Claims
- 1. A method of manufacturing a multi-section support rail apparatus comprising the steps of:a. extruding a first tubular length with substantially parallel outer most and inner most circumferential walls, a central transverse web, and an end mating surface; b. extruding a second tubular length with substantially parallel outer most and inner most circumferential walls, a flange portion extending outward from the outer most circumferential wall, and an end mating surface, the outer most circumferential wall being congruent with the outer most circumferential wall of said first tubular length; c. joining said first and second lengths at the respective end mating surfaces; d. pre-bending, as required, the joined tubular lengths at predetermined locations longitudinally spaced from the joined mating surfaces to an approximate final shape; e. hydroforming the approximate final shape to a final shape.
- 2. The method of manufacturing a multi-section support rail apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of:f. trimming said flange to a specific location longitudinally displaced from the joined mating surfaces.
- 3. The method of manufacturing a multi-section support rail apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of:g. retaining the thickness and length of the central transverse web during the hydroforming process.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 10/066,321 filed on Oct. 26, 2001.
US Referenced Citations (7)