Vehicle Wheel Bright Surface Finishing With Coated Edge Chamfering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing vehicle wheels with complex bright surfaces are limited, as they can only be formed on the outermost part and lack design enhancement beyond simple flat or curved shapes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving casting or forging of a light metal workpiece, cutting to form a cut surface, coating with colored paint, and chamfering the edge to create a linear bright surface that extends along the boundary between the cut and original surfaces, using machining for precise control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a machining center is used to form complex bright surfaces by moving a cutting tool along three-dimensional shapes, then the design property of the bright surface is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplexity of bright surface shapeVSAvoidcomplexity of manufacturing equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a complex machining center to cut complex shapes directly, the invention inverts the approach by first forming a simple cylindrical bright surface through conventional wheel manufacturing, then creating complex visual effects through coating application and selective removal. The complexity is transferred from the structural shape to the surface treatment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters of the bright surface creation process by transitioning from mechanical cutting of complex geometries to a coating-based approach where the bright surface is formed by removing coating material rather than cutting the metal substrate, thereby simplifying the manufacturing equipment while achieving complex visual designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If manual chamfering is used to create the bright surface, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the width of the bright surface varies greatly causing appearance deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of chamfering processVSAvoidconsistency of bright surface width

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces manual mechanical chamfering with a controlled coating removal process. Instead of relying on manual skill to maintain consistent dimensions, the bright surface width is controlled by the precision of the coating application and removal process, which can be more easily standardized and controlled through automated means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The coating material serves as an intermediary that enables precise control of the bright surface width. By applying and removing the coating in a controlled manner, the exact width of the bright surface can be predetermined and maintained consistently, eliminating the variability inherent in manual chamfering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11660656B2Method for manufacturing vehicle wheel

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 CENTRAL MOTOR WHEEL CO LTD

AI summary

A method manufactures a vehicle wheel that includes a wheel rim having a cylindrical shape and a wheel disc provided on an inner peripheral side of the wheel rim. The method includes forming a workpiece of the vehicle wheel by casting or forging, the workpiece being a metal alloy workpiece; cutting a part of the workpiece to form a cut surface; coating, with a colored paint, the cut surface, an edge where the cut surface intersects a surface of the workpiece, and at least a portion around the edge in the surface of the workpiece; and chamfering the edge to form a bright surface where the workpiece is exposed, after coating the cut surface, the edge, and at least the portion around the edge.