John J Spicer

US Patent:

6644637, Nov 11, 2003

Filed:

Sep 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/243860

Inventors:

Chi-Hung Shen - Troy MI
Yhu-Tin Lin - Rochester Hills MI
John Stilianos Agapiou - Rochester Hills MI
Phillip A. Bojda - Macomb MI
Gary Lee Jones - Farmington Hills MI
John P. Spicer - Plymouth MI

Assignee:

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B25B 100

US Classification:

269152, 269289 R, 269 8

Abstract:

A reconfigurable fixture for workpieces is disclosed. It utilizes a flat surface magnetic chuck with modular workpiece supporting, locating and clamping elements that are carefully located on it and held by magnetic attraction to it. These elements are precisely located to hold the workpiece in spaced relation to the chuck surface. Some locating elements are mechanically fixed to the chuck for securing the workpiece from transverse movement on the chuck surface. Preferably, each of the supporting, locating and clamping members are fixed to separate steel bases for magnetic attraction to the chuck. Each base may also carry its own hydraulic actuator for height adjustment of a support element or for height adjustment and closure of a clamping element. These modular elements can be selected from a storage magazine and located on a chuck by numerically controlled mechanisms.

US Patent:

8436506, May 7, 2013

Filed:

Apr 13, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/759358

Inventors:

Pei-Chung Wang - Shanghai, CN
John S. Agapiou - Rochester Hills MI, US
John Patrick Spicer - Plymouth MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

H02K 3/04
H02K 3/32
H02K 3/50

US Classification:

310260, 310179, 310201, 310206, 310208, 228115, 228136, 2281805

Abstract:

A stator for an electric motor includes a stator coil including a wire pair with respective ends that are joined with a ring. The ring is positioned around the wire pair and joined to the wire pair by a metal joining process.

US Patent:

8439247, May 14, 2013

Filed:

Nov 4, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/289530

Inventors:

John Patrick Spicer - Plymouth MI, US
Benjamin R. Christian - Novi MI, US
Jeffrey A. Abell - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B23K 20/00
B23K 20/10

US Classification:

228 11, 2281101, 228111, 156 731, 1565901

Abstract:

An ultrasonic welding system for securing a first work piece to a second work piece includes a welding assembly and a loading assembly disposed adjacent to the welding assembly. The welding assembly includes an ultrasonic controller, an ultrasonic transducer, and a welding tip. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to impart an ultrasonic vibration to the welding tip in response to an electrical signal received from the ultrasonic controller. The loading assembly is configured to generate a pressure load between the welding tip and the first work piece, and includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The first actuator is configured to apply a substantially constant load to the welding assembly, and the second actuator is configured to apply a dynamically variable load to the welding assembly.

US Patent:

8499438, Aug 6, 2013

Filed:

Feb 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/036259

Inventors:

John S. Agapiou - Rochester Hills MI, US
John Patrick Spicer - Plymouth MI, US
Stephen R Smith - Holly MI, US
Jeffrey A Abell - Rochester Hills MI, US

Assignee:

GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

B23P 19/00

US Classification:

29729, 29597, 29732, 29745

Abstract:

An apparatus for joining a wire pair of a stator coil. The apparatus includes a tool having a pair of electrodes and control equipment. The control equipment is configured to control the electrodes to apply force to the wire pair to push adjacent wires of the wire pair toward each other and cause current to pass between the pair of electrodes, and so through the wire pair pushed together, at a time at which the force is being applied to the wire pair.

US Patent:

20060228018, Oct 12, 2006

Filed:

Apr 12, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/103927

Inventors:

Gil Abramovich - Ann Arbor MI, US
John Spicer - Plymouth MI, US
Jacob Barhak - Ann Arbor MI, US
Yoram Koren - Ann Arbor MI, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382141000

Abstract:

A machine vision inspection system. The system includes a plurality of cells adjustably interconnected, and a plurality of vision elements. Each vision element can be adjustably supported within one of the cells. The cells and the vision elements can be selectively configured to define a vision arrangement capable of high-resolution inspection of a part.

US Patent:

20100256791, Oct 7, 2010

Filed:

Feb 3, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/699202

Inventors:

John Patrick Spicer - Plymouth MI, US
Jeffrey A. Abell - Rochester Hills MI, US
Paul E. Krajewski - Troy MI, US
John C. Ulicny - Oxford MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G06F 19/00

US Classification:

700 98, 345420

Abstract:

A method of forming a cylindrical magnetic motor core having predetermined magnetic properties includes recording a 3D geometrical model, translating the geometry of the model into control parameters, and positioning magnetic material within a staging area surrounded by independently-controllable magnetic field generators. The control parameters are transmitted to the field generators to generate 3D magnetic fields, which are controlled to magnetically shape the material into a motor core substantially conforming to the model. After shaping, the core may be solidified to form a finished core. A system for forming the magnetic motor core includes a host computer controlling the position and motion of each field generator. The 3D model is used by the host computer to control the magnetic field generators and shape the MR material into the magnetic motor core.

US Patent:

20120031079, Feb 9, 2012

Filed:

Aug 9, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/852572

Inventors:

John Patrick Spicer - Plymouth MI, US
Kerem Koprubasi - Birmingham MI, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC. - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F01N 5/02
F01B 21/04
F02M 25/07
F01N 3/10

US Classification:

60278, 60299, 60320, 60698

Abstract:

An exhaust aftertreatment system for treating an exhaust gas feedstream of an internal combustion engine includes a catalytic converter, a fluidic circuit and a Stirling engine. The Stirling engine is configured to transform thermal energy from a working fluid heat exchanger to mechanical power that is transferable to an electric motor/generator to generate electric power. The Stirling engine is configured to transform mechanical power from the electric motor/generator to thermal energy transferable to the working fluid heat exchanger.

US Patent:

20120265458, Oct 18, 2012

Filed:

Apr 13, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/085773

Inventors:

John S. Agapiou - Rochester Hills MI, US
Daniel L. Simon - Rochester MI, US
John Patrick Spicer - Plymouth MI, US
Edward Panozzo - Mokena IL, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

G01R 31/02

US Classification:

702 59

Abstract:

A method for diagnosing a fault in an electrical component using a diagnostic system having a plurality of sensors. The method includes positioning the electrical component in a predetermined position adjacent the diagnostic system and at a predetermined orientation with respect to the diagnostic system. The method also includes causing a predetermined level of electrical current to flow to the electrical component, the stationary sensors sensing electrical discharge emitted by the electrical component at an area of the fault, and the tangible computerized controller receiving sensor data from the sensors. The method further includes the tangible computerized controller executing the computer-readable instructions to process the sensor data to generate test information including a location of the electrical component at which the fault is occurring in at least two dimensions.