Method of manufacturing structural components from tube blanks of variable wall thickness
AssigneeArcelormittal Tubular Products Canada Inc.
InventorsColin Newport, Stephen T. McSwiggan, Ovidiu I. Savescu
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Abstract
A method for forming a tubular structural member includes the steps of cold forming a tube blank (10) to have a longitudinally variable but circumferenfially constant wall thickness (t1, t2, t3) and forming the blank into the desired structural member (90). Preferably, the forming step involves hydroforming.
Claims14
A method of making a generally tubular structural member having a variable wall thickness that is constant circumferentially but variable longitudinally, the method comprising the steps of:
- 1) producing a tube blank with a variable wall thickness;
- 2) placing said blank in a forming die and forming said member.
A method of making a generally tubular structural member having a variable wall thickness that is constant circumferentially but variable longitudinally, the method comprising the steps of:
- 1) producing a tube blank with a variable wall thickness using a reciprocating mandrel and die assembly,
- 2) placing said blank in a forming die and forming said member to a desired cross sectional shape.
A method of making a generally tubular structural member having a variable wall thickness that is constant circumferentially but variable longitudinally, the method comprising the steps of:
- 1) cold forming a tube blank with a variable wall thickness using a reciprocating mandrel and die assembly;
- 2) treating said blank to increase the formability thereof;
- 3) bending said blank at desired locations;
- and
- 4) placing said blank in a hydroforming die and applying internal pressure to said blank to hydroform said member to a desired cross sectional shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.