Douglas T Wohlenhaus

8534110, Sep 17, 2013

Jan 15, 2010

12/687926

Mike M. Ghiran - Lake Orion MI, US
Spyros P. Mellas - Waterford MI, US
William M. Crantas - Highland MI, US
Kevin R. Marks - Durand MI, US
Douglas T. Wohlenhaus - Hughesville MD, US

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

B21D 9/00
B21D 9/04
B21D 7/04
B21D 9/05
B21D 55/00
B21C 51/00

72369, 72149, 72155, 72 214, 72 216, 72 182

A method is provided for setting up a tube bender having a bend die, a clamp die, a pressure die and a wiper die. The method includes providing a test-piece having an outer surface defined by a length and a substantially round cross-section. The method also includes arranging the pressure die, the clamp die, and the wiper die relative to each other in the tube bender, and arranging the test-piece relative to the pressure die, the clamp die, and the wiper die. The method further includes applying a force by the tube bender to clamp the test-piece, and determining whether the applied force is within a predetermined range of forces. Additionally, the method includes adjusting the arrangement of at least one of the pressure die, the clamp die, and the wiper die to apply a force to the test-piece that is within the predetermined range of forces.

7360385, Apr 22, 2008

Apr 17, 2007

11/736169

Douglas T. Wohlenhaus - Flushing MI, US
Arturo M. Martinez - Clarkston MI, US
Michael H. Lovell - Leonard MI, US
Mark A. Cline - Clarkston MI, US
David R. Friddell - Grand Blanc MI, US

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

B21D 9/05

72150, 72149, 72158

A tube bending assembly adapted for use with a rotary draw bender, and preferably including a bend die mounting unit for securing a plurality of stacked bend dies drivenly coupled to the bender, a bend die tower unit for structurally supporting the bend die mounting unit, a wiper die mounting unit for securing a wiper die adjacent a selected bend die, a clamp die mounting unit for positioning and securing a clamp die, a pressure die mounting unit for securing a pressure die adjacent the clamp die, a mandrel saddle unit for positioning and enabling the utilization of a mandrel assembly, a collet saddle unit for positioning and enabling the utilization of a collet, and a bolster unit that interconnects the units, so as to present an integrated assembly capable of concurrent disconnection from and connection to the bender, and thereby reducing the tool set change-over period.

7594417, Sep 29, 2009

Aug 15, 2008

12/192191

Mike M. Ghiran - Lake Orion MI, US
Spyros P. Mellas - Waterford MI, US
William M. Crantas - Highland MI, US
Kevin R. Marks - Durand MI, US
Douglas T. Wohlenhaus - Flushing MI, US

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

B21D 7/04

72 214, 72 198, 72 201, 72149, 72150, 72369, 723701

In a rotary tube bender, a first set of pressure sensors is located between the normally disposed mating surfaces of a wiper die insert and its wiper die holder; and a second set of pressure sensors is located between the axially disposed surfaces of the wiper die insert and the wiper die holder. Signal outputs of the first and second sets of pressure sensors over the course of bending cycles are compared to previously determined nominal signal outputs for drift indicative of whether a realignment or replacement of the wiper die should be performed.