Method of making variable thickness tubular member for vehicles
View Patent ↗A method of making a variable thickness tubular member for a vehicle includes the steps of providing a tubular member and positioning a mandrel inside of the tubular member. The method also includes the steps of hydroforming the tubular member into a variable thickness tubular member having a variable wall thickness along its perimeter.
1. A method of making a variable thickness tubular member for a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a tubular member;
positioning a mandrel inside of the tubular member; and;
hydroforming the tubular member into a variable thickness tubular member having a variable wall thickness along its perimeter.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of providing a die set having a first die half with a first cavity portion and a second die half with a second cavity portion to receive the tubular member.
3. A method as set forth in claim 2 including the step of placing the tubular blank between the first die half and second die half.
4. A method as set forth in claim 2 including the step of closing the first die half and the second die half together.
5. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first die cavity and the second die cavity have a symmetrical shape.
6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first die cavity and the second die cavity have an unsymmetrical shape.
7. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first die cavity and the second die cavity have a generally circular cross-sectional shape.
8. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first die cavity and the second die cavity have a generally non-circular cross-sectional shape.
9. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tubular member has a generally circular cross-sectional shape.
10. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tubular member has a generally non-circular cross-sectional shape.
11. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the variable thickness tubular member has wall portions with a thickness less than a thickness of remaining wall portions.
12. A method of making a variable thickness tubular member for a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a tubular blank;
providing a die set having a first die half with a first cavity portion and a second die half with a second cavity portion to receive the tubular blank;
positioning a mandrel inside of the tubular blank;
placing the tubular blank in the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion; and
hydroforming the tubular blank into a tubular member having a variable wall thickness along its perimeter.
13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the first die cavity and the second die cavity have a symmetrical shape.
14. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the first die cavity and the second die cavity have an unsymmetrical shape.
15. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the first die cavity and the second die cavity have a generally circular cross-sectional shape.
16. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the first die cavity and the second die cavity have a generally non-circular cross-sectional shape.
17. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the tubular blank has a generally circular cross-sectional shape.
18. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the tubular blank has a generally non-circular cross-sectional shape.
19. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the variable thickness tubular member has wall portions with a thickness less than a thickness of remaining wall portions.