Method of coating alloy wheels
AssigneeSuperior Industries International, Inc.
InventorsParveen Kakar, Henry Clay Chenault
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An alloy wheel is formed having a three dimensional configuration defining a face and recessed surfaces. The face of the wheel is machined providing a smooth surface at the face and defining an edge between the smooth surface of the face and the recessed surfaces. A nozzle element for projecting a plasma jet toward the wheel is provided. The plasma jet is projected toward the smooth surface of the face, the edge, and toward at least a portion of the recessed surfaces forming an alloy oxide at least on the face and the edge disposed between the face and the recessed surfaces. A first polymeric coating is applied over the face, the recessed surfaces and the edge disposed between the face and the recessed surfaces.
Claims19
A method of coating an alloy wheel, comprising the steps of:
- forming an alloy wheel having a three dimensional configuration defining a face and recessed surfaces;
- machining said face of said wheel thereby providing a smooth surface at said face and defining an edge between said smooth surface of said face and said recessed surfaces;
- providing a nozzle element for projecting a plasma jet toward said wheel;
- projecting the plasma jet toward said smooth surface of said face, said edge, and toward at least a portion of said recessed surfaces thereby forming an alloy oxide at least said on said face and said edge disposed between said face and said recessed surfaces;
- applying a first polymeric coating over said face, said recessed surfaces and said edge disposed between said face and said recessed surfaces.
A method of coating a cast alloy wheel having a three dimensional configuration defining a face and recessed surfaces, comprising the steps of:
- applying a first paint coating to said cast alloy wheel;
- providing a nozzle element for projecting a plasma jet toward said wheel;
- applying a second paint coating to said cast alloy;
- and
- projecting the plasma jet toward said wheel onto said first paint coating prior to applying said second paint coating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.