Process for producing a cast, coated vehicle wheel
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B21D-053/26
B60B-019/00
B23P-017/00
출원번호
US-0804114
(2010-07-14)
등록번호
US-8336208
(2012-12-25)
발명자
/ 주소
Weld, Brock
출원인 / 주소
Weld, Brock
대리인 / 주소
Cota, Albert O.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
3인용 특허 :
3
초록▼
A process for producing a cast, coated vehicle wheel utilizing a multi-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine. The CNC machine allows unique draft angles and unique design elements to be cast from a single metal ingot. The process utilizes a plurality of steps to achieve the desired aesthetic
A process for producing a cast, coated vehicle wheel utilizing a multi-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine. The CNC machine allows unique draft angles and unique design elements to be cast from a single metal ingot. The process utilizes a plurality of steps to achieve the desired aesthetic qualities in the wheel including design elements such as colored portions, rivets, logos and the like.
대표청구항▼
1. A process for producing a cast, coated vehicle wheel having a face, a lip, spokes and rivets, said process comprising the following steps: a) acquire a metal ingot,b) melt the metal ingot in a furnace,c) transfer the melted ingot to a crucible,d) channel the melted metal into a wheel casting mach
1. A process for producing a cast, coated vehicle wheel having a face, a lip, spokes and rivets, said process comprising the following steps: a) acquire a metal ingot,b) melt the metal ingot in a furnace,c) transfer the melted ingot to a crucible,d) channel the melted metal into a wheel casting machine,e) release a cast wheel from the wheel casting mold and move the wheel to a staging area where the wheel is allowed to cool to room temperature,f) place the wheel in an oven to commence a heat treating process that changes the wheel's mechanical properties, metallurgical structure and the residual stress state of the wheel, wherein the treating process achieves a T4 hardness and involves increasing the wheel temperature to a temperature ranging from 525-645 degrees Centigrade for a time period ranging from 4.7-7.0 hours,g) remove the wheel from the oven and quench the wheel in a heated water bath having a temperature ranging from 65 to 85 degrees centigrade, wherein the water bath rapidly cools the wheel to freeze the wheel's excited molecules to an optimum state of overall strength, elongation and ductility,h) place the wheel into an aging oven to further heat treat the wheel, wherein this heat treating process involves raising the wheel temperature to a temperature ranging from 255-315 degrees Centigrade for a time period ranging from 1.7-2.5 hours,i) remove the wheel from the aging oven and allow the wheel to cool to room temperature to enhance the wheel's overall strength and surface hardness,j) perform a Brinell test to verify that the hardness of the wheel is between 75 and 100,k) provide a CNC machine that removes draft angles and cuts the face and the lip of said wheel,l) utilize end-mills to machine the sides of the spokes,m) utilize a coolant to operate the CNC machine,n) provide a peck-drill cycle tool to make rivets in the wheel,o) clean the wheel to remove the coolant and debris remaining from the machining process, andp) paint selected areas of said wheel. 2. The process as specified in claim 1 wherein the metal ingot is comprised of an aluminum alloy ingot. 3. The process as specified in claim 2 wherein the aluminum alloy ingot is comprised of an A356 aluminum alloy ingot. 4. The process as specified in claim 1 wherein the coolant is comprised of a water-based coolant. 5. The process as specified in claim 1 wherein the CNC machine is comprised of a multi-axis CNC machine. 6. The process as specified in claim 1 further comprising the step of applying industrial or automotive grade paint to selected areas of the wheel. 7. The process as specified in claim 5 wherein the multi-axis CNC machine cuts custom design elements into the face of the wheel and into the sides of the spokes. 8. The process as specified in claim 7 wherein the multi-axis CNC machine cuts custom rivet designs into the face and into the lip of said wheel. 9. The process as specified in claim 1 further comprising the step of utilizing a roughing pass and a finishing tool to smooth the cast wheel. 10. The process as specified in claim 5 wherein the multi-axis CNC machine tools are carbide based and incorporate chip breakers in the tool design. 11. The process as specified in claim 5 wherein the multiple axis CNC machine utilizes a special toe-clamp and a center collet that reduces chatter marks and the effects of vibration. 12. A process for producing a cast, coated vehicle wheel having a face, a lip, spokes and rivets, said process comprising the following steps: a) acquire a metal ingot,b) melt the metal ingot in a furnace,c) transfer the melted ingot to a crucible,d) channel the melted metal into a wheel casting machine,e) release the cast wheel from the wheel casting mold and move the wheel to a staging area where the wheel is allowed to cool to room temperature,f) place the wheel in an oven to commence a heat treating process that changes the wheel's mechanical properties, metallurgical structure and the residual stress state of the wheel, wherein the treating process achieves T4 hardness and involves increasing the wheel temperature to a temperature ranging from 525-645 degrees Centigrade for a time period ranging from 4.7-7.0 hours,g) remove the wheel from the oven and quench the wheel in a heated water bath having a temperature ranging from 65 to 85 degrees centigrade, wherein the water bath rapidly cools the wheel to freeze the wheel's excited molecules to an optimum state of overall strength, elongation and ductility,h) place the wheel into an aging oven to further heat treat the wheel, wherein this heat treating process involves raising the wheel temperature to a temperature ranging from 255-315 degrees Centigrade for a time period ranging from 1.7-2.5 hours,i) remove the wheel from the aging oven and allow the wheel to cool to room temperature to enhance the wheel's overall strength and surface hardness,j) perform a Brinell test to verify that the hardness of the wheel is between 75 and 100,k) place the wheel in a computer numeric controlled (CNC) lathe to machine all the radial surfaces of the wheel, wherein this process involves at least two operations that machine the front, back, sides and the center bore of the'wheel,l) move the wheel to a paint staging area, where the wheel is cleansed and prepared for subsequent painting,m) apply a coat of primer to the wheel followed by a coating of an industrial grade or automotive grade paint,n) place the painted wheel in an oven or the like to harden the paint and to improve the bonding of the paint to the paint's underlying surface,o) wash the wheel after the wheel has dried, andp) fixture the wheel onto a multi-axis CNC machine, wherein the machine is used to: (1) remove the draft angle from the wheel casting,(2) cut custom design elements into the face of the wheel and the side of the spokes, and(3) cut custom rivet designs into the face of the wheel and/or to the lip of the wheel, wherein items (1)-(3) are performed after the wheel is painted to produce a wheel having contrasting painted surfaces that are adjacent to the machined surfaces. 13. The process as specified in claim 12 wherein said metal ingot is comprised of an aluminum alloy ingot. 14. The process as specified in claim 13 wherein said aluminum alloy ingot is comprised of an A356 aluminum alloy ingot. 15. The process as specified in claim 12 wherein the wheel casting machine is comprised of a low pressure, gravity or counter-pressure wheel casting machine. 16. The process as specified in claim 12 wherein the heated liquid solution is comprised of a water-based solution. 17. The process as specified in claim 12 wherein said process can be utilized to cast a complete wheel or individual wheel elements can be cast that are later attached to the wheel. 18. The process as specified in claim 12 wherein said process is utilized to cast centers on multi-piece wheels, cast rim shells for multi-piece wheels, cast one-piece rim halves and cast center caps.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (3)
Kobayashi Shunji,JPX ; Tanaka Isao,JPX ; Maruyama Saburo,JPX ; Abe Kishiro,JPX, Method of producing a cast wheel.
Niedermayer, Klaus, Vehicle wheel components, including vehicle wheels, comprising a surface coating and method for producing such vehicle wheel components.
Niedermayer, Klaus, Vehicle wheel components, including vehicle wheels, comprising a surface coating and method for producing such vehicle wheel components.
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