Patent ID: 6318446
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: B60B,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for forming a one piece vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:(a) providing a multi-piece mold for a one piece wheel, the mold including a base member which supports a plurality of upper side members and a plurality of lower side members and a top core, the members and top core defining a wheel cavity having a rim cavity joining a disc to define a sidewall cavity, the mold having an axis and further including an annular lightener recess core which extends axially into the sidewall cavity, the lightener recess core including a plurality of segments integrally formed as a portion of the lower side members;(b) charging the mold cavity with molten metal to form a one piece wheel;(c) cooling the mold to solidify the molten metal into a one piece wheel casting, the annular core forming a lightener recess in the sidewall of the wheel casting; and(d) sequentially withdrawing the upper and lower side members to extract the lightener core segments from the wheel casting while opening the mold to release a wheel casting having an annular lightener recess formed in the sidewall.