US20070199651A1 - Method and apparatus for assembling a vehicle wheel - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for assembling a vehicle wheel Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070199651A1 US20070199651A1 US11/509,919 US50991906A US2007199651A1 US 20070199651 A1 US20070199651 A1 US 20070199651A1 US 50991906 A US50991906 A US 50991906A US 2007199651 A1 US2007199651 A1 US 2007199651A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- wheel
- overlay
- assembly
- outboard surface
- nest
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60B7/00—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins
- B60B7/0026—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface
- B60B7/0033—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface the dominant aspect being the surface appearance
- B60B7/004—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface the dominant aspect being the surface appearance the surface being painted
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C44/00—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles
- B29C44/02—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles for articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
- B29C44/12—Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or reinforcements
- B29C44/1228—Joining preformed parts by the expanding material
- B29C44/1233—Joining preformed parts by the expanding material the preformed parts being supported during expanding
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60B7/00—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins
- B60B7/0026—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface
- B60B7/0033—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface the dominant aspect being the surface appearance
- B60B7/0046—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins characterised by the surface the dominant aspect being the surface appearance the surface being plated or coated
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60B7/00—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins
- B60B7/02—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins made essentially in one part
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- B60B7/00—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins
- B60B7/18—Wheel cover discs, rings, or the like, for ornamenting, protecting, venting, or obscuring, wholly or in part, the wheel body, rim, hub, or tyre sidewall, e.g. wheel cover discs, wheel cover discs with cooling fins simulating spoked or wire wheel
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
- B29C45/14467—Joining articles or parts of a single article
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
- B29L2031/32—Wheels, pinions, pulleys, castors or rollers, Rims
Abstract
A method and apparatus for attaching an ornamental overlay to a vehicle wheel by injecting adhesive foam through an aperture of the wheel and into a cavity formed between the wheel and the overlay. A first nest engages the outboard side of the wheel/overlay assembly to seal the inner periphery of the overlay, the valve stem opening of the overlay, the lug bolt receiving holes of the wheel, the pilot aperture of the wheel, and/or the valve stem opening of the wheel. A secondary nest engages the inboard side of the wheel/overlay assembly to seal the wheel apertures and a plurality of turbine openings in the overlay. A nozzle disposed within the secondary nest is adapted to inject the adhesive foam into the cavity through either a gap between the periphery of a wheel aperture and the periphery of a corresponding turbine opening in the overlay, through a straight or angled hole within a spoke, or through a groove within a spoke.
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/352,311, filed on Jan. 27, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,097,790 B2, issued on Aug. 29, 2006.
- Not applicable.
- Not applicable.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to composite wheel assemblies for vehicles having an overlay permanently attached to a wheel, and particularly to an improved method and apparatus for permanently attaching an ornamental overlay to the wheel by injecting foam through a nest such that a separate pour opening in the wheel is not required.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Decorative overlays are widely used to enhance the aesthetic appearance of automotive wheels. Numerous structural combinations of overlays with chrome-plated outboard surfaces have attracted great interest from vehicle manufacturers, because they are lightweight, aesthetically pleasing and offer designers complete flexibility with regard to the aesthetic effect that can be created for a specific vehicle regardless of whether these vehicles use steel or aluminum wheels.
- There are several known methods of adhering a wheel cover to a wheel as will be discussed hereinafter. U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,502 to Connell teaches an annular-shaped wheel cover that is permanently attached to the wheel with double-sided adhesive tape. The adhesive tape is positioned midway between the rim and the center hub area of the wheel, while the remainder of the wheel cover is spaced apart from the outboard surface of the wheel. Connell positions the adhesive tape at radially outward portions of the wheel in order to avoid the deleterious effects of heat generated by the tire, wheel and brake. While some pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes can be effectively used in temperatures up to 500° Fahrenheit (260° C.), the cost of such adhesive tapes is generally prohibitive for use in mass production applications such as securing an overlay to a wheel. Consequently, such applications are generally limited to the use of less expensive adhesive tapes that have relatively low maximum operating temperatures, necessitating that their placement be restricted to the radially outward surfaces of the wheel. Unfortunately, doing so severely limits the adhesive tape's ability to reliably adhere the overlay to the wheel. Further, the adhesive tape's thickness creates a void between the overlay and the wheel that can collect dirt and debris that may affect the balance of the wheel.
- To avoid such problems, the prior art proposes the use of a urethane foam adhesive which effectively holds the wheel cover in place, closes the void between the overlay and the wheel, reduces noise, and provides theft deterrence. This method is best described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,501 to Derleth that discloses an annular-shaped overlay composed of a thin plastic cover formed from acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) mounted to a wheel spider. The overlay is configured to have variations in contours in a direction transverse to the axis of the wheel that exceed the variations in the rim and/or disc contour of the wheel, which variations would be extremely difficult and expensive, if not impossible, to stamp or draw in the disc of the wheel. During assembly, a foamable polyurethane adhesive is coated on the wheel, and the cover is then quickly clamped to the wheel before the polyurethane begins to foam. As such, the void between the wheel and cover is filled with the polyurethane foam. However, any excess polyurethane foam around the bolt holes or at the periphery of the assembly surrounding the axle hub will squeeze out if appropriate sealing provisions are not made.
- One obvious shortcoming of the process disclosed by Derleth is that the composite wheel must be imperforate, except for the small bolt openings necessary for attaching the wheel to a vehicle. It is understood by those skilled in the art that it is necessary to avoid the deleterious effects of heat generated by the wheel and brake, that cause the ABS plastic overlay to distort, cause delamination of any surface treatment, i.e. paint, plating, etc., and further cause the foam adhesive to degrade, distort and eventually melt. Furthermore, wheels assembled according to the Derleth disclosure were very heavy due to the high density of the foam, and variation in localized foam density resulted in severe wheel imbalances.
- Turbine openings dissipate heat generated by the brake system and may be configured to provide a variety of distinct aesthetic impressions that add individuality and style to a vehicle. Any opening in the wheel or overlay using the process disclosed in Derleth is a pathway for the foam mixture to escape when it begins to foam and/or cure. Larger openings, such as turbine openings, would not be possible using the Derleth process without additional structure to seal the openings and prevent the foam material from escaping.
- It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that it is advantageous to completely fill the cavity with foam adhesive to acoustically dampen any sound produced when the overlay is struck. A drawback of the process according to Derleth is that excess foam mixture is required to ensure that the cavity between the cover and the wheel is completely filled, and subsequently any excess foam must be manually removed, which adds significant cost to the process.
- An improved apparatus for attaching a wheel cover to a wheel is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,159 to Chase, assigned to the assignee hereof. Chase discloses an overlay aligned with, located, and clamped to the wheel with the exception of predetermined sealed areas. The outboard surfaces of the overlay and wheel are spaced apart, leaving a cavity therebetween. Localized nests at strategically placed locations act on the wheel and overlay assembly to seal the assembly on the wheel and thereby create a mold cavity. Net standoffs may be used to assist locating the cover with respect to the wheel and the localized nests interact with the overlay and wheel assembly to create a mold cavity between the overlay and the wheel into which the liquid foam is injected and allowed to react to fill the cavity. A metering unit is used to accurately mix and dispense the two component urethane foam. A nozzle engages a fill port machined into the wheel spider in the back side of the wheel to inject the foamable material in the cladding/wheel assembly cavity.
- A disadvantage with the Chase invention is that the wheel must be provided with a fill port through which the urethane foam is injected. Accordingly, the Chase invention requires an additional process of machining the fill port in the wheel spider such that the overall process is more expensive. Furthermore, the additional process for machining the fill port degrades the structural integrity of the wheel by removing material therefrom.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,272 to Joseph et al. specifically addresses the aforementioned problem identified with respect to Chase by providing an apparatus for injecting adhesive into the mold through a pre-existing bolt hole in the wheel. Unfortunately, the Joseph et al. invention is limited to applications wherein the wheel cover extends radially beyond the bolt hole circle in the wheel such that adhesive injected into the bolt hole of the wheel is introduced within the mold formed in part by the wheel and the wheel cover. Furthermore, it would be desirable to have the flexibility of injecting the adhesive through locations other than the bolt holes for a variety of reasons including but not limited to the following. First, depending upon the configuration of the mold and the flow characteristics of the particular adhesive, it is often preferable to inject the adhesive into specific regions of the mold to ensure it is completely and uniformly filled, whereby the flexibility of selecting the injection location allows optimization of the injection process for the specific application. Additionally, in some applications the fixturing devices, locating devices, clamping systems, nesting systems and/or injection apparatus may limit accessibility to certain regions of the mold such that it would be desirable to have a variety of potential injection locations from which to choose.
- From the above, it can be appreciated that the method and apparatus for attaching a wheel cover to a wheel are not fully optimized. Therefore, what is needed is an economical method and apparatus for assembling an overlay to a wheel by injecting adhesive into a mold through an existing wheel aperture.
- According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for permanently attaching a wheel cover or overlay to a wheel by injecting adhesive foam into a cavity formed between the outboard surface of the wheel and the wheel cover. For purposes of clarity, the present invention is disclosed as producing a wheel cover with a plurality of turbine openings that is permanently mounted to a wheel having a plurality of spokes with apertures therebetween, whereby the turbine openings in the wheel cover are radially aligned with and correspond in number to the apertures in the wheel. It should, however, be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention is adapted to accommodate a variety of different wheel assembly configurations for different wheel applications. Furthermore, according to the preferred embodiment an adhesive sealant is applied to selective portions of the wheel cover and/or the wheel before the parts are assembled, however it should also be appreciated that this step may not be necessary in some applications. Finally, the adhesive sealant of the preferred embodiment may alternatively be replaced with an element adapted exclusively for adhesion or exclusively for sealing, as required for a particular application.
- The wheel cover is located and oriented with the outboard surface face down in a fixture adapted to accommodate both the wheel and the wheel cover. A vacuum may be applied to the wheel cover to remove any warpage and provide a truer inboard surface. A robotic applicator system preferably applies the adhesive sealant to the wheel cover at preselected locations typically including the outer periphery, the inner periphery, and/or around each turbine opening. The adhesive sealant or an adhesion promotor can also be applied to other areas for additional adhesion, additional sealing, or to direct the foam flow pattern.
- The wheel is loaded into the fixture with its outboard surface facing the inboard surface of the wheel cover. The wheel is located and aligned in the fixture and engaged with the wheel cover such that the wheel and the wheel cover form a cavity therebetween. Intermediate attachment and location features such as a secondary clamping system are preferably used to maintain engagement between the wheel and the wheel cover while the adhesive sealant sets or cures. Thereafter the wheel and overlay are preheated to a defined temperature that enhances foam initiation time, adhesion, gel, cohesion, filling, and resultant mechanical properties of the foam adhesive. The step of preheating the wheel and overlay also serves to cure the adhesive sealant in the preferred embodiment wherein dual component adhesive sealant is implemented.
- The preheated wheel and overlay are then placed in a filling station that includes a primary clamping system, a first set of nests, a secondary nest and a foam metering unit. The primary clamping system is adapted to prevent separation of the wheel cover from the wheel during the injection and subsequent expansion of the foam adhesive. The first set of nests includes a center bottom nest adapted to engage the outboard surface of the wheel/overlay assembly and seal one or more of the following: the inner periphery of the wheel cover; the valve stem opening of the wheel cover; the lug bolt receiving holes of the wheel; the pilot aperture of the wheel; and/or the valve stem opening of the wheel. Alternatively, the first set of nests may include a separate valve stem opening nest adapted to independently seal the valve stem opening in the wheel and the wheel cover. The secondary nest engages the inboard surface of the wheel/overlay assembly to seal the wheel apertures and the turbine openings of the wheel cover. The secondary nest is preferably vented so that any air trapped within the cavity can be released through the vents thereby allowing the foam adhesive to completely fill the cavity, optionally one or more vents can be connected to a controlled vacuum device to further aid evacuation of the air from the cavity.
- The foam metering unit is used to accurately mix and dispense the foam adhesive, which in one example is composed of dual component urethane foam. The foam metering unit includes an injector nozzle disposed complimentary with the secondary nest that is preferably configured to inject the adhesive foam through a gap formed between the periphery of each wheel aperture and the periphery of a complementary turbine opening, and into the cavity formed between the wheel and the wheel cover. The present invention should not, however, be limited to the specific injection location of the preferred embodiment as it is envisioned that the injection may take place in a variety of locations. As it is not necessary to provide a separate pour opening used solely to inject the foam, the wheel is less expensive in that the operation providing the pour opening is not required, and the structural integrity of the wheel is not diminished by removing material to form the pour opening. The primary clamping system remains engaged for a predetermined time to allow the adhesive foam to finish expanding and is thereafter released providing a wheel with a wheel cover permanently attached thereto.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for permanently attaching a wheel cover to a wheel by injecting adhesive foam into a cavity formed therebetween.
- It is another object that such a method and apparatus is economical and reliable.
- It is yet another object that such a method and apparatus provide a wheel cover permanently attached to a wheel without degrading the structural integrity of either component.
- It is still another object that such a method and apparatus is configured to enable assembly of applications in which the wheel cover does not radially extend beyond the bolt hole circle of the wheel.
- It is a further object that such a method and apparatus is configured to enable assembly of applications in which the wheel cover does radially extend beyond the bolt hole circle of the wheel except for the bolt holes and pilot hole.
- It is yet a further object that such a method and apparatus provide a plurality of locations at which the adhesive may be injected into the cavity such that the injection process may be optimized for each specific application.
- It is still a further object that such a method and apparatus implement an adhesive and/or sealant adapted to retain the adhesive foam whereby an expensive foam trimming operation is not required.
- It is another object that such a method and apparatus incorporate a hole located within one or more of the wheel spokes, whereby the hole is adapted to introduce adhesive foam directly into a flow channel to ensure the cavity is uniformly filled.
- It is another object that such a method and apparatus incorporate a concave groove located within one or more of the wheel spokes, whereby the groove is adapted to provide clearance for introducing adhesive foam directly into the flow channel.
- These objects and other features, aspects, and advantages of this invention will be more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a wheel and overlay according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2A is a partially cutaway side view of an overlay attached to a vehicle wheel in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken alonglines 2B-2B ofFIG. 2A ; -
FIG. 2C is a partial cross-sectional view taken alonglines 2C-2C ofFIG. 2A ; -
FIG. 3 is a plan view of an overlay attached to a vehicle wheel in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 3A is a partial cross-sectional view taken alonglines 3A-3A ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 4A is a flow chart depicting the beginning steps of the process of the present invention; -
FIG. 4B is a continuation of the flow chart ofFIG. 4A depicting the remaining steps of the process of the present invention; -
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the fixtured overlay and wheel assembly in a filling station of the present invention; -
FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the secondary nest of the filling station shown inFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 7 is a wheel/overlay assembly according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 8 is a wheel/overlay assembly according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention including a preferred flow channel configuration; and -
FIG. 9 is a wheel/overlay assembly according to the embodiment ofFIG. 7 including an alternate flow channel configuration. - Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in
FIG. 1 an exploded, perspective view of anautomobile wheel 10. Thewheel 10 is preferably a one piece aluminum wheel having arim portion 11 and adisc portion 14. Together thedisc portion 14 and therim portion 11 define anoutboard surface 32 of thewheel 10. A wheel cover oroverlay 13 is attached to thewheel 10 as will be described hereinafter. - Although this invention is discussed in conjunction with the
particular wheel 10 disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that the invention may be used with other types of wheel constructions. For example, the wheel can be a “bead seat attached” wheel (such as shown in FIG. 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,429 to Heck et al.), a “full faced” wheel (such as shown in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,423 to Heck et al.), a “bimetal” wheel construction including an aluminum disc and a steel rim (such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,642 to Wei et al.), a “modular wheel” construction including a “partial” rim and a full face wheel disc (such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,261 to Archibald et al.), a cast aluminum one piece wheel, or a forged aluminum one piece wheel, all of which patents and others are incorporated herein by reference. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2 B-2C, therim portion 11 of thewheel 10 includes a pair ofrim flanges 11 a each defining arim lip 11 b, a well 20 disposed between the pair ofrim flanges 11 a, and a valve stem opening 19. Thedisc portion 14 of thewheel 10 includes a plurality of spokes orspiders 38 withapertures 40 therebetween. Eachaperture 40 defines anaperture periphery 40 a. Theapertures 40 circumscribe a generally centrally locatedwheel mounting surface 24, and are adapted to stylize thewheel 10 and/or cool the brakes (not shown). Thewheel mounting surface 24 has a centrally locatedpilot aperture 28 therethrough and a plurality of lugbolt receiving holes 30 which together define abolt hole circle 31. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2 B, thewheel cover 13 is preferably a solid panel composed of a high impact, temperature resistant, chrome-plated plastic secured directly to theoutboard surface 32 of thewheel 10. Thewheel cover 13 includes aninboard surface 42; anoutboard surface 44; aninner periphery 48; anouter periphery 46; a valve stem opening 18; and a plurality ofturbine openings 49 each defining aturbine opening periphery 49 a. Theturbine openings 49 are disclosed as being aligned with theapertures 40 of thewheel 10, however such an arrangement should not be considered limiting as the present invention is adapted to accommodate numerous alternate configurations and arrangements of the components. - As shown in
FIGS. 2B and 2C , theinboard surface 42 of theoverlay 13 is configured to face theoutboard surface 32 of thewheel 10 when mounted thereto. Theoutboard surface 44 of theoverlay 13 is therefore visible when theoverlay 13 is assembled to thewheel 10. Theoutboard surface 44 of theoverlay 13 is adapted to receive adecorative treatment layer 45 that is preferably either electrochemically plated or painted thereon to provide an aesthetically pleasing impression of thewheel 10. Thedecorative treatment layer 45 could also be vacuum metallized, PVD, in mold coated or dry film. As a result, theoutboard surface 44 of theoverlay 13 can be configured to redefine the contour of theoutboard surface 32 of thewheel 10. - According to the preferred embodiment, an adhesive sealant 50 (shown in
FIG. 2C ) is selectively disposed between thewheel cover 13 and thewheel 10, however it should be appreciated that theadhesive sealant 50 may not be necessary in some applications. Additionally, theadhesive sealant 50 of the preferred embodiment may be used in conjunction with an adhesion promoter or alternatively be replaced with a compound adapted exclusively for adhesion or exclusively for sealing, as required for a particular application. High strength adhesives and/or sealants suitable for use in the present invention include but are not limited to those classifiable as UV-cure adhesive sealants, and those classifiable as dual component adhesive sealants. UV-cure type adhesive sealants are identified as such because their cure time is significantly reduced by exposure to ultra-violet light. Dual component adhesive sealants are composed of two or more liquid components that chemically react when combined. The cure time of dual component adhesive sealants can generally be reduced by exposure to heat. Alternatively, a preformed gasket may be applied to thewheel 10 and/or thewheel cover 13 in place of theadhesive sealant 50. - Snap tabs (not shown), incorporated herein by reference as shown in FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,213 to Chase and owned by the common assignee hereof, are preferably implemented to locate the
overlay 13 on thewheel 10. The snap tabs also cause theoverlay 13 to be spaced apart from the outboard surface 32 (shown inFIG. 1 ) of thewheel 10 defining acavity 43 therebetween that accommodatesadhesive foam 60 to permanently secure theoverlay 13 to thewheel 10. - Assembly Method According to the Preferred Embodiment
- The
assembly method 100 of the present invention shown in the flow charts ofFIGS. 4A-4B generally involves the steps of fixturing anoverlay 102, applying anadhesive sealant 104 to the overlay, locating a wheel to theoverlay 120, preheating the overlay/wheel assembly 130, and filling the cavity 43 (shown inFIG. 2B ) with anadhesive foam 140. There are various optional steps and alternatives that will be discussed in detail throughout this assembly process. As indicated hereinabove, the preferred method is disclosed as including the step of applying anadhesive sealant 104 to the overlay before it is attached to the wheel, however it should be appreciated that this step may not be necessary in some applications. - Referring to
FIGS. 1, 2B and 5, thewheel cover 13 is located and oriented with theoutboard surface 44 face down in afixture 70 adapted to accommodate both thewheel 10 and thewheel cover 13. Theoverlay 13 is preferably radially and axially located at theouter periphery 46 and circumferentially located at theturbine opening periphery 49 a of one of theturbine openings 49, however alternate features may be used to locate in other applications. - Referring again to
FIG. 4A , after fixturing theoverlay 102, a vacuum may optionally be applied 103 to the wheel cover to remove any warpage and assure a truer inboard surface. The step of applying theadhesive sealant 104 is preferably carried out by a programmable robot which provides a uniform bead along a precise path such that the adhesive sealant is less likely to move or droop before it sets. Optionally, the adhesive sealant 50 (shown inFIG. 2A ) may be partially cured 106 before the wheel is joined to the wheel cover. According to the preferred embodiment, a dual component adhesive sealant is implemented and is partially cured by providing a rest period during which the components are allowed to react. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2 C, theadhesive sealant 50 is applied to areas of theoverlay 13 that produce noise, are difficult to seal, or are likely to entrap dirt, mud and/or water. Such areas typically include theouter periphery 46, theinner periphery 48, and/or around eachturbine opening 49. Additionally, it is known thatadhesive sealant 50 may be applied to thewheel 10 oroverlay 13 and allowed to fully cure before theoverlay 13 is applied to thewheel 10 in order to prevent noise and/or act as a foam dam. Finally, theadhesive sealant 50 may also be used to create foam flow patterns by directing the foam flow during the filling operation. - Referring again to
FIG. 4A , the next step of theassembly method 100 is to locate the wheel to theoverlay 120. If, however, the preferred step of applyingadhesive sealant 104 is not implemented, locating thewheel 10 to theoverlay 120 becomes the second step of theassembly method 100. Referring toFIG. 1 , the wheel is preferably located radially and axially at therim flange 11 a and circumferentially at the valve stem opening 19, however alternate features of thewheel 10 may be used to locate for other applications. - Referring now to
FIG. 1-5 , thewheel 10 is loaded into thefixture 70 such that theoutboard surface 32 of thewheel 10 engages theinboard surface 42 of the fixturedoverlay 13 and forms thecavity 43 therebetween. In some applications an adhesion promoter can be used and is placed on either theoutboard surface 32 or theinboard surface 42 or both before thecavity 43 is formed. Intermediate attachment and location features such as a secondary clamping system 72 (step 121 ofFIG. 4A ) can optionally be used to clamp theoverlay 13 to thewheel 10 while theadhesive sealant 50 sets. - In high volume applications, the wheel/
overlay assembly Individual pallets 71 on the palletized line move independently through a series of operations. In the embodiment that incorporates a palletized line, theindividual pallets 71 are preferably equipped with thesecondary clamping system 72 to hold thewheel 10 in place on theoverlay 13. - As shown
FIGS. 4A-4B , an embodiment of the present invention wherein a UV-cure adhesive sealant is implemented generally includes the step of curing theadhesive sealant 122. After curing theadhesive sealant 122, the wheel/overlay assembly 10, 13 (shown inFIG. 1 ) ispreheated 130. According to the preferred embodiment, however, a dual component adhesive sealant is implemented which cures during the step of preheating the wheel/overlay assembly 130 such that aseparate curing step 122 is unnecessary. During thepreheating step 130, the wheel/overlay assembly FIG. 2B ) utilized. Surface temperature affects theadhesive foam 60 in a variety of ways, including adhesion, gel, foam initiation time, cohesion, foam filling characteristics, and resultant mechanical properties. - After preheating 130, the wheel/
overlay assembly overlay assembly overlay assembly filling station 134. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , a fillingstation 80 generally includes a lower movingplaten 82 and anupper platen 84 that together constitute the primary clamping system, a first set of nests 96 a-96 b, asecondary nest 97 and a foam metering unit (not shown). The foam metering unit includes aninjector nozzle 62 disposed within thesecondary nest 97, and is configured to inject theadhesive foam 60 into the cavity 43 (shown inFIG. 2B ) as will be described in detail hereinafter. Thefixture 70 is preferably tilted in a predetermined manner to assist adhesive foam flow and venting. - Referring to
FIGS. 4B and 5 , the fillingstation 80 processes the wheel/overlay assembly wheel 10 during the injection and subsequent expansion of the adhesive foam 60 (shown inFIG. 2B ). The first set of nests 96 a-96 b and thesecondary nest 97 are simultaneously and independently engaged 138 thereby sealing the cavity 43 (shown inFIG. 2B ) into which theadhesive foam 60 is injected 140. Theadhesive foam 60 is vented 144 during the injection process to release any air trapped within thecavity 43 such that thecavity 43 is uniformly filled to capacity withadhesive foam 60. - The step of applying the
primary clamping system 136 is carried out by compressing the wheel/overlay assembly platen 82 and theupper platen 84. More precisely, theindividual pallet 71 is located and then engaged by the lower movingplaten 82 which lifts theindividual pallet 71 until the wheel/overlay assembly upper platen 84. - The first set of nests 96 a-96 b includes a center
bottom nest 96 a configured to conform to theoutboard surface 44 of theoverlay 13 to provide support therefor while the foam is injected 140 and to prevent theoverlay 13 from lifting off thewheel 10 when theadhesive foam 60 expands. The centerbottom nest 96 a is preferably manufactured using pour-in-place techniques with high durometer silicone, epoxy or urethane. Alternatively, the centerbottom nest 96 a can be cast or milled out of aluminum or steel. The first set of nests 96 a-96 b may also include a valvestem opening nest 96 b adapted to independently seal the valve stem opening 19 of thewheel 10 and the valve stem opening 18 of thewheel cover 13. According to the preferred embodiment,adhesive sealant 50 is implemented in conjunction with the first set of nests 96 a-96 b and thesecondary nest 97 to seal thecavity 43. - As shown in
FIG. 6 , thesecondary nest 97 is generally cylindrical and includes acentral clearance portion 97 a therethrough. Referring toFIG. 5 , thesecondary nest 97 engages the inboard surface of the wheel/overlay assembly apertures 40 of thewheel 10 and theturbine openings 49 of thewheel cover 13. As most clearly shown inFIG. 2B , agap 86 is formed between eachaperture periphery 40 a and its complimentaryturbine opening periphery 49 a. The location and relative alignment of theaperture periphery 40 a and theturbine opening periphery 49 a are somewhat imprecise due to manufacturing variation of thewheel 10 and thewheel cover 13. Thesecondary nest 97 is therefore composed of a soft resilient material such as silicone or urethane that is capable of being displaced in order to accommodate manufacturing variation of the components and ensure eachgap 86 is properly sealed. -
FIG. 3 shows a solid line representation of theturbine opening periphery 49 a of theoverlay 13, a dashed line representation of theaperture periphery 40 a of thewheel 10, and a dashed cross-hatched portion representing thegaps 86.FIG. 3A provides a cross-sectional view of the relationship between theaperture periphery 40 a of thewheel 10 and a complimentaryturbine opening periphery 49 a of thewheel cover 13, and also shows thegap 86 filled withadhesive foam 60. Theinjector nozzle 62 is preferably configured to radially align with a portion of one of thegaps 86 when thesecondary nest 97 engages the wheel/overlay assembly adhesive foam 60 which is initially in a liquid phase through thegap 86 into the cavity 43 (shown inFIG. 2B ). The present invention should not, however, be limited to the specific injection location of the preferred embodiment as it is envisioned that the injection may take place in a variety of locations as will be discussed hereinafter. - Referring again to
FIG. 5 , while theadhesive foam 60 is still in the liquid phase, it flows to the lowest portion of the cavity 43 (shown inFIG. 2B ). As the level ofadhesive foam 60 rises, air trapped within thecavity 43 must be released in order to make room for the expandingadhesive foam 60. Thesecondary nest 97 is therefore preferably vented so that any trapped air can be released through the vents thereby allowing theadhesive foam 60 to completely fill thecavity 43. Optionally, one or more vents can be connected to a controlled vacuum device (not shown) to further assist evacuation of the air from thecavity 43. - Referring to
FIGS. 2B , and 7-9, some applications may require implementation of flow channels in order to ensure that theadhesive foam 60 reaches all the regions of thecavity 43 and that thecavity 43 is uniformly filled to capacity withadhesive foam 60.Flow channels 99 can be formed in a number of different ways such as by providing a concave surface or groove, or by applying a sealant bead in a pattern configured to direct the flow of the injectedadhesive foam 60 while it is still in the liquid phase.FIG. 8 shows a first conventionalflow channel configuration 98 depicted by the dash-lines wherein theadhesive foam 60 is directed to flow along the center of each spoke 38 and around therim flange 11 a.FIG. 9 shows another conventionalflow channel configuration 99 depicted by the dash-lines wherein theadhesive foam 60 is directed to flow around the periphery of each wheel aperture and around therim flange 11 a. - An alternate embodiment of the present invention provides a wheel and wheel cover identical to that of the preferred embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1-2C , and further includes aninjection hole 234 as shown inFIG. 7 . Accordingly, the following disclosure should be considered in light of the reference numbers identified inFIGS. 1 through 6 . The alternate embodiment disclosed inFIG. 7 is adapted to facilitate the injection of theadhesive foam 60 in applications implementing theflow channel configuration 98. Theinjection hole 234 is preferably disposed in the center of one or more of thespokes 38 such thatadhesive foam 60 injected therethrough is introduced directly into theflow channel 99. Alternatively, in applications wherein it is not practical to inject directly into aflow channel 99, theinjection hole 234 can be formed at an angle to direct theadhesive foam 60 from a more convenient injection location to theflow channel 99. -
FIGS. 8-9 illustrate another alternate embodiment that provides a wheel and wheel cover that are highly similar to that of the preferred embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-2C . Accordingly, the following disclosure should be considered in light of the reference numbers identified inFIGS. 1 through 6 . The geometry of theinjector nozzle 62 limits the degree to which theadhesive foam 60 can be injected proximate an edge of thewheel 10. Therefore, the alternate embodiment disclosed herein includes awheel 10 having aspoke 38 that provide clearance for theinjector nozzle 62. Depending on theflow channel configuration 98 for the specific application, thespoke 38 is provided withconcave grooves concave grooves spokes 38 as shown inFIGS. 8-9 in order to minimize wheel imbalance. - Referring to
FIGS. 4A-4B and 5, after the foam is injected 140 the primary clamping system remains engaged for about two minutes while the pressure builds within thecavity 43 to about 20 psi. Thereafter the first set of nests 96 a-96 b andsecondary nest 97 are disengaged 160 and the primary clamping system is released 170. The newly foamed wheel/overlay assembly minutes 180 under light clamping pressure of thesecondary clamping system 72 as theadhesive foam 60 continues to expand. Thesecondary clamping system 72 is then unclamped 190 and the wheel/overlay assembly individual pallet 71 is flipped over to reorient the wheel/overlay assembly 195 such that theoutboard surface 32 of thewheel 10 faces upward. The wheel/overlay assembly individual pallet 71 and directed to a station that locates and identifies the wheel/overlay assembly low point 200 for subsequent handling. A serial identification number is applied 210 to the wheel/overlay assembly overlay assembly shipment 220. - While the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in the art. In other words, the teachings of the present invention encompass any reasonable substitutions or equivalents of claim limitations. For example, the structure, materials, sizes, and shapes of the individual components could be modified, or substituted with other similar structure, materials, sizes, and shapes. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other applications, including those outside of the automotive industry, are possible with this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.
Claims (33)
1-26. (canceled)
27. A composite wheel assembly comprising:
a wheel having an outboard surface;
a decorative overlay having a decorative outboard surface and an inboard surface juxtaposed said outboard surface of said wheel, said decorative overlay having a plurality of turbine openings and a plurality of lug nut openings;
an adhesive disposed between said inboard surface of said decorative overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel;
sealing means disposed between said inboard surface of said decorative overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel, said means for sealing adapted to seal any one of said inner periphery of said overlay, outer periphery of said overlay, lug nut openings, valve stem opening and turbine openings whereby said sealing means provides a dam to prevent said adhesive from squeezing out from between said decorative overlay and said wheel, as said decorative overlay is attached to said wheel.
28. The composite wheel assembly as claimed in claim 27 wherein said sealing means comprises at least one seal member disposed between said inboard surface of said decorative overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel.
29. The composite wheel assembly as claimed in claim 28 wherein said at least one seal member comprises an individual seal member mounted between said decorative overlay and said wheel, said individual seal member sealing the interface of said outer periphery of said decorative overlay to said wheel outboard surface.
30. The composite wheel assembly as claimed in claim 28 wherein said at least one seal member comprises an individual seal member mounted between said decorative overlay and said wheel, said individual seal member sealing the interface of said inner periphery of said decorative overlay to said wheel outboard surface.
31. The composite wheel assembly as claimed in claim 28 wherein said at least one seal member comprises an individual seal member mounted between said decorative overlay and said wheel, said individual seal member sealing said plurality of turbine openings of said decorative overlay to said wheel outboard surface.
32. The composite wheel assembly as claimed in claim 28 wherein said at least one seal member comprises an individual seal member mounted between said decorative overlay and said wheel, said individual seal member sealing said valve stem opening of said decorative overlay to said wheel outboard surface.
33. The composite wheel assembly as claimed in claim 28 wherein said at least one seal member comprises an individual seal member mounted between said decorative overlay and said wheel, said individual seal member sealing said plurality of lug nut openings of said decorative overlay to said wheel outboard surface.
34. The composite wheel assembly as claimed in claim 28 wherein said at least one seal member comprises an individual seal member mounted between said decorative overlay and said wheel, said individual seal member sealing at least one of said plurality of lug nut openings of said decorative overlay to said wheel outboard surface.
35. The composite wheel assembly as claimed in claim 27 wherein said adhesive disposed between said inboard surface of said decorative overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel is selectively disposed.
36. The composite wheel assembly as claimed in claim 27 wherein said sealing means further comprises a plurality of individual seal members.
37. A method for attaching an overlay to a wheel, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a wheel having an inboard surface, an outboard surface and a plurality of apertures therethrough, said plurality of apertures each defining an aperture periphery;
providing an overlay having an inboard surface, an outboard surface and a plurality of turbine openings therethrough, said plurality of turbine openings each defining a turbine opening periphery;
attaching said wheel to said overlay thereby providing a wheel/overlay assembly having an inboard surface and an outboard surface, said wheel/overlay assembly defining a cavity between said inboard surface of said overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel;
providing a fixture having a first nest;
providing a foam filling station having at least one second nest disposed therein, said second nest having a nozzle disposed therein;
engaging said first nest with said outboard surface of said wheel/overlay assembly;
engaging said second nest with said inboard surface of said wheel/overlay assembly such that said nozzle is partially radially aligned with one of said plurality of wheel apertures;
injecting a predetermined quantity of adhesive foam through said nozzle, through said one of said plurality of wheel apertures with which said nozzle is partially radially aligned, and into said cavity;
releasing air trapped within said cavity through said vent in said second nest while injecting said predetermined quantity of adhesive foam; and
disengaging said at least one second nest and removing said fixtured wheel/overlay assembly from said foam filling station.
38. The method as claimed in claim 37 further comprising the step of applying an adhesive sealant to one of said inboard surface of said overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel before said step of attaching said wheel to said overlay.
39. The method as claimed in claim 37 further comprising the step of applying an adhesive sealant to both said inboard surface of said overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel before said step of attaching said wheel to said overlay.
40. The method as claimed in claim 37 further comprising the step of applying a preformed gasket to one of said inboard surface of said overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel before said step of attaching said wheel to said overlay.
41. The method as claimed in claim 38 , wherein the step of applying an adhesive sealant comprises the step of applying a UV-cure type adhesive sealant.
42. The method as claimed in claim 38 , wherein the step of applying an adhesive sealant comprises the step of applying a dual component adhesive sealant.
43. The method as claimed in claim 38 further comprising the step of applying a vacuum to said overlay before said step of applying an adhesive sealant.
44. The method as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the step of attaching said wheel to said overlay further comprises the steps of:
providing an assembly fixture adapted to locate and align said overlay and said wheel;
loading said overlay into said assembly fixture with said outboard surface of said overlay facing said first nest; and
loading said wheel into said assembly fixture such that said outboard surface of said wheel engages said inboard surface of said overlay.
45. The method as claimed in claim 37 , wherein said step of attaching said wheel to said overlay further comprises the step of radially aligning said plurality of apertures with said plurality of turbine openings such that a gap is defined between at least one of said aperture periphery and the turbine opening periphery aligned therewith.
46. The method as claimed in claim 45 , wherein said step of providing a foam filling station further comprises the step of aligning said nozzle disposed therein such that said nozzle radially aligns with said at least one gap when said second nest engages said wheel/overlay assembly.
47. The method as claimed in claim 46 , wherein said step of injecting a predetermined quantity of adhesive further comprises the step of injecting said predetermined quantity of adhesive foam through said at least one gap and into said cavity.
48. The method as claimed in claim 37 further comprises the step of heating said wheel/overlay assembly to a predetermined temperature.
49. A method for permanently attaching an overlay to a wheel, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a wheel having an inboard surface, an outboard surface and a plurality of apertures therethrough, said plurality of apertures each defining an aperture periphery;
providing an overlay having an inboard surface, an outboard surface and a plurality of turbine openings therethrough, said plurality of turbine openings each defining a turbine opening periphery;
attaching said wheel to said overlay such that said plurality of apertures radially align with said plurality of turbine openings, said alignment defining a gap between at least one of said aperture periphery and the turbine opening periphery aligned therewith, said step of attaching said wheel to said overlay providing a wheel/overlay assembly having an inboard surface and an outboard surface, said wheel/overlay assembly defining a cavity between said inboard surface of said overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel;
providing a fixture having a first nest;
providing a foam filling station having at least one second nest, said second nest having a nozzle disposed therein such that said nozzle radially aligns with said at least one gap when said second nest engages said wheel/overlay assembly, said second nest further having a vent;
engaging said first nest with said outboard surface of said wheel/overlay assembly;
engaging said second nest with said inboard surface of said wheel/overlay assembly such that said nozzle is radially aligned with said at least one gap;
injecting a predetermined quantity of adhesive foam through said nozzle, through said at least one gap and into said cavity;
releasing air trapped within said cavity through said vent in said second nest while injecting said predetermined quantity of adhesive foam; and
disengaging said at least one second nest and removing said wheel/overlay assembly from said foam filling station.
50. The method as claimed in claim 49 further comprising the step of applying an adhesive sealant to one of said inboard surface of said overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel before said step of attaching said wheel to said overlay.
51. The method as claimed in claim 49 further comprising the step of applying an adhesive sealant to both said inboard surface of said overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel before said step of attaching said wheel to said overlay.
52. The method as claimed in claim 49 further comprising the step of applying a preformed gasket to one of said inboard surface of said overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel before said step of attaching said wheel to said overlay.
53. The method as claimed in claim 50 , wherein the step of applying an adhesive sealant comprises the step of applying a UV-cure type adhesive sealant.
54. The method as claimed in claim 50 , wherein the step of applying an adhesive sealant comprises the step of applying a dual component adhesive sealant.
55. The method as claimed in claim 50 further comprising the step of applying a vacuum to said overlay before said step of applying an adhesive sealant.
56. The method as claimed in claim 49 , wherein the step of attaching said wheel to said overlay further comprises the steps of:
providing an assembly fixture adapted to locate and align said overlay and said wheel;
loading said overlay into said assembly fixture with said outboard surface of said overlay facing said first nest; and
loading said wheel into said assembly fixture such that said outboard surface of said wheel engages said inboard surface of said overlay.
57. The method as claimed in claim 37 further comprising the step of heating said wheel/overlay assembly to a predetermined temperature within the range of 90° to 198° Fahrenheit (32° to 88° C.).
58. A composite wheel assembly comprising:
a wheel having an outboard surface;
a decorative overlay having a decorative outboard surface and an inboard surface juxtaposed said outboard surface of said wheel, said decorative overlay having a plurality of turbine openings and a plurality of lug nut openings;
an adhesive disposed between said inboard surface of said decorative overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel;
sealing means disposed between said inboard surface of said decorative overlay and said outboard surface of said wheel, said means for sealing adapted to seal at least one of said plurality of openings of said overlay wherein said at least one opening is selected from the group consisting of said inner periphery of said overlay, said outer periphery of said overlay, said lug nut openings, said turbine openings and said valve stem opening.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US11/509,919 US20070199651A1 (en) | 2003-01-27 | 2006-08-25 | Method and apparatus for assembling a vehicle wheel |
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US10/352,311 US7097730B2 (en) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-01-27 | Method and apparatus for assembling a vehicle wheel |
US11/509,919 US20070199651A1 (en) | 2003-01-27 | 2006-08-25 | Method and apparatus for assembling a vehicle wheel |
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US10/352,311 Continuation US7097730B2 (en) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-01-27 | Method and apparatus for assembling a vehicle wheel |
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US20070199651A1 true US20070199651A1 (en) | 2007-08-30 |
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US11/509,919 Abandoned US20070199651A1 (en) | 2003-01-27 | 2006-08-25 | Method and apparatus for assembling a vehicle wheel |
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US20190283494A1 (en) * | 2016-11-17 | 2019-09-19 | American Force Wheels, Inc. | Vehicle wheel having a decorative member attached to a base wheel and method of manufacture |
US10183526B1 (en) * | 2016-11-17 | 2019-01-22 | American Force Wheels, Inc. | Vehicle wheel having a decorative member attached to a base wheel and method of manufacture |
WO2019057285A1 (en) * | 2017-09-21 | 2019-03-28 | Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe Ag | Method for producing a vehicle wheel, vehicle wheel and method for designing a vehicle wheel |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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DE10342764B4 (en) | 2016-08-18 |
DE10342764A1 (en) | 2004-08-05 |
JP2004224332A (en) | 2004-08-12 |
US20040144475A1 (en) | 2004-07-29 |
JP3795034B2 (en) | 2006-07-12 |
US7097730B2 (en) | 2006-08-29 |
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