Patents by Inventor Umberto Afeltra

Umberto Afeltra has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120274128
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a wheel rim in light alloy including the following operations: providing a rough wheel rim in light alloy, comprising a wheel disc and an annular portion, the annular portion including a first and a second bead defining a drop well having a first profile; processing the rough wheel rim, modifying the first profile in order to obtain a second profile being of a lower thickness than the first profile, at least at an intermediate portion of the drop well, characterised by including a finishing operation of a surface of the second profile intermediate portion by means of a compression action of said surface, the finishing operation leaving the low thickness substantially unchanged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Umberto Afeltra
  • Patent number: 8046900
    Abstract: Process (20) for manufacturing a wheel rim (1) in light alloy including the following operations: providing (21) a rough wheel rim in light ally, comprising a wheel disc (2) and an annular portion (3), the annular portion (3) including a first (4I) and a second (4e) bead defining a drop well (C) having a first profile; processing (23) the rough wheel rim, modifying the first profile in order to obtain a second profile being of a lower thickness than the first profile, at least at an intermediate portion (C1) of the drop well (C), characterized by including a finishing operation (25) of a surface of the second profile intermediate portion by means of a compression action of said surface, the finishing operation leaving the low thickness substantially unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz S.r.l.
    Inventor: Umberto Afeltra
  • Patent number: 8042879
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle wheel, in particular a hybrid vehicle wheel, composed of a wheel disc, which is fabricated from lightweight metal as a cast part, and a rim ring, which is made from steel, is connected to the wheel disc in a rotationally fixed fashion and has at least one rim horn and a drop base edge, and a method for manufacturing such a hybrid vehicle wheel. In order to be able to manufacture the hybrid vehicle wheel at low cost and to ensure sufficient force flow between the rim ring and the wheel disc, the wheel disc has, on the disc edge, a contour which is matched to the profile of the rim horn and drop base edge and extends over the distance between them and on which the rim ring bears in the mounted state of the wheel disc and rim ring while clamping the wheel disc between a first pressure zone on the drop base edge and a second pressure zone on the rim horn. Fitting is carried out by folding over or rolling over a rim ring blank onto the edge of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Kermelk, Umberto Afeltra, Udo Friese, Peter Reh
  • Publication number: 20100052413
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle wheel, in particular a hybrid vehicle wheel, composed of a wheel disc, which is fabricated from lightweight metal as a cast part, and a rim ring, which is made from steel, is connected to the wheel disc in a rotationally fixed fashion and has at least one rim horn and a drop base edge, and a method for manufacturing such a hybrid vehicle wheel. In order to be able to manufacture the hybrid vehicle wheel at low cost and to ensure sufficient force flow between the rim ring and the wheel disc, the wheel disc has, on the disc edge, a contour which is matched to the profile of the rim horn and drop base edge and extends over the distance between them and on which the rim ring bears in the mounted state of the wheel disc and rim ring while clamping the wheel disc between a first pressure zone on the drop base edge and a second pressure zone on the rim horn. Fitting is carried out by folding over or rolling over a rim ring blank onto the edge of the disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Werner Kermelk, Umberto Afeltra, Udo Friese, Peter Reh
  • Publication number: 20070278849
    Abstract: Process (20) for manufacturing a wheel rim (1) in light alloy including the following operations: providing (21) a rough wheel rim in light ally, comprising a wheel disc (2) and an annular portion (3), the annular portion (3) including a first (4I) and a second (4e) bead defining a drop well (C) having a first profile; processing (23) the rough wheel rim, modifying the first profile in order to obtain a second profile being of a lower thickness than the first profile, at least at an intermediate portion (C1) of the drop well (C), characterised by including a finishing operation (25) of a surface of the second profile intermediate portion by means of a compression action of said surface, the finishing operation leaving the low thickness substantially unchanged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventor: Umberto Afeltra
  • Patent number: 7264769
    Abstract: An apparatus for the delivery of molten metal includes a container that is pivotably supported by a transportable support structure. An actuator mounted upon the support structure and connected to the container is operable to pivot the container relative to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Umberto Afeltra, Miro Potparic