Patent ID: 6450583
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: B21D,B60B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of manufacturing an automotive wheel rim comprising the steps of:rolling metal sheet stock of predetermined dimensions into a rim blank of circular configuration; butt welding the free ends of said rim blank to form a unitary rim blank; forming radially outwardly curving flares on the inboard and outboard edges of said unitary rim blank; mounting said rim blank in a rotary machine tool to form a drop well, inboard and outboard bead seat flanges and bead seat shoulders on said rim blank; forming said outboard flare radially outward and forming said inboard flare into a flange possessing an annular guiding surface; introducing a cylindrical profile die over said annular guiding surface until said die contacts said outboard flare and in conjunction with said rotary machine tool to roll said outboard flare axially inward; rolling said outboard flare radially inward; trimming the inboard flange; and finish machining and polishing the exterior surfaces of said rim blank to form a completed rim body.