Automobile Wheel Disk Hub Hole Groove Forming
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manufacturing process for automobile wheels requires a costly cutting step to form cap fixing grooves, increasing the overall production cost.
Innovation Solution
A method involving punching and coining processes using specific dies to form hub holes and fixing grooves in the wheel disk, eliminating the need for cutting excess material, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a cutting step is used to form cap fixing grooves, then the grooves can be formed with precise depth and shape, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cutting process (mechanical removal of material) with a coining process (mechanical deformation). Instead of using cutting tools to remove excess material and form grooves, the invention uses coining dies to plastically deform the metal plate, directly forming the grooves with precise depth and shape through controlled compression, thereby eliminating the costly cutting step.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing approach from material removal (cutting) to material deformation (coining). By adjusting parameters such as die geometry, compression force, and material flow characteristics, the coining process achieves the required groove precision without the need for subsequent cutting operations, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining precision.
2Ease of manufacture
If excess material is extruded radially inward during compressing, then the grooves can be formed by compression, but the extruded material must be cut away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates preliminary action by designing the coining dies to control material flow during compression. The die geometry and compression parameters are optimized in advance to prevent excessive material extrusion, ensuring that the material deforms into the groove shapes without creating significant excess that would require cutting removal.
3Ease of manufacture
If the hub hole peripheral portion is squeezed to form grooves, then cap fixing grooves are formed without cutting, but protrusions may obstruct hub cap mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating alternating first and second inner circumferential end surfaces with different radii along the circumferential direction. The first surfaces (with larger radius) provide space for the locking pieces, while the second surfaces (with smaller radius) are where the grooves are formed. This local differentiation ensures that protrusions do not obstruct hub cap mounting while still achieving cutting-free groove formation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for the formation of cap fixing grooves without cutting, lowering production costs and minimizing protrusion height to prevent obstruction during hub cap mounting, while ensuring sufficient space for locking pieces.
Implementation Method 1
forming a hub hole (22) in a metal plate by punching using a press
Implementation Method 2
forming the plurality of fixing grooves each having a predetermined depth and a circular arc shape by squeezing in a plate thickness direction in an inner circumferential end of the hub hole peripheral portion
Data Source
AI summary
In a step of forming a fixing groove for a wheel disk (20), an inner circumferential end of a first hub hole peripheral portion (41) is squeezed by a protruding portion (D21) of a back die (D2) and a dent portion (D31) of a front die (D3). In this manner, a fixing groove (50) is formed in a back surface of the first hub hole peripheral portion (41). Along with this, an excess material is pushed into the dent portion (D31) so that a protrusion (51) is formed on a front surface of the first hub hole peripheral portion (41). Thus, without requiring a step of cutting the excess material, the fixing groove (50) can be formed in a back surface of a hub hole peripheral portion (30).