Method for the manufacture of thin-walled metal tubes

Method for manufacturing a composite structure comprising:

• forming a thin-walled tube by:
• passing longitudinally-extending metal tape through forming tools, the forming tools bending the metal tape in such manner that a tube is formed with lateral edges of the metal tape being spaced from each other to define an opening, the lateral edges being bent at right angles to the plane of the metal tape and extending towards the center of the tube;
• placing a continuous strip of solder material having a width greater than the width of said opening on a predetermined portion of an exterior surface of said metal tube so that the strip covers the opening defined by said edges;
• wrapping a continuous member in a helical manner around said metal tube and said continuous strip so that said continuous strip is held on said predetermined portion;
• and
• heating said tube, said strip and said member so that said member melts and flows by capillary action into said opening thereby forming the thin-walled tube;
• slipping the end of a hose made of plastic or elastic material over the end of the tube wrapped with the continuous member;
• and
• pressing the plastic or elastic material into the helix defined by the continuous member.