Kelsey-hayes Company

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.

Hayes Wheels International, Inc.

Daniel F Jansen

Thomas E Heck

Charles Andrew Turner

Walter L Ashley, Jr

George Y Meyer, Jr

An improved method for producing a wheel rim for use in a vehicle wheel. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing at least two individual flat sheets of material having different thicknesses; (b) securing the two flat sheets of material together by welding to form a rim blank; (c) forming the rim blank into a generally cylindrical hoop having a first discrete section defined by one of the two flat sheets of material and a second discrete section defined by the other one of the two flat sheets of material, the first discrete section of the hoop defining a first outer diameter, extending a first axial length, and including a substantially uniform first thickness throughout the entire first axial length thereof, the second discrete section of the hoop defining a second outer diameter, extending a second axial length, and including a substantially uniform second thickness throughout the second axial length thereof; (d) subjecting the hoop to a series of metal forming operations to produce a finished wheel rim having at least one tire bead seat retaining flange and at least one tire bead seat surface.

Method for producing a variable thickness rim for a vehicle wheel

An improved wheel construction includes a disc and a rim secured together and which define a radially inwardly facing circumferential cavity in the wheel. In accordance with the present invention, a filler material is disposed in a substantial portion of the cavity to prevent road material or other debris from accumulating in the cavity and causing an out-of-balance wheel condition.

Vehicle wheel with filler ring

A method for producing vehicle wheel rims is disclosed. The method, as applied to a wheel rim preform having given axial width and having bead seat areas, as well and an inboard leg, entails a thinning and stretching operation applied to the well and inboard leg thereby producing a finished wheel rim having an axial width greater than the axial width of the preform and a weight of twenty to thirty percent less than similar prior art wheel rims.

Growing community of inventors

Saline, MI, United States of America

Daniel F Jansen