heating in the sheet and tube to cure the adhesive. After the adhesive bond is formed, the electrode is moved to a new spot on the sheet and then forcibly applied against the stiffened sheet and resistance welding current is applied through the electrode to form a resistance spot weld between the stiffened sheet and the stiffened tube wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, James Hengel
  • Publication number: 20070158312
    Abstract: According to the invention a pair of tubes are provided, one of greater diameter than the other so that the tubes can be telescoped together. An annular inward facing projection is formed on the outer tube for contact with the outside surface of the inner tube when the tubes are telescoped together. An annular outer facing projection is formed on the inner tube for contacting with the inside surface of the outer tube when the tubes are telescoped together. An adhesive-sealer is placed on one of the tubes for contacting with the other tube when the tubes are telescoped together. After the tubes are telescoped together weld current is conducted through the tubes to weld the annular projections to the respective opposing tube in contact therewith and at least partially cure the adhesive-sealer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, James Hengel, John Fickes, John Cantalin, Timothy Roggenkamp
  • Publication number: 20060266798
    Abstract: A weld fastener for use in a projection welding process includes a fastener body having a planar surface with at least one weld projection extending therefrom. The weld projection includes a free end spaced from the planar surface that defines a weld plane. The fastener body includes an interior wall defining an aperture extending through at least one end of the fastener body. A portion of the interior wall defines a thread starting plane. The weld plane and the thread starting plane are spaced apart by a first predetermined distance. The planar surface and the thread starting plane are spaced apart by a second predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Narayanan Menon, Mark Gugel, James Hengel