Grotnes Metalforming Systems, Inc.

Grotnes Machine Works, Inc.

Vernon R Fencl

Laszlo J Javorik

Archie Tan

Aujit Tan

Demetrios J Rigas

Alberts Roze

A cylindrical wheel rim blank has a longitudinal seam defined by a pair of longitudinal edge portions each of which is clamped between upper and lower jaws of a respective clamping assembly. The two clamping assemblies are urged laterally together to press the two longitudinal edge portions together, and welding current is introduced at the seam through the lower jaws to effect the weld. The upper jaws are at the bottom of cantilevered horn members around which the rim blank is mounted. The lower jaws are urged upwardly toward the cantilevered upper jaws to effect the clamping function. Structure is provided to equalize the clamping pressure exerted against the upper jaw along the length thereof and, if desired, to introduce a bias into the upward pressure exerted through the lower jaw. There is a mechanism to provide different, predetermined spacings between the clamping assemblies as different steps in the operation. Circuitry is provided to produce a reversing, pulsating DC welding current.

Butt welding machine

A tubular metal workpiece undergoes radial forging employing shrink forming. A multiplicity of dies are arranged circumferentially around the workpiece and urged radially inwardly in a first shrink forming pass to decrease the diameter of the workpiece. The dies are retracted, the workpiece is rotated slightly and another shrink forming pass is performed. The workpiece is then advanced axially, and the procedure described above is repeated. Procedures are employed to prevent torsional deformation and radially outward extrusion of metal in the gaps between adjacent dies.

Radial forging method

The longitudinal edge portions of a cylindrical wheel rim blank are gripped by a pair of laterally spaced clamping assemblies each having a radially fixed inside clamping member and each having a radially movable outside clamping member adapted to clamp the blank against the inside member. After the rim blank has been clamped, the two clamping members of one of the clamping assemblies are pivoted laterally toward the clamping members of the other assembly to press the edges of the rim blank against one another preparatory to welding current being directed through the blank to weld the edges. A load cell detects the force applied to the pivoted clamping assembly and produces a signal which is used to monitor or control the force.

Machine for welding automotive wheel rim blanks

An electric drive system for automotive wheel rim forming equipment having inner and outer forming rolls mounted on driven spindles. The drive system includes separate drives for each forming roll and a control system for maintaining a predetermined speed ratio between the forming rolls in the absence of a working load thereon. The control system further maintains a predetermined torque ratio between the outputs of the drives for the forming rolls during the forming of a wheel rim by the forming rolls.

Automotive rim roll forming drive system

A removable cartridge for insertion in a shrink forming machine having a multiplicity of circumferentially arranged radially movable machine jaws. The cartridge fits inside the machine jaws and is insertable and removable as a unit. The cartridge comprises a multiplicity of circumferentially arranged, radially movable cartridge jaws each engaged by a respective machine jaw to move the cartridge jaw inwardly. A die is mounted on the radially inward end of each cartridge jaw. Guidance structure protects against any substantial deviation by the die from a precise radial path of movement. Structure is provided to enable the cartridge jaw to absorb the load, developed during a shrink forming operation, within the limits of the relatively commonplace physical properties of the material of which the cartridge jaw is composed.

Removable multi-die cartridge for shrink forming machine

A roll forging machine has a pair of opposed work rolls carrying cooperating dies and a pair of support rails mounted on each work roll on opposite sides of the die thereon. The support rails provide the work rolls with a high spring constant, so that the supporting framework can have a relatively low spring constant. During forging the work rolls are urged together with a force substantially greater than the force required to forge the workpiece, and the opposed support rails are pressed together to prestress the work rolls. The dies and support rails occupy only preselected segments of the circumferences of the work rolls, and a pair of backup rolls bear against each work roll on the balance of the circumference. The two backup rolls for each work roll are positioned asymmetrically with respect to the plane of the workpiece, with the backup roll on the feed side of the work roll being located farther away from the plane of the workpiece than is the other backup roll. One hydraulic cylinder urges the two work rolls together, and a second hydraulic cylinder urges the workpiece into the work rolls, with a constant ratio being maintained between the pressures applied by the two hydraulic cylinders.

Roll forging machine

Metal pipe is planished by passing it longitudinally between two concentric circular arrays of independently rotatable planishing elements which are urged against the inner and outer surfaces of the pipe. The two circular arrays of planishing elements are radially aligned with each other on opposite sides of the pipe wall, and the pipe is rotated relative to the two arrays of planishing elements while the pipe is being passed therebetween.

System for planishing metal pipe

A welding machine for welding the longitudinal seams in wheel rim blanks which have been rolled into cylinders with the longitudinal edges of each blank forming a longitudinal gap includes a pair of clamping assemblies each having an inside member and an outside member for engaging the inner and outer surfaces, respectively, of the rim blank adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof on opposite sides of the longitudinal gap so as to align the longitudinal edges with each other. At least one of the clamping assemblies is movable relative to the other clamping assembly in a direction transverse to the longitudinal gap so as to permit the longitudinal edges of the rim blank to be pressed against each other. The longitudinal edges of the blank are pressed together in the transverse direction to close the gap and hold the longitudinal edges together during the welding thereof. An electric welding current is passed transversely through the longitudinal edges of the blank while continuously pressing the edges together and while continuously clamping the rim blank on both sides of the gap to maintain the edges in alignment with each other. The electric welding current is supplied to the rim blank through the outside clamping members so that the welding current flows perpendicularly through the weld line. Both the inner and outer clamping members of at least one of the clamping assemblies are supported on bearings to permit sliding movement of these clamping members.

Machine for welding seams in automotive wheel rim blanks

A method of treating steel pipe made by forming and welding a mother plate. The pipe is shrunk in the radial direction by applying compressive radial pressure to the outside surface of the pipe to reduce the pipe diameter by at least about 1%. The shrinking of the pipe increases the circumferential compressive yield strength and decreases the circumferential tensile yield strength. The pipe is then heated to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the steel but high enough to increase the circumferential tensile yield strength of the pipe, preferably at least about 15% above the tensile yield strength of the mother plate. The heating step does not significantly decrease the high circumferential compressive yield strength of the pipe. The pipe is preferably heated to a temperature within the range of from about 500.degree. F to about 1000.degree. F, and the preferred heating technique is induction heating.

Method of producing high strength steel pipe

Method and apparatus for single plane, balance determination of cylindrical parts and the like, particularly adapted for use with determining imbalance of unmounted tires. The tire to be tested for balance is supported for rotation about a horizontal axis and driven in a substantially constant slow speed while torque monitoring means generates an output proportional to the variations in torque resulting from driving of the support means, electrical signal conversion means determines the magnitude of imbalance as being one half the difference between the maximum and minimum torque output values which is shown on a visual output display. A marking device is triggered to indicate the position on the tire at the instant the maximum torque output occurs to locate the position of the center of gravity on a horizontal line moving upward around the rotation axis.

Apparatus for determining imbalance of tires and the like

Apparatus for milling the end edge surfaces of truck rims to remove weld projections including a frame having a clamping means for holding the rim in an operating station, a pair of spaced apart power heads carrying cutting tools and actuator means for moving the power heads and cutting tools at a predetermined spaced apart distance transversely with respect to the axis of the rim to remove the weld projections. The upper power head and cutting tool are mounted for vertical movement and stop means carried by the upper power head directly locates the spaced apart position for the upper cutter to remove the top weld projection on the rim.

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Northbrook, IL, United States of America

Vernon R Fencl