U.S. patent number 3,575,035 [Application Number 04/744,216] was granted by the patent office on 1971-04-13 for apparatus for forming wheel rims.
Invention is credited to Earl T. Nokes.
United States Patent |
3,575,035 |
Nokes |
April 13, 1971 |
APPARATUS FOR FORMING WHEEL RIMS
Abstract
A process and apparatus for forming a drop center wheel rim
wherein a substantially rectangular piece of metal is shaped into a
cylindrical blank and the central portion thereof is engaged and
progressively urged inwardly by pressure applying medium to form
the drop center or well of the wheel rim. The partially formed
wheel rim is then subjected to the action of first-stage male and
female dies to further form the wheel rim and is then subjected to
the action of male and female finishing dies to completely form the
wheel rim. The process and apparatus permits wheel rims to be
formed while minimizing, if not elimination, any tendency of the
cylindrical blank to thin at areas known to be subjected to stress.
The process and apparatus also permits the formation of wheel rims
with reduced requirements as to space and time.
Inventors: |
Nokes; Earl T. (Armstrong,
IA) |
Family
ID: |
24991908 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/744,216 |
Filed: |
July 11, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
72/354.2;
29/894.353; 72/402 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21D
53/30 (20130101); Y10T 29/49529 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B21D
53/30 (20060101); B21D 53/26 (20060101); B21d
022/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;29/159.1 ;27/159
;72/353,355,357,354,402 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
130,413 |
|
Dec 1948 |
|
AU |
|
632,325 |
|
Nov 1949 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Campbell; John F.
Assistant Examiner: DiPalma; Victor A.
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus system for continuously forming drop center wheel
rims, comprising:
a drop-center forming device for receiving and supporting a
cylindrical blank, and comprising a generally cylindrical segmented
die mechanism shiftable between an expanded retracted position and
an advanced contracted position, said die mechanism including a
plurality of substantially identical die elements, a plurality of
shiftable support members supporting said die elements, adjacent
die elements when in the expanded retracted position having
adjacent edges spaced from each other whereby said die elements are
disposed out of engaging relation with respect to the cylindrical
blank, and when shifted to the advanced contracted position
adjacent edges of adjacent die elements engaging each other whereby
said die elements engage the central exterior circumferential
portion only of the cylindrical blank to deform the central portion
of the cylinder uniformly inwardly and to shape the cylinder into a
partially formed wheel rim including a pair of cylindrical end
portions of substantially the same diameter, a cylindrical reduced
central portion of substantially uniform diameter, and intermediate
tapered portions interconnecting the central cylindrical portion
with the end portions, the reduced central portion corresponding to
the drop center of the finished wheel rim, and means for shifting
said support members between advanced and retracted positions;
a first-stage die device engaging the inner and outer surfaces of
the partially formed wheel rim to deform each cylindrical end
portion into a shoulder portion and a flange portion;
a finishing die device engaging the inner and outer surfaces of the
partially formed wheel rim to deform each shoulder portion into
substantially coaxial relation with respect to said drop center
portion, and to deform each flange portion to extend substantially
radially from its associated shoulder portion.
2. The apparatus system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means
for shifting said support members include a plurality of toggle
linkages each being connected to one of said support members, and
piston and cylinder units connected with said toggle linkages for
shifting the support members between expanded and retracted
positions.
3. The apparatus system as defined in claim 1 wherein said die
elements each have a plurality of teeth formed along adjacent edges
thereof, the teeth on one die element being shiftable into mating
relation with the teeth on the adjacent die element when the die
elements are in the advanced contracted position.
4. The apparatus system as defined in claim 1 wherein said
first-stage die device and said finishing die device each includes
a pair of similar male die members each having a die face and each
being inserted into the partially formed wheel rim, and a pair of
similar female die members each having a die face, the die face of
said female die members embracing the exterior surface of the
partially formed wheel rim.
5. The apparatus system as defined in claim 1 and means for
supporting and moving a strip of metallic material through a
predetermined path of travel, a cutting mechanism in the path of
travel of the strip and being operable to cut the strip into a
rectangular sheet of predetermined size, means for coiling the
sheet into cylindrical configuration, and means for coiling the
sheet into cylindrical configuration, and means for welding the
abutting ends of the coil sheet together to form the same into the
cylindrical blank prior to positioning the same in said drop-center
forming device.
6. In an apparatus system for continuously forming drop center
wheel rims, comprising:
a drop-center forming device for receiving and supporting a
cylindrical blank, and comprising a generally cylindrical segmented
die mechanism shiftable between an expanded retracted position and
an advanced contracted position, said die mechanism including a
plurality of substantially identical die elements, a plurality of
shiftable support members supporting said die elements, adjacent
die elements when in the expanded retracted position having
adjacent edges spaced from each other whereby said die elements are
disposed out of engaging relation with respect to the cylindrical
blank, and when shifted to the advanced contracted position
adjacent edges of adjacent die elements engaging each other whereby
said die elements engage the central exterior circumferential
portion only of the cylindrical blank to deform the central portion
of the cylinder uniformly inwardly and to shape the cylinder into a
partially formed wheel rim including a pair of cylindrical end
portions of substantially the same diameter, a cylindrical reduced
central portion of substantially uniform diameter, and intermediate
tapered portions interconnecting the central cylindrical portion
with the end portions, the reduced central portion corresponding to
the drop center of the finished wheel rim, and means for shifting
said support members between advanced and retracted positions.
7. The apparatus system as defined in claim 6 wherein said means
for shifting said support members include a plurality of toggle
linkages each being connected to one of said support members, and
piston and cylinder units connected with said toggle linkages for
shifting the support members between expanded and retracted
positions.
8. The apparatus system as defined in claim 6 wherein said die
elements each have a plurality of teeth formed along adjacent edges
thereof, the teeth on one die element being shiftable into mating
relation with the teeth on the adjacent die element when the die
elements are in the advanced contracted position.
9. The apparatus system defined in claim 1 wherein said finishing
die device includes a pair of male die members and a pair of female
die members, each female die member having a die face provided with
annular arcuate recess therein adjacent the marginal portion
thereof coacting with said male die members to form an annular
arcuate roll back bead integral with each shoulder portion of the
wheel rim.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore, most wheel rims have been produced primarily in a
rolling operation in which the metallic blanks are shaped.
Experience has indicated that the production of conventional drop
center wheel rims sometimes results in thinning of the material
during the shaping operation. It is, of course, desirable to
produce wheel rims that are of uniform thickness and that do not
have deficient thickness dimensions at areas subjected to stress.
Conventional wheel forming installation requires substantial space
and therefore requires a substantial amount of time to completely
form a wheel rim from a blank of material.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a process
and apparatus for producing a wheel rim which is formed in a manner
to minimize the occurrence of thinning of material during the
shaping steps. The apparatus system used in carrying out the
process, requires substantially less space than that of
conventional systems and requires substantially less time to
completely finish a wheel rim than the conventional rolling
system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGS. OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an apparatus system used
in carrying out the steps of the process,
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the drop center forming device with
certain parts that are broken away from clarity,
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the drop
center forming device with a cylindrical blank positioned prior to
entry into the device,
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the drop
center forming device,
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the male and
female die members of the first-stage die device,
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the first-stage die
device fragmentarily illustrating portions of the male and female
die elements in a partially closed position and engaging a
partially formed wheel rim,
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the first-stage die
device similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating the male and female die
elements in the fully closed condition,
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the second-stage
die device with the die elements thereof in a partially closed
condition engaging the partially formed wheel rim,
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8 but
illustrating the second-stage die elements in the fully closed
position to completely form the wheel rim,
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of the
second-stage die elements similar to FIG. 9 but illustrating a
modification thereof, and
FIG. 11 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a
modified form of the drop-center forming device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 1, it
will be seen that the apparatus system, designated generally by the
reference numeral 10, for carrying out the process is thereshown.
The present process and apparatus system contemplates the
continuous production of wheel rims which are generally known in
the trade as drop center wheel rims. Such wheel rims are adapted
for use on agricultural vehicles as well as other kinds of
vehicles.
In the present process, wheel rims are formed from metallic blanks.
It has been found that thinning of material has been held to a
minimum due to forming process versus rolling process. The entire
apparatus system utilized in carrying out the process is relatively
compact compared to the conventional rolling system and the
production of a wheel rim may therefore be carried out in a
relatively short time as compared to the conventional rolling
system.
In the present process and apparatus system, as illustrated in FIG.
1, the metallic blanks from which the wheel rims are formed are
unwound from a coil of sheet steel 11, which may be supported in
close proximity to an edger and feed roll device 12. The edger and
feed roll device has suitable rolls therein which engage the
longitudinal edges of the strip of metallic material to shape the
same into relatively smooth contour. This edging step is desirable,
especially when the edges of the strip of the material have not
been finished and have burrs and other roughened surface areas. The
rolls of the edger device also function as feed rolls to convey the
strip to a shear device where the strip of material is cut into a
rectangular blank 13 of predetermined size. In this regard, the
size of the blank will be determined by the size of the wheel rim
to be formed. The width of the blank 13 will correspond generally
to the axial dimension of the wheel rim while the length of the
blank will correspond generally to the largest circumferential
dimension of the wheel rim.
The rectangular blank B is thereafter conveyed to a coiler and
welding jig 14 when the rectangular blank B is coiled into
cylindrical configuration and the abutting ends thereof are welded
together to form the cylindrical blank C. It is pointed out that
the cylindrical blank C has an axial dimension only slighter
greater than the axial dimension of the finished wheel rim and the
longitudinal dimension of the cylinder corresponds generally to the
diameter of the large diametrical portion of the wheel rim.
The cylindrical blank C is then conveyed to a drop-center forming
device 15 where the central portion of the cylindrical blank C is
deflected uniformly inwardly to form the drop center of the
finished wheel rim. Thereafter, the partially formed wheel is then
directed to the first-stage die device 16 where the partially
formed wheel rim is further shaped into partially finished
condition and is finally directed to a finishing die device 17
wherein the partially formed wheel rim is completely formed. The
partially formed wheel rim which results from the shaping step by
the drop-center forming device is designated by the reference
character D while the partially formed wheel rim produced by the
first-stage die device is designated by the reference character E.
The finished wheel rim is designated by the reference character
W.
Referring now to FIG. 1 and 9, it will be seen that the finished
wheel rim W includes a cylindrical drop center portion 18 which
constitutes a substantial portion of the overall axial dimension of
the wheel rim W. It will be noted, however, that the drop center
portion 18 is offset slightly axially although in other wheel rims,
the drop center portion may be centrally located. The drop center
portion 18 is interconnected to shoulders 19 by interconnecting
portions 20. It will be noted that the interconnecting portions 20
flare outwardly from the drop center portion, while the shoulders
19 are substantially cylindrical and are therefore substantially
coaxially disposed with respect to the drop center portion.
Shoulders 19 are connected to flanges 20 which extend radially from
the shoulders and terminate in beads 21 which in the embodiment
shown in FIG. 9 are slightly rolled.
One of the most important features of the present invention is the
formation of the drop center with respect to the cylindrical blank
C. It is pointed out above, the cylindrical blank C has a central
portion thereof uniformly reduced in diameter in an unheated
forming step and reference is now made to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 where
the drop-center forming device 15 is thereshown.
The drop-center forming device 15 includes a housing 22 which is
provided with a centrally located opening 23 therein, the opening
being of a size to accommodate the cylindrical blank C in loose
fitting relation therein. The drop-center forming device is
provided with a cylindrical segmented die 24 which defines the
cylindrical opening 23 interiorly of the housing 22. The
cylindrical segmented die 24 is comprised of a plurality of
identical surface die elements 25 which are of substantially
parallelogram configuration. It will be noted that these surface
die elements 25 are oriented so that the longitudinal edge 26 of
one die element is positioned in proximal relation with a
longitudinal edge of an adjacent element. It will be noted that
these longitudinal edges are obliquely arranged. Each die element
26 also includes an upper edge 27 and a lower edge 28.
The segmented die 24 also includes a plurality of similar liner die
elements 29 of parallelogram configuration and identical in
construction to the surface die elements 25. It will be noted that
the liner die elements are obliquely oriented but oppositely
oriented from the surface die elements 25 and each includes
longitudinal edges 30, an upper edge 31, and a lower edge 32.
A plurality of support members 33 are provided, each including a
vertically oriented plate 34 having a boss or sleeve 35 having an
opening 36 therein. Each plate 34 has a mounting block 37
integrally formed with the inner end thereof. Each surface die
element 25 and its associated liner die element 29 is pivotally
connected to one of the mounting blocks 37 by pivot.
In the embodiment shown, the surface die elements and liner die
elements are pivotally connected to every other mounting block 37.
Each mounting block 37 has an inwardly projecting upper lip 39
integrally formed therewith and an inwardly projecting lower lip 40
integrally formed therewith. The lower surface of the upper lip
defines a camming surface 41 and the upper surface of the lower lip
40 defines a camming surface 42. The camming surface 41 engages the
upper edges of the surface and liner die elements while the lower
camming surface 42 is engageable with the lower edges of the
surface and liner die elements.
The sleeve 35 of each support member 33 is pivotally connected by
pivot pin 43 to a link 44. Each link 44 is pivotally connected by
pivot 45 to a lever 46 which is pivotally mounted on the housing by
pivot pin 47. Elongate links 48 pivotally interconnect the outer
end portions of adjacent levers by pivot pins 49. It will be noted
that each link 44 and each lever 46 constitutes a toggle type
linkage interconnecting each support member 33. Thus by shifting
the toggle linkage, the support members 33 are shifted radially
inwardly and outwardly with respect to the opening 23.
Suitable vertically oriented guide pins 50 are positioned on
opposite sides of each plate 34 of each support member 33 to
facilitate guiding of the plate in its inward and outward movement.
A pair of vertically oriented guide rollers 51 is positioned on the
opposite sides of each plate 34 to assist in guiding the support
members in its movement.
Means are provided for operating the toggle linkage and this means
includes a pair of double acting hydraulic piston and cylinder
units 52, each comprising a cylinder having a piston axially
movable therein which is connected to a piston rod 54. Each
hydraulic cylinder is pivotally mounted to a mounting plate 55 by
means of a pivot 56, each plate 55 being secured to the housing 22
and projecting outwardly therefrom.
The piston rod 54 of each hydraulic piston and cylinder unit is
pivotally connected by means of a pivot 57 to one end of an
elongate bell crank or lever 58. The lever 58 is pivotally
connected by pivot 59 to a mounting plate 60 which is also secured
to the housing 22. Each lever 58 has a plurality of links 61
pivotally secured thereto by pivots 62 and these links 61 are also
pivotally connected to certain of the levers 46 by pivot 63. With
this arrangement, extension and retraction of the hydraulic piston
and cylinder units causes actuation of the toggle linkage and thus
inward and outward shifting movement of the support members 33.
It is pointed out that the cylindrical segmented die 24 is
shiftable between an expanded retracted position and contracted
inward position. When the segmented die 24 is in the expanded
retracted position, as viewed in FIG. 3, the support members will
be retracted and the surface die elements will have their
longitudinal edges spaced apart. The liner die elements will also
have their adjacent longitudinal edges spaced apart. However, as
the toggle linkage is actuated to shift the support members
radially inwardly, the die elements will pivot about their
respective pivot pins 38 by coaction with the camming surfaces of
the mounting blocks. Thus the segmented cylindrical die will engage
the central portion of the cylindrical blank C and progressively
deform the same inwardly in a uniform fashion to form the drop
center portion of the wheel rim. Although the cylindrical blank C
will be in a substantially unheated condition, the pressures
created by the segmented die does generate some heat and a suitable
coolant is supplied through a conduit 64 which is connected in
communicating relation with a circular discharge pipe 65 positioned
above the segmented die to discharge a liquid coolant upon the die.
It will be noted that the pivotal connections of the toggle
linkage, actuating levers and piston and cylinder units are all
vertically disposed so that the movements of the interconnected
parts are horizontally about vertical axes.
It will be seen that after the drop center portion of the wheel rim
has been formed, the end portions of the partially formed wheel rim
are of cylindrical configuration. This partially formed wheel rim
is then conveyed to the first-stage die device illustrated in FIGS.
5, 6 and 7. The first-stage die device includes a pair of male die
members 66 which are of similar configuration and a pair of female
die members 67 also of similar configuration with respect to each
other. The female die members are urged into embracing relation
with respect to the exterior of the partially formed wheel rim D.
Then the male elements 66 are urged into opposite ends of partially
formed wheel rim D.
Means are provided for shifting the die members between open and
closed positions and to this end it will be seen that each male die
member 66 is secured to one end of an elongate ram 68. The outer
end of each ram 68 is pivotally connected to an arm 69 by pivot 70.
The other end of each arm 69 is pivotally connected by pivot 71 to
an arm structure 72 which is secured to a revolvable vertical post
73. It will therefore be seen that by revolving the posts 73 about
their vertical longitudinal axes, the rams 68 will be extended and
retracted to thereby move the male die members toward and away from
each other.
The means for revolving each post 73 comprises a pair of double
acting hydraulic piston and cylinder units 74 each including a
cylinder 75 having a piston movable therein to which is connected a
piston rod 76. The piston rods 76 are connected to arms 77 which
are secured to the associated post 73. An elongate drag link 78 is
pivotally connected at its ends to arms 79 carried by the posts 73.
The drag link aids in the uniform action of the male die element
during retraction and extension thereof between open and closed
positions.
The female die members 67 are also each connected to one end of an
elongate ram 80, the other end of the ram 80 being pivotally
connected to an arm 81 by a pivot 82. The arm 81 is pivotally
connected by a pivot 83 to an arm 84 which is rigidly affixed to a
revolvable vertical post 85. The posts 85 are each revolved by
hydraulic piston and cylinder unit 86 comprised of a hydraulic
cylinder 87 having a piston rod 88 secured to the piston thereof.
The piston rod is secured to an arm 89 which is secured to the post
85. A drag link 90 is also pivotally connected at each end to an
arm 91 secured to the post 85. It will therefore be seen by
extending and retracting the piston rod of each piston and cylinder
unit, the posts 85 will be revolved and will shift the rams 80
toward and away from each other.
Means are also provided for releasably locking the female die
members in their closed position. Each female die member is
provided with a locking mechanism 92 although only one such locking
mechanism is illustrated in FIG. 5. It is understood that a locking
mechanism will be provided for the other female die member. The
locking mechanism 92 for each female die member comprises a locking
bar 93 which is pivotally mounted by pivot 94 to the support
structure which supports the first-stage die device. The locking
bar 93 is therefore mounted for horizontal swinging movement about
a substantially vertical axis. A coil spring 95 bears against the
locking bar 93 and against a bearing member 96 which is secured to
the supporting structure for the first-stage die device. Thus the
locking bar 93 is constantly urged inwardly against the associated
female die member.
The locking bar 93 also has an elongate cam member 97 secured
thereto and projecting inwardly therefrom. When the female die
members are in the retracted position, the locking bar 93 wild urge
against the side surface 67a of the female die member. As the
female die member is moved inwardly, into the fully closed
position, the end edge of the locking bar will engage the rear
surface 67b of the female die member to lock the female die member
against retracted movement.
Referring to the sequence of FIG. 5, the female members 67 close
first grasping partially formed wheel rim D, also allowing locks 97
to close. Then male die members 66 advance to the closed position.
They then return releasing locks 97 to permit female members 67 to
return to the starting position. Male die members 66 are also
retracted prior to the female die members and when the male die
members are retracted, the male die members urge the cam members in
a direction to pivot the locking bars 93 out of engaging relation
with respect to the female die members thus allowing retraction
thereof.
It is pointed out that the finishing or second-stage die members
are identical to the first-stage die members but for the respective
die faces of the male and female die members. Therefore, the
actuating mechanism associated with the finishing die device is
identical to that of the first-stage die device and a detailed
description thereof is thought to be unnecessary.
Referring again to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, it will be seen that each die
male element 66 has a die face 98 comprised of a flat surface 99
which confronts the corresponding face on the other male die
member. The die face 98 also includes the surface 100 which
together with the other male die member corresponds to the inner
surface of the drop center portion. The die face 98 includes a die
surface 101 which flares outwardly from the surface 100 and further
includes surface 102 which also flares outwardly but is more
axially disposed than surface 100. Surface 103 is continuous with
die surface 102 but flares more radially than the die surface 102.
Die face 98 also includes surface 104 which is shouldered as at 140
so that the ends of the partially formed wheel rim engage
thereagainst.
It will be noted that each female die member 67 has a die face 105
which comprises substantially one-half of the exterior surface of
the partially finished wheel rim. Die face 105 includes a die
surface 106 which corresponds to the exterior surface of the drop
center portion. Die surfaces 107 flare outwardly from the surface
106 and match with surface 101 of die faces 98. Die surface 108 are
continuous with die surfaces 107 and flare outwardly therefrom and
cooperate in matching relation with die surfaces 102 of the die
faces 98. Die face 105 also includes die surface 109 which mates
with die surface 103 and terminates in die surfaces 110 which are
substantially cylindrical in configuration. It will be noted that
the die surfaces 100 of the male die members have slightly
different axial dimensions since in the embodiment shown the drop
center portion is axially offset.
Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be seen that the finishing
die device 17 includes male die members 111 and female die members
112. As pointed out above the finishing die device is identical in
construction to the first-stage die device except for the die faces
of the respective male and female die members. In this regard, it
will be noted that the male die members 111 each include a die face
113 having confronting circular surfaces 114. Each die face 113
also includes a die surface 115 which is of cylindrical
configuration and which is continuous with die surface 116 that
flares outwardly from the die surface 115. Die surface 117 extends
substantially axially from die surface 116 and is continuous with a
substantially radial die surface 118. An arcuate die surface 119 is
continuous with each radial die surface 118 and terminates in a
shoulder that defines a slight recess 120.
Each female die member 112 includes a die face 121 which includes a
cylindrical surface 122 which matches or mates with surfaces 115 of
die faces 113. Surface 122 of each die face 121 is continuous with
die surfaces 123 which flare outwardly and which mate with surfaces
116 of the male die elements. Surfaces 124 extend substantially
axially from the surfaces 123 and each terminates in a
substantially radial surface 125 which mates with the associated
radial surface 118. Surface 125 is continuous with an arcuate
surface 126 of concave configuration and terminates in cylindrical
surfaces 127. It will be noted that the arcuate surface 119 which
is of convex configuration does not exactly mate with the
associated arcuate concave surface 26 so that a small recess 127 is
defined. It is felt that this recess permits the formation of the
arcuate bead of the wheel rim with these match metal dies. It will
also be noted that the surfaces 115 of the male die members are of
different axial length to accommodate the axially offset drop
center portion of the wheel rim. It will be noted that the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 of the finishing die device is
identical to that illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 except that the
arcuate surface 119a extends outwardly to the adjacent shoulder so
there is no recess 120 defined as in the embodiment. That arcuate
surface 119a cooperates with the arcuate surface 125a so that a
recess 126a is provided in the manner of the embodiment of the dies
of FIGS. 8 and 9. However, the omission of the recess 120 allows
the arcuate bead to project more radially from the flange with less
of an outward convexity than the embodiment of FIG. 9.
Referring now to FIG. 11, it will be seen that a slightly modified
form of the cylindrical segment and die is thereshown. This
modified cylindrical segmented die is designated generally by the
reference numeral 24a and is positioned interiorly of the housing
22 and inwardly of the opening 23. This segmented die also includes
a plurality of similar surface die elements 25a each having an
upper edge 27a and a lower edge 28a. Each die element 25a has a
plurality of generally rectangular obliquely arranged projecting
teeth 26a extending from opposite edge surfaces thereof. These
teeth mate with the recesses 26b defined by the teeth of the
adjacent die element.
The liner die elements 29a is also identical to those shown in the
embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The surface and liner die elements
are pivotally connected to their associated support members by
pivot pins 38a and expansion and retraction of the segmented die is
identical to that of the embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, except
that the teeth of each surface die element shifts into and out of
snug fitting relation with respect to the associated recesses 26b
of the adjacent surface die elements. This arrangement will permit
the segmented cylindrical die to be expanded and contracted in the
manner of the embodiment of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.
Referring again to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the shoulders 140
on the male die members 66 engage the axial ends of the partially
formed wheel rim thus causing upsetting of the rim as the male die
members move to the completely closed position. This occurs before
the female die members 67 are moved into mating relation with
respect to the male die members. Thus by upsetting or deforming the
partially formed wheel rim prior to completely shaping or forming
of the same (by the coaction of the male and female die members),
thinning of the material of the partially formed wheel rim is held
to a minimum.
It is also felt that by upsetting the partially formed wheel rim
prior to completely shaping the various portions thereof also
improves the grain of molecular crystalline structure thereof of
the metal. It is when the male and female die members of FIG. 7 are
in the completely closed condition, that the upset or deformed
portions of the partially formed rim structure are then permanently
formed or shaped into the configuration illustrated by FIG. 8 of
the drawing. It has been found that if the rim structure is formed
without upsetting thereof, then thinning of the material sometimes
occurs and this is undesirable. However, not only does the
first-stage die device minimize thinning but is so arranged and
constructed to improve the grain structure of the metal.
From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have
provided a novel process and apparatus system which permits the
formation of the drop center wheel rims without the necessity of
heating. It has been found that in my process, that there is
absolutely no thinning of the thickness dimension of the
cylindrical blank when the blank is shaped to form the drop center
portion of the wheel rim. It is pointed out above, by utilizing an
unheated system, the grain crystalline structure of the metal is
improved as compared to that of a rolling operation. The apparatus
system may be compactly arranged and the process may be
continuously and quickly carried out.
Thus it will be seen that I have provided a novel process and
apparatus system which is not only of simple and inexpensive
construction, but one which functions in a more efficient manner
than any heretofore known comparable system.
It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made
in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various
parts without departing from the scope of my invention.
* * * * *