Patent ID: 6754957
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: B21D,B60B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for producing a fabricated vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:(a) providing a wheel rim defining a rim axis and including an inboard tire bead seat retaining flange, an inboard tire bead seat, a generally axially extending well portion, an outboard tire bead seat and an outboard tire bead seat retaining flange; (b) providing a wheel disc blank; (c) subjecting the wheel disc blank to a metal forming operation to produce a partially formed wheel disc having a plurality of individual spaced apart outwardly extending spoke portions which are spaced circumferentially about the disc blank; (d) subjecting the partially formed wheel disc to a metal forming operation to produce a generally bubble shaped wheel disc preform, the wheel disc preform including an inner mounting portion, a plurality of individual spaced apart outer spoke portions, and an intermediate spoke portion defined in the region between the inner mounting portion and outer spoke portions, the intermediate spoke portion including a plurality of generally globe shaped spoke portions having a generally semi-spherical shape; (e) subjecting the generally bubble shaped wheel disc preform to one or more metal forming operations to produce a finished wheel disc, the finished wheel disc including a centrally located wheel mounting surface and a plurality of individual spaced apart finish formed outwardly extending spokes having a generally non globe shaped shape; and (f) securing the wheel disc and the wheel rim together to produce the fabricated vehicle wheel.