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US 5,340,418 AGranted
Method for producing a cast aluminum vehicle wheel
AssigneeHayes Wheels International, Inc.
InventorDaniel C. Wei
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims11
A method for heat treating an alloy vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a solution heat treatment apparatus, the apparatus including a first portion having a plurality of infrared emitters for rapidly heating the wheel to a temperature within a solution heat treatment temperature range and a second portion for maintaining the wheel temperature within the solution heat treatment temperature range;
- (b) loading a vehicle wheel formed from a selected alloy into the first portion of the apparatus;
- (c) supplying heat energy to the wheel from the infrared emitters at a level to rapidly heat the wheel to the temperature within the solution heat treatment temperature range;
- (d) moving the wheel from the first portion of the apparatus to the second portion of the apparatus;
- (e) supplying heat energy to the wheel in the second portion of the apparatus to maintain the wheel temperature within the solution heat treatment temperature range for a solution heat treatment time period;
- (f) immediately following the solution heat treatment time period, quenching the wheel;
- and
- (g) aging the wheel.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.