Method for producing a cast aluminum vehicle wheel
AssigneeHayes Wheels International, Inc.
InventorDaniel Wei
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for producing a cast aluminum vehicle wheel uses a high intensity electric infrared heating system to heat treat the wheel. The infrared heating system is an indexing-type system which includes a plurality of individual heating stations. A first group of heating stations effects solution heat treating of the wheel, while a second group effects artificial aging. The infrared system enables the solution heat treating and aging to be completed in less than 15 minutes.
Claims12
A method for producing a cast aluminum vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:
- (a) casting a vehicle wheel in a mold from a selected aluminum alloy, the wheel defining an axis and having a wheel face formed perpendicular to the axis and an annular wheel rim formed concentric with the axis;
- (b) removing the wheel from the mold;
- (c) solution heat treating the wheel by directing infrared radiation from a first group of infrared emitters in a first direction toward the wheel face and by directing infrared radiation from a second group of infrared emitters in a second direction toward at least a circumferential portion of the wheel rim, the second direction being nonparallel to the first direction, both the first and second groups of infrared emitters being controlled to supply the infrared radiation at a level to rapidly heat the wheel and thereafter maintain the wheel temperature within a solution heat treatment temperature range for a solution heat treat time period corresponding to the selected aluminum alloy;
- (d) simultaneously with step (c), rotating the wheel relative to the emitters to evenly distribute the infrared radiation therethrough;
- (e) immediately following said solution heat treat time period, quenching the wheel;
- and
- (f) aging the wheel.
A method for producing a cast aluminum vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:
- (a) casting a vehicle wheel in a mold from a selected aluminum alloy, the wheel defining an axis and having a wheel face formed perpendicular to the axis and an annular wheel rim formed concentric with the axis;
- (b) removing the wheel from the mold;
- (c) solution heat treating the wheel;
- (d) aging the wheel by directing infrared radiation from a first group of infrared emitters in a first direction toward the wheel face and by directing infrared radiation from a second group of infrared emitters in a second direction toward at least a circumferential portion of the wheel rim, the second direction being nonparallel to the first direction, both the first and second groups of infrared emitters being controlled to supply the infrared radiation at a level to rapidly heat the wheel and thereafter maintain the wheel temperature within an aging temperature range for an aging time period corresponding to the selected aluminum alloy;
- (e) simultaneously with step (d), rotating the wheel relative to the emitters to evenly distribute the infrared radiation therethrough;
- and
- (f) immediately following said aging time period, quenching the wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.