Method of hydroforming articles and the articles formed thereby
Assignees3M Innovative Properties Company, General Motors Corporation
InventorsKent S. Tarbutton, Joseph M. Lendway, IV
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydroformable frame element is formed from the combination of at least two elements. The at least two elements are designed with a partially overlapping region, with an annular space defined within the overlapping region. The annular space is filled with adhesive, which is then cured to bond the at least two elements together. The adhesive bond is designed to withstand the stresses caused by the hydroforming operation and to retain its strength so that the hydroformed article is then usable as a vehicular frame element.
Claims16
A method of hydroforming a tube section comprised of a male tube section having an end portion received within and overlapping an end portion of a female tube section, comprising:
- curing an adhesive disposed within an annular space defined between the male and female tube sections to form a resulting tube section;
- and
- hydroforming the resulting tube section into a desired shape.
A method of hydroforming a tube section comprised or a male tube section having an end portion received within and overlapping an end portion of a female tube section, at least one of the end portions comprised of an annular grove forming an annular space between the male and female tube sections, and an inlet hole formed in one of the end portions in communication with the annular apace for injection of an adhesive into the apace, said method comprising:
- injecting an adhesive through the inlet into the annular space;
- curing the adhesive to bond the male and female tube sections together;
- and hydroforming the tube section into a desired shape after said curing.
A method of forming a composite frame structure, comprising:
- arranging a plurality of metal frame components into a birdcage structure so as to define a plurality of joints defined by overlapping portions of adjacent components each of the joints comprising a circumferential space formed between the overlapping portions of the adjacent components;
- injecting an adhesive into each of the joints;
- curing the adhesive;
- and
- hydroforming the birdcage structure into a desired shape after said caring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.