Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system for forming flat base truck rims from flat strips of steel rolled into the form of smooth cylinders and welded together along the abutting axial edges. The system is capable of forming rims from hot rolled, rimmed, low carbon steel strips. The smooth cylinder is initially formed by a plurality of dies located at opposite ends of the cylinder and mounted for advancing movement relatively toward each other in the direction of the cylinder axis to flare a first end of the cylinder radially outwardly while rough forming a rim gutter on the other end of the cylinder. The radial thickness of the metal forming the rim gutter is increased during the rough forming thereof by applying a compressive axial load to the cylinder and providing a gutter-forming die cavity wider than the starting thickness of the cylinder. The rim gutter is warm or hot formed by heating that end of the cylinder before advancing the dies to roughly form the gutter.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mechanically expanding pipe of the type having a helical weld seam which includes a radially expandable die head assembly for incrementally expanding the pipe advanced over the die head and wherein the die head has a helical groove which corresponds to the helical weld seam of the pipe. Means are provided for advancing the pipe longitudinally over the die head assembly for incremental expansion and preferably for substantially simultaneously rotating the pipe to maintain the conformity between the die head groove and the helical weld seam of the pipe.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system for forming wheel rim blanks in which a coiling station, an end conditioning press, a welding station, and a weld seam finishing station are all arranged to form a continuous path in the direction of the axis of the rim blank so that blanks can be readily transferred from one station to the next, with each station being simultaneously loaded and unloaded. In the coiling station a blank of strip material is coiled into the form of a cylinder with the longitudinal edges of the coiled blank defining a preloaded longitudinal gap. The coiled blank is then axially transferred to an end conditioning press while moving the longitudinal edges of the blank to predetermined circumferential positions so that the gap has a preselected width and circumferential location as it enters the press. Each time a coil blank is axially transferred from the coiling station to the end conditioning press, an end conditioned blank is simultaneously axially transferred from the press to the welding station.