Abstract: A wheel chuck assembly includes a support plate having at least one aperture formed therethrough. The support plate is adapted to be mounted upon a lathe spindle. An air conveying device is mounted adjacent to the support plate and is operable to induce an air flow through the support plate aperture such that metal chips are drawn through the support plate aperture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing a gate remnant from a casting comprising the steps of: providing a gating including a casting and a gate remnant, the gate remnant including a riser and at least two in-gates, wherein the at least two in-gates are attached to the riser and to the casting; weakening one of the at least two in-gates; and applying a first force to one of the at least two in-gates, wherein the first force severs the one of the at least two in-gates and thereby urges the riser away from the casting such that the other one of the at least two in-gates is severed, thereby separating the gate remnant from the casting.

Abstract: A cutting tool having a crystalline tip is pressed with a uniform pressure against the outboard surface of a vehicle wheel as the wheel is rotated. The smoothed wheel surface is then chrome plated to provide a cosmetic finish to the wheel face.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel having a shallow drain slot milled into the inboard surface of the hub and extending from the wheel pilot hole to the edge of the hub.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved wheel rim rolling apparatus for use in producing a vehicle wheel rim. The wheel rim rolling apparatus includes a top roll assembly having upper rim tools adapted to engage a rim blank or a partially formed rim in order to impart a desired shape thereto, a moveable member and a non-moveable member. The upper rim tools are carried by the moveable member. A first position indicating member is attached to one of the moveable member and the non-moveable member of the top roll assembly. The first position indicating member is operative to generate a visual or readable output signal which is used for determining the position of the upper rim tools of the top roll assembly. A second position receiving member is attached to the other one of the moveable member and the non-moveable member of the top roll assembly. The second member is adapted to receive the visual or readable output signal from the first member to thereby indicate the position of the upper rim tools.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved fabricated spoked vehicle wheel. According to the invention, the fabricated vehicle wheel includes a conventional full wheel rim and a unique wheel disc joined to the wheel rim and defining a wheel axis. The wheel disc includes an inner wheel mounting pad, an outer annular rim connecting flange and a plurality of radial spokes connecting the inner wheel mounting pad to the rim connecting flange. The rim connecting flange extends in an axial direction and defines a side edge surface extending between each pair of adjacent spokes. A plurality of windows are formed in the wheel disc. Each of the windows has a predetermined shape defined by the adjacent spokes and the side edge surface of the rim connecting flange. The rim connecting flange and the side edge surface are configured such that the window extends to an outermost periphery of the wheel disc.

Abstract: An improved device for stripping a wheel rim from a wheel rim expanding tooling apparatus (100) includes an inboard wheel rim expanding tooling assembly (102) including a plurality of segmented inboard wheel rim press members, an outboard wheel rim expanding tooling assembly (104) including a plurality of segmented outboard wheel rim press members, and at least one stripper pin device (120) installed in at least one of the segmented inboard wheel rim press members or the segmented outboard wheel rim press members. The at least one stripper pin device is installed in the at least one of the segmented inboard wheel rim press members or the segmented outboard wheel rim press members from the outer surface side thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mold rollover apparatus including a wheel member defining an axis and selectively rotatable about the axis and at least one carrier member carried by the wheel member and adapted to carry at least one mold member having a cast part disposed therein. The at least one carrier member is selectively rotatable at least from a first position, wherein the cast part is generally retained in the at least one mold member, to a second position, wherein the cast part is generally free to fall or drop from the at least one mold member. According to the present invention, the at least one carrier member is selectively rotatable about the axis at least from the first position to the second position independent of the rotation of the wheel member about the axis.

Abstract: A cutting tool having a hard tip is pressed with a uniform pressure against a surface of a vehicle wheel as the wheel is rotated to smooth and seal the surface. The smoothed and sealed wheel surface is then chrome plated with a process that includes applying a nickel layer directly upon smoothed and sealed wheel surface and a chromium layer over the nickel layer.

Abstract: A casting machine furnace apparatus that includes a furnace adapted to receive molten metal is described herein. The furnace includes an outer wall structure, a cover adapted to seal the furnace, a source of fluid, and a casting apparatus in fluid communication with the molten metal. The fluid is supplied into the furnace for applying fluid pressure on the molten metal. The application of fluid pressure on the molten metal causes the molten metal to supply the casting apparatus. The outer wall structure of the furnace is provided with a plurality of exhaust ports where the ports are provided in the outer wall structure at predetermined locations. The ports are selectively controllable between a first closed position, where the exhaust ports do not allow air to be exhausted from the furnace, and a second opened position, where the exhaust ports enable air to be exhausted from the furnace.

Abstract: This invention relates to an extraction device for removing a stuck cast part from a stationary mold of a casting apparatus. The extraction member is disposed in the stationary mold section during the casting of a cast part and is disposed adjacent a part shape cavity. The extraction device is moveable between a first position, wherein the extraction member cooperates with the mold sections of the casting apparatus to form a part of the part shape cavity, and a second position, wherein said extraction member is operative to engage and eject the stuck cast part from the part shape cavity.

Abstract: Intervening fingers mounted within a mold gate cavity extend across a portion of the gate cavity and cooperate with one another to slow the flow of molten metal into the mold cavity and thereby reduce flow turbulence.

Abstract: This invention relates an improved wheel rim roll forming apparatus for producing a vehicle wheel rim. The wheel rim roll forming apparatus includes an inner member adapted to support a flared wheel rim preform thereon, an outer member supported relative to the inner member, and a pair of adjustable members operatively supported by inner member. The inner member includes an outer surface having a predetermined profile and defining a centerline of the apparatus. The outer member includes an inner surface having a predetermined profile adapted to engage the flared wheel rim preform to produce a partially formed wheel rim having a desired profile. The pair of adjustable members are disposed adjacent an associated end of the flared wheel rim preform. At least one of the adjustable members is adjustable, by one of a rotational or axial movement thereof, in an axial direction with respect to the centerline of the apparatus.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved air operated fluid control valve which tends to inhibit or impede the travel of a fluid to the air controlled side of the control valve. The air operated fluid control valve includes a control valve having a valve body provided with at least one fluid inlet port and at least one fluid outlet port, at least one air inlet port and at least one air outlet port, and a piston assembly selectively controlled by the air inlet and outlet ports so as to regulate the flow of a fluid through the valve body from the at least one fluid inlet port to the at least one fluid outlet port. According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, the control valve includes at least one shield member carried by piston assembly which is operative to inhibit the travel of a fluid from a fluid side of the control valve into an air controlled side of the control valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coolant crossover member and intake manifold assembly adapted for use in a vehicle engine and method for producing the same. The crossover and manifold assembly includes crossover and a manifold. The crossover has a passage formed therein extending between a first end and a second end thereof. The manifold is joined to the first and second ends of the crossover. The manifold is provided with first and second openings which define first and second inner surfaces, respectively.

Abstract: A method for producing a damped part where a sand core is formed with at least one dampening structure with the sand core. The sand core with the at least one dampening structure therein is located in a mold. A part is cast from the mold and the sand core. The sand core is removed from the cast part leaving the at least one dampening structure in contact with the part.

Abstract: A safety block device for supporting a generally vertically movable component about a guide post of a press device. According to one embodiment of the invention, the safety block device includes a generally upright column (42) adapted to be disposed adjacent the guide post (18) and moveable between a retracted non-working position, wherein the column does not support the moveable component, and an extended working position, wherein the column is effective to support the moveable component and prevent movement thereof. The column includes an upper end portion and a lower end portion. According to one feature of the invention, the lower end portion of the column includes a generally rounded first portion (62a) and a generally second flat portion (62b) which is slightly offset with respect to the first portion.

Abstract: A combined tool for both drilling a hole through a vehicle wheel and deburring the edge of the hole and a method for using the combined tool.

Abstract: A casting apparatus for pouring molten metal into molds comprises a vessel having a molten metal-receiving chamber generally extending between a filling end and a pouring end. The vessel includes a nozzle disposed in a bottom surface of the chamber proximate to the pouring end. A stopper cooperates with the nozzle to control a downward gravity flow of molten metal through the nozzle. A first support pivotably supports the vessel to provide a horizontal tilt axis substantially coincident with the nozzle. A second support is connected to the vessel at a point away from the tilt axis and has a drive for controlling a pivot position of the vessel. A tilt angle controller detects a level of molten metal within the chamber and engages the drive to maintain the level at a predetermined level.

Abstract: A cutting tool having a crystalline tip is pressed with a uniform pressure against the outboard surface of a vehicle wheel as the wheel is rotated. The smoothed wheel surface is then chrome plated to provide a cosmetic finish to the wheel face.