Patents by Inventor Peter A. Tropper

Peter A. Tropper 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).

  • Joining and forming of tubular members
    Patent number: 6701598
    Abstract: The present invention is for a method of lap joining two tubular members and then hydroforming the tubular assembly. An insert end of the first tubular member is inserted into a receiver end of the second tubular member to form a lap joint. A filler metal ring is placed about the outer periphery of the insert end so that it is adjacent the opening of the receiver end of the second tubular member. Heat is applied to braze or solder the lap joint, forming a tubular assembly. The tubular assembly is then hydroformed during which time a supplementary mechanical lock may be formed in the lap joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Chang Chen, Chi-Mou Ni, Peter A. Tropper, Daniel C. Hutchinson
  • Joining and forming of tubular members
    Publication number: 20030196307
    Abstract: The present invention is for a method of lap joining two tubular members and then hydroforming the tubular assembly. An insert end of the first tubular member is inserted into a receiver end of the second tubular member to form a lap joint. A filler metal ring is placed about the outer periphery of the insert end so that it is adjacent the opening of the receiver end of the second tubular member. Heat is applied to braze or solder the lap joint, forming a tubular assembly. The tubular assembly is then hydroformed during which time a supplementary mechanical lock may be formed in the lap joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Chih-Chang Chen, Chi-Mou Ni, Peter A. Tropper, Daniel C. Hutchinson