Vehicle wheel and method for producing same

Abstract

An improved vehicle wheel and method for producing the same includes a wheel rim and a wheel disc joined together by a weld. The wheel disc includes a generally centrally located wheel mounting portion which defines a vertical axis and an outer annular flange. The outer annular flange of the wheel disc defines an outer surface which is inverted at a predetermined angle relative to the vertical axis. The outer annular flange further includes a plurality of arches formed therein. The method for forming the vehicle wheel of the present invention includes the steps of (a) providing a wheel rim; (b) providing a generally circular disc blank; (c) initially stamping the disc blank to produce a generally bowl shaped wheel disc having an inner wheel mounting portion and an outer annular portion; (d) subjecting the bowl shaped wheel disc to an intermediate metal forming operation to produce a partially formed wheel disc defining a wheel disc vertical axis, the partially formed wheel disc having an outer annular flange which extends generally in the same direction as the wheel disc vertical axis, the outer annular flange having a plurality of arches formed therein; (e) subjecting the partially formed wheel disc to a series of metal forming operations to produce a partially formed wheel disc having a center hub hole, and a plurality of lug bolt receiving holes spaced circumferentially around the hub hole; (f) subjecting the partially formed wheel disc to a metal forming operation wherein the outer annular flange of the partially formed wheel disc is inverted radially inwardly relative to the vertical disc axis to thereby form a finished wheel disc; (g) positioning the outer annular flange of the wheel disc adjacent an inner surface of the wheel rim; and (h) welding the wheel disc to the wheel rim to produce the vehicle wheel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.