Patents by Inventor William Henry Todd, Jr.

William Henry Todd, Jr. 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).

  • Method for hydroforming a hollow sheet metal body part
    Patent number: 6055715
    Abstract: A method for hydroforming a large surface area, double paneled, hollow auto body part, such as a hood, in which the inner and outer panels are concurrently shape formed and seamed structurally together in the same apparatus. A pair of upper and lower dies crush the edges of a double walled blank together between the dies so as to simultaneously clamp, seal, and form the seam. Then, a special face seal and fluid inlet assembly grips and holds the edges of an inlet hole near the center of the blank to allow the interior to be successfully pressurized and expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chi-Mou Ni, Charles J. Bruggemann, William Henry Todd, Jr., Joseph Michael Lendway, IV