# US 2002/0101112 A1 · Tool and process for finishing a vehicle wheel surface

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- Number: US 2002/0101112 A1
- Document ID: US20020101112A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 09/725,528
- Filed: 2000-11-29
- Published: 2002-08-01
- Earliest claimed: 2000-11-29
- Assignees: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
- Inventors: Geoffrey L. Gatton; Richard T. Guernsey
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20020101112A1

## CPC

- B23B 5/02: for turning hubs or brake drums (B23B5/04 takes precedence)
- B23B 27/145: {characterised by having a special shape}
- B23B 2200/201: Details of the nose radius and immediately surrounding area
- B23B 2200/28: Angles
- B23B 2226/315: polycrystalline [PCD]
- B23B 2270/26: Burnishing
- Y10T 82/205: having swinging feed nut and tool bar
- Y10T 407/1906: including holder [i.e., head] having seat for inserted tool
- Y10T 407/1912: Tool adjustable relative to holder
- Y10T 407/1924: Specified tool shape
- Y10T 407/22: including holder having seat for inserted tool
- Y10T 407/23: including tool having plural alternatively usable cutting edges
- Y10T 407/27: comprising tool of specific chemical composition
- B23B: TURNING; BORING (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A vehicle wheel has an outboard face which includes a smoothed portion to provide a cosmetic finish to the wheel face. The smoothed portion is formed by pressing a cutting tool having a non-symmetrical tip against the wheel surface as the wheel is rotated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle wheel comprising:
an annular wheel rim portion; and
a wheel disc formed across said wheel rim, said wheel disc having an outboard surface, said outboard surface including a smoothed portion which provides a pleasing cosmetic appearance.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A vehicle wheel according to claim 1 wherein said smoothed portion extends over the entire outboard surface of said wheel disc.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A vehicle wheel according to claim 2 further including a protective coating formed over said smoothed portion of said wheel disc.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A vehicle wheel according to claim 3 wherein said protective coating is a clear coating.

### Claim 5

A process for forming a decorative surface upon an outboard surface of a wheel disc, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a machined vehicle wheel including a wheel rim and having a wheel disc extending radially across the wheel rim;
(b) mounting the wheel in a lathe;
(c) rotating the wheel; and
(d) urging a cutting tool against an outboard surface of the wheel disc and traversing the smear cutting tool in a radial direction across the outboard surface of the wheel disc such that the wheel disc outboard surface has a polished appearance.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A process according to claim 5 wherein the entire outboard face of the wheel disc is smoothed in step (d).

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A process according to claim 5 further including, subsequent to step (d), applying a protective coating to the smoothed surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A process according to claim 7 wherein the coating is a clear coating.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

A process according to claim 5 wherein the cutting tool includes a non-symmetrical working tip having arcuate leading and trailing edges, the leading edge having a leading edge radius and the trailing edge having a trailing edge radius, the leading edge radius being twice the trailing edge radius.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A process according to claim 9 wherein the cutting tool also has a zero degree land formed about the non-symmetrical working tip.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A process according to claim 10 wherein the working tip is an insert formed from a poly crystalline diamond material.

### Claim 12

A cutting tool for smoothing a wheel surface comprising:
a rhombic shaped body portion having a mounting aperture formed therethrough; and
a non-symmetrical working tip inserted into one end of said body portion, said tip having arcuate leading and trailing edges, said leading edge having a leading edge radius and said trailing edge having a trailing edge radius, said leading edge radius being twice the trailing edge radius.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A cutting tool according to claim 12 wherein said tip also has a zero degree land formed thereabout.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A cutting tool according to claim 13 wherein said leading edge radius is three mm and said trailing edge radius is 1.5 mm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

A cutting tool according to claim 13 wherein said end of said body adjacent to said tip is undercut by an angle in the range of five to 15 degrees.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A cutting tool according to claim 15 wherein said undercut is five degrees.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

A cutting tool according to claim 15 further including a tool holder formed from a anti-vibration material.