Patent ID: 8336208
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: B23P,B60B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process for producing a cast, coated vehicle wheel having a face, a lip, spokes and rivets, said process comprising the following steps: a) acquire a metal ingot, b) melt the metal ingot in a furnace, c) transfer the melted ingot to a crucible, d) channel the melted metal into a wheel casting machine, e) release a cast wheel from the wheel casting mold and move the wheel to a staging area where the wheel is allowed to cool to room temperature, f) place the wheel in an oven to commence a heat treating process that changes the wheel's mechanical properties, metallurgical structure and the residual stress state of the wheel, wherein the treating process achieves a T4 hardness and involves increasing the wheel temperature to a temperature ranging from 525-645 degrees Centigrade for a time period ranging from 4.7-7.0 hours, g) remove the wheel from the oven and quench the wheel in a heated water bath having a temperature ranging from 65 to 85 degrees centigrade, wherein the water bath rapidly cools the wheel to freeze the wheel's excited molecules to an optimum state of overall strength, elongation and ductility, h) place the wheel into an aging oven to further heat treat the wheel, wherein this heat treating process involves raising the wheel temperature to a temperature ranging from 255-315 degrees Centigrade for a time period ranging from 1.7-2.5 hours, i) remove the wheel from the aging oven and allow the wheel to cool to room temperature to enhance the wheel's overall strength and surface hardness, j) perform a Brinell test to verify that the hardness of the wheel is between 75 and 100, k) provide a CNC machine that removes draft angles and cuts the face and the lip of said wheel, l) utilize end-mills to machine the sides of the spokes, m) utilize a coolant to operate the CNC machine, n) provide a peck-drill cycle tool to make rivets in the wheel, o) clean the wheel to remove the coolant and debris remaining from the machining process, and p) paint selected areas of said wheel.