Fabrication process for tubular components e.g. for motor vehicle structures uses hydraulic forming to connect two tubes inserted into each other

摘要

A tubular component (15) is constructed from two or more tubular parts (12,14), which are connected (16) to each other end-to-end. The end (12a) of a first part is inserted into the end (14a) of a second part, and the overlapping end sections are formed by a hydraulic process, so that the inner end part is radially expanded in surface-to-surface contact with the outer part. The expanded overlapping end sections are deformed, creating one or more mechanical locking arrangements to prevent a relative axial movement between first and second tubular parts.