Patent ID: 6033612
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: B29C,B29D,B29L

Abstract:
A method for making a high strength, non-metallic wheel from a fiber reinforced composite material in which fibers are embedded and from which said wheel is formed such that the wheel has an outer attachment flange to receive a covering thereover, an inner cylindrical bearing housing to receive an axle bearing, and an intermediate rim, said fibers of said fiber reinforced composite material running through each of said attachment flange, said inner cylindrical bearing housing, and said rim, said method including the steps of:forming said inner cylindrical bearing housing by wrapping an elongated mandrel with a layer of said fiber reinforced composite material and compression molding said layer of fiber reinforced composite material so that said layer of fiber reinforced composite material is flattened around said mandrel; andforming said outer attachment flange and said intermediate rim by locating a stack of donut-shaped rings of said fiber reinforced composite material over said elongated mandrel and in surrounding engagement with said layer of composite material that is wrapped around the mandrel, and compression molding said stack of donut-shaped rings to flatten a first portion of said stack to form said attachment flange and shaping the remaining portion of said stack to form said rim.