Abstract: Each spoke portion includes spoke projecting threads on both sides thereof, and a reinforcing plate portion is formed so as to protrude from a side edge of each of the spoke projecting threads outward in a spoke widthwise direction. The reinforcing plate portion is formed continuously with an inter-spoke plate portion extended from a fitting portion of a disc flange portion to a wheel radially inner side, and forms an integral plate surface with the inter-spoke plate portion. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce imbalance of rigidity of the spoke portion in a radial direction, and to increase rigidity of an automobile wheel.

Abstract: Each spoke portion (50) includes a center valley portion (51), and spoke projecting threads (52) formed on both sides of the center valley portion (51). Each of the spoke projecting threads (52) includes an inclined surface portion (54), which protrudes outward in a spoke widthwise direction from a top (53) and inclines downward to a wheel axially back side. The inclined surface portion (54) is formed so that a length thereof in a range of from the top (53) to an outer end of the inclined surface portion (54) in the spoke widthwise direction becomes larger toward a spoke distal end side, and that an average downward inclination angle thereof becomes smaller toward the spoke distal end side. With this configuration, it is possible to increase rigidity of the spoke portion with good balance while avoiding interference with a braking device.

Abstract: An automobile wheel is provided with a spoke section and a disk flange section. The spoke section is provided with a central groove section and raised side section disposed on either side of the central groove section. The raised side sections are provided with a peak side section that protrudes to the front and a flange section that extends from the side edge of the peak side section to the back. Meanwhile, the disk flange section is provided with a connector section and front edge sections that curve radially inward from the front edge of the connector section. The front edge sections are depressed toward the back relative to the peak side section of the raised side section. This automobile wheel, by means of the synergy between the shape effects of the spoke section and the disk flange section, improves strength and rigidity for withstanding radial loads and bending/torsional loads.

Abstract: A base coat coating composition which is able to suppress cracking of a metal thin film, even when a tough top coat layer capable of satisfactorily protecting the metal thin film is formed on the metal thin film, and even when a heat resistance test is performed, as well as a composite film and a method for producing the composite film. Specifically, a base coat coating composition used for undercoating a metal thin film formed on a metal substrate, and containing a coating film-forming component which contains at least 30% by mass of an epoxy (meth)acrylate having a cyclic structure and has an average molecular weight between crosslinks of 180 to 1,000, as well as a composite film having a base coat layer obtained from the base coat coating composition, and a method for producing the composite film.

Abstract: A bead guide (50) includes a columnar portion (51) having a cylindrical side surface, and a guide plate (52) extending from a distal end of the columnar portion (51). Through rotation of the bead guide (50), an expansion bar rotation driving section (41) selectively switches the bead guide (50) between a first position at which the guide plate (52) is retreated radially inwardly from an outer circumferential end of a wheel (H), and a second position at which at least a part of the guide plate (52) protrudes radially outwardly from the outer circumferential end of the wheel (H). The bead guide (50) is switched from the first position to the second position so that the guide plate (52) is caused to enter below an upper bead (TBU).

Abstract: An automobile wheel includes first bottom portions provided inward in a radial direction of a front side bead seat portion and a back side bead seat portion between the front side bead seat portion and back side bead seat portion and second bottom portions provided inward in the radial direction of the first bottom portions. The first bottom portions and second bottom portions are alternately provided in a circumferential direction. This configuration increases difference in area between area of a cross section in the radial direction of a tire-internal space in sections where the first bottom portions are provided and area of a cross section in the radial direction in sections where the second bottom portions are provided and thus allows improvement in an effect of reducing cavity resonant noise.

Abstract: A hat portion of a wheel disk includes a hat inner inclined circumferential portion and a hat outer inclined circumferential portion. At least one of the hat inner inclined circumferential portion and the hat outer inclined circumferential portion includes: a plurality of curved protruding circumferential portions that protrude toward a surface side into a curved shape; and at least one curved recessed circumferential portion that is provided between the adjacent curved protruding circumferential portions and that is recessed toward a back side into a curved shape. The hat portion of this construction provides a significant effect in improving stiffness because of the shapes of the curved protruding circumferential portions and the curved recessed circumferential portion. Consequently, an automobile wheel has improved overall stiffness and strength. Therefore, a car on which the automobile wheel is mounted can provide increased driving stability.

Abstract: Each spoke portion (50) includes a center valley portion (51), and spoke projecting threads (52) formed on both sides of the center valley portion (51). Each of the spoke projecting threads (52) includes an inclined surface portion (54), which protrudes outward in a spoke widthwise direction from a top (53) and inclines downward to a wheel axially back side. The inclined surface portion (54) is formed so that a length thereof in a range of from the top (53) to an outer end of the inclined surface portion (54) in the spoke widthwise direction becomes larger toward a spoke distal end side, and that an average downward inclination angle thereof becomes smaller toward the spoke distal end side. With this configuration, it is possible to increase rigidity of the spoke portion with good balance while avoiding interference with a braking device.

Abstract: An MMC cylinder liner comprises an inner tubular portion and an outer tubular portion. The inner tubular portion includes a metal matrix composite formed of a compact impregnated with an Al—Si alloy wherein the compact is made of a reinforcing material. The outer tubular portion is formed of the Al—Si alloy. The Si concentration of the Al—Si alloy impregnated into the compact of the inner tubular portion is different from the Si concentration of the Al—Si alloy of the outer tubular portion.

Abstract: Each spoke portion includes spoke projecting threads on both sides thereof, and a reinforcing plate portion is formed so as to protrude from a side edge of each of the spoke projecting threads outward in a spoke widthwise direction. The reinforcing plate portion is formed continuously with an inter-spoke plate potion extended from a fitting portion of a disc flange portion to a wheel radially inner side, and forms an integral plate surface with the inter-spoke plate portion. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce imbalance of rigidity of the spoke portion in a radial direction, and to increase rigidity of an automobile wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel according to the present invention includes a hollow-state hollow portion and a solid-state non-hollow portion inside an outboard bead seat in a radial direction, which are provided in series in a circumferential direction of the wheel, the non-hollow portion having a cross section with a larger area than a hole cross section of a valve hole and having the valve hole formed therein. This structure prevents a sealing structure for ensuring hermetic performance from being complicated as compared to a wheel having the valve hole in the hollow portion, thus simplifying a mounting structure of an air valve. A method for manufacturing such a vehicle wheel allows formation of the valve hole in the non-hollow portion. Machining dust generated through a cutting process can thus be prevented from entering the hollow portion and remaining therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preventing or reducing contamination of a surface of a substrate, or protecting a surface of a substrate by making a surface of a substrate hydrophilic, by means of arranging, successively in relation to the substrate, a first layer containing a negatively-charged substance, and a second layer containing a positively-charged substance or containing a positively-charged substance and a negatively-charged substance on the surface of the substrate or in a surface layer of the substrate. In accordance with the present invention, a novel method for preventing or reducing adhesion of contaminants, and color degradation or color change of a substrate over time, can be provided.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a vehicle wheel is suggested in which the vehicle wheel can provide function and effect of preventing molding defects during molding of an outer rim portion and/or an inner rim portion having sound absorbing spaces 25 and of reducing acoustic cavity noise that occurs in a tire-internal space by use of the sound absorbing spaces. After a separation groove having a curved shape groove bottom surface 55a is formed between a ring-shaped wall portion and partition wall portions, the ring-shaped wall portion is bent toward a flange portion, and the ring-shaped wall portion and the flange portion are welded together. The sound absorbing spaces which communicate with each other via communication gaps defined according to the separation groove are thereby formed in the outer rim portion and/or the inner rim portion.

Abstract: An automotive wheel includes a wheel disc in which a hat section is provided outside a hub mounting section. A hat inner inclined surrounding section of the hat section includes an inner convex surrounding section protruding to a surface side in a curved shape, and an inner lower concave surrounding section continuously formed with an inner peripheral edge of the inner convex surrounding section, continuously formed with an outer peripheral edge of a hub surface rounded section, and protruding to the back side in a curved shape.

Abstract: A front flange portion formed at an outer peripheral edge portion of a wheel disc includes an annular front peripheral portion provided on a design surface side and an annular back peripheral portion folded backward from the annular front peripheral portion to extend radially inwardly and in surface contact with a back surface of the annular front peripheral portion, and the annular front peripheral portion and the annular back peripheral portion are integrally inclined to the surface side. Therefore, the front flange portion can mitigate stress concentration on the front flange portion due to a load generated while the automobile is running. In addition, the front flange portion has, because of its shape, high durability against a radially inward load generated by a contact with a curbstone or the like.

Abstract: In an automobile wheel, a disc flange of a wheel disc includes bent surface-side edge portions each having an arcuate shape and arranged concentrically with each other, and the bent surface-side edge portions extend from the surface-side end edge of a fitted straight annular portion to be bent radially inward and are dented to a back side of the outer end portions of the lateral edge portions of spokes. The thus configured automobile wheel can exhibit high strength and rigidity against a radial load, a bending load, and a torsional load because of the shape of the bent surface-side edge portions, thereby suppressing deformation of the disc flange caused while an automobile is running. Thus, it is possible to mitigate a stress concentration on a joined portion between the wheel disc and a wheel rim.

Abstract: An inner peripheral end portion of an annular back peripheral portion forming a front flange portion, an opening end portion of a front bead seat portion and a back surface portion of a wheel disc are joined to each other by a first welded portion and a second welded portion. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the front flange portion from being repeatedly elastically deformed by loads generated while the automobile is running. In addition, it is possible to mitigate a stress concentration generated on the front flange portion and the first welded portion and the second welded portion. Thus, an automobile wheel can exhibit high durability.

Abstract: An automobile wheel is provided with a spoke section and a disk flange section. The spoke section is provided with a central groove section and raised side section disposed on either side of the central groove section. The raised side sections are provided with a peak side section that protrudes to the front and a flange section that extends from the side edge of the peak side section to the back. Meanwhile, the disk flange section is provided with a connector section and front edge sections that curve radially inward from the front edge of the connector section. The front edge sections are depressed toward the back relative to the peak side section of the raised side section. This automobile wheel, by means of the synergy between the shape effects of the spoke section and the disk flange section, improves strength and rigidity for withstanding radial loads and bending/torsional loads.

Abstract: A recess is formed on the periphery of each of through-holes that go through a rim cavity, and the outer surface of a rim part is cut while a seal member for sealing the through-hole is positioned on the recess. It is thereby possible to stably manufacture a vehicle wheel in which swarf tends not to remain inside the rim cavity. Furthermore, it is not necessary to avoid the seal member for sealing the through-hole when cutting the outer surface of the rim part, and the outer surface of the rim part can be cut without any distinction having to be made between the periphery of the through-hole and the rest of the outer surface. Any increase in manufacturing costs can be minimized.

Abstract: A process for producing an aluminum wheel includes a cleaning step, in which the surface of the aluminum wheel is chemically etched with an alkali cleaning liquid which contains an alkali builder, an organic builder, and a chelating agent to such an extent that the Si atomic ratio of metal Si to oxide Si is from 0.01 to 9, and a shot blast treatment step can be omitted for cleaning the surface of the aluminum wheel.