Roller Forming Patents (Class 29/894.354)
  • Patent number: 8914977
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Central Motor Wheel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahide Furukawa, Hideyo Nehyo
  • Patent number: 8875397
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: Central Motor Wheel Co., Ltd., Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Ikeda, Masahide Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8800148
    Abstract: An outer rim molded material is molded by forging or casting, a portion of the outer rim which extends from a hump to a bead seat is separated from part of a rim flange precursor and is caused to fall in a sloping fashion inwards of a wheel width so as to form a bead seat precursor, and the bead seat precursor so formed is then joined to be welded to a top or side of a rim well rising portion precursor. An external surface is cut to be finished to a proper shape, and an annular hollow portion is formed underneath a lower surface of the bead seat portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Washi Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsunori Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 8756814
    Abstract: A bicycle rim is basically provided with an outer rim portion and an inner rim portion. The outer rim portion has a ring shape of a first material. The inner rim portion is joined to the outer rim portion. The inner rim portion has a ring shape of a second material with an internal residual stress distribution resulting from the ring shape being formed by spinning of the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Etsuyoshi Watarai
  • Patent number: 8468698
    Abstract: A workpiece having a first constant diameter portion, a tapered reduced-diameter portion, a concave portion, a tapered increased-diameter portion, and a second constant diameter portion is formed by machining the tapered reduced-diameter portion, and then machining the tapered increased-diameter portion and the concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsunenari Futagi, Nobuyuki Kakiya, Tadahisa Akiyama, Ikuo Kato, Akitoshi Uchiumi, Shinichi Ohnaka, Toshimasa Koshimizu, Haruo Machida, Yuji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8386066
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for suppressing the influence of roll eccentricities on the run-out thickness of a rolled stock, which runs through a rolling stand, roll eccentricities being identified by using a process model and taken into consideration in the determination of a correction signal for at least one final control element, preferably a final control element for the adjustment position, of the rolling stand, wherein the measured tensile force upstream of the rolling stand is fed to the process model to identify the roll eccentricities. According to the invention, variations in tensile force are fed back in a targeted manner to reduce the effects of periodic roll eccentricities on the rolled stock, whereas all other sources of variation are eliminated. A process model of the rolling nip and the rolls, preferably based on the observer principle, produces reliable data on the roll eccentricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Hofbauer, Martin Niemann, Bernhard Weisshaar, Dietrich Wohld
  • Publication number: 20120117806
    Abstract: The invention provides a rolling forming method of wheel disc, which comprises the following steps: (1) Baiting a circular blank; (2) placing the circular blank in a cavity of a rolling explorator and adopting at least two rolling wheels symmetrically arranged along the circumferential direction of the rolling explorator to perform planar synchronous staggered rolling on the circular blank in the cavity of the rolling explorator; (3) performing trimming and sizing; and (4) stretch forming. The rolling forming method of wheel disc of this invention can precisely form various geometric sections with gradual deformation. The formed product has a uniform mass in the axial direction and the circumferential direction, and has a high dynamic balance precision. The invention can make the blank deform precisely, enhance the production efficiency, and reduce the cost, therefore the invention has good application and popularization prospect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: SHANGHAI XINGPU SPINFORMING WHEEL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xingyuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 7861412
    Abstract: A method prevents a cylindrical body from buckling in externally curling edges of both side portions by pressing curling dies in an axial direction after molding the cylindrical body having a drop portion whose outer diameter is small and two side portions whose outer diameter is large by enlarging a cylindrical material made of aluminum alloy by electromagnetic molding. In curling the edges of the side portions, a buckling preventing die restrains an outer periphery of the drop portion of the cylindrical body. Because the buckling preventing die receives the axial compression force of the curling dies, it can prevent the cylindrical body from buckling and deforming. The buckling preventing die is what a split die disposed on the side of an outer periphery of the cylindrical material in the electromagnetic molding is used as.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Daido Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihaya Imamura, Junichi Sato, Daigo Masumoto, Katsuhiro Motode
  • Publication number: 20100239991
    Abstract: A furnace roller assembly is provided with a helically shaped shaft-offset and metal product contact surface assembly wound around a furnace roller shaft. A corebuster may be provided within the furnace roller shaft to direct the flow of a coolant within the axial length of the furnace roller shaft and through a cooling element forming a part of the shaft-offset and metal contact surface assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Patrick H. Bryan
  • Patent number: 7658007
    Abstract: Methods for forming a soft lip for a wheel rim are disclosed herein. The wheel rim may be a cold-formed, spun-formed, or rolled-formed cylindrical blank, wherein the blank includes an upturned outer edge. As the blank is spun, a blunting roller lowered to contact the upturned outer edge to blunt the outer edge into a work-strengthened annular bead, and finish off the external surface of the annular bead to form a soft lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Inventor: Donald Melbinger
  • Patent number: 7520056
    Abstract: A method for molding a wheel rim hump part, comprising the steps of stopping a fist claw (30) and a second claw (32) holding a work (wheel rim for vehicle) (W) at specified positions and allowing an annular support member (160) to abut on the end surface of the curl part (C1) of the work (W), closing a right side first mold (16b) to support the curl part (C1) and the outer peripheral wall surface of the work by the support mold (106) of the right side first mold (16b), also closing a left side first mold (16a) to support the curl part (C1) and the outer peripheral wall surface of the work by the support mold (106) of the left side first mold (16a), moving forward a long rod (136) to allow a roller metal mold (124) to abut on the inner peripheral wall surface of the work (W), and turning the roller metal mold (124) along the circumferential direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Arai, Minoru Nakano, Kenzo Takeda
  • Patent number: 7313864
    Abstract: A run-flat support body for run-flat vehicle wheels. The support body is typically embodied as a shell-shaped, metallic annular body having an undulated supporting annular surface. A simple, effective method for producing one such annular body, according to which a rectangular blank which is cut out of a strip of sheet metal is bent along the longitudinal side to form a ring and the open ends of the ring are interconnected by a material connection. The annular blank thus produced is provided with the desired profile according to the pressure-rolling method, is provided with connecting elements, and cut open between the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: ISE Innomotive Systems Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Jakob E. Lowen, Meinolf Koch, Ralf Kulmann, Christian Reuber, Lutz Maiwald
  • Patent number: 7251890
    Abstract: A method for producing a wheel pan includes cold-rolling a rectangular metal strip of a given uniform thickness by conical rolls into a semicircular ring, such that the thickness reduction on the outer edge of the curved strip is at least 20%, and the circumference of the semicircular ring thus produced extends 130-310°, preferably 180°; bending the semicircular ring into a complete circle to produce a conical hoop, welding the ends together; and shaping the hoop to form the bottom of the pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Michelin Kronprinz Werke GmbH
    Inventor: Bruno Atts
  • Patent number: 7228629
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a three piece aluminum wheel assembly comprising the steps of providing a pair of circular blanks made of a heat treatable alloy to be formed into preforms of a general shape. The preforms are subjected to a quenching step in an unconstrained condition to allow for natural thermal deformation during the quenching operation. The as quenched preforms are then subjected to a first forming operation using spin forming to remove the effects of the thermal deformation in the preform, followed by a second forming step using spin forming to shape the component to its desired final shape. The components are then exposed to precipitation heating and finishing to yield the final product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Inventor: Michael J. Beyer
  • Patent number: 7213431
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aluminum alloy wheel, comprising the steps of producing an elongated strip of alloy blank with a desired cross-section by squeezing an alloy material, pre-curving the two ends of said blank into arcs, placing one end of said blank between an upper main roller and a lower main roller of a rolling machine to hold said blank, when said blank is being held by said upper main roller and said lower main roller and being driven back and forth along the longitudinal direction, approaching two auxiliary rollers of said rolling machine toward the two sides of said upper main roller to push said blank, so that said blank follows the curve established by a holding point between said upper main roller and said lower main roller and pushing points of said auxiliary rollers to progressively coil into the shape of the desired aluminum alloy wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Evergreat Intl Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung-Chen Hsu
  • Publication number: 20070067993
    Abstract: A method for producing a bicycle wheel rim is disclosed. The method involves extruding a thin-walled, hollow body having the cross-sectional shape of the rim and an integral external tab. The walls of the hollow body are sufficiently thin that a length of the hollow body without the external tab is subject to buckling when roll formed to produce a rim. The tab is so positioned and sized that the hollow body with the integral external tab is not subject to buckling when roll formed. A portion of the extrusion is then rolled to a circular shape; the circular portion is cut from the extrusion; the free ends are connected, and the external tab is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventor: William Shook
  • Publication number: 20060137183
    Abstract: A recoverable assembly for enclosing a substrate has an elastic sleeve mounted in a radially stretched condition on a hold-out member that extends therebeyond at one end of the sleeve. The hold-out includes a plurality of regions of weakness extending circumferentially there around and discretely spaced apart along the length thereof such that it may be pulled back through itself to facilitate recovery of the sleeve on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventor: Thilo Simonsohn
  • Publication number: 20060123629
    Abstract: Thus, the present disclosure includes a method of producing a weight-optimized pneumatic tire rim having rotationally-symmetrically partially different wall thickness. The steps include: providing a tube section having a first wall thickness and two end sides; leveling the first wall thickness starting from the two end sides over a defined rotationally-symmetrical area thereby forming two flanks by precontouring, each of the flanks having a second wall thickness, and pushing tolerance-caused excess material of the flanks into a well base zone between the two flanks; and contouring the flanks by pressure rolling while drawing each of the flanks toward an end area of each of the flanks and reducing the thickness of each of the flanks partially differently to predetermined measurements. The present disclosure also includes a device to implement the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2003
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventor: Udo Friese
  • Patent number: 6978649
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Milton Alves Alencar, Jose Francisco Gracia Flores
  • Publication number: 20050274015
    Abstract: The present invention provides wheel manufacturing method comprising a pressing step in which a primary molded product having a cylindrical shape with a bottom in which a flange part that extends to the outside is disposed on the open side end part is manufactured, a working step in which a secondary molded product is obtained by cutting away the bottom part of the abovementioned primary molded product, and a spinning step in which, the secondary worked product is fit over and fastened to a rotating jig, a rim flange molding roller is pressed against the end part of the flange part while the secondary worked product is rotated together with the rotating jig, so that the flange part is gradually molded into the shape of a rim flange part, and the flange part is subsequently subjected to an angular adjustment to an appropriate angle to mold a rim flange part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: WORK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6971173
    Abstract: A method of making a rim of sheet metal for a vehicle wheel, in which: a rectangular geometric shape is cut out of a blank of sheet metal; the blank is bent to obtain a cylindrical hoop; the two free edges of the hoop are welded together; at least one cylindrical flow spinning operation is performed to obtain a profile of given thickness of the hoop, zones of constant thickness being adjacent to zones of variable thickness; a cut is made perpendicular to the axis of the hoop out of at least one lateral edge of the hoop; the hoop is profiled to obtain the rim; and the size of the said rim is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Guimard
  • Patent number: 6935024
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing a rim for a motor vehicle from an original pipe, in order to facilitate formation of projections for reducing road noise on the rim, comprises a projection forming step of partially extruding a ledge portion of an intermediate pipe for the rim from inside to outside in a radial direction of the ledge portion so as to form a plurality of projections at suitable intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Central Motor Wheel Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiichi Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20050178005
    Abstract: A rolled steel plate 1 wound in a roll shape is unrolled and is cut in given dimensions to form a blank 2. In this case, a cut surface 2a is caused to incline at 1 to 3 degrees relative to the thickness direction of the blank 2, wherein the inclination direction of the cut surfaces 2a, 2a on each side is reversed. The blank 2 cut in this manner is roll-formed to cause the cut surfaces 2a, 2a to confront each other. Since the cut surfaces 2a, 2a on each side incline at 1 to 3 degrees in the opposite direction as described above, the cut surfaces 2a, 2a are caused to be parallel. Then, the confronting sections are laser-welded to form a cylindrical body 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mitsuyoshi, Yasuo Masuda
  • Publication number: 20050097749
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a three piece aluminum wheel assembly comprising the steps of providing a pair of circular blanks made of a heat treatable alloy to be formed into preforms of a general shape. The preforms are subjected to a quenching step in an unconstrained condition to allow for natural thermal deformation during the quenching operation. The as quenched preforms are then subjected to a first forming operation using spin forming to remove the effects of the thermal deformation in the preform, followed by a second forming step using spin forming to shape the component to its desired final shape. The components are then exposed to precipitation heating and finishing to yield the final product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Beyer
  • Publication number: 20050028367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a run-flat support body for run-flat vehicle wheels. Said support body is typically embodied as a shell-shaped, metallic annular body (3) having an undulated supporting annular surface. The invention relates to a simple, effective method for producing one such annular body (3), according to which a rectangular blank (6) which is cut out of a strip of sheet metal is bent along the longitudinal side to form a ring and the open ends of the ring are interconnected by a material connection. The annular blank (7) thus produced is provided with the desired profile according to the pressure-rolling method, is provided with connecting elements (9), and cut open between the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Jakob Lowen, Meinolf Koch, Ralf Kulmann, Christian Reuber, Lutz Maiwald
  • Publication number: 20040163255
    Abstract: A deep V-section aero rim for a tensioned spoke wheel and a method for producing it are disclosed. The rim is produced by extruding an alloy to produce a rim profile, rolling the extrusion, cutting the rolled extrusion to length, joining the free ends to produce a rim blank and mechanically reducing the thickness of the rim side walls a substantial amount. In one embodiment, each of the side walls, after extrusion, has a thickness that is sufficient to withstand buckling of the side walls during rolling. After rolling and cutting the extrusion to length, its ends are joined and each side wall, namely, the portion between the rim floor and the braking surface, is thinned, preferably by mechanical abrasion, until each side wall is so thin that an extrusion having side walls of that thickness could not be rolled without side wall buckling. In another embodiment, flanges on the outside of the side walls prevent buckling during rolling and the flanges are removed after rolling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: William B. Shook
  • Publication number: 20040143968
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a rim having hollow flanges formed on its opposite annular edges. It comprises the steps of: cutting an elongated metal band of a fixed width to provide metal strips of a predetermined length; rolling a selected metal strip into a ring; welding the opposite ends of the ring; curling each annular edge of the ring outward; and roll-forming the main annular part to define a well along the center line of the main annular part. The method further comprises the steps of: bending the opposite bead areas toward the center well; closing the gap between each curl edge and the counter bead area; and unbending the opposite bead areas into the final rim shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Junichi Sato, Katsuhiro Motode
  • Publication number: 20040107576
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing alloy rim for automobile is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of forming elongated extruded alloy straps with a cross-section shape from alloy by an extruding process; cutting the extruded alloy into the required length; placing the cut alloy obtained in (b) onto a mold to form into an arch-shaped edge; cutting the two ends of the edges of the extruded alloy to form into an inclined angle end; placing the extruded alloy of (d) into a device to form the alloy into a round rim; welding the ends of the two joining ends; performing a surface hardening process; furnishing the rim that obtained in (g) with CNC lathe machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Frank Hung
  • Publication number: 20040016124
    Abstract: A method of making a rim of sheet metal for a vehicle wheel, in which:
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Bruno Guimard
  • Patent number: 6450583
    Abstract: A spun light alloy rim that substantially duplicates the strength and light weight of a cold forged alloy rim and incorporates through its method of manufacture appearance features and the relatively low cost of a cast alloy wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Specialty Blanks, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur D. Hale, Jr., Michael J. Beyer
  • Patent number: 6435867
    Abstract: There is provided a cast tire for use with a furnace roller. The cast tire has at least three of annular spaced pockets located around the central opening of the tire on each radial side. When the tires are installed on a furnace roller with arbor means, pockets are inserted into the annular spaced pockets. The pockets are secured only to the arbor means of the roller. Rotation of the arbor means results in rotation of the cast tires by transmission of torque from the pockets to the to the tire without direct attachment of the tire to the arbor means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Bricmont, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh B. Carr, William Goodlin
  • Patent number: 6427328
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for producing a one-part vehicle wheel are provided, in which a substantially disk-shaped, undercut-free pre-form is cast. Immediately after casting the pre-form is conveyed to a flow-forming machine, while maintaining a residual heat and is fixed therein. The circumferential area of the fixed pre-form is split and, by subsequent spinning and flow-forming, is constructed as an intermediate form with a rim, which already substantially has the wall thickness of the rim of the finished vehicle wheel. The intermediate form is cooled, sized, and undergoes a final end-working.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Leico GmbH & Co. Werkzeugmaschinenbau
    Inventor: Guenter Pollkoetter