Cast wheel reinforced with a metal matrix composite
AssigneeHayes Wheels International, Inc.
InventorDaniel C. Wei
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Abstract
A light weight cast metal wheel having a disk-shaped wheel disk formed across an annular wheel rim and including a reinforcing layer of a metal matrix composite extending radially across the wheel disk. The reinforcing layer also can extend axially across a portion of the wheel rim. The metal matrix composite layer is formed by securing a preform formed from a reinforcing material within the wheel mold prior to casting the wheel. The use of a preform assures that the resulting reinforcing layer is uniform.
Claims16
A vehicle wheel comprising a cast body formed from a metal alloy, said cast body including a predetermined portion formed from a metal matrix composite, said metal matrix composite reinforcing said cast body and including a porous nonmetallic reinforcing material which is permeated by said metal alloy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.