Fiber-reinforced composite wheel construction
US4376749A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 1981 |
| Grant date | Mar 15, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29K2309/08
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fiber-reinforced composite vehicle wheel, and a method and apparatus for construction thereof. The wheel comprises a disc portion having reinforcing fibers in substantially random orientation disposed predominantly in planes perpendicular to the wheel axis, and a rim portion having directional first reinforcing fibers substantially parallel to each other and oriented circumferentially of or substantially parallel to the wheel axis, or both, and second reinforcing fibers which are substantially randomly oriented circumferentially of the wheel axis. The method includes formation of separate rim and disc charges from sheet molding plastic resin compound and compression molding of the charges to form an integral composite rim and disc structure of essentially homogeneous resin reinforced by the fibers. An apparatus for molding the wheel features radially movable rim mold sections and axially reciprocable disc mold sections all having mold surface contours for forming a molded composite wheel of desired configuration.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.