Improvements in the Manufacture of Wheel-rims or Felloes Mainly from Aluminium.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Wheel-rims or Felloes Mainly
from Aluminium.
I ARTHUR GEORGE BROWN of 38 Victoria Buildings, Manchester in the
County of Lancaster Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of' this. invention.
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention described herein relates to improvements in the manufacture of
wheel-rims or felloes mainly from aluminium. or aluminium alloys, and has for its-
object the direct production of the said wheel rims from an ingot or considerable
body or mass of metal, in such manner as to avoid soldering or joining.
For this purpose a tube or hollow ingot of aluminium or aluminium alloy
obtained by any desired process is expanded to the desired diameter by means of
rolls. The cylindrical band thus formed is then spun over a former into a blank,
more or less U-shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 5. The U-shaped blank
is then pressed by dies or other suitable means into the required shape as shown in
Figs. 6 to 10.
In order that the carrying out of my invention may be readily understood, I have
appended explanatory drawings as follows:-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a pair of rolls adapted to expand a tube or hollow
ingot into a cylindrical band.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a pair of rolls for imparting the preliminary shape
to the said band.
Fig. 3 is a front elevation partly in section of a revolving head having a former
attached for enabling the cylindrical band to be spun into a U-shape in cross
section.
Fig. 4 is a side view part being in section and part in elevation of the revolving
head.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the shape produced by the
spinning operation on the apparatus delineated in Figs. 3 and 4.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, are sectional views of completed rims illustrating different
methods of attaching the spokes to the rim.
The action of the apparatus is as follows: A hollow ingot is placed. between
rolls e Figure 1, which may be gradually brought together by gear such as e or
by any usual gear until the said hollow ingot is expanded into a band of the
desired diameter and thickness as shown at f. The tube or hollow ingot is so
proportioned as regards thickness and internal diameter that when it has been
reduced to the desired gauge, the said band will have the required diameter.
The said band f is then placed between rolls g Figure 2 which give it the
transverse section shown by
The said band is now given the somewhat U-shape in transverse section shown
enlarged at Fig. 5. This form is imparted to the said band by spinning it over
a former attached to the rotating head h Figures 3 and 4. The said former
consists of an annular disc made in sections i bolted by means of lugs to
studs on the head h, and side sections j made with dovetails k fitting freely
into recesses in the discs i i. The band as shaped by the rolls g is placed on
the former above described and the flanges of the metal are spun down against the
sides of the former until the said band assumes the shape shown in Figure 5. The
centre pieces i are then freed from the studs and are withdrawn towards the centre

page_text: leaving the side pieces within the band; the centre pieces ¹ are then withdrawn
after which the side pieces ; and j¹ are removed.
To complete the rim the flanges f Figure 5 of the band are pressed together as
shown in Figures 6 to 10, by dies or other suitable means.
The spokes are secured to the rims by passing the outer ends of the said spokes
through the closed flanges fs as shown in Figures 6 and 8; or as shown in
Figures 7 and 10 the flanges f³ may be pressed around the spokes, the threaded
ends of which project into the rim, and are held therein by means of nuts
which bear against washers or bands on the spokes. The washers or bands are
made of sufficient widths to bear on the shoulders formed in the rim by closing the
flanges.
In order to increase the rigidity of the rim, one of the flanges f³ may be of
greater width than the other and may be folded over the shorter flange as shown
in Figure 8 thereby locking the flanges together and rendering them stiff' and
inflexible.
As shown in Figure 9 the rim may be rendered more rigid by double seaming
the flanges f³ together. When thus strengthened, the spokes may be attached by
passing the threaded ends through holes formed in the seams and screwing nuts on
the ends of the said spokes.
The annular form of rim renders it sufficiently strong and rigid to permit of its
being made of a soft metal such as aluminium, and the manner of shaping or
forming the rim avoids the necessity of welding or soldering parts together, a
feature especially advantageous when the rim is formed of aluminium, as it is very
difficult to weld or solder pieces of this metal together, and joints so formed are
liable to be weak and unreliable.
The improvements herein described may be carried into practice by means of
any convenient and suitable machinery instead of that described which is shown
for the purpose of illustrating the system of carrying my invention into practice.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. The improved system of manufacturing wheel rims or felloes mainly from
aluminium by taking a hollow ingot or tube, expanding the said ingot or tube into
a cylindrical band, spinning the band into a more or less U-shape in cross section,
and finally pressing the flanges of the said band together substantially as set
forth.
Second. Rims or felloes for vehicle wheels made in one piece and consisting of a
hollow ring with a reinforced internal periphery to which the spokes are attached
substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination of apparatus and operations for the manufacture of
wheel rims mainly of aluminium substantially as set forth.
Dated the 27th day of June 1896.
W. B. JOHNSON,
Agent.

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar.. 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Rods and Tubes mainly from
Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys.
I ARTHUR GEORGE BROWN of 38 Victoria Buildings, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention described herein relates to improvements in the manufacture of
rods and tubes mainly from aluminium or aluminium alloys and has for its object
the direct production of the said articles from an ingot or considerable body or
mass of metal in such manner as to avoid in the case of rods reduction by
rolling and in the case of tubes soldering or joining.
It has been attempted to form rods and tubes by placing an aluminium or
aluminium alloy ingot in a press similar to a lead press and forcing the metal
through a die; but such attempts have been unsuccessful for the reason that when
solidified or hardened ingots are used, the metal assumes a granular condition
under heavy pressure, and cannot be caused to flow through the die freely and
evenly. It has also been attempted to use ingots heated until they attain a plastic
condition, but the metal flows out in a coarse crystalline condition with a very
slight coherence of the crystals.
Now under my invention, I overcome the above difficulties and get the metal to
flow readily and evenly through a die, and in making tubes around a mandrel also
in a closely coherent and satisfactory condition by pouring molten aluminium or
aluminium alloy into the chamber of a press and allowing it to cool to a temperature
of about 650° Centigrade that is to a nearly solid or what I term a nascent
condition; a condition in which any material loss of temperature will render the
metal solid, and whilst in that condition forcing the metal through a die in the
way usual in the manufacture of lead pipes.
It is not necessary that the whole body of metal should be cooled to the
nascent condition, but only such portion thereof as is about to pass through
the die.
The reduction of the desired portion of the metal to the nascent condition is
obtained by regulating the temperature of the die by means of a fluid circulating
therethrough. When tubes are being made, the temperature of the mandrel may
also be similarly regulated. The temperature of the aluminium in the chamber is
if necessary prevented from falling below the nascent condition by the application
of heat to the chamber in any usual way.
In order that the carrying out of my invention may be readily understood I
have appended the accompanying explanatory drawing which is a vertical section
of apparatus suitable for making rods and tubes of aluminium.
a is a base block and a¹ a head block connected by columns a, b is the chamber
for containing the metal to be pressed into rods or tubes. The said chamber b is
carried in any usual way on a ram 61 which fits into the cylinder a³ in the base
block a.
62 is a hollow plunger secured to the head block a¹ and adapted to enter
the metal chamber b when the said chamber is caused to rise. A die 6 is secured
in the plunger 63 and has an opening therethrough designed to impart the desired
exterior transverse shape to the rod or tube formed. The die 63 is formed with a
hollow space through which a temperature regulating fluid may be caused to flow.
9 are passages through the plunger for supplying such temperature regulating fluid
to the die. The chamber b is provided with a space or spaces h formed in, or on
the exterior of, its walls through which products of combustion or a heating fluid
T

page_text: may be caused to flow to maintain the chamber b at such a heat that the
temperature of the metal contained therein shall not be reduced below that before
mentioned.
When forming tubes a mandrel c is passed through the chamber 6, and is
supported with its upper end in proper relation to the die 63 by a crosshead c¹
which is secured to the columns a² and passes through a slot or aperture in the
ram b. a are connections for admitting fluid pressure into the cylinder a³. d is
the metal in the chamber b and d' is a tube issuing therefrom.
If found necessary
the mandrel can have a temperature regulating fluid passed through by means
of the pipes in a similar manner to the die b³.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Molten aluminium or aluminium
alloyed with a small percentage of some other metal is poured into the chamber b
which is sufficiently lowered to free it from the plunger. The metal is then
allowed to cool until solidification has passed beyond a semi-fluid or mushy state
and has attained a temperature of about 650° Centigrade what may be termed a
nascent condition as herein before set forth. The chamber is now raised by
admitting pressure beneath the ram & until the plunger 62 enters the mouth of the
said chamber b, and the metal is forced through the die 3 as shown. Instead of.
allowing the metal in the chamber to cool as described, the chamber b may be
raised until the die 63 is in contact with the metal in the chamber when cooling or
temperature regulating fluid is caused to circulate through such die so as to cool
the metal in its vicinity to the requisite temperature before set forth, such cooled
portion being then by the continued motion of the chamber forced through the die.
The remainder of the metal in the chamber may be maintained in a more or less
fluid state until it approaches the die. When tubes are being made, the mandrel c
may also be cooled by a fluid circulating therethrough so as to assist in cooling the
metal at or near the point of passing through the die. If necessary the metal in
the chamber is prevented falling below the desired temperature by means of heated.
fluid or products of combustion circulated through the space h.
The rod or tube thus formed will be readily malleable being practically non-
crystalline, and has the same appearance as rolled aluminium or aluminium
alloy.
The improvements herein described may be carried into practice by means of
any convenient and suitable machinery instead of that described which is shown
for the purpose of illustrating the system of carrying my invention into practice.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner' the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The system of manufacturing rods tubes and the like mainly from
aluminium by pouring the molten metal into the chamber of a press, allowing the
metal to cool to the nascent condition as herein before specified and then forcing the
said metal through a die substantially as set forth.
Second. The system of manufacturing rods, tubes, and the like mainly from
aluminium by pouring the molten metal into the chamber of a press, allowing the
metal to cool to the nascent condition as herein before specified, and maintaining
the said metal in the nascent condition whilst forcing it through a die substantially
as set forth.
Third. The system of manufacturing rods, tubes and the like mainly from
aluminium by pouring the molten metal into the chamber of a press cooling the
metal in proximity to the die to the nascent condition as hereinbefore specified and
then forcing the metal through the die, substantially as set forth.
W. B. JOHNSON,
Agent.