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US 2014/0190586 A1Published application
Tubular support structure with variable wall thickness
AssigneeL & W Engineering
InventorsScott Jones, Joshua Forquer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A support structure may include a metallic tube having two opposing ends. The first end may have a first length, a first wall thickness, and a first outer diameter. The second end may have a second length, a second wall thickness, and a second outer diameter. A transition area may be disposed between the first length and the second length. The first wall thickness may be greater than the second wall thickness thereby providing variable thickness.
Claims20
A support, comprising:
- a metallic tube having two opposing ends;
- the first end having a first length, a first wall thickness, and a first outer diameter;
- the second end having a second length, a second wall thickness, and a second outer diameter;
- and
- a transition area disposed between the first length and the second length,
- wherein the first wall thickness is greater than the second wall thickness.
3 more elements
A method of making a tubular support, comprising:
- drawing a metallic tube to extend its length and selectively changing its wall thickness;
- forming a first end having a first length, a first wall thickness and a first outer diameter;
- forming a second end having a second length, a second wall thickness and a second outer diameter;
- and
- disposing a transition area between the first end and the second end, wherein the second wall thickness is less than the first wall thickness.
2 more elements
A method of forming a tubular support, comprising
- forming a metallic tube via an outer tool and an inner tool;
- inserting the inner tool concentrically into the tube to form a first section having a first length, a first wall thickness, and a first outer diameter;
- manipulating the inner tool to change the relationship of the inner tool relative to the outer tool to form a second section having a second length, a second wall thickness, and a second outer diameter;
- wherein the manipulating step includes disposing a transition area between the first section and the second section;
- wherein the first wall thickness is greater than the second wall thickness.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.