Method for producing a fabricated vehicle wheel

Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Wheel making

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C029S894325, C301S063101, C301S063106

Reexamination Certificate

active

06473967

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to vehicle wheels and in particular to an improved method for producing a fabricated vehicle wheel.
A conventional fabricated vehicle wheel is typically of a two-piece construction and includes an inner disc and an outer “full” rim. The disc can be cast, forged, or fabricated from steel, aluminum, or other alloys, and includes an inner annular wheel mounting portion and an outer annular portion. The wheel mounting portion defines an inboard mounting surface and includes a center pilot or hub hole, and a plurality of lug receiving holes formed therethrough for mounting the wheel to an axle of the vehicle. The rim is fabricated from steel, aluminum, or other alloys, and includes an inboard tire bead seat retaining flange, an inboard tire bead seat, an axially extending well, an outboard tire bead seat, and an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange. In some instances, a threepiece wheel construction having a mounting cup secured to the disc is used. In both types of constructions, the outer annular portion of the disc is secured to the rim by welding.
A full face fabricated wheel is distinguished from other types of fabricated wheels by having a one-piece wheel disc construction. In particular, the full face wheel includes a “full face” disc and a “partial” rim. The full face disc can be formed cast, forged, or fabricated from steel, aluminum, or other alloys. The full face disc includes an inner annular wheel mounting portion and an outer annular portion which defines at least a portion of an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange of the wheel. The wheel mounting portion defines an inboard mounting surface and includes a center pilot or hub hole, and a plurality of lug receiving holes formed therethrough for mounting the wheel to an axle of the vehicle. The partial rim is fabricated from steel, aluminum, or other alloys, and includes an inboard tire bead seat retaining flange, an inboard tire bead seat, an axially extending well, and an outboard tire bead seat. In some instances, the outboard tire bead seat of the rim and the outer annular portion of the disc cooperate to form the outboard tire bead seat retaining flange of the full face wheel. In both types of constructions, the outboard tire bead seat of the rim is positioned adjacent the outer annular portion of the disc and a weld is applied to secure the rim and the disc together.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved method for forming a vehicle wheel and includes the steps of: (a) providing a wheel rim defining a rim axis and including a generally axially extending well portion and a pair of opposed ends, one of the ends including an inboard tire bead seat retaining flange and an inboard tire bead seat, and the other end including an outboard tire bead seat; (b) providing a generally circular wheel disc blank defining a disc axis, the disc blank including an inner annular wheel mounting portion and an outer annular portion; (c) subjecting the wheel disc blank to a series of metal forming operations to produce a finished disc having a final profile, the finished wheel disc having an outer annular portion, an inner annular wheel mounting portion, and an intermediate portion having a generally convex profile; and (d) joining the finished wheel disc to the wheel rim to produce a fabricated vehicle wheel.
Other advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1651111 (1927-11-01), Winter
patent: 2133144 (1938-10-01), Johnson
patent: 2299998 (1942-10-01), Le Jeune
patent: 3210126 (1965-10-01), Travers
patent: 5295304 (1994-03-01), Ashley, Jr.
patent: 5345676 (1994-09-01), Ashley, Jr.
patent: 5634271 (1997-06-01), Lipper
patent: 5694687 (1997-12-01), Coleman
patent: 5951114 (1999-09-01), Marron et al.

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