# US 6,733,366 B2 · Tool and process for finishing a vehicle wheel surface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,733,366 B2 - Document ID: US6733366B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/309,726 - Filed: 2002-12-04 - Published: 2003-06-26 - Granted: 2004-05-11 - Earliest claimed: 2000-11-29 - Assignees: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. - Inventors: Geoffrey L. Gatton; Richard T. Guernsey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6733366B2 ## CPC - B23B 5/02: for turning hubs or brake drums (B23B5/04 takes precedence) - B23B 27/145: {characterised by having a special shape} - B23B 2200/201: Details of the nose radius and immediately surrounding area - B23B 2200/28: Angles - B23B 2226/315: polycrystalline [PCD] - B23B 2270/26: Burnishing - Y10T 82/205: having swinging feed nut and tool bar - Y10T 407/1906: including holder [i.e., head] having seat for inserted tool - Y10T 407/1912: Tool adjustable relative to holder - Y10T 407/1924: Specified tool shape - Y10T 407/22: including holder having seat for inserted tool - Y10T 407/23: including tool having plural alternatively usable cutting edges - Y10T 407/27: comprising tool of specific chemical composition - B23B: TURNING; BORING (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A vehicle wheel has an outboard face which includes a smoothed portion to provide a cosmetic finish to the wheel face. The smoothed portion is formed by pressing a cutting tool having a non-symmetrical tip against the wheel surface as the wheel is rotated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for forming a decorative surface upon an outboard surface of a wheel disc, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a cutting tool for smoothing a wheel surface that includes a rhombic shaped body portion having a mounting aperture formed therethrough and a non-symmetrical insert carried upon one end of the body portion, the insert having arcuate leading and trailing edges, the leading edge having a leading edge radius and the trailing edge having a trailing edge radius with the leading edge radius being greater than the trailing edge radius, the insert also having a zero degree land formed thereabout whereby the cutting edge of the insert is maintained tangent to the wheel surface; (b) mounting a machined vehicle wheel including a wheel rim and having a wheel disc extending radially across the wheel rim in a lathe; (c) rotating the wheel; and (d) urging the cutting tool against an outboard surface of the wheel disc and traversing the cutting tool in a radial direction across the outboard surface of the wheel disc such that the wheel disc outboard surface has a polished appearance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the entire outboard face of the wheel disc is smoothed in step (d). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 further including, subsequent to step (d), applying a protective coating to the smoothed surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A process according to claim 3 wherein the coating is a clear coating. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein step (d) includes a rate of feed for the wheel lathe that is less than the leading edge radius of the cutting tool. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A process according to claim 5 wherein step (d) includes a rate of feed for the wheel lathe that is one tenth of the leading edge radius of the cutting tool. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A process according to claim 5 wherein step (d) includes a rate of feed for the wheel lathe that is less than one tenth of the leading edge radius of the cutting tool. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein said cutting tool insert is formed from a hard substance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A process according to claim 8 wherein the working tip is an insert formed from a polycrystalline diamond material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A process according to claim 8 wherein the cutting tool leading edge radius is twice the trailing edge radius. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A process according to claim 10 wherein the cutting tool leading edge radius is about three mm and said trailing edge radius is about 1.5 mm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A process according to claim 10 wherein the end of the cutting tool body adjacent to the tip is undercut by an angle in the range of 5 to 15 degrees. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A process according to claim 12 wherein the cutting tool undercut is 5 degrees. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A process according to claim 12 further including a tool holder formed from an anti-vibration material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A process according to claim 12 wherein the cutting tool insert is canted relative to a surface of the cutting tool body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A process according to claim 1 wherein the cutting tool leading edge radius is twice the trailing edge radius. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A process according to claim 16 wherein the end of the cutting tool body adjacent to the tip is undercut by an angle in the range of 5 to 15 degrees. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A process according to claim 17 wherein the cutting tool insert is canted relative to a surface of the cutting tool body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A process according to claim 18 wherein said cutting tool insert is formed from a hard substance. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A process according to claim 19 wherein the cutting tool leading edge radius is about three mm and said trailing edge radius is about 1.5 mm.