The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 28, 2008
Filed:
Jan. 11, 2007
Mike M. Ghiran, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Spyros P. Mellas, Waterford, MI (US);
David H. Shea, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Paul D. Larsen, Fenton, MI (US);
Mike M. Ghiran, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Spyros P. Mellas, Waterford, MI (US);
David H. Shea, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Paul D. Larsen, Fenton, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A tool forms a threaded hole in a hydroformed part while the part remains in a hydroforming die cavity and under pressure. The tool has a hole-piercing end portion adapted on advancement of the tool to pierce and form a hole in the part and an extruding portion adapted on continued tool advancement to extrude an annular extrusion that extends into the tube interior. An adjacent sealing portion of the tool seals the hole during the ongoing advancement and extrusion of the annular extrusion so that hydroforming fluid remains under pressure. A thread-forming portion of the tool forms an internal thread within the annular extrusion upon the continued advancement and rotation of the tool.