US1513666A - Method of and device for holding metal rims while shrinking - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28 1924. 1,513,666

- B. WOBLER METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR HOLDING METAL RIMS WHILE SHRINKING Filed Sept. 30 1922 'lliiillli 'barnza Uobl v INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

BARNEY WOBLER, OF PAYNE, OHIO.

. METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR HOLDING METAL RIMS WHILE SI-IBINKING.

Application filed September 30, 1922. Serial No. 591,678;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BARNEY VVOBLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Payne, in the county of Paulding and State 6 of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Method of and Device for Holding Metal Rims While Shrinking, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for hold- 10 ing metal rims for automobile wheels in true alinement while the same are being acted on by a shrinking machine, and the method of shrinking the rims through such devices.

The object is to provide a simple device for the purpose, consisting of a pair of keys or filler blocks, which may be driven into frictional contact between the upstanding, curved flanges of the metal wheel-rims, such as are commonly employed on automobile wheels, after the said rim has been preheated at the desired point, the rim being then placed in position in any shrinking machine to be acted on thereby to shrink and reduce the diameter of the rim, in order that it may properly fit around the wooden felly of the wheel, the said keys serving to maintain the said flanges in perfect alinement and parallelism during the heating and cooling processes.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a pair of key members for this purpose which may be easily introduced on the metal rim between the said flanges, the members being curved longitudinally to fit the shape of the rim and having meeting inclined edges which, when the members are driven in opposite directions cause them to spread and contact with the inner faces of the flanges, their outer edges being rounded to contact therewith at all points and prevent any distortion thereof, the said key members being provided with means for readily withdrawing the same from their position on the rim after the same has been shrunk and become coo-led.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures Fig. 1 is a plan view of a metal rim having the improved device in position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig 8 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the two members comprising the invention and shown separated.

In the continued use of automobileand other vehicle wheels, the metal rims often become loose on the wooden felly of the wheel, due to expansion of said rim or other causes, such as the wear of the 'felly caused by creeping of the rim, etc., thus resulting in the loosening of the spokes and the sections of the felly and rendering it advisable to discard the wheel. Means have heretofore been employed for shrinking the metal rim to take up the excess in diameter thereof, but since this shrinking process is done at different points around the circumference of the metal rim, it often happens. that the rim is distorted'laterally so that the same will not properly fit the felly norv run true after the parts have again been assembled. It has been found by experience that, with the use of the present invention, these disadvantages may be easily avoided, and the metal rim may be properly shrunk to fit the wheel and at the same time maintain the arcuately curved flanges or heads at either side of the rim in. perfect parallel alinement for replacement on the felly, and to receive the beads of the pneumatic tire in the proper manner.

The invention consists in a pair of elonk tit) gated keys or Wedges 1 having their outer edges 2 parallel when the same are placed in operative position in abutting relation to each other, the said outer edges being rounded, as shown, to snugly flt within the annular beads or flanges 3 of an automobile rim 4, which are always turned inwardly for a distance to engage the beads of a tire (not shown).

The inner edges 5 of the keys or wedges which fit flat against each other throughout the lengths of the wedges, are perpendicular to the widths of the same and are at a slight angle to the length thereof, to provide a relatively narrow toe portion 6 and wider heel portion 7 on each key or wedge, the two members being curved throughout their lengths to conform to the arc of the circle corresponding to the rim on which they are to be used.

The heel end 7 of each key is provided with an integrally formed, upstanding lug 8, the inner face of Which is flush with the inner perpendicular edge 5 thereof and the outer face of the same is spaced from the rounded outer edge 2 of the key, so that the said lugs 8 may avoid contact with the inner, overhanging edge of the flanges 3 of the rim, and stand radially outward beyond the same in position to be freely hit by a hammer to drive the keys into position at the proper location around the rim or to be driven out of their engagement.

In the operation of shrinking the rim 4, which may be assumed to be too large for the vehicle wheel, it is customary to heat the rim at the one point Where it is to: be oper ated on by the shrinking machine, which may be any of the well-known makes, such heating being only to a degree to properly render the metal sufficiently pliable for the purpose. The keys or wedges of the present invention are then placed on the rim in extended position relatively to each other, so that they may freely enter beneath the overhanging flanges 3, and they are then rela tively advanced until the inner edges 5 contact and the rounded outer edges 2 snugly fit within the sides of the rim, when they may be lightly hammered to lock the wedges therein. The tire is then placed in the shrinking machine with the heated portion having the keys or wedges therein in the proper position for the action of the shrinker. The keys or wedges effectually prevent any lateral distortion of the rim, or the marginal flange-s thereof while in the shrinker or afterward, as the device is left on the rim until the same is cooled, when they may be easily and quickly driven out by reason of the terminal lugs 8. If it should become necessary to repeat this operation at several points around the circumference of the rim to secure the required amount of shrinkage, then the same course is pursued.

When applying the rim to the felly of the wheel again, it is necessary to heat the same uniformly to cause it to expand generally, when the same is placed over the wheel, in a well-known manner, and allowed to cool thereon, whereupon the natural shrinkage serves to maintain the rim on the wheel.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a very simple, cheaply manufactured and easily operated means has been provided for use in connection with the shrinking of automobile or other vehicle wheel rims, which, experience has shown, prevents the rim from becoming distorted in any manner while the powerful action of the shrinking machine is being exerted thereon, the keys or wedges having the. advantage of being readily placed in position for action, and as easily removed from the rim when the operation is complete.

What is claimed is 1. Means for preventing the flanges of metal wheel rims from lateral distortion while being shrunk, comprising coacting removable members shaped so as to fit between and engage the flanges of the rim and to be retained therein during shrinking.

2. Means for preventing lateral distortion of metal wheel rims while shrinking the same, comprising coacting keys, each curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the rim and having inner flat oppositely tapered contacting faces, and oppositely disposed outer faces engageable throughout their length with the flanges of the rim to prevent distortion of the latter while being shrunk.

3. In a device of the class described, a pair of coacting wedge members shaped soas to fit between the flanges of a metal rim and to be retained in place by a wedging action while the rim is being shrunk.

4:. In a device of the. class described, a pair of coacting members curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the rim and having their meeting longitudinal faces in clined and their outer longitudinal faces so disposed as to engage the flanges of a metal rim and to be retained in place by a wedging action.

5. In a deviceof the class described, 00- acting members curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the rim, and having, when assembled, oppositely disposed faces which bear throughout their length against the flanges of the rim.

6. Means for preventing lateral distortion of wheel rims while shrinking the same, comprising coacting keys each being curved to conform to a. portion of the rim, and having inner flat, oppositely-tapered, coacting edges and parallel outer edges rounded to fit beneath the overhanging flanges of the rim, and each key having an upstanding lug at its wider end to facilitate driving the keys ten into fri'ctionally-locked position on the rim and to remove the same therefrom.

7. The method of shrinking met-a1 Wheel rims Which consists in heating the rim at one point, then driving oppositely-tapered, coacting Wedges between the flanges at the heated point, then subjecting this portion of the rim to the action of a shrinking machine, and then removing the Wedges and allowing the rim to cool.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

BARNEY WOBLER.

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