Granted Patent B2

US 7,386,938 · App. 10/795,615 · Granted Jun 17, 2008

Abstract

Claims (22)

1. A method of joining tubular members together, said method comprising the steps of:

hydroforming a first tubular member having a depression therein with a plurality of planar surfaces, wherein the planar surfaces comprise a first surface extending generally horizontally, a second surface extending upwardly at an angle from an end of said first surface, a third surface extending upwardly at an angle from one side of said first surface, and a fourth surface extending upwardly at an angle from another side of said first surface;

hydroforming a second tubular member having an end, said end having a plurality of planar surfaces including at least a generally horizontal first surface and a second surface extending at an inclined angle from an end of said first surface, said end also comprising a generally horizontal planar fifth surface extending from an upper end of said second surface;

positioning the end of the second tubular member over the depression of the first tubular member, wherein said fifth surface overlaps a top surface of said first hydroformed tubular member; and

joining the first tubular member and the second tubular member together to form a dovetail joint between the first tubular member and second tubular member.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of hydroforming the first tubular member comprises hydroforming a compensating surface extending downwardly generally perpendicular to the first surface of the depression.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of hydroforming the first tubular member comprises hydroforming an aperture extending through a top wall of the first tubular member.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of hydroforming the second tubular member comprises hydroforming an aperture extending through the fifth surface of the second hydroformed tubular member.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of orientating the second hydroformed tubular member at an angle of approximately ninety degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the first hydroformed tubular member.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of orientating the second hydroformed tubular member at an angle less than ninety degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the first hydroformed tubular member.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of joining comprises welding an interface between the first hydroformed tubular member and the second hydroformed tubular member.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of hydroforming said second tubular member includes hydroforming said first surface of said second tubular member as a drag section allowing said second tubular member to be shifted relative to said first tubular member while maintaining possibility of joining said first tubular member and said second tubular member.

9. A method of joining tubular members together, said method comprising the steps of:

hydroforming a first tubular member having a depression therein;

hydroforming a second tubular member having an end with a plurality of planar surfaces;

positioning the end of the second tubular member over the depression of the first tubular member;

joining the first tubular member and the second tubular member together to form a dovetail joint between the first tubular member and second tubular member; and

wherein the planar surfaces comprise a first surface extending generally horizontally, a second surface extending upwardly at an angle from an end of the first surface, a third surface extending upwardly at an angle from one side of the first surface, and a fourth surface extending upwardly at an angle from another side of the first surface;

wherein said step of hydroforming the second tubular member comprises hydroforming the end with a planar fifth surface that is a generally horizontal surface extending axially from the second surface and overlapping a top surface of the first hydroformed tubular member.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of hydroforming the first tubular member comprises hydroforming the depression in the first tubular member with a second plurality of planar surfaces.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of hydroforming the second tubular member comprises hydroforming the end with an aperture extending through a top wall and bottom wall of the second tubular member.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said step of hydroforming said second tubular member includes hydroforming said first surface as a drag section allowing said second tubular member to be shifted relative to said first tubular member while maintaining possibility of joining said first tubular member and said second tubular member.

Assignments (13)