Patent ID: 6325873
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: B21D,B21H,B22D,B23P,B60B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of producing a one-part vehicle wheel, wherein said one-part vehicle wheel has a hub and a rim, said method comprising the steps of:casting a pre-form, wherein said pre-form is undercut-free and substantially disk-shaped;immediately after said step of casting, conveying said preform, on a conveyor means, to said flow-forming machine;during said step of conveying, setting a desired flow-forming temperature of said pre-form using a temperature regulating device;fixing said pre-form in a flow-forming machine to form a fixed pre-form, while maintaining a residual heat;shaping said fixed preform by spinning and flow-forming to produce an intermediate form having a rim base area, said intermediate form having a wall thickness substantially equal to a thickness of a rim of a finished vehicle wheel;splitting a circumferential area of said fixed pre-form prior to spinning and flow-forming;cooling said intermediate form; andafter said cooling step, sizing and end-working said intermediate form to produce said finished vehicle wheel.