Method and apparatus for vibration casting of vehicle wheels

Abstract

A vehicle wheel mold is vibrated during a casting process. The vibration reduces the solidification time needed to form a wheel casting while improving tensile strength of the wheel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for casting a vehicle wheel component comprising: 
 a multi-segment mold for the vehicle wheel component; and    a device for vibrating a portion of said mold while said mold contains a charge of molten metal and continuing to vibrate said portion of said mold while said charge of molten metal solidifies.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein said device for vibrating includes a ball vibrator.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to    claim 2    wherein said mold includes a top core and further wherein said ball vibrator is mounted adjacent to said mold and is operable to vibrate said top core.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to    claim 3    wherein said ball vibrator is pneumatically powered.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to    claim 4    wherein said mold forms a one piece vehicle wheel.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to    claim 4    wherein said mold forms a full face wheel disc.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein said device for vibrating includes a reciprocating hammer.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to    claim 7    wherein said mold includes a top core and further wherein said reciprocating hammer is mounted adjacent to said mold and is operable to vibrate said top core.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to    claim 8    wherein said reciprocating hammer is pneumatically powered.  
     
     
         10 . A method for forming a vehicle wheel component comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a multi-segment mold for casting the wheel component and a device for vibrating a portion of the wheel mold;    (b) filling the cavity of the wheel component mold with a charge of molten metal;    (c) vibrating a portion of the wheel component mold while the molten metal solidifies; and    (d) removing the wheel component from the mold.    
     
     
         11 . The method according to    claim 10    wherein during step (c) the portion of the mold is vibrated while the mold cavity is filled with the molten metal.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to    claim 10    wherein the portion of the mold is vibrated in step (c) after the mold cavity is completely filled.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to    claim 10    wherein the portion of the mold is vibrated in step (c) after a predetermined time period has elapsed following the filling of the mold cavity.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to    claim 10    wherein during step (b) the molten metal is poured into the mold cavity with gravity causing the molten metal to flow throughout the mold cavity.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to    claim 10    wherein during step (b) the molten metal is forced under pressure into the mold cavity with the pressure causing the molten metal to flow throughout the mold cavity.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to    claim 14    wherein the mold forms a one piece vehicle wheel.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to    claim 14    wherein the mold forms a full face wheel disc.