Abstract:
A run-flat support body for run-flat vehicle wheels. The support body is typically embodied as a shell-shaped, metallic annular body having an undulated supporting annular surface. A simple, effective method for producing one such annular body, according to which a rectangular blank which is cut out of a strip of sheet metal is bent along the longitudinal side to form a ring and the open ends of the ring are interconnected by a material connection. The annular blank thus produced is provided with the desired profile according to the pressure-rolling method, is provided with connecting elements, and cut open between the same.
Abstract:
A rim (10) is produced by a production process including a step (A) of bending a workpiece (11) to bring end faces of the workpiece into contact with each other, a step (B) of forming a circular cylinder body (12) by joining the end faces brought to be in contact with each other, a step (C) of inspecting a joint portion (13) of the circular cylinder body (12), a step (D) of forming a drop portion (16), subsiding toward the inner peripheral wall (15) side, in an outer peripheral wall (14) of the circular cylinder body (12), a by bending both end portions of the circular cylinder body (12), a step (F) of forming hump portions (20) by pressing the circular cylinder body (12) from the inner peripheral wall (15) side to raise the outer peripheral wall (14), and a step (G) for forming a valve hole (22) and water drain holes (24) in the drop portion (16) and the curl portions (18). The rim (10) and a disk (102) that is separately produced are welded to form a wheel (122).
Abstract:
Devices, such as medical devices for inhibiting conception, and methods of using and/or making these devices. In one aspect of the disclosure, a medical device has a delivery system and a first insert, which is removably coupled to the delivery system and which is designed to be deployed within a portion of a first fallopian tube, and a second insert, which is removably coupled to the delivery system and which is designed to be deployed within a portion of a second fallopian tube. Other aspects of the disclosure include, among other things, inserts made from one or more polymers; inserts which are designed to pierce and remain in place; and inserts which are implanted through a fluid delivery system.
Abstract:
A rim material having a non-uniform thickness, a rim manufactured from the rim material, and a method for manufacturing the rim from the rim material. The rim material includes a first material portion which forms an axially curved portion of the rim after the rim material is formed to the rim and a second material portion which forms an intermediate portion between adjacent axially curved portions after the rim material is formed to the rim. The first material portion has a thick parallel-surface portion including opposite surfaces parallel to each other. The parallel-surface portion has a width greater than a maximum amount of an axial dislocation of the parallel-surface portion expected to occur when the parallel-surface portion is formed to a corresponding curved portion. The second material portion has a thickness varying portion. The thickness varying portion includes a surface having a configuration defined by a line including a straight line and/or a slightly curved line.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a three piece aluminum wheel assembly comprising the steps of providing a pair of circular blanks made of a heat treatable alloy to be formed into preforms of a general shape. The preforms are subjected to a quenching step in an unconstrained condition to allow for natural thermal deformation during the quenching operation. The as quenched preforms are then subjected to a first forming operation using spin forming to remove the effects of the thermal deformation in the preform, followed by a second forming step using spin forming to shape the component to its desired final shape. The components are then exposed to precipitation heating and finishing to yield the final product.
Abstract:
A valve stem installation system includes a robotic arm for moving a valve stem insertion device around the lip of wheel. The system also includes a pair of valve stem aperture sensors positioned on the robotic arm adjacent the valve stem insertion device and moveable around the lip of the wheel. The sensors can be positioned on opposite sides of the valve stem insertion device. When the first sensor locates the valve stem aperture, movement of the robotic arm can be slowed. When the second sensor locates the valve stem aperture, movement of the robotic arm can be stopped. The conveyor unit can include an identification station to sense the configuration of the wheel. A controller can select the appropriate valve stem to insert in the valve stem aperture in response to the sensed configuration of the wheel.
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a wheel rim for a two-piece vehicle wheel assembly. The method includes the step of providing a one-piece alloy wheel form defining an integrally-formed annular rim blank and a rigidifying flange. The rim blank includes first and second edge portions. At least one of the first and second edge portions of the rim blank is shaped. After the shaping step, the one-piece wheel form is cut to separate the shaped wheel rim from the rigidifying flange.
Abstract:
A two-piece tire rim is prepared from a molded, one-piece wheel casting which is generally cup-shaped in configuration. The casting, which is open at one end and closed at its opposite end, has an inner annular recess formed coaxially in the inner surface of its closed end, and has formed coaxially in its outer peripheral surface an external annular recess radially spaced from, and in axial registry with an internal annular recess. The casting is separated into two separate sections by cutting through the casting in a circular path extending from the external annular recess to the internal annular recess, thereby producing a generally annular shaped inner rim section, and a generally disc-shaped outer rim section. The two rim sections are then machined to final form, and are secured together to form the desired two-piece tire rim.
Abstract:
A circular insert is located within a tire and is adapted to contact the interior surface of the tire side walls when the tire becomes deflated. The insert is positionally interposed within the folds of a bulging side wall during deflation and transmits load between the side wall and a tire rim to prevent complete collapse of the run-flat tire.
Abstract:
A heavy equipment tire rim is constructed from stock shapes of metal. The base is a right cylinder. Flat radial annular disks are welded to the cylindrical base and support a steel cone having a cone angle of 15 degrees from the surface of the cylinder to support the tire bead. There are two disks for each cone to support the cone at its smallest diameter and at its largest diameter. Additional intermediate disks may be used. In another version bar stock lengths span the diagonal between the base of the outermost annular disk where it meets the cylindrical base and the periphery of the smaller radial disk where it meets the smallest circumference of the cone. The bars are in closely spaced annular series. The tire bead stop is welded to the outer circumference of the cone or to a cylindrical skirt extending the outer circumference of the cone. The stop is made of round, semi-round, or quarter-round stock. The tire bead is retained by an arc which is a quarter of a circle. All of the parts are in compression rather than tension.