Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Wheel making
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-28
2001-09-04
Echols, P. W. (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Wheel making
C029S894000, C029S894322, C029S894325, C301S063107
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282788
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to vehicle wheels and in particular to an improved vehicle wheel, especially a bead seat attached vehicle wheel, and method for producing the same.
A conventional bead seat attached vehicle wheel is of a two-piece construction and includes an inner wheel disc and an outer “full” wheel rim. The wheel 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 wheel 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 three-piece wheel construction having a mounting cup secured to the wheel disc is used. In both types of constructions, the outer annular portion of the wheel disc is provided with an “angle” at the outer peripheral end of the wheel disc for securing the wheel disc to the wheel rim by welding. Typically, in a steel wheel disc, the angle is formed by machining off the material of the wheel disc. In an aluminum wheel disc, the angle is typically formed by a spinning operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved vehicle wheel and method for producing the same. The vehicle wheel of the present invention includes a wheel rim and a wheel disc joined together by a weld. The wheel rim includes an inboard tire bead seat retaining flange, an inboard tire bead seat, a generally axially extending well, an outboard tire bead seat, and an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange. The wheel disc defines a horizontal axis and includes a generally centrally located wheel mounting portion and an outer annular flange. The wheel mounting portion defines a vertical axis and includes a pilot aperture and a plurality of lug bolt receiving holes spaced circumferentially around the pilot aperture. The outer annular flange of the wheel disc defines an outer surface and an inner surface which is substantially parallel with the outer surface so as to define a generally constant thickness throughout the entire length thereof. The outer surface of the outer annular flange is inverted at a predetermined angle relative to the vertical axis. The outer annular flange further includes a plurality of arches formed therein. The method for forming the vehicle wheel of the present invention includes the steps of (a) providing a wheel rim defining a rim axis and including an inboard tire bead seat retaining flange, an inboard tire bead seat, a well portion, an outboard tire bead seat, and an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange; (b) providing a generally circular disc blank; (c) initially stamping the disc blank to produce a generally bowl shaped wheel disc having an inner wheel mounting portion and an outer annular portion; (d) subjecting the bowl shaped wheel disc to an intermediate metal forming operation to produce a partially formed wheel disc defining a wheel disc horizontal axis and a wheel disc vertical axis, the partially formed wheel disc having an outer annular flange which extends generally in the same direction as the wheel disc vertical axis, the outer annular flange having a plurality of arches formed therein; (e) subjecting the partially formed wheel disc to a series of metal forming operations to produce a partially formed wheel disc having a center hub hole, and a plurality of lug bolt receiving holes spaced circumferentially around the hub hole; (f) subjecting the partially formed wheel disc to a metal forming operation wherein the outer annular flange of the partially formed wheel disc is inverted radially inwardly relative to the vertical disc axis to thereby form a finished wheel disc; (g) positioning the outer annular flange of the wheel disc adjacent an inner surface of the wheel rim; and (h) welding the wheel disc to the wheel rim to produce the vehicle wheel.
Other advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1741716 (1929-12-01), Hunt
patent: 5188429 (1993-02-01), Heck et al.
patent: 5544945 (1996-08-01), Daudi
patent: 5694687 (1997-12-01), Coleman
patent: 5951114 (1999-09-01), Marron et al.
patent: 35 03 882 (1986-08-01), None
patent: 754725 (1956-08-01), None
Gajor Walter
Politi Dominic
Echols P. W.
Hayes Lemmerz International Inc.
MacMillan Sobanski & Todd LLC
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