Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Michael R Webb

Charles J Bruggemann

Sanjay Mahasukhlal Shah

Hesham Ahmed Ezzat

A multi-section support rail has a first section with an outer circumferential wall, a parallel inner circumferential wall and a transverse web extending longitudinally therealong, a second section hollow tubular section with an outer circumferential wall and a parallel inner circumferential wall. The outer circumferential walls are substantially identical dimensionally. The sections are joined at mating surfaces,. The joined sections are pre-bent at the second section and then hydroformed to a final desired shape. The transverse web retains the extruded dimensions throughout the hydroforming process.

Multi-section support rail apparatus and method of making

A multi-section support rail has a first section with an outer circumferential wall, a parallel inner circumferential wall and a transverse web extending longitudinally therealong, a second section hollow tubular section with an outer circumferential wall and a parallel inner circumferential wall. The outer circumferential walls are substantially identical dimensionally. The sections are joined at mating surfaces. The joined sections are pre-bent at the second section and then hydroformed to a final desired shape. The transverse web retains the extruded dimensions throughout the hydroforming process.

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White Lake, MI, United States of America

Michael R Webb