MXPA00007071A - Self-extruded bushing assembly and method of making the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for mounting a bushing into a metal member which comprises providing a metal member forming a bushing receiving opening in the metal member, the opening defined by an annular edge portion surrounding the opening. A bushing is then forced through the opening in a bushing driving direction such that the bushing engages the annular edge portion and deforms the annular edge portion in the bushing driving direction to form an annular flange portion on the metal member which projects in the driving direction and engages an exterior surface of the bushing in an interference fit relation so as to securely retain the bushing within the opening. Also disclosed is a metal member and bushing assembly, which may constitute part of a vehicle frame structure.

Description

ASSEMBLY OF A SELF-EXTRUDED HUB AND METHOD TO MANUFACTURE THE SAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention describes a method for mounting a bushing on a metal sheet member and also for the assembly of a metal sheet member and the bushing. The present invention more particularly describes a structural member of a vehicle and a method for making the same with a mounting of a shock absorbing portion.

Background of the described technique. A method of installing a bushing in a metal foil member, such as a hydroformed tubular member, requires drilling or cutting a hole in a portion of the foil member. The metal foil member is then passed to a secondary operation where the edge portion surrounding the perforated or cut hole is extruded or formed by stretching to form an annular flange portion. A steel bushing is forced into the hole to form an appropriate obstruction between the annular flange portion and the bushing. A close REF .: 121426 Tolerance is required between the annular flange portion formed by extruded stretch and the bushing to provide the appropriate obstruction. Figures 1A-3B illustrate conventional methods of installing a bushing in a structural member of a motor vehicle. Figures IA and IB illustrate a punch 11 attached to a piston of reciprocating pressure upper movement, and an extruder die 12 fixed to a low stationary pressure bed. A metal tubular structural member has been hydroformed from a metal foil seam welding part which is partially shown and indicated at 100. The extruder die 12 is inserted into a final opening of the hydroformed tubular member 100 and then transported towards above to support the lower part of an upper wall 10 of the member 100. The hydraulic press piston then begins its downward stroke to force the contact of the punch 11 with the metallic material of the upper wall 10, as shown in Figure IA. When the force of the tonnage exceeds the tensile strength of the metal wall 10, the punch 11 forces the metal wall 10 against the opening 13 in the punch 12. The opening of the punch 13 is defined at its upper end by a "hard" or 90 ° angle 35. The piece of material 15 passes through the opening of the punch 13 and is eventually discarded, the outlet orifice 14 in the upper wall 10 of the tubular member 100. The diameter of the hole 14 corresponds to the external diameter of the punch 11. As shown in Figure IB, the hydraulic press piston then begins its upward movement back to its initial position to move the punch 11 away from the tubular member 100, and the tubular member 100 -is then removed from the extruder die 12. Co or result of the operation of forming this hole, the portion of the rim surrounding the hole 14 will have a sharp and rough edge . As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, after the hole 14 is formed, the tubular member 100 is transferred to a stretch forming station. In the stretch forming station, a second die 20 is placed inside the tubular member 100- and a hydraulic press piston with a stretching die 16 is then circulated through a down stroke to place a punch pilot 17 in alignment with the orifice 14. The hydraulic press piston then continues its downward stroke to force a formed portion of the punch into the gear in the portion of the inner edge surrounding the orifice 14. As shown in Figure 2A, the The hydraulic press piston lowers the punch 16 to a set depth, so that the portion formed therefrom pulls the inner edge portion downwardly against a beveled upper edge 36 of the second die 20, whereby a portion of the former is formed by stretching. annular flange 18. The press then begins its upward stroke and transfers the upper punch 16 and the pilot punch 17 of the tubular member 100. This causes the angle, sharp and rough of the portion of the annular flange 18 is perfectly polished. As indicated by the arrow in Figure 2B, the die 20 is then pulled from the final opening of the tubular structural member 100. Figures 3A and 3B illustrate a bushing in the shape of a steel vessel 23 which has been preassembled in an operation separated from the punching operation. The tubular member 100 is placed in a holding device, (not shown) that supports the underside of the upper wall 10 that closes the inner edge 25 of the pulled tab 18. The bushing 23 is placed directly above the building 14 either manually or via the use of a machine. The downward pressure is applied to the upper surface 26 of the bushing 23 to force the bushing through the hole 14 in the direction indicated by the arrow 24. The pressure is then released and the final assembly shown in Figure 3B is produced with the bushing 23 which is retained through an appropriate interference ratio with the portion of the flange formed by stretching 18. The problem with the above conventional method described is that the interference or fit between the outer surface of the hub in the form of a steel cup 23 and the portion of the annular flange formed by stretching 18 must be held closely to ensure that the hub 23 does not begin to separate from the tubular member 100. However, the adjustment should not be so narrow that an extraordinarily high amount of effort is required. to force the bushing 23 into the hole 14. Also, the transfer of the punch formed by stretch 16 polishes the interior angle of the portion n of the flange 18 which engages the bushing 23. As a result of this polishing, angle is smooth and does not "bite" the outside of the bushing to resist the transfer of the bushing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a metal sheet member with a bushing firmly mounted therein which does not suffer from the deficiencies of the construction described above. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to ensure that the adjustment of the proper interference between the bushing and the metal leaf member is sufficient to prevent separation of the bushing from the part during normal operation of the vehicle. To achieve this objective, one aspect of the present invention provides a method for mounting a bushing on a metal member which comprises a metal member forming a bushing hole in the metal member, the hole defined by a portion of the surrounding annular rim the hole. A bushing is then forced through the hole in a driving direction of the bushing so that the bushing fits into the portion of the ring flange and deforms the portion of the bushing. annular flange in the driving direction of the bushing to form a portion of the annular flange in the metallic member which projects in the direction of the driving and engages the outer surface of the bushing in an interference fit relationship to firmly hold the bushing inside the hole.

In the method of the present invention, the need for a separate stretch forming step is eliminated, as in the conventional method described above. The bushing self-acts as the stretch forming tool, as it is forced into the hole in the tubular member. Since the hub acts as a stretch forming tool, a tight interference fit between the annular wall portion and the bushing is ensured. In this way, the method of the present invention not only ensures a good fit between the bushing and the tubular member, but the present invention also eliminates some of the operational and assembly steps of the conventional method.

In addition, the angle of the portion of the annular wall will not be perfectly polished since the stretching tool (i.e. the bushing) is not isolated during the operation. A sharp, rough and unpolished angle is preferred because the sharp angle tends to "bite" the outside of the hub when a force is applied to the hub in the direction opposite to the direction in which it is forced through the hole. Specifically, the portion of the annular flange will be internally adjusted against the bushing as a result of this force applied to the bushing due to the sharp and rough angle which fits with the outside of the bushing. This aspect of the present invention it is more particularly related to the method for making a structural member of a vehicle with a mounted shock-absorbing structure to be mounted on another structural component of a motor vehicle. The method comprises providing a tubular member that surrounds an interior pit and a side hole formed through the member. The member has an annular flange portion surrounding the hole. A shock absorber mounted structure has a mounted portion constructed and arranged to be safe for the structural component of the automotive vehicle and a flexible shock absorbing portion associated with the assembled portion. The shock absorbing structure is forced internally through the hole so that the assembled structure fits the portion of the annular flange and deforms the portion of the annular flange internally within the hole of the tubular member to form a portion of the flange ring that fits with the outer surface of the assembled structure in an appropriate interference ratio to securely retain the structure mounted within the hole, thereby allowing the tubular member to be elastically mounted to the above-mentioned structural component. In addition, a portion of the second opposing surface adjacent to the hole is clamped while the assembled structure is forced through the hole so that only the portion of the annular flange is substantially deformed by the assembled structure. Another aspect of the present invention provides a metal member and an assembled bushing comprising: a metal member having a bushing receiving hole formed therethrough and an annular flange portion surrounding the hole and projection of the metal member in a driving direction of the hub. A bushing is firmly mounted inside the bushing receiving hole with. the annular flange portion engaged with the bushing in an interference fit relationship as a result of the bushing being forced through the bushing receiving hole in the driving direction of the bushing so that the bushing fits into a flange portion ring surrounding the hole and deforms the annular flange portion in the conduction direction to form the annular flange portion. It should be appreciated that a metal sheet member and a bushing assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of this aspect of the present invention and having a good accommodation between the bushing and the metal sheet member. Faults due to the variation of tolerances between the bushing and the metal sheet member can be substantially eliminated since the bushing acts on its own as a punching tool. This aspect of the present invention is more particularly interested in the structural member of the vehicle to be mounted to a structural component within a motor vehicle. The structural member comprises a tubular member that surrounds a lower pit. The tubular member has a side hole formed therethrough. of this and a portion of the annular flange that surrounds the hole and projects internally into the inner hole of the assembled portion. A mounted shock absorber structure is firmly mounted within the hole with the portion of the annular flange tightly engaged with the structure mounted in an interference fit relationship as a result of the assembled structure being forced internally through the hole so that the The assembled structure engages with the portion of the annular flange of the tubular member that surrounds the hole and deforms the portion of the annular flange internally toward the inner pit to form the portion of the annular flange. The assembled structure has a mounted portion constructed and arranged to be secure to the aforementioned structural component of the automotive vehicle and a flexible shock absorbing portion associated with the assembled portion. The assembled portion is constructed and arranged to allow the assembled structure to be elastically mounted to the structural component. The shock absorber portion allows for relative movement between the assembled portion and the tubular wall to provide limited relative movement between the tubular member and the structural component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention are better understood upon reading the following detailed description of a preferred aspect, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein: Figures 1A-B illustrate the perforation of a hole in a metal sheet according to the conventional method; Figures 2A-B illustrate the stretch-forming of a flange of the edge portion surrounding the hole according to the conventional method; Figures 3A-B illustrate a bushing in the form of a steel cup that can be assembled into a metal sheet according to the conventional method; Y Figures 4A-B illustrate the combination of stretch forming and assembly operations in a single operation in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ASPECT OF THE INVENTION.

Figures 4A and 4B illustrate a method performed in accordance with the principles of the present invention in the operation of forming by stretching a flange portion and assembling a shock-absorbing mounted structure with a tubular metal sheet member that can be done during a single operation. A hydroformed tubular structural member manufactured from a weld seam portion of a metal foil (as is conventional in the field of hydroforming) has a tubular wall, a portion of which is shown in FIG. 200, which surrounds an inner hole. The tubular wall 200 has a top wall portion 110 (referred to as a mounted portion) with a hole or hole 131 formed therethrough. The conventional method shown in Figures IA and IB can be used to drill a hole or hole 131 in the assembled portion 110. An extrusion die 130 is then inserted into a final opening of the hydroformed tubular structural member and placed adjacent to the inner surface of the assembled portion 110.

A shock-absorbing mounted structure in the form of a cup-shaped steel bushing 123 is positioned adjacent the outer surface of the tubular wall 200 in substantial alignment with the hole 131 either manually or by the use of a machine. For example, a pin can be used to fractionally fit the diameter of a bushing 122 which extends over the hub 123. A radial flange 144 extends externally from the upper edge of the side wall portion 140. As is conventional, the bushing cup-shaped 123 comprises a cup-shaped outer metal sheet having an annular side wall portion 140 and a bottom wall portion generally circular 142 formed integrally with the side wall portion 140. The assembled structure has a portion mounted in the form of a tubular ferrule 122. The ferrule 122 is inserted through a hole formed in the bottom wall portion 142 of the vessel with opposite ends of the bushing 122 projecting above the upper edge of the side wall portion 140 and below in the bottom wall portion 142. The interior of the bushing 123 is filled with a shock absorbing material 146, such as a solidified rubber or another flexible elastically deformable material that defines a shock absorbing portion. The assembled bushing 122 is constructed and arranged to be joined with the structural component of the automotive vehicle (not shown). The term structural component can include any number of components within the automotive vehicle, including other components of the vehicle structure, suspension and chassis, components of the support engineering part, body components, etc. To mount the hub 123 to the tubular wall 200, the operator starts the operation with a punching tool or a hydraulic press piston 124 for bringing the piston 124 into its down stroke under hydraulic pressure. During its downward stroke, the piston 124 contacts the upper surface 126 of the hub in the form of a steel cup 123. The diameter of the bottom wall portion 142 of the cup-shaped bushing 123 is slightly larger than the diameter of the hub. hole 131 and slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole 129 in the lower die 130. This ratio allows the steel cup shaped bushing 123 to act as a punch or a stretch forming tool during the down stroke of the hydraulic press piston 124 Specifically, as the hydraulic press piston 124 continues its downward stroke through the driving direction of the hub which extends internally with respect to the tubular member, the portion of the bottom wall 142 of the outside can fit into the annular edge portion. 128 surrounding the hole 131. Continuous downward movement of the hydraulic press piston 24 in the driving direction of the bushing causes the bushing 123 to deform the annular edge portion against the angled or bevelled upper edge 132 that surrounds the hole of the die of extrusion 129 so that the Edge portion 128 extends internally from the interior surface to the upper wall portion 110 as an annular flange portion. The steel-shaped bushing 123 extends the hole 131 as if it were forced downwardly so that the steel-shaped hub 123 is eventually the receiver within the hole of the die 129. The hydraulic press piston 124 stops at a a certain depth or height as shown in Figure 4B, and then it returns through an upward stroke to the initial position. After the hydraulic press piston 124 is discharged from the upper surface 126 and the pressure on the hub 123 is released, the deformed inner edge or the portion of the annular flange 128 of the upper wall 110 forced through the bevelled flange 132 recovers its elasticity (under the force of recovery of natural elasticity of the metallic material) against the outer surface of the steel-shaped bushing hub 123 to firmly form and hold the steel-shaped bushing 123 in one position. Since the hub 123 and the portion of the annular flange are extremely narrow and the associated quality problems with the conventional method are obvious.

Since the non-removal of the punch during the stretch formation e's performed, the angle of the inner edge portion / annular flange 128 is not perfectly polished. In other words, since the steel-cup shaped hub 123 travels in one direction while forming the portion of the annular flange 128, the angle of the flange portion does not get to be perfectly polished as in the method discussed above with respect to to Figures 2A and 2B. The unpolished angle of the portion of the sharp and rough flange 128 helps to keep the steel-shaped bushing 123 in place. Specifically, the unpolished angle of the portion of the flange 128 bites the outside of the vessel. As a result, when the hub 123 is pulled out of the hole 131, the unpolished angle will also be pulled up the hole so that the portion of the flange 128 will be stretched tightly to the hub 123. As a result of using the present invention, the Failure rate during the push / pull test is reduced compared to other assembly methods.

With the hub 123 firmly mounted inside the 123 hole, the finished product can then be used as a structural member of the vehicle. The bushing mounted on the bushing 122 mounts the structural member to the structural component of the vehicle in the shock absorbing relationship where the shock absorbing material 146 allows limited relative movement between the tubular wall 200 and the assembled bushing 122 in a resilient manner. and flexible to provide limited relative movement between the structural member of the vehicle and the structural component. Specifically, it is contemplated that an arrow will be inserted through the assembled bushing 122 and connected to the structural component of the vehicle to secure the structural member in place. While a preferred aspect and details of the invention have been described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, while the invention has been described in conjunction with the preferred hydroformed tubular structural member, the principles applied herein can be used to assemble a hub to any member of sheet metal, if they are members of crushed or tubular metal sheets.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant, to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (34)

1. A method for assembling a bushing in a metallic member, said method is characterized in that it comprises: providing a metallic member having first and second opposed surfaces with a thickness between said surfaces which is relatively small compared to the surface area of said surfaces, forming a receiving hole of the bushing in said metal member, said hole defined by a portion of the annular edge surrounding said hole: placing a bushing adjacent said first opposing surface and forcing said bushing through said hole in a driving direction of the bushing so that the bushing engages the annular edge portion and deforms the portion of the annular edge in the driving direction of the bushing. bushing to form a portion of the annular flange on the metal member projecting in said driving direction and engaging the outer surface of the bushing in an interference fit relationship to securely retain the bushing within said orifice.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said bushing is generally cylindrical and the receiving hole of the bushing is generally circular.

3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that it also comprises: before forcing said bushing through the hole, the placement of a support die to support a portion of the second opposing surface adjacent to the hole while the bushing is forced through the hole so that the annular edge portion of the metal member is substantially deformed by the bushing.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the support die has a receiving space of the hub positioned and configured to receive the hub as the hub has been forced through the receiving hole of the hub.

5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that said support die has a angled edge portion surrounding the receiving space of the bushing, the angled edge portion positioned adjacent the annular edge portion while the supporting die supports the assembled portion of the bushing such that the annular edge portion is deformed against the portion of the bushing. Angled edge and angled edge portion limits the deformation of the annular edge portion.

6. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that it also comprises: before forcing said bushing through the receiving hole of the bushing, aligning said bushing with the receiving hole of the bushing, and wherein said bushing is then forced through the receiving hole of the bushing by engaging a driving tool with the bushing and moving said tool in said driving direction of the bushing.

7. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that it also comprises: after forcing said bushing through the bushing receiving hole, dislodging the bushing driving tool so that said portion of the elastically deformed ring flange moves internally against the bushing to increase the aforementioned interference fit ratio.

8. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said metal member is a sheet of steel material.

9. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said metal member is a tubular member.

10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that said tubular member is hydroformed in a desired configuration.

11. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said hub comprises a member of the outer metal cup with a portion of the side wall annular and a portion of the bottom wall formed integrally of said portion of the annular side wall, said hub further comprises a mounted structure extending upwardly from the portion of the bottom wall beyond the upper edge of the side wall portion, and a shock absorbing material disposed within said vessel in the relationship of surrounding with respect to to the assembled structure.

12. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that said assembled structure is a tubular mounted bushing.

13. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that said shock absorbing material is rubber.

14. A metallic member and hub assembly characterized in that it comprises: a metal member having a first and a second opposed surface with a thickness between said first and second opposed surfaces that is relatively small compared to the surface area of the first and second surfaces, the metal member has a receiving hole of the formed bushing through of this and an annular flange portion surrounding the hole and projecting the metal member in a direction of driving the spark plug; and a bushing is firmly mounted within the receiving hole of the bushing with the annular flange portion engaged with the bushing in an interference fit relationship as a result of the bushing being placed adjacent to the first opposite surface and forced through the hole bushing receiver in the driving direction of the bushing so that the bushing fits into an annular flange portion surrounding the hole and deforms the annular flange portion in the driving direction to form the annular flange portion.

15. A metal sheet member and the assembly of a bushing according to claim 14, characterized in that said bushing is generally cylindrical and that said bushing receiving hole is generally circular.

16. A metal sheet member and bushing assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that said bushing comprises an outer metal cup-shaped member with an annular side wall portion and a bottom wall portion formed integrally with said portion of side wall, said bushing further comprises a mounted member extending upwardly from the bottom wall and beyond the upper edge of the annular side wall portion, and a shock absorbing material disposed within the cup-shaped member in the relationship of surrounding with with respect to said assembled member.

17. A metal sheet member and a bushing assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that said mounted member is a tubular bushing mounted.

18. A metal sheet member and a bushing assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that said metal member is a sheet of steel material.

19. A metal sheet member and a bushing assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that said metal member is a tubular member.

20. A metal foil member and a bushing assembly according to claim 19, characterized in that said tubular metal member is hydroformed in a desired configuration.

21. A method for making a structural member of a vehicle with a mounted shock absorber structure to be mounted to another structural component of a motor vehicle, said method is characterized in that it comprises: the provision of a tubular member that surrounds the inside of the hole, the tubular member has a side hole formed therethrough and an annular flange portion surrounding the hole, the tubular member has a first surface face opposite externally away from the inside of the hole and a second surface face opposite internally towards the interior of the hole with a thickness between said opposite surfaces which is relatively small compared to the surface areas of said opposite surfaces; providing a shock absorber mounted structure having a mounted portion constructed and arranged to be secure to the structural component of said automotive vehicle and a cost effective shock absorbing portion associated with said assembled portion; the positioning of said shock-absorbing mounted structure adjacent to the first opposite surface and forcing the structure mounted internally with respect to said tubular member through the hole so that the assembled structure fits with the portion of annular flange and deformed the annular flange portion internally within the interior of the pit of the tubular member to form an annular flange portion that fits on the outer surface of the assembled structure in an interference fit relationship to securely retain the structure mounted within the orifice, whereby the tubular member allows to be elastically mounted to the aforementioned structural component; Y supporting a portion of said second opposite surface adjacent said hole while said assembled structure is forced through the hole so that the annular flange portion is substantially deformed by the assembled structure.

22. A method according to claim 21, characterized in that it also comprises: before forcing said structure mounted through the ori. In this case, a support punch adjacent to the portion of the second opposite surface adjacent to said hole is positioned so that the support punch supports the tubular wall while the assembled structure is forced through the hole so that only said annular flange portion is substantially deformed by the assembled structure.

23. A method according to claim 22, characterized by said support die-has a receiver space of the assembled structure that is positioned and configured to receive said assembled structure as the assembled structure is forced through the orifice.

24. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that the support die has an angled edge portion surrounding the receiving space of the hub, the angled edge portion is positioned adjacent to the portion of the angular flange while said support die supports the mounted portion so that the annular edge portion is deformed against the angled edge portion limits the deformation of the annular edge portion.

25. A method according to claim 21, characterized in that it also comprises: before forcing said structure mounted through said hole, the assembled structure is aligned with the hole; and wherein the assembled structure is then forced through the hole by engaging a driving tool with the structure assembled and moving the tool internally with respect to the tubular member.

26. A method according to claim 25, characterized in that it also comprises: after forcing said assembled structure through the hole, the driving tool of the assembled structure is disengaged so that the portion of the elastically deformed annular flange moves internally against the assembled structure to increase the aforementioned interference fit ratio. .

27. A method according to claim 21, characterized in that said mounted shock absorber structure is a generally cylindrical bushing.

28. A method according to claim 27, characterized in that said assembled structure comprises an outer metal vessel with an annular side wall portion and a bottom wall portion integrally formed with said side wall portion, said assembled portion of said assembled structure is a mounted member projecting generally upwardly from the bottom wall portion beyond the upper edge of the side wall portion, the assembled member is constructed and arranged to be attached to the structural component of the vehicle, Y said shock absorbing portion of said assembled structure being an elastically deformable shock absorbing material disposed within the vessel in relation to surrounding with respect to the assembled member.

29. A method according to claim 28, characterized in that said mounted member is a tubular bushing mounted.

30. A method according to claim 28, characterized in that said shock absorbing material is a solidified gum.

31. A method according to claim 21, characterized in that said tubular member is hydroformed in a desired configuration.

32. A method according to claim 21, characterized in that said tubular member is a metal.

33. A method according to claim 32, characterized in that said tubular member is steel.

34. A structural member of the vehicle is to be mounted to a structural component in a motor vehicle, said structural member being characterized in that it comprises: a tubular member that surrounds the interior of a pit, said tubular member has a first opposite surface facing externally away from the interior of the pit and a second facing surface internally inwardly towards the interior of the pit with a thickness between the opposing surfaces which is relatively small in comparison to the surface area of the opposite surfaces; said tubular member has a side hole formed therethrough and an annular flange portion which surrounds the hole and projects internally into the pit of the assembled portion; Y a mounted shock absorber structure securely mounted in said hole, with the annular flange portion tightly adjusted in the structure mounted in an interference fit relationship as a result of the assembled structure being placed adjacent to the first opposing surface and forcing internally through the hole so that the assembled structure fits into the annular rim portion of the tubular member surrounding said hole and deforms said portion of the annular rim internally towards the inside the hole to form the portion of the ring flange, said assembled structure has a mounted portion constructed and arranged to be secure to the aforementioned structural component of the automotive vehicle and a flexible shock absorbing portion associated with the assembled proportion, the assembled portion is constructed and arranged to allow the assembled structure to be elastically mounted to the structural component, said shock-absorbing portion allows a relative movement between the tubular member and the structural component.