A method for fixing a steering support capable of improving efficiency when the steering support is fixed to an instrument panel reinforcement body is provided. The method for fixing the steering support according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes processes of: passing an instrument panel reinforcement body through a first through-hole formed in a steering support; and increasing the pressure inside an area of the instrument panel reinforcement body covered with the steering support, plastically deforming the area of the instrument panel reinforcement body from an inside to an outside, and pressing a circumferential surface of the first through-hole of the steering support by an outer circumferential surface of the area of the instrument panel reinforcement body.

A method for joining members according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: providing a bumper stay including two integrated pipe portions extending in an identical direction, the bumper stay including a recess provided between the pipe portions being adjacent to each other, the recess extending in a longitudinal direction of the pipe portions from end surfaces of the pipe portions, a part of the recess serving as a locking portion, and a bumper beam including a rear inclined wall formed with two hole portions into which the pipe portions of the bumper stay are insertable respectively; inserting the bumper stay into the hole portions of the bumper beam until the locking portion abuts on the rear inclined wall; and pipe-expanding an insertion portion of the bumper stay into the bumper beam to join the insertion portion to the bumper beam by press-fitting.

A vehicle structural member includes an elongate hollow member having an integrated structure, and supporting members joined to the elongate hollow member. The elongate hollow member includes: a first portion that includes a first pipe, a second pipe disposed outside the first pipe and extending along the first pipe, and a connection portion extending along the first pipe and the second pipe, formed integrally with the first pipe and the second pipe, and connecting the first pipe and the second pipe; and a second portion that includes the first pipe continuing from the first portion, and does not include the second pipe.

A tool device for expanding the end of a tube (T) includes an expansion sleeve element made of elastomeric material, the expansion sleeve element being arranged concentrically around a pull rod. A calibration sleeve is arranged concentrically around the expansion sleeve element. The inner die surface of the calibration sleeve comprises a mouth portion which has a fourth diameter (d4) which corresponds with a play to the outer diameter of the tube (T), at least one expansion die portion having a fifth diameter (d5, d6) which is larger than the fourth diameter (d4), and a shoulder between the mouth portion and the expansion die portion. The shoulder keeps the end of the tube (T), while being expanded, stationary in place inside the calibration sleeve. The calibration sleeve comprises mutually openable and closable calibration sleeve parts to enable closing of the calibration sleeve to a closed position (III) for the expanding operation of the end of the tube, and for opening of the calibration sleeve to an opened position (IV) for releasing the expanded end of the tube.

In a method for joining bumper members, a bumper reinforcement including a rear inclined wall provided with a hole, and a bumper stay in a hollow shape are prepared. The method for joining bumper members includes the steps of: inserting the bumper stay through the hole of the bumper reinforcement to pass through the rear inclined wall; inserting rubber into the bumper stay; and compressing the rubber in a direction of an axis L of the bumper stay to expand the rubber outward from inside to expand and deform at least a portion of the bumper stay inserted into the hole, thereby joining the bumper stay to the rear inclined wall by press-fitting.

The member joining device includes: a tubular unit including a tubular assembly that is fixed, a flange portion whose position in a first central axis direction is fixed with respect to the tubular assembly; a shaft unit that includes a shaft assembly inserted into the tubular assembly in a linearly movable manner, and a protrusion portion whose position in a second central axis direction is fixed with respect to the shaft assembly, wherein the protrusion portion is positioned radially outside the first central axis of the tubular assembly, the protrusion portion faces the flange portion in the central axis direction; a rubber member arranged radially outside the tubular assembly, between the protrusion portion and the flange portion in the central axis direction; and a motion mechanism that moves the shaft unit in the central axis direction with respect to the tubular unit.

A method for joining members includes: providing a wall surface body which is a die-molded article provided with a hole portion with a draft angle provided from its opposite end portions toward its center portion, a tubular body with a hollow shape, and an elastic body; inserting the tubular body into the hole portion in the wall surface body; inserting the elastic body into the inside of the tubular body; and compressing the elastic body in the direction of an axial line L of the tubular body to expand the elastic body outwardly in the radial direction of the axial line L, thereby deforming and expanding the tubular body to joint the tubular body to the wall surface body by press-fitting.

A joined body includes: a first member having a pipe shape; and a second member including a wall portion having a plate shape, and a flange portion having a cylinder shape provided with an insertion hole through which the first member is inserted. In a state where the first member is inserted into the insertion hole of the flange portion of the second member, the first member and the second member are joined with the first member pipe-expanded. A material of the second member is larger than a material of the first member in a spring-back amount.

A joining method for members includes: providing a steel component 10 including insertion holes 14a and 15a, an aluminum pipe 20 having a hollow shape, and a support component 30; inserting the aluminum pipe 20 into the insertion holes 14a and 15a of the steel component 10; and enlarging the aluminum pipe 20 through deformation and joining the aluminum pipe 20 to the steel component 10 by press-fitting. The press-fit joining is performed while at least part of the support component 30 is disposed in a press-fitting region.

In a method for joining members of the present invention, a B-pillar, a rocker, a side panel served as frame members of a vehicle body, and an elastic body are provided. The B-pillar includes a tubular portion and an extension portion extended from the tubular portion. The rocker includes a first hole portion. The side panel includes a support portion. Next, the tubular portion of the B-pillar is inserted into the first hole portion of the rocker. The elastic body is inserted into the tubular portion of the rocker. The elastic body is pressurized in an axial line L1 direction of the tubular portion of the B-pillar to be expanded outward in a radial direction of the axial line L1, so that the tubular portion of the B-pillar is expanded and deformed to be joined to the first hole portion of the rocker by press-fitting. Further, the extension portion of the B-pillar and the support portion of the side panel are joined by a method different from joining by press-fitting.