Sheet-to-tube welded structure and method

摘要

Method of welding a metal sheet and metal tubing as well as a welded sheet-to-tube welded structure wherein the tube-to-sheet gage ratio may be reduced to permit use of metal tubing having a reduced wall thickness. One or more intermediate metal bridging members is/are first welded to a metal tube using a relatively rapid welding process that reduces heat input and residual tensile stress imparted to the tube. A metallic sheet then is spot welded directly to the one or more bridging members, rather than to the metallic tube, to form a welded sheet-to-tube structure.