METHOD OF MAKING LARGE VOLUME HOLLOW BODIES

摘要

PURPOSE: A method of making hollow bodies, especially large hollow bodies such as not of a constant cross section and whereby drawbacks of earlier systems are avoided. CONSTITUTION: A large dimension hollow body such as a fuel tank is formed from cold deformable sheet metal by cutting a sheet metal blank of a conformation matching its ends. The sheet metal blank is then formed into a three-dimensional shape closed at one end and subjected to hydrostatic forming, whereupon the other end is closed. The welding of the edges of the blank together and the application of the caps can produce pressure-tight weld seams and can be effected by laser-beam welding or tungsten inert gas welding.