Back to results
US 6,439,671 B1Granted
Extruded aluminum vehicle wheel
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsAaron Lehnhardt, Bruce Preston Williams, Michael Gousotti Ellis, Thomas Scott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle wheel is disclosed that is made up of a plurality of extrusions. A rim may be provided in either a cylindrical form or in the form of a series of arcuate segments. Rim attachment brackets are provided to secure spokes to the rim. Spokes are provided between the rim and a hub that defines an axle aperture. The rim is roll formed to form tire retention beads and the outer surface of the rim that's in the abstract.
Claims17
A vehicle wheel comprising:
- a rim having circumferentially extending slots on a radially inwardly facing surface;
- a plurality of rim attachment brackets being bonded to the rim and having ribs that are secured in the slots on the rim, the rim attachment brackets each having an anchor portion;
- a plurality of spokes having an outer end secured to the anchor portion of the rim attachment brackets, the spokes each extending radially inwardly from the anchor portion and having an inner end;
- a hub secured to the inner end of each spoke, the hub having an axle aperture.
1 more element
A method of making a wheel for a vehicle tire comprising:
- extruding a wheel rim, a plurality of rim attachment bracket bodies, a plurality of spoke bodies, and a wheel hub body;
- machining the rim attachment bracket bodies to form rim attachment brackets;
- assembling and bonding each rim attachment bracket to the slots in the arcuate segments;
- machining the spoke bodies to form spokes having an inner end and an outer end;
- assembling the outer end of each spoke to one of the rim attachment brackets;
- machining the wheel hub body to form a wheel hub;
- and
- assembling the inner ends of the spokes to the wheel hub.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.