US 6,785,962 B2 · Method for producing a full face fabricated vehicle wheel

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved method for forming a full face fabricated vehicle wheel and includes the steps of: (a) providing a disc blank formed from a metal material; (b) subjecting the disc blank to a metal stamping operation to produce a partially formed non-bowl shaped full face wheel disc having at least one stamped pocket formed therein; (c) forming at least one decorative window in the partially formed full face wheel disc; (d) coining a back side of the window in the partially formed full face wheel disc; (e) trimming an outer edge of the partially formed full face wheel disc to a predetermined diameter; (f) forming a center hub hole in the partially formed full face wheel disc; (g) subjecting the partially formed full face wheel disc to one or more final metal forming operations to form at least one of an outer flange and a plurality of lug bolt mounting holes in the partially formed wheel disc so as to produce a finished full face wheel disc; and (h) securing the full face wheel disc to a preformed wheel rim to produce the finished full face fabricated vehicle wheel.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for forming a full face fabricated vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a disc blank formed from a metal material;
(b) subjecting the disc blank to a single metal stamping operation to produce a partially formed, stamped full face wheel disc including an outer annular portion, an annular wheel mounting portion having a generally flattened bottom, and an intermediate portion having finish formed pockets, the partially formed, stamped full face wheel disc having a predetermined axial distance defined between an inner surface of the outer annular portion and an inner surface of the inner annular portion;
(c) forming at least one decorative window in the partially formed, stamped full face wheel disc;
(d) coining a back side of the window in the partially formed, stamped full face wheel disc;
(e) trimming an outer edge of the partially formed, stamped full face wheel disc to a predetermined diameter;
(f) forming a center hub hole in the partially formed, stamped full face wheel disc;
(g) subjecting the partially formed, stamped full face wheel disc to one or more final metal forming operations to form at least one of an outer flange and a plurality of lug bolt mounting holes in the partially formed, stamped wheel disc so as to produce a finished full face wheel disc;
and
(h) securing the full face wheel disc to a preformed wheel rim to produce a finished full face fabricated vehicle wheel.

6 more elements

A method for forming a full face fabricated steel vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a disc blank formed from a steel material;
(b) subjecting the disc blank to a single metal stamping operation to produce a partially formed, stamped full face wheel disc including an outer annular portion, an annular wheel mounting portion having a generally flattened bottom, and an intermediate portion having finish formed pockets, the partially formed, stamped full face wheel disc having a predetermined axial distance defined between an inner surface of the outer annular portion and an inner surface of the inner annular portion;
(c) subjecting the partially formed, stamped full face wheel disc to one or more metal forming operations to form at least one of a center hub hole, at least one decorative window, an outer flange, and a plurality of lug bolt mounting holes in the partially formed, stamped wheel disc so as to produce a finished full face wheel disc;
and
(d) securing the finished full face wheel disc to a preformed wheel rim to produce a finished full face fabricated vehicle wheel.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for producing a full face fabricated vehicle wheel

Life of this patent

Method for producing a full face fabricated vehicle wheel

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18