Other

Kelsey-Hayes Company

David Trevarrow

John A Main

A method for making a wheel and a wheel so made is disclosed in which the tire bead seats in the rim are deformed inwardly, the wheel is held by the deformed bead seats, and the bolting surfaces of the web are machined in fixed relation to the bead seats. Preferably, the bead seats are deformed sequentially to work welded metal attachment of a web to the rim, and then place it under compression. Preferably, the bolting surface is machined in the form of a flat cone that is approximately three degrees from planar, and the lug holes are chamfered to place surrounding metal in direct compression, and to deform the conically shaped bolting surfaces into flat engagement with planar surfaces on the hubs on which the wheels are to be installed. A method of determined angularity of the web to the rim is utilized to reject poorly aligned webs before machining the bolting surfaces, and thereby prevent undo thinning of the web, and as a means of product control. Theory of the stresses in the wheel both during manufacturing and use is disclosed.

Method of making a wheel

A radial truing device is disclosed having two sets of parallel jaws that are spaced apart to engage the opposite bead seats of a wheel, and the like. The jaws comprise radially extending slides, and each set of jaws is actuated by a separate ring, which rotates to move overcenter devices to an inline position to move the jaws radially inwardly. The overcenter devices bear against one half of a ring, and an antifriction bearing capable of absorbing radial and lateral movement is positioned between the other half of the ring and the frame. In the preferred embodiment, the overcenter devices are toggles that are connected to the jaws and to the rings by pins, and the bearings are generally in line with the connection of the overcenter device and the ring, so that the overcenter devices run true. The rings are actuated separately so that a lateral working of the wheel can be provided and so that a sequential deformation of the wheel is accomplished by forces exerted over a greater period of time than is possible by the prior art. In addition, a radially shiftable table having a resilient surface is provided which will accommodate the complex movement of the workpiece that is produced by the two sets of jaws.

Radial deformation means for cylindrical objects such as wheels

Method of making a wheel and wheel made thereby

A machine for truing both the tire bead seats, and the side surfaces of a web of a wheel. The machine has a work supporting station with radially inwardly movable bead seat deforming jaws, and top and bottom machining heads on slides which move toward and away from the respective sides of the web of a wheel supported by the jaws. The axis of rotation of the machining heads are precisely concentric with the deforming jaws. The bottom machining head is used to chamfer the edges of bolting holes, and the top machining head is used to machine the bolting surfaces of the web. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom slide carries a plurality of gauging switches for contact with the web and for locating its welded position relative to the bead seats. The lower machine head also carries an adjustable gauge post which projects up past the jaws for contact by a gauging switch carried by the slide of the upper head. Upon actuation of the switch carried by the upper head, a predetermined depth of feed into the web is initiated to true the bolting surfaces. Angular misalignment is sensed by the gauging switches carried by the bottom head and the wheel rejected before machining if it is outside limits.

Apparatus for truing bolting surfaces of wheels and the like

A method and a machine for performing final finishing operations upon a wheel to minimize both axial and radial run-out. The assembled wheel, including the rim and attached wheel center is placed in the machine and the rim and particularly the bead seat portion is deformed both radially and axially into a true condition. While held in this condition, the center hole, the bolt hole chamfers, and the axial locating surfaces are finish machined.

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Horton, MI, United States of America

David Trevarrow