Abstract:
A lightened disk for a wheel has a flange having an axially inboard edge. The inboard edge includes a general portion which is located in a plane perpendicular to an axis of the disk. The flange portion has a thickness less than 90% of a thickness of a disk material at at least the general portion of the inboard edge. A method for manufacturing a lightened disk for a wheel includes a drawing step during which the flange portion is drawn such than the flange portion has a thickness less than 90% of a thickness of a disk material at at least the general portion of the inboard edge.
Abstract:
A garnish light alloy wheel includes a light alloy wheel and a garnish. The light alloy wheel includes an outboard surface and a recess located at a portion of the light alloy wheel including a spoke portion. The recess recedes from the outboard surface of the light alloy wheel. The garnish is manufactured separately from the light alloy wheel and is exchangeably mounted to the light alloy wheel at the recess. The light alloy wheel and the garnish construct a design surface of the garnish light alloy wheel, and the garnish has an outboard surface constructing a portion of the design surface of the garnish light alloy wheel.
Abstract:
A wheel for an automobile and a manufacturing method therefor wherein, in manufacturing a disc material portion from a substantially flat square plate, a length of the side of the substantially flat square plate is selected so that, after the subsequently formed disc is pressed into a rim, a most recessed portion of a ventilation is located axially outside a center of curvature of a well radius of the rim.
Abstract:
In a method for producing a cast aluminum wheel, a cast aluminum wheel is produced, and then all of three strengthening processes are applied to the cast aluminum wheel. The three strengthening processes include forging a portion of the cast wheel between adjacent boltholes, burnishing a nut seat of the cast wheel, and shot blasting a hub coupling surface of the cast wheel.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a tubular member having a non-constant thickness by ironing at least a portion of the tubular material. The ironing apparatus can have a punch and a die, and the die can have a convex and concave side surface opposing the punch. The method can include bending an axial end portion of the tubular material to form a bent portion. The tubular material can then axially engage the die at the bent portion, and then the punch can be moved relative to the die to iron at least a portion of the tubular material.
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:
A light-alloy wheel is cast using an apparatus wherein cores are moved by a cotter via a sliding mechanism. A sliding portion is isolated from molten metal so that locking at the sliding portion is unlikely to occur. The sliding mechanism can be of a small size and is disposed in an interior of a mold top segment with a relatively large gap between the cotter and the mold top segment. The gap assures a good heat dissipation from the mold top segment. In a molding method conducted using the apparatus, the cores may be positioned at a retracted position and extended before the molten metal has solidified to thereby remove blow holes in a cast wheel.
Abstract:
b 55773576.001A disk having a non-uniform thickness with a thickness of an end portion thereof being smaller than a thickness of a hub coupling portion and a thickness of a hat portion being smaller than the thickness of the end portion. As a result, rigidity of the hat portion is decreased so that stress distribution in the disk is uniform and excess stress concentration is prevented from influencing a weld portion. Further, because of the decrease in thickness, weight of the disk also is decreased as compared to conventional disks.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a wheel rim for a vehicle includes an ironing step for ironing a tubular material to manufacture a tubular member having a non-constant thickness, using an ironing apparatus provided with a punch, a die whose side surface opposing the punch is a convex and concave surface, and a pressing member. At the ironing step, a flange portion of the tubular material is set at the die, then the pressing member is moved relative to the die thereby to squeeze the flange portion of the tubular material by the pressing member and the die, and then the punch is moved relative to the die to iron at least a portion of the tubular material except the flange portion of the tubular material to manufacture the tubular member having a non-constant thickness.
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.