Patents by Inventor Mark D. Gugel

Mark D. Gugel 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: 9463522
    Abstract: A drawn arc welding assembly and method for simultaneously welding a stud to a first workpiece and a second workpiece that are affixed together and have an electrically insulating joining layer between the workpieces. A pair of leads attach to the first workpiece and the second workpiece, with electrically opposite diodes connected between the leads and a power supply. The power supply also provides power to a stud. During welding, two arcs are simultaneously maintained between the stud and first workpiece and between the stud and second workpiece. The power supply may be chopped AC from a dual inverter power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Mark D. Gugel
  • Patent number: 8991030
    Abstract: A method for making a projection on a metal panel includes providing a lower die having a recess in the shape of the desired projection, laying the metal panel atop the lower die, positioning a filler material atop the metal panel, and lowering an upper die onto the filler material so that the filler material is forced into the metal panel and in turn forces the metal panel into the recess of the lower die whereby a projection is formed and the projection is filled with the filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Gugel, Bradley J. Blaski
  • Patent number: 8987631
    Abstract: A method is provided for the projection electric resistance welding of a component to a laminated metal member. The laminated metal member is comprised of top and bottom metal sheets adhered together by a polymer layer provided between the top and bottom metal sheets. A plurality of projections is provided on the component and the projections extend toward the top metal sheet of the laminated metal. Force is applied to the component and the projections have a pointed shape so that the projections pierce through the top metal sheet and contact the bottom metal sheet. Weld current is then applied to flow through the projections so that the projections are electric resistance welded to both the top and bottom metal sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, Robert J. Gollehur, James F. Hengel, Narayanan P. Menon, Mark D. Gugel, Alexander Michael Turley
  • Patent number: 8881357
    Abstract: A tool peels apart a sample weld between a top sheet and a bottom sheet of metal while the bottom sheet is held in a vise. The tool includes a wheel having a peripheral rim surface. A handle is attached to the wheel so that rotating the handle rotates the wheel. A clamping mechanism is mounted on the wheel and moves between an open position spaced from the peripheral rim surface and a closed position in which the clamping mechanism clamps the top sheet to the peripheral rim surface so that rotation of the wheel by the handle will progressively wrap the top sheet about the peripheral rim of the wheel and thereby forcibly peel the top sheet away from the bottom sheet to pull apart the weld between the top and bottom sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Lendway, IV, Gregory J. Zywicki, Mark D. Gugel, Mark T. Hall
  • Publication number: 20130263434
    Abstract: A drawn arc welding assembly and method for simultaneously welding a stud to a first workpiece and a second workpiece that are affixed together and have an electrically insulating joining layer between the workpieces. A pair of leads attach to the first workpiece and the second workpiece, with electrically opposite diodes connected between the leads and a power supply. The power supply also provides power to a stud. During welding, two arcs are simultaneously maintained between the stud and first workpiece and between the stud and second workpiece. The power supply may be chopped AC from a dual inverter power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Mark D. Gugel
  • Publication number: 20130263638
    Abstract: A method for making a projection on a metal panel includes providing a lower die having a recess in the shape of the desired projection, laying the metal panel atop the lower die, positioning a filler material atop the metal panel, and lowering an upper die onto the filler material so that the filler material is forced into the metal panel and in turn forces the metal panel into the recess of the lower die whereby a projection is formed and the projection is filled with the filler material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Gugel, Bradley J. Blaski
  • Publication number: 20130104358
    Abstract: A tool peels apart a sample weld between a top sheet and a bottom sheet of metal while the bottom sheet is held in a vise. The tool includes a wheel having a peripheral rim surface. A handle is attached to the wheel so that rotating the handle rotates the wheel. A clamping mechanism is mounted on the wheel and moves between an open position spaced from the peripheral rim surface and a closed position in which the clamping mechanism clamps the top sheet to the peripheral rim surface so that rotation of the wheel by the handle will progressively wrap the top sheet about the peripheral rim of the wheel and thereby forcibly peel the top sheet away from the bottom sheet to pull apart the weld between the top and bottom sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Lendway, IV, Gregory J. Zywicki, Mark D. Gugel, Mark T. Hall
  • Patent number: 7527463
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, John D. Fickes, James F. Hengel, Mark D. Gugel
  • Publication number: 20070272660
    Abstract: A method is provided for the projection electric resistance welding of a component to a laminated metal member. The laminated metal member is comprised of top and bottom metal sheets adhered together by a polymer layer provided between the top and bottom metal sheets. A plurality of projections is provided on the component and the projections extend toward the top metal sheet of the laminated metal. Force is applied to the component and the projections have a pointed shape so that the projections pierce through the top metal sheet and contact the bottom metal sheet. Weld current is then applied to flow through the projections so that the projections are electric resistance welded to both the top and bottom metal sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, Robert J. Gollehur, James F. Hengel, Narayanan P. Menon, Mark D. Gugel, Alexander Michael Turley
  • Patent number: 5230757
    Abstract: Worm gearing having improved wear and strength properties comprises a Cu, 8.0-13.0 w/o Sn, 3.5-5.0 w/o Ni alloy aged in the as-cast condition to strengthen the dendritic microstructural constituent (e.g., alpha phase) while retaining the as-cast, relatively hard interdendritic constituents. The overall Ni concentration of the alloy does not exceed about 5 w/o and the Ni concentration across individual as-cast dendrites is decreased at the dendrite edges (grain boundaries) to hinder formation of a discontinuous, embrittling grain boundary product that is deleterious to these properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Cone Drive Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl B. Rundman, Mark D. Gugel, David A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 5100487
    Abstract: Worm gearing having improved wear and strength properties comprises a Cu, 8.0-13.0 w/o Sn, 3.5-5.0 w/o Ni alloy aged in the as-cast condition to strengthen the dendritic microstructural constituent (e.g., alpha phase) while retaining the as-cast, relatively hard interdendritic constituents. The overall Ni concentration of the alloy does not exceed about 5 w/o and the Ni concentration across individual as-cast dendrites is decreased at the dendrite edges (grain boundaries) to hinder formation of a discontinuous, embrittling grain boundary product that is deleterious to these properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Cone Drive Operations Inc.
    Inventors: Karl B. Rundman, Mark D. Gugel, David A. Nichols