GB1566848A

GB1566848A - Manufacture of wheels

Info

Publication number: GB1566848A
Application number: GB719678A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GIANETTI SpA
Current assignee: GIANETTI SpA
Priority date: 1977-03-02
Filing date: 1978-02-23
Publication date: 1980-05-08
Also published as: FR2382305B2; IT1116714B; FR2382305A2; CH619651A5

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF WHEELS (71) We, GIANETTI S.p.A, an Italian Company of, Via Vittoria Colonna 4, Milan, Italy, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to the manufacture of wheels, such as wheels for motor vehicles, and is a modification of the invention described in our British Patent No. 1344120 which will be referred to hereinafter as the parent patent.

The invention described in the Parent Patent has two aspects, one of which is a method for joining a channel rim of a vehicle wheel to a wheel disc or a spoke ring to which the radially outer ends of spokes may be attached comprising the steps of placing the radially outer periphery of the wheel disc or spoke ring against the inner surface of the rim in a bearing zone against which the bead of a tyre engages in use of the wheel, pressing the disc or spoke rimg against the rin under pressure while welding the rim to the disc or spoke ring, and maintaining the pressure until the welding has been completed. The main characteristics of this method are that the wheel disc or spoke ring is held under pressure to the inside of the rim in the bearing zone against which the bead of a tyre engages in use of the wheel.

The other aspect of the invention described in the parent patent is apparatus for performing the said method and comprising means for locating and positioning the rim, means for locating and positioning the wheel disc or spoke ring in a desired position with respect to the rim, and means for drawing together the means for locating and positioning the rim and means for acting on the wheel disc or spoke ring to force the periphery of the wheel disc or spoke ring against the inner surface of the rim in the bearing zone.

The present invention provides modifications to both aspects of the invention described in the parent patent, particularly, to suit the invention for application to wheels having a channel rim with two frusto-conical bearing zones against which the beads of a tyre engage in use of the wheel, and a cylindrical portion joining one of the said frusto-conical bearing zones to the channel portion of the rim.

Wheels made by the method of the present invention have great safety and high durability.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a method for joining a wheel disc, or a spoke ring, to a wheel rim of the type having two frusto-conical bearing portions, on which are supported the tyre beads when the wheel is assembled, and a substantially cylindrical portion between one of the frusto-conical bead bearing portions and the central channel portion, in which the wheel disc or spoke ring is first pressed into the rim from the same side of the channel of the rim as the said cylindrical portion, until the edge of the wheel disc or spoke ring lies substantially on the line of intersection between the said cylindrical portion and the adjacent frusto-conical bead bearing portion, this pressing being effected with sufficient pressure to deform the rim far enough to ensure that the rim and the wheel disc or spoke ring are fully in contact around their circumferences, and then welding in the contact area is effected by the formation of a welding seam which adheres to surfaces of the rim and the edge of the wheel disc or spoke ring which form an angle of about 90" to one another.

The safety and durability of a wheel produced by this method is due to the fact that the welding is effected in an area which laboratory tests and experience have shown to be the least stressed in use, and also because the angle of 90" formed by the sides of the welding seam represents the best condition for the said welding.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for joining a channel rim of a vehicle wheel with a wheel disc or spoke ring by the aforesaid method, including means for locating and holding the rim in position, means for locating and holding the wheel disc or spoke ring in position adjacent the rim and on the same side thereof as the said cylindrical portion, and thrust means located on the side of the wheel disc or spoke ring opposite the said rim when both are located in position, and operable to feed forward the means for locating and holding the wheel disc of spoke ring in relation to the means for locating and holding the rim in such a way as to force a wheel disc or spoke ring carried thereby against the inner surface of the rim to bring it to a position where the edge of the wheel disc or spoke ring lies on the line of intersection between the cylindrical portion of the rim and the adjacent frusto-conical bead bearing portion.

In use of such apparatus the welding operation which follows when the wheel disc or spoke ring has been pressed against the rim, can be very conveniently carried out because the welding area is easily accessible as the thrust means are on the side of the wheel disc or spoke ring remote therefrom.

One embodlment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a partial cross section illustrating a device for performing the method of the invention. Referring now to the drawing there is shown a rotatable base 10 carrying a positioner 12, fixed to it with bolts 14.

The positioner 12 has a cylindrical part 12a to which is affixed by screws 16 an end plate 18 so as to delimit a cylindrical chamber 20 within which there slides a piston 22 sealed in the chamber by sealing rings 24. To the piston 22 there is affixed a piston rod 26 by means of a threaded ring or nut 28 screwed on to a threaded end of the piston rod 26.

To the positioner 12 there is affixed an interchangeable locating ring 34 for locating and positioning a channel rim 36 of a wheel for receiving a tubeless tyre.

The locating ring 34 carries a second ring 32 serving as a reference ring against the outer part of which there abut locking jaws 33 only one of which can be seen in the drawing.

Each jaw 33 is displaceable radially in relation to the rings 32 and 34 and has a front face 33a intended to engage the outer surface of the rim 36 and shaped to mate with parts thereof in order to provide a firm and secure engagement.

The channel rim 36 has a central channel portion 38, two frusto-conical bearing portions 40 and 42 against which bear the beads of a tyre when such is fitted to the rim, and two lateral check flanges 44 and 46. The frusto-conical portion 42 is connected to the central channel portion 38 by means of a cylindrical portion 39.

A hole 48 in the channel portion 38 is provided for receiving an inflation valve (not illustrated) by which the tyre is inflated when assembled to the rim.

The piston rod 26 has a transverse flange 26a to which there is attached, by means of bolts 50, an interchangeable positioning plate 52 onto which fits a wheel disc 54 having holes 56 which fit onto reference pins 58 carried on the positioning plate 52: the shape of the plate 52 and the position of the pins 50 will be different for different wheels discs and, of course, should it be required to manufacture wheels having spoke rings the the shape of the plate 52 used for this purpose must be adapted to the form of the spoke ring in order to be able to locate it accurately concentric with respect to the rim.

The disc 54 illustrated in the drawing has an aperture 60 for access to the inflation valve which will be located, when the wheel is assembled, in the hole 48 in the rim 36.

The wheel disc 54 is secured in place by a clamp plate 62 having a relieved central recess 62a; the clamp plate 62 is held in place by means of a locking plate 64 having a C-shape end which is pivoted to the clamp plate 64 by means of a screw 66 and which engages in a circumferential groove 27a of a stud 27 which is screwed axially into the flange portion 26a of the piston rod 26.

A fluid under pressure, for example, compressed air, arrives by means not illustrated, through an axial pipe 70, into the base 10 and, through a union 72, passes into a pipe 74 and from there to a distributor valve 76 which is illustrated only schematically in the drawing. The distributor valve 76 is operable, by means not shown, to connect the pipe 74 selectively either to a pipe 78 which is connected at its end into a hole 80 leading into the chamber defined within the cylinder 12a to the left of the piston 22 so that the fluid under pressure can act upon a face 21 of the piston 22 causing it to be displaced to the right of the drawing, or else to a pipe 82 which is connected to a hole 84 in the positioner 12 leading into the chamber in the cylinder to the right of the piston 22 so that the fluid under pressure acts upon a face 23 of the piston 22. In each case the distributor 76 discharges to the atmosphere whichever of the pipes 78 and 82 is not connected to the pipe 74.

In use of the apparatus described above a wheel disc 54 is put on to the positioning plate 52. which is chosen to correspond in thickness, in cross sectional shape, and in the pOSitienl of the pins 58, with the selcctcti disc. Then the clamp plate 62 is fitted (,it, its central hole 63 being fitted over the sitid 27 on the piston rod 26; the locking plate (l4 is then turncd about the pivot 6 so that its C-sha Oe cnd will enter the groove 27a lithe stud 7 of the piston rod 26 to hold the claml, plrtte 62 securely in place on the asscmbty.

Next, a rim 36 is located in position with the lateral check flange 46 on the same side of the central ch;innel as the cylindrical portion 39 to bear upon the ring 34. The locking jaws 33 are then advanced pncumR- tically until they abut iglilist the reference ring 32. 111 this position the jaws 33 hold the rim 36 firnily in position; by then iclilig On the distributor 76 pressure is applied lo the face 23 of tile piston 22 and a force is applicd through tlic rod 26, the flange 26a and the posliloloilig plate 52, to the wheel disc 54 so as to fsrc a portion 55 adjacent its edge against the inner surface of the rim 36.

This force presses the wheel disc 54 adjacent its edge and deforms it by contact with the inner surface of the rim until it reaches I position where the free edge of the disc is in contact with the rim along the line of intersection between the cylindrical portion 39 iuld the frusto-conical bead bearing portion 42. During this deformation of the wheel disc centering of the rim 36 is ensured by the locking jaws 33 the shaped face 33a of which engages the rim 36 in the regions where the frusto-conical bead bearing portions JO and 42 join the lateral check flanges 44 and 46.

Naturally the outer diameter of the disc 54 must be accurately machined so that at the end of the stroke of the piston 22 the desired engagement of the portion 55 of the disc against the rim 36 is produced.

After the disc 54 has thus been forced into the rim 36 circumferential welding is carried out by means of an automatic submerged arc welder (not illustrated) or by any other welding means.

Finally, by means of the distributor 76, the pressure on the face 23 is released and the locking jaws 33 are moved back.

The clamp plate 62 is unlocked by rotat ing the locking plate 64 and the finished wheel is removed from the machine.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method for joining a wheel disc, or a spoke ring, to a wheel rim of the type having two frusto-conical bearing portions, on which are supported the tyre beads when the wheel is assembled, and a substantially cylindrical portion between one of the frus to-conical bead bearing portions and the central channel portion, in which the wheel disc or spoke ring is first pressed into the rim from the same side of the channel of the rim as the said cylindrical ps)rtjon, until the edge of the wheel disc or spoke ring lies substantially on the line ijf intersection between the said cylindrical portion and the adjacent frusto-conical head bearing portion, this pressing being effected with sufficient pressure to deform the rim far enough to ensure that the rim and the wheel disc or spoke ring are fully in contact around their circumferences, and then welding in the contact area is effected by the formation of a welding seam which adheres to surfaces of the rim and the edge of the wheel disc or spoke ring which form an angle of about 900 to one another.

2. Apparatus for joining a channel rim of a vehicle wheel with a wheel disc or spoke ring by the method of claim 1, including means for locating and holding the rim in position, means for locating and holding the wheel disc or spoke ring in position adjacent the rim and on the same side thereof as the said cylindrical portion. and thrust means located on the side of the wheel disc or spoke ring opposite the said rim when both are located in position, and operable to feed forward the means for locating and holding the wheel disc or spoke ring in relation to the means for locating and holding the rim in such a way as to force a wheel disc or spoke ring carried thereby against the inner surface of the rim to bring it to a position where the edge of the wheel disc or spoke ring lies on the line of intersection between the cylindrical portion of the rim and the adjacent frusto-conical bead bearing portion.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, in which the means for locating and holding the rim in position include a positioning ring against which, in use, engages a lateral check flange of the rim. and a plurality of locking jaws radially movable in relation to the rim and having shaped faces for engaging the radially outer surface of a rim so as to hold it firmly in position concentric with the wheel disc or spoke ring whilst the wheel disc or spoke ring is forced into engagement therewith.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which the shaped faces of the locking jaws engage the outer surface of the rim in the regions thereof lying between the frustoconical bead bearing portions and the lateral check flanges of the rim.

5. A method of joining a channel rim to a wheel disc or spoke ring, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. Apparatus for joining a channel rim to a wheel disc or spoke ring, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. In use of the apparatus described above a wheel disc 54 is put on to the positioning plate 52. which is chosen to correspond in thickness, in cross sectional shape, and in the pOSitienl of the pins 58, with the selcctcti disc. Then the clamp plate 62 is fitted (,it, its central hole 63 being fitted over the sitid 27 on the piston rod 26; the locking plate (l4 is then turncd about the pivot 6 so that its C-sha Oe cnd will enter the groove 27a lithe stud 7 of the piston rod 26 to hold the claml, plrtte 62 securely in place on the asscmbty. Next, a rim 36 is located in position with the lateral check flange 46 on the same side of the central ch;innel as the cylindrical portion 39 to bear upon the ring 34. The locking jaws 33 are then advanced pncumR- tically until they abut iglilist the reference ring 32. 111 this position the jaws 33 hold the rim 36 firnily in position; by then iclilig On the distributor 76 pressure is applied lo the face 23 of tile piston 22 and a force is applicd through tlic rod 26, the flange 26a and the posliloloilig plate 52, to the wheel disc 54 so as to fsrc a portion 55 adjacent its edge against the inner surface of the rim 36. This force presses the wheel disc 54 adjacent its edge and deforms it by contact with the inner surface of the rim until it reaches I position where the free edge of the disc is in contact with the rim along the line of intersection between the cylindrical portion 39 iuld the frusto-conical bead bearing portion 42. During this deformation of the wheel disc centering of the rim 36 is ensured by the locking jaws 33 the shaped face 33a of which engages the rim 36 in the regions where the frusto-conical bead bearing portions JO and 42 join the lateral check flanges 44 and 46. Naturally the outer diameter of the disc 54 must be accurately machined so that at the end of the stroke of the piston 22 the desired engagement of the portion 55 of the disc against the rim 36 is produced. After the disc 54 has thus been forced into the rim 36 circumferential welding is carried out by means of an automatic submerged arc welder (not illustrated) or by any other welding means. Finally, by means of the distributor 76, the pressure on the face 23 is released and the locking jaws 33 are moved back. The clamp plate 62 is unlocked by rotat ing the locking plate 64 and the finished wheel is removed from the machine. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method for joining a wheel disc, or a spoke ring, to a wheel rim of the type having two frusto-conical bearing portions, on which are supported the tyre beads when the wheel is assembled, and a substantially cylindrical portion between one of the frus to-conical bead bearing portions and the central channel portion, in which the wheel disc or spoke ring is first pressed into the rim from the same side of the channel of the rim as the said cylindrical ps)rtjon, until the edge of the wheel disc or spoke ring lies substantially on the line ijf intersection between the said cylindrical portion and the adjacent frusto-conical head bearing portion, this pressing being effected with sufficient pressure to deform the rim far enough to ensure that the rim and the wheel disc or spoke ring are fully in contact around their circumferences, and then welding in the contact area is effected by the formation of a welding seam which adheres to surfaces of the rim and the edge of the wheel disc or spoke ring which form an angle of about 900 to one another.

and as shown in, the accompanying draw ings.

7. A vehicle wheel comprising a rim and a wheel disc or spoke ring joined together by a method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 5.