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:
Feb. 03, 2009
Filed:
Feb. 21, 2006
Spyros P. Mellas, Waterford, MI (US);
Paul A. Benton, Clinton Township, MI (US);
Charles J. Bruggemann, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Mark Goebel, St. Clair Shores, MI (US);
Joseph M. Lendway, Iv, Dryden, MI (US);
Tuan A. Ngo, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Peter M. Parlow, Columbus, MI (US);
Carl W. Robinson, Almont, MI (US);
Spyros P. Mellas, Waterford, MI (US);
Paul A. Benton, Clinton Township, MI (US);
Charles J. Bruggemann, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
Mark Goebel, St. Clair Shores, MI (US);
Joseph M. Lendway, IV, Dryden, MI (US);
Tuan A. Ngo, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Peter M. Parlow, Columbus, MI (US);
Carl W. Robinson, Almont, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A method is provided for forming a complexly-shaped tubular structure such as a tapered pillar or other structure for a vehicle body. A sheet metal blank having a longitudinal axis is rolled about the longitudinal axis to form a tubular shape and the side edges of the blank are then welded together to form a tube. The tube is then enclosed in a hydroforming die and pressurized to conform the tube to the shape of the die and thereby form the desired complex shape. The sheet metal blank may be formed by the end-to-end welding together of a plurality of separate sheet metal blanks that differ from one another in characteristic including material thickness, material alloy composition, and/or coating. One or more of the blanks can have side edges that are non-parallel so that the tube will taper in diameter along its length.