Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm MacMillan, Sobaski & Todd, LLC
  • Patent number: 6401797
    Abstract: A mold for casting a vehicle wheel includes a plurality of mold members that cooperate to define a mold cavity. The mold cavity includes an annular rim cavity for casting a wheel rim and a disc cavity for casting a wheel disc. The mold members define a central axis and have a passageway for introducing molten metal into the rim cavity. The rim cavity has a radial width that changes in a circumferential direction between a maximum width portion of the rim cavity located proximally relative to the passageway, and a minimum width portion of the rim cavity located distally relative to the passageway. In a method for casting a vehicle wheel, a mold as described above is provided. Molten metal is introduced through the passageway into the rim cavity to fill the mold cavity and form a wheel casting. The wheel casting is allowed to cool sufficiently to solidify the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Hayes Lammerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Nitz, Jiang Z. Shi