Method of manufacturing a plated vehicle wheel having non-plated tire bead seats
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A process for forming a layer of metal plating on the surface of a vehicle wheel, the process comprising:
- (a) providing a vehicle wheel prior to mounting a tire thereon, the vehicle wheel including an annular wheel rim defining a wheel rim surface, the wheel rim having annular outboard and inboard tire bead seats formed therein for supporting outboard and inboard tire walls, respectively, the wheel rim having a circular wheel disc disposed thereacross and defining a wheel disc surface; and
(b) providing a layer of metal plating on a portion of at least one of said wheel rim surface and said wheel disc surface, said portion excluding a portion of at least one of said tire bead seats.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plated vehicle wheel having non-plated tire bead seats and a process for forming same. The process includes masking a portion of the tire bead seats before plating the wheel. The process also includes forming the tire bead seats with an oversized diameter. Following plating, the tire bead seats are machined to a final diameter. The process can further include thermally depositing a layer of a ceramic material over a portion of the tire bead seat surface. The plating does not adhere to the ceramic material.
18 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for forming a layer of metal plating on the surface of a vehicle wheel, the process comprising:
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(a) providing a vehicle wheel prior to mounting a tire thereon, the vehicle wheel including an annular wheel rim defining a wheel rim surface, the wheel rim having annular outboard and inboard tire bead seats formed therein for supporting outboard and inboard tire walls, respectively, the wheel rim having a circular wheel disc disposed thereacross and defining a wheel disc surface; and (b) providing a layer of metal plating on a portion of at least one of said wheel rim surface and said wheel disc surface, said portion excluding a portion of at least one of said tire bead seats. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A process for forming a layer of metal plating on the surface of a vehicle wheel, the process comprising:
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(a) providing a vehicle wheel which includes an annular wheel rim defining a wheel rim surface, the wheel rim having annular outboard and inboard tire bead seats formed therein for supporting outboard and inboard tire walls, respectively, the wheel rim having a circular wheel disc disposed thereacross and defining a wheel disc surface; (b) clamping an electrically charged electrode over a portion of the tire bead seat to prevent plating a metal onto the portion; and (c) plating at least one layer of a metal onto a portion of at least one of the wheel rim and disc surfaces, said portion excluding a portion of at least one of said tire bead seats.
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13. A process for forming a layer of metal plating on the surface of a vehicle wheel, the process comprising:
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(a) providing a vehicle wheel which includes an annular wheel rim defining a wheel rim surface, the wheel rim having annular outboard and inboard tire bead seats formed therein for supporting outboard and inboard tire walls, respectively, the wheel rim having a circular wheel disc disposed thereacross and defining a wheel disc surface; (b) placing a sleeve over the wheel rim to define an annular chamber therebetween, wherein the sleeve includes a plurality of resilient seals which are disposed between the sleeve and the wheel and further wherein an air evacuating device is attached to the sleeve, the air evacuating device communicating with the annular chamber, the air evacuating device evacuating a portion of the air contained within the annular chamber to form a seal between the sleeve and the wheel and thereby preventing plating a metal within the annular chamber; and (c) plating at least one layer of a metal onto a portion of at least one of the wheel rim and disc surfaces, said portion excluding a portion of at least one of said tire bead seats.
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14. A process for forming a layer of metal plating on the surface of a vehicle wheel, the process comprising:
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(a) providing a vehicle wheel which includes an annular wheel rim defining a wheel rim surface, the wheel rim having annular outboard and inboard tire bead seats formed therein for supporting outboard and inboard tire walls, respectively, the wheel rim having a circular wheel disc disposed thereacross and defining a wheel disc surface; (b) placing a sleeve over the wheel rim to define an annular chamber therebetween, wherein the sleeve includes a plurality of resilient seals which are disposed between the sleeve and the wheel and further wherein a mechanical device applies a force to the sleeve to form a seal between the wheel rim and the sleeve and thereby preventing plating a metal within the annular chamber; and (c) plating at least one layer of a metal onto a portion of at least one of the wheel rim and disc surfaces, said portion excluding a portion of at least one of said tire bead seats.
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15. A process for forming a layer of metal plating on the surface of a vehicle wheel, the process comprising:
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(a) providing a vehicle wheel which includes an annular wheel rim defining a wheel rim surface, the wheel rim having annular outboard and inboard tire bead seats formed therein for supporting outboard and inboard tire walls, respectively, the wheel rim having a circular wheel disc disposed thereacross and defining a wheel disc surface; (b) depositing a masking material on the tire bead seat with a thermal spray gun to prevent plating a metal onto the tire bead seat; and (c) plating at least one layer of a metal onto a portion of at least one of the wheel rim and disc surfaces, said portion excluding a portion of at least one of said tire bead seats. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A process for forming a layer of metal plating on the surface of a vehicle wheel, the process comprising:
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(a) providing a vehicle wheel which includes an annular wheel rim defining a wheel rim surface, the wheel rim having annular outboard and inboard tire bead seats formed therein for supporting outboard and inboard tire walls, respectively, the tire bead seats defining an initial diameter the wheel rim having a circular wheel disc disposed thereacross and defining a wheel disc surface; (b) plating at least one layer of a metal onto a portion of the wheel surface which includes a portion of at least one of the tire bead seats; and (c) machining the bead seat which has the layer of metal plating to a diameter which is less than the initial diameter of the bead seat to remove the layer of metal plating from the bead seat.
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Specification