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US 9,033,398 B2Granted
Multi-thickness tube for hydroformed members
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsMark W. Verbrugge, Anil K. Sachdev, Robert R. Mayer, Richard M. Kleber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One embodiment includes providing a contiguous tubular member including at least one of a first material or a second material, so that the tubular member has a wall thickness that varies along the length of the tubular member; bending the tubular member; and hydroforming the tubular member into a part.
Claims29
A method comprising:
- providing a contiguous tubular member comprising at least a first tube portion comprising one of a first material or a second material, so that the first tube portion does not include a weld joint along the circumference thereof and has a wall thickness that varies along the length of the tube portion wherein the tubular member comprises the first material and the second material and wherein the first material is galvanically isolated by the second material;
- bending the tubular member;
- and
- hydroforming the tubular member into a part.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- providing a tubular member comprising providing at least a first tube portion having a wall thickness that varies along the length of the tube portion and which does not include a weld joint along the circumference thereof and a second tube portion which has a wall thickness that varies along the length of the tube portion and which does not include a weld joint along the circumference thereof, wherein the portions of tubing comprise at least one of a first material or a second material, so that the tubular member has a wall thickness that varies along the length of the tubular member wherein the tubular member comprises the first material and the second material and wherein the first material is galvanically isolated by the second material;
- abutting the first tube portion against the second tube portion;
- friction spin welding the at least first and second tube portions at the abutment;
- bending the tubular member;
- and
- hydroforming the tubular member into a part.
3 more elements
A product comprising:
- a first vehicle component comprising at least a first tube portion which has a wall thickness that varies along the length of the tube portion and which does not include a weld joint along the circumference thereof and a second tube portion which has a wall thickness that varies along the length of the tube portion and which does not include a weld joint along the circumference thereof, wherein the portions of tubing comprise at least one of a first material or a second material, and wherein the component has a wall thickness that varies along the length of the component, and wherein the first vehicle component comprises the first material and the second material and wherein the first material is galvanically isolated by the second material.
A method comprising:
- providing a solid contiguous tubular member comprising at least one of a first material and a second material different from the first material, so that the tubular member does not include a weld joint along the length of the tubular member and has a wall thickness that varies along the length of the tubular member wherein the tubular member comprises the first material and the second material and wherein the first material is galvanically isolated by the second material;
- bending the tubular member;
- and
- hydroforming the tubular member into a part.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- providing a plurality of solid tubular members having walls of different thicknesses, each tubular member having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein each solid tubular member does not include a weld joint along the length of the solid tubular wherein the tubular members comprise a first material and the second material wherein the first material is galvanically isolated by the second material;
- welding one end of one solid tubular member to another end of another solid tubular along the circumference of the walls;
- bending the tubular member;
- and
- hydroforming the tubular member into a part.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.