Method of manufacturing a damper tube
View Patent ↗A method of manufacturing a damper tube is provided. The method includes providing a tube having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The method includes providing a reinforcing insert, at least partly, within the first end of the tube. The method includes flattening a portion of the first end of the tube. The method also includes bending at least one of the reinforcing insert and the flattened portion of the first end of the tube into a loop. The method further includes connecting an edge of the loop to the tube.
1. A method of manufacturing a damper tube, the method comprising:
providing a tube having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end;
providing a reinforcing insert, at least partly, within the first end of the tube, wherein the reinforcing insert has a planar or cylindrical shape disposed within the first end of the tube:
flattening a portion of the first end of the tube;
bending the reinforcing insert and the flattened portion of the first end of the tube into a loop; and
connecting an edge of the loop to an outer surface of the tube by welding; and
trimming an end boundary of the flattened portion.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bending the reinforcing insert and the flattened portion further includes providing a first tool in contact with the reinforcing insert and the flattened portion of the first end of the tube, the first tool adapted to at least partly bend the reinforcing insert and the flattened portion of the first end of the tube.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the bending the reinforcing insert and the flattened portion further includes replacing the first tool with a second tool in contact with the at least partly bent reinforcing insert and the flattened portion of the first end of the tube, the second tool adapted to bend the at least partly bent reinforcing insert and the flattened portion of the first end of the tube into the loop.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the bending the reinforcing insert and the flattened portion further includes removing the second tool from the loop.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first tool is a punch tool.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second tool is a curling tool.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bending the reinforcing insert and the flattened portion further includes heating the reinforcing insert and the flattened portion of the first end of the tube.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing insert has a cylindrical shape disposed within the first end of the tube such that the reinforcing insert is flattened along with the first end of the tube.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first end of the tube is different from a thickness of the second end of the tube.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a center of the loop is aligned with respect to a central axis of the tube.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a center of the loop is disposed at an offset with respect to a central axis of the tube.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flattened portion of the first end of the tube is disposed at an offset [“F”] with respect to a central axis of the tube.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flattened portion of the first end of the tube is aligned with respect to a central axis of the tube.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tube is provided with a first thickness at the first end and a second thickness at the second end.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first thickness extends a length of the tube at least as far as the reinforcing insert extends into the tube.