Accuride Corporation

William A Greubel

Charles M Scarton

A method of forming a hole to a final specified dimension in a fiber reinforced wheel for a motor vehicle, and a fiber reinforced wheel with such a hole. Stud mounting holes, or a hub hole or a valve hole, are drilled through the wheel to an internal dimension larger than the final specified dimension, to sever and expose fiber ends in the wheel surrounding the hole. Thermoset resin with coupling and curing agents is applied to the hole internal surfaces by brushing or spraying, and is thereafter cured, and atomically and mechanically bonded to the internal hole surfaces with exposed fiber ends to form a thin smooth permanent protective layer on the hole internal surfaces defining the hole at final specified dimension. The hole may have frustoconical, spherical radius, and/or cylindrical portions. At least when the hole has frustoconical or spherical portions, a molding member having a shape corresponding to the hole shape and dimensioned according to the hole specified dimension is inserted into the hole after the thermoset resin is applied into the hole, and is removed after the curing and bonding.

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Newburgh, IN, United States of America

William A Greubel