Abstract:
A method and a plant for the production of a rim for a wheel of a vehicle. At first and by means of an additive manufacturing process, a temporary rim is manufactured, which is provided with a central hub, with a raw ring arranged around the central hub and with a series of spokes, which are radially arranged and connect the raw ring to the central hub; subsequently, the temporary rim is subjected to a flow-forming process, which deforms the raw ring determining an axial lengthening thereof, which transforms the raw ring into a channel having the desired final shape.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a reinforcement device (1, 100), especially a reinforcement device useable in a machine for laminating rims for wheels of automotive vehicles, the machine comprising at least two substantially parallel laminating axles (21, 22, 121, 122), the reinforcement device (1, 100) being characterized by comprising a body (4, 101) associated to the housing (2, 102) of the lamination machine, the positioning of the body being variable with respect to the housing (2, 102), the body (4, 104) being provided with two bearings (41, 42, 141, 142) supportable on respective end regions of the axles (21, 22, 121, 122), so that the axles (21, 22, 121, 122) are maintained substantially parallel during the operation of laminating the rim, at least one bearing being moveable with respect to the reinforcement device by a moving means (51, 52, 150). With great advantages, the invention can be used in usual lamination machines existing in the factory, thus making it possible to manufacture larger and more resistant wheel rims, with good quality and reduced cost, without potentially destructive overloads on the machine. In addition, the device brings about greater uniformity between the successive lots of rims produced, besides reducing the dimensional tolerances of each piece, which results better quality and more satisfaction of the clients.
Abstract:
A metal forming method is used for manufacturing vehicle wheels. The invention comprises manufacturing of a wheel block comprising a central part and initially formed rim; drawing of the rim by hot rolling to obtain a wheel profile that approximates a finished wheel, and a final wheel treatment process. The rolling is conducted from either side of the wheel block, which may comprise any granular microstructure. Rolling temperature-strain rate conditions correspond to the microstructure. For a coarse-grain microstructure, the rim includes a shoulder with a thickness greater than that of the finished wheel, and thickness differences transform the microstructure into a recrystallized and/or polygonized microstructure. For a fine-grain microstructure, the rim includes a shoulder or flange with a thickness close to a thickness of a finished wheel. For mixed microstructures, the rim includes a shoulder and has a thickness greater or equal to a finished wheel.
Abstract:
A method of making one-piece vehicle wheels and the like includes providing a generally circular blank from sheet stock. The blank is preferably preformed with a center portion in the final shape of the disc portion of the wheel, and a peripheral portion for spin shaping the final shape of the rim portion of the wheel. The preformed blank is positioned between an outer mandrel and an inner mandrel having a fixed outboard surface, and an inboard shaping surface which conforms to the final shape of at least a portion of the rim well and the inboard bead seat and flange. An inboard section of the blank peripheral portion is spin formed against the inboard shaping surface of the inner mandrel to form the final shapes of at least a portion of the rim well and the inboard bead seat and flange. An outboard section of the blank peripheral portion is spin formed by engaging the same with a forming roller while the associated portion of the blank peripheral portion remains spaced apart from and unsupported by the fixed outboard surface of the inner mandrel to form the final shape of the outboard bead seat.
Abstract:
A rotary forging apparatus includes a first rotary ram (3a), a cylindrical second rotary ram (3b), a third rotary ram (3c) and a shaping roller device. The first ram (3a) and the cylindrical second ram (3b) face each other and rotate around the same axis. The third ram (3c) rotates around a slanting axis in the cylindrical second ram (3b). The third ram (3c) presses a workpiece against the first ram (3a) and makes a disc part of a product. The shaping roller, the second ram (3b) and a side of the first ram make the rim part. The outer surface of the second ram (3b) can keep tight contact with the workpiece during the forging because of the rotational symmetry of the second ram (3b). The overall contact stabilizes the position of the workpiece and reduces the size error of the product.
Abstract:
A method for producing vehicle wheel rims is disclosed. The method, as applied to a wheel rim preform having given axial width and having bead seat areas, as well and an inboard leg, entails a thinning and stretching operation applied to the well and inboard leg thereby producing a finished wheel rim having an axial width greater than the axial width of the preform and a weight of twenty to thirty percent less than similar prior art wheel rims.
Abstract:
A seamless tube-like blank is formed and cut into single annular parts which consecutively are profiled by means of two tools having the shape of solids of rotation. During the profiling operation, the specific surface pressure on the inside and on the outside of the workpiece is equal. Preferably, an inner profiling roller and an outer annular profiling tool is used, the mutual distance thereof being variable. Simultaneously, the inner roller acts on the workpiece with its convex outer surface, and the outer annular tool acts on the workpiece with its concave inner surface. Thus, the effective surface pressures on the inside and on the outside of the workpiece are equal during processing thereof. The apparatus is equally well suited for the manufacturing of steel rims and aluminium rims.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of rolling tire rim blanks from flat metal strips obtained by unwinding strip material from a coil which is cut into strips of desired lengths which are then rolled into a circular shape by anvil rolls cooperating with bodily moveable bending rolls producing a controlled flat portion on the leading end of the strip prior to rolling and another controlled flat portion on the trailing end of the strip following the rolling.
Abstract:
An apparatus for roll-forming a blank ring into an annular product such as a seamless wheel rim. The apparatus includes an annular die rotatably supported in a die head, and a pressure roll rotatably supported in a roll head and movable toward and away from the annular die. The apparatus further includes a cylinder unit for moving the pressure roll radially of the annular die when the pressure roll is in the annular die, whereby the blank ring can be interposed between the pressure roll and the annular die. As the die is rotated, the blank ring is roll-formed between the roll and the die into an annular ring, which then is confined in the annular die and can be taken out when the die is disassembled into a plurality of segments. The product thus formed has a high degree of circularity and precision, and is free from distortions.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a reinforcement device (1, 100), especially a reinforcement device useable in a machine for laminating rims for wheels of automotive vehicles, the machine comprising at least two substantially parallel laminating axles (21, 22, 121, 122), the reinforcement device (1, 100) being characterized by comprising a body (4, 101) associated to the housing (2, 102) of the lamination machine, the positioning of the body being variable with respect to the housing (2, 102), the body (4, 104) being provided with two bearings (41, 42, 141, 142) supportable on respective end regions of the axles (21, 22, 121, 122), so that the axles (21, 22, 121, 122) are maintained substantially parallel during the operation of laminating the rim, at least one bearing being moveable with respect to the reinforcement device by a moving means (51, 52, 150). With great advantages, the invention can be used in usual lamination machines existing in the factory, thus making it possible to manufacture larger and more resistant wheel rims, with good quality and reduced cost, without potentially destructive overloads on the machine. In addition, the device brings about greater uniformity between the successive lots of rims produced, besides reducing the dimensional tolerances of each piece, which results better quality and more satisfaction of the clients.