Patents by Inventor Pei-Chung Wang

Pei-Chung Wang 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).

  • Fastener for attachment by friction stir processing
    Publication number: 20080056842
    Abstract: A fastener is provided for attachment to a workpiece by a friction stir process. The fastener includes a base having an underside adapted to seat upon the workpiece and a fastener portion attached to the top side of the base. An anchor portion projects from the underside of the base and is adapted to be rotated and advanced at high speed and inserted into the workpiece by friction stirring of the workpiece. The anchor portion is embedded in the workpiece upon cooling of the workpiece. The anchor portion has an indent in the surface thereof enabling the softened stirred material to flow into the indent and thereby mechanically capture the anchor portion within the solidified workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robin Stevenson, Pei-Chung Wang, James F. Hengel
  • Method for monitoring the installation of blind rivets
    Patent number: 7313851
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for monitoring the installation of a blind rivet to attach together top and bottom members. The blind rivet installation tool includes a housing having an anvil seated on the rivet head. A collet is reciprocable within the tool housing and carries jaws for gripping the mandrel of the blind rivet. Retraction of the jaws by the collet displaces the jaws and the mandrel axially and causes the mandrel head to axially collapse and radially expand the hollow shank of the blind rivet into engagement with the bottom member so that the rivet attaches the top member and the bottom member. A first transducer measures the axial load imposed on the mandrel. A second transducer measures the axial displacement of the collet and the jaws and the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, James W. Wells
  • Projection welded fastener with integral sealer
    Publication number: 20070295698
    Abstract: A fastener is provided for projection resistance welding to a panel. The fastener includes a base having a fastening element, such as a threaded stud or a nut integral therewith. Multiple projections formed integral with the base extend therefrom to engage with the panel to be welded to the panel by electric resistance welding. A groove is provided in the base facing the panel and is filled with a heat activated expandable sealer material. Upon heating of the base during the electric resistance welding, or in an oven, the sealer expands to fill and seal any gap between the base and the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: James F. Hengel, Pei-Chung Wang
  • Method and apparatus for installation of blind rivets
    Publication number: 20070271764
    Abstract: Method and apparatus is provided for monitoring the installation of a blind rivet to attach together top and bottom members. The blind rivet installation tool includes a housing having an anvil seated on the rivet head. A collet is reciprocable within the tool housing and carries jaws for gripping the mandrel of the blind rivet. Retraction of the jaws by the collet displaces the jaws and the mandrel axially and causes the mandrel head to axially collapse and radially expand the hollow shank of the blind rivet into engagement with the bottom member so that the rivet attaches the top member and the bottom member. A cut off tool is actuated by an actuator to cut off the mandrel flush with the rivet head. Transducers and a process controller monitor the installation process and actuate the cut off blade upon determining that the blind rivet is properly installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Robin Stevenson, Roland J. Menassa, Pei-Chung Wang, Ugur Ersoy
  • Method and apparatus for welding to laminated metal
    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
  • Method for attaching intersecting tubes
    Patent number: 7300536
    Abstract: A method is provided for attaching together a larger tube and a smaller tube in a T-shaped intersecting joint. A hole is formed in the larger tube with a flange surrounding the hole. A circumferential extending flange is formed on the outside of the smaller tube. Adhesive is placed on either the outside of the smaller tube or the inside of the flange of the larger tube. The smaller tube is inserted into the hole in the larger tube so that the adhesive is interposed between the inside of the flange of the larger tube and the outside of the smaller tube and the flange on the outside of the smaller tube comes into electrical conducting contact with the flange of the larger tube. Electrical current is applied to flow between the large tube and the small tube so that electrical resistance heating is obtained to cure the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, John D. Fickes, Charles J. Bruggemann, Sanjay M. Shah, Joseph M. Lendway, IV
  • Method for adhesive bonding together of metal sheets
    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
  • METHOD FOR ATTACHING INTERSECTING TUBES
    Publication number: 20070261786
    Abstract: A method is provided for attaching together a larger tube and a smaller tube in a T-shaped intersecting joint. A hole is formed in the larger tube with a flange surrounding the hole. A circumferential extending flange is formed on the outside of the smaller tube. Adhesive is placed on either the outside of the smaller tube or the inside of the flange of the larger tube. The smaller tube is inserted into the hole in the larger tube so that the adhesive is interposed between the inside of the flange of the larger tube and the outside of the smaller tube and the flange on the outside of the smaller tube comes into electrical conducting contact with the flange of the larger tube. Electrical current is applied to flow between the large tube and the small tube so that electrical resistance heating is obtained to cure the adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, John Fickes, Charles Bruggemann, Sanjay Shah, Joseph Lendway
  • Nut and method for adhesive nut attachment
    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
  • Method for attaching tubes using an adhesive
    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
  • Method of joining dissimilar materials
    Patent number: 7267736
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of joining dissimilar materials, particularly a non-ferrous component to a ferrous component to form an assembly. In an overlapping configuration, the parts are held together under a clamping force while a self-piercing rivet is driven through the assembly by a welding electrode. The rivet pierces and passes through the non-ferrous component and then at least into contact with the ferrous component to thereby form a mechanical interlock. An electrical current is then applied to this mechanical retention to melt a portion of the rivet as well as a portion of the ferrous metal in the joining region. The flow of electrical current is then stopped after several welding cycles where the now melted material is allowed to solidify upon cooling, thereby forming a weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, University of Michigan
    Inventors: Wenkao Hou, Shixin Jack Hu, Pei-Chung Wang
  • Method of metallurgically bonding articles and article therefor
    Patent number: 7268319
    Abstract: An article suitable for metallurgical bonding having a first part having a lower surface, and a second part having an upper surface is disclosed. The lower surface of the first part is disposed at the upper surface of the second part to provide for a faying surface thereat. The faying surface has a plurality of channels having a depth equal to or greater than about 1 micron and equal to or less than about 1000 microns. The article is suitable for metallurgical bonding at the faying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, Hai-Lung Tsai
  • Method and apparatus for improved cooling of resistance welding cap
    Patent number: 7265313
    Abstract: According to the invention a hollow cylindrical shank of electrically conducting metal is connected to a resistance welder. A coolant supply tube passes through the shank and has an interior coolant supply passage. The coolant supply tube has an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical shank. A weld cap seats on the shank and has a cap tip and a cap skirt that depends from the cap tip and is attached to the shank. An underside of the cap tip faces the shank and the supply tube. A coolant receiving bore formed into the underside of the weld cap extends into the cap tip to receive the coolant supply tube part way into the bore. The bore formed into the underside of the cap tip defines a bore sidewall that provides added area of heat transfer contact between the coolant and the cap tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Robin Stevenson, Pei-Chung Wang, Michael J. Karagoulis, Hai-Lung Tsai
  • System and method of joining overlapping workpieces
    Patent number: 7253377
    Abstract: An improved fusion welding system having a perforating device and a heating combination is adapted for welding in tandem a set of adjacent overlapping workpieces. The system preferably includes a first laser that perforates the workpieces to produce an opening spaced from the edges; and the combination preferably includes a second laser and electrode for cooperatively melting fusible material into the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Pei-Chung Wang
  • Sheet-to-tube welded structure and method
    Patent number: 7253374
    Abstract: Method of welding a metal sheet and metal tubing as well as a welded sheet-to-tube welded structure wherein the tube-to-sheet gage ratio may be reduced to permit use of metal tubing having a reduced wall thickness. One or more intermediate metal bridging members is/are first welded to a metal tube using a relatively rapid welding process that reduces heat input and residual tensile stress imparted to the tube. A metallic sheet then is spot welded directly to the one or more bridging members, rather than to the metallic tube, to form a welded sheet-to-tube structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Schmidt, Pei-Chung Wang
  • Method for monitoring the installation of blind rivets
    Publication number: 20070175010
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for monitoring the installation of a blind rivet to attach together top and bottom members. The blind rivet installation tool includes a housing having an anvil seated on the rivet head. A collet is reciprocable within the tool housing and carries jaws for gripping the mandrel of the blind rivet. Retraction of the jaws by the collet displaces the jaws and the mandrel axially and causes the mandrel head to axially collapse and radially expand the hollow shank of the blind rivet into engagement with the bottom member so that the rivet attaches the top member and the bottom member. A first transducer measures the axial load imposed on the mandrel. A second transducer measures the axial displacement of the collet and the jaws and the mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, James Wells
  • SINGLE DRIVE AND SOURCE FOR ADJACENTLY CLAMPING AND RESISTANCE WELDING
    Publication number: 20070175868
    Abstract: A resistance spot welding system (10) for sequentially clamping a plurality of workpieces (20,22) at predetermined locations and welding the workpieces (20,22) substantially adjacent the locations, including a clamping element (24) able to be locked in a workpiece engaged position, at least one set of equalizing welding electrodes (28,30) for oppositely engaging the workpieces (20,22) so as to produce the weld (12) without deformation, a singular drive mechanism (14) including a cam coupled to the clamping element (24) and electrodes (28,30), and a singular source (16) for actuating the mechanism (14) and generating the welding and clamping forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommy Christensen, Pei-Chung Wang, Scott Deal, Thomas Lilja, Peter Bogren
  • Method for improving single sided resistance spot welds
    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
  • Method for brazing and adhesive bonding
    Publication number: 20070175568
    Abstract: An improved method for joining together the edge portions of first and second panels includes applying a heat curable adhesive along the edge portion of the first panel and then abutting the edge portion of the second panel with the edge portion of the first panel so that the adhesive is interposed between the edge portions of the first and second panels and the adhesive spaces the panels apart and provides a gap between the panels. A brazing material is melted and fills the gap and the heating of the panels by the brazing causes at least partial curing of the adhesive so that the panels are joined together by both brazing and adhesive bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, John Fickes, Anthony Minatel, Dean Quaderer
  • Supplying shielding gas
    Patent number: 7246736
    Abstract: A flexible articulate tubular device has a shank, a plurality of pivot rings, and a terminus with heat sensors and a fiber optic device. The flexible articulate tubular device is initially positioned, either manually or automatically, near a target weld path with the aid of the fiber optic device. The flexible articulate tubular device is then more precisely articulated to direct the terminus along the target weld path, with the aid of the heat sensors. As such, the flexible articulate tubular device operates in a heat seeking manner to follow the weld bead. Ultimately, a gaseous flux is supplied along the flexible articulate tubular device and toward the target weld path, so as to blast the weld bead with an anti-oxidation shield gas and thereby protect the weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Pei-Chung Wang, Toshinori Sakai