US3161222A - Machine for profiling wheel rims - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1964 E. HENDRICKS MACHINE FOR PROFILING WHEEL RIMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 Ems/ Hendn'c/rs By Ms affomeys 4M M 2 4M Dec. 15, 1964 E. HENDRICKS MACHINE FOR PROFILING WHEEL RIMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1961 Q w Q mm @W 9mm 8 //7 1/60 for Emsf HflC/f/CAS By his affomeys Aw a w Dec. 15, 1964 E. HENDRICKS 3,161,222

MACHINE FOR PROFILING WHEEL RIMS Filed Dec. 27, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 3 //7 V6/7/0f Emsf Hendr/c/rs By his affomeys Dec. 15, 1964 E. HENDRICKS 3,151,222

MACHINE FOR PROFILING WHEEL RIMS Filed Dec. 27. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 9 370 370 360 36b fl I 580 1964 E. HENDRICKS 3,16

MACHINE FOR PROFILING WHEEL RIMS Filed Dec 27. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 34 M iv a.

United States Patent 3,161,222 MACHINE FGR PRGFILING WHEEL RIMS Ernst Hendricks, Solingen, Germany, assignor to Kronprinz Aktiengesellschaft, Solingcn-Ghligs, Germany, a

company of Germany Filed Dec. 27, I961, Ser. No. 162,405 9 Claims. (6]. 153-113) This invention relates to a machine for profiling wheel rims, and in particular for producing in a single operation rims having dropped centers from a preshaped piece of sheet metal cut to size.

Rolling machines designed for this purpose have been known hitherto; moreover, tools have been suggested for producing rims in a single finishing operation through rolling a pre-pressed cut-to-size piece of sheet metal, principally in an axial direction. However, these prior machines either do not hold the product to correct dimen sions or are not capable of high production rates.

In accordance with the invention these defects are avoided by means of a machine for rolling Wheel rims comprising a radially adjustable outer roller, two inner rollers, coaxial with each other, axially adjustable and each divided into at least two sections, means for moving the sections of said inner rollers axially toward one another, and two sets of roller guide means mounted to cooperate with said outer roller, each set of guide means comprising two conical rollers and one cylindrical roller between said conical rollers, both sets of guide means being radially adjustable with said outer roller. Preferably the sets of roller guide means can be shifted toward one another; that is, their journals are adjustable parallel to one another; preferably through mounting them in pivotable levers. Moreover, the inner rollers are preferably disposed on the outer ends of drive shafts which are movable axially. One of the sections of each inner roller is fixed to the drive shaft md another section is displaceable axially relative to the first section.

A further feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that the axial movement of the sections of the inner rollers is effected or initiated by means that are brought into a functional relationship with one another by axial movement of the drive shafts of the inner rollers.

Preferably the sections of the inner rollers are movable on the drive shafts in such a way that the distances of the several longitudinal elements of the rim cross-section from the points of contact with the roller sections remain constant throughout the entire forming process.

In one embodiment of the invention the inner rollers have inner and outer parts or sections and the means, one for each roller, causing axial movement of the outer parts, come into direct contact with each other. These means effect axial movement of the outer parts of the rollers through pivoting levers, one element of which bears upon the outer parts themselves and another upon the means causing movement of the outer parts.

In another embodiment of the invention, the parts or sections of the inner rollers are moved toward each other by means which come into contact indirectly and effect movement of said parts through releasing locking elements, permitting spring loaded inner parts to shift relative to the outer parts.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of a profiling machine according to the invention in which the inner rollers are shown in general outline.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in side elevation of a portion of a machine similar to that shown in FIG. 1, having laterally adjustable roller guide means.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views in vertical section showing "ice details of the inner rollers shown more generally in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 shows the arrangement at the beginning of the profiling operation. FIG. 4 shows the arrangement at the end of the operation.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views in vertical section of another form of inner rollers. FIG. 5 is taken at the beginning of the profiling operation and FIG. 6 at the end.

FIG. 7 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of roller guide means as used in the invention for accurate lateral piloting of the cut-to-size Work piece or blank.

Referring to FIG. 1, a profiling machine according to the invention comprises a foundation 1 upon which is mounted an upright 2 and a stand 3. Mounted on the front of the upright 2 is a vertically movable slide 4. An outer roller 5 is rotatably mounted in the lower part of this slide. In the upright 2 is also mounted a horizontally guided slide 612 and on the stand 3 is mounted another horizontally guided slide 6a. The stand 3 is positionecl relative to the upright 2 so that the slides 6a and 6b are directly opposite one another. The slide 6a has journaled in it a horizontal shaft 7a and the slide 6b has a shaft 7b. On the ends of these shafts are fixed inner rollers 8a and 8b respectively. The shafts 7a and 7b are driven synchronously. Thus, for example, they may be driven off a common shaft 21 by belts or chains; alternatively, hydraulic or electric drives can be used. The rotary speed of the roller 5 is also positively controlled and coordinated with the rollers 8a and 8b. The means by which this can he done are conventional and for the sake of simplicity will not be described. Electrical (or electronic) or hydraulic controls may be used here and elsewhere in the machine, as desired.

For accurately guiding the work (shown as in FIGS. 2) roller guide means 10 are mounted on each side of the slide 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the roller guide means 19 move up and down with the slide 4. The slide itself may be actuated by means of an eccentric I1, rotated by a motor which is not shown, and the lever system 12.

The roller guide means 10 can be fixed with respect to lateral movement or they can be mounted to be moved laterally toward one another (and toward the work) to suit the travel of the slide 4. As shown in FIG. 2, this can be done by mounting the guide means in levers Ida which are pivotally mounted in the slide 4. The levers 10a are themselves actuated by drive shafts Illb which are threaded in extensions Illa fixedly mounted on cars 4a which extend out from the slide 4. A locking device is provided for mounting the levers 10a in a desired position.

The vertical movement of the slide 4 effects and controls horizontal movement of the inner rollers 8a and 8b toward each other. Thus the slide 4 is provided with a cam 13. A rocker I5, pivotally mounted on the upright 2, carries a contacting roller 14 against which the cam bears in its vertical movement. The roller 14 is kept pressed against the surface of the cam 13 by means of the pressure cylinder 17 acting through a plunger 18 and a system of rods In. Vertical movement of the slide 4 thus actuates rocker 15, causing vertical movement of plunger 18. The plunger 18 operates a roller 1% which is coupled by a belt with a roller 1%, in such a way that the roller 19b rotates in a direction opposite to 19:1. Rollers 19a and 1917 are coupled through rod and lever systems Zda and Ztlb with the slides 6a and 6b, respectively, so that rotation of 19a and 1% causes the slides 64: and 6b, the shafts 7a and 7b and the inner rollers 8a and 8b to move toward each other.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4,.these show details of construction of the inner rollers 3a and 3b which, taken together, may be said to comprise an inner tool, i.e.

the clamp 3 t a tool used inside the wheel rim to give it shape as opposed to the outer tool used outside the rim, which is, of course, the roller 5 and associatedstructures. As in FIGS. 1 and 2, 7a and 7b are the shafts carrying the rollers 8a and 8b. Each of the rollers 8a and'Sb coms,1e1,222 H prises two parts axially displaceable relative to one an- 7 other. These are the inner parts 22a and 22b and the outer parts 23a and 23b. Taken together these parts are r ing the rim shoulders, while'the parts 23a, 23b serve to form the rim flange.

In their initial position, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner parts 22a, 22b are separated from the outer parts 23a, 23b by sets of coilsprings such as 24a, 24b distributed uniformly around the circumference of each of the rollers 8a and 8b. The springs 24a, 24b are lodged in the outer parts and in the intermediate pieces 25a, 25b, which are connected to the inner parts 22a, 22b by means of flanges 60a, 60b, which engage withxmatching flanges 6111,6111 in the inner parts 22a, 22b. 7 I

Here it may be interjected that the work piece or blank 9, cut to size, is inserted in the machine while the two rollers 8a, 8b are fully apart, about as shown in FIG. 1

and before the position of the tool shown in FIG. 3 is reached. The slide 4 is then brought down, causing the roller 5 to come into contact with the outer surface of the blank. At the same time the inner rollers 8a and 8b are caused to move together, by the mechanism described above. The actual profiling or shaping of the rim begins at about the position shown in FIG. 3.

Referring again to FIG. 3, as the slide 4" continues to move down, the shafts 7a and 7b approach one another with simultaneous controlled positioning-of the outer tool 5. Through this action the drop center. is for the most part profiled. "As the shafts 7a and 7b continue map- 27a; 27b and pressure rollsv 28a, 28b to circular segments 29a, 2%. v a 7 vThe circular segments 29ag29b are distributed uniformly around the circumference of the inner rolls 8a, 8b being mounted in guide pieces 32a, 3212., The latter are embedded in annular elements 33a, 33b. These annular elements33a, 33b are clamped tightlyon the 'shai'ts 7a, 7b by means of sleeves 34a, 34b and clamp rings- 35a, 35b; Spacer rings 35c and 35d are inserted between rings 35a, 35b and the pressure elements 26a, 26b. v V f; 7

Under pressure from rolls 28a, 28b, the segments 29a, 2% press against the pressure rolls 30a, 30b and the pans 31a, 31b and thus shift the outer parts 23a, 23b against the pressure of springs24a', 24b, toward the inner parts 22a, 22b. This movement, and also the downward'move- .ment of outer rollers S'continues until all the parts are close together and the profiling. operation has reached its final stage as shown in FIG. 4.v

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a somewhat'different structure for the inner rollers 8a, 8b. In these figures, forthe. sake of clan'ty the section of the left hand roller 8a has been taken in a different plane fromthat in whichthe section of the right hand rollerfib is taken;

In FIGS. 5 and .6, .Sfis the outer roller and 9 is the material being worked; The insertion of the blank and the adjustment of the-'outer and' inner tools relative to each other is' done in the same way as in FIGS} and 4.1 In the first stage of the: operatiom'however, the radial,

i.e. downward, movemento'f the outer roller. Siand the axial positioning ofitheinnerrollers8a, 8b proceeds with a the parts 36a, 36b (which correspond generallyftor the parts 23a, 23b of FIGS. 3 and 4) locked immovably relative -.to..the parts 237b, 37 b (which-correspond to 22a, 22b OLE-188.13; and 14 Consequentlyithe' drop, center rimshoulders become profiled [first-through parts 37a,

37b and then the rim flanges are profiled through parts 36a, 36b. Locking of parts 36a, 36b relative to 37a, 37b is effected by locking elements 38a, 33b distributed uniformly around the circumference of the rollers. These locking elements are forced outwardly by springs such as 39 and act withthe pressure plates 41 to grasp the parts 37a, 37b and hold them fixed with respect to the rollers 8a, 8b. The'parts 36a, 361) are, of course, permanently fixed to the rollers 8a, 8b by screws such as 62.

When the drop center rim being worked is almost are distributed about the circumference of both rollers,

'strike against the pressure plates 41. The locking pins are forced backwardly compressing coil spring 42 and camming locking segments 38a, 38b downwardly (as the segments appear in FIGS. 5 and 6). v This permits relative movement between the parts 36a, 36b and 37a, 37b. As the rollers 8a, Sb are moved axially inwardly, they carry with them the parts 36a, 36b and these parts are forced into contact with the parts 37a, 37b (as shown in FIG. 6) against the pressure of disc springs such as 44, profiling the rim flanges.

s As noted above the invention further provides roller guide means 16 associated with the outer roller 5. FIG. 7 shows "the construction of a preferred form of these roller guide means. Referring to FIG. 7 the roller guide I means indicated generally as 10 are set in bearings 45 which are mounted either fixedly or adjustably on the vertical slide 4. The guide means comprise a shaft 46 :upon which is fixedly mounted by means of support sleeves47and clamp rings 48, a pair of conical rollers -49, and a cylindrical roller 50. The cylindrical roller serves for piloting in the drop center of the profile, and

j prevents radial deflection of the blank; While the conical proach each other, the outer ends 26c,'26d of pressure elements 26:1,261; come into contact with one another, The resulting. pressure is transmitted through cylinder pans rollers 49 guide the edges of .the profile, so' that the blank is sure to run' properly, as is shown in FIG. 7 for the initial and the final positions. The taper of the rollers 49 is so selected that contact with the edges of the blank, and thus lateral guidance, are secured during the profiling operation.

What isclaimed is: 1. A profiling machine for bending a cylindrical blank into a Wheel rimcomprising an outer roller and .two inner rollers, the rollers being positioned to enable a cylindrical 'blank to be disposed Wlthithq inner rolls inside and the 5. The machine cl outer roller outside the blank, the inner rollers being coaxial with one another, axially adjustable, and each divided into two sections, means for moving the outer roller radially of a blank positioned between it and the inner rollers {and thus pressing such blank against the inner rollers, means for moving the inner rollers toward one another and for moving a sectionof each inner roller toward the other sectionof that roller, two sets of roller guide means, forfcentering a blank disposed between the outer roller the inner rollers, ea'chof said sets comprising two conical rollers and a cylindrical roller positionedjbetween the conical rollers, both sets of guide means being movable with said outer roller. t 2. The machine claimed in claim 1 and comprising means for moving said sets of roller guide means toward oneano-ther; f V 3. The machine claimed in claim 2 wherein each set 'ofroller guide means is mounted in a pivotable lever. i

4. The machine, claimed in .,cl aim 1 and comprising drive shaftsand means to movelthe 'dr iveshafts axially,

I each. of the inner rollers'being arranged on one end of a 'dr'ive 'shafnone of the' section s of each of the inner rollers being-made'fastl to the drive shaft, and anothersection being moveable inan axial. direction withrespect to the first mentionedsection'. 1;, m i mo /cable sections" of the inner rollers are moveable relaftive'to the'drive shafts in sucha'way that the distances of claim 4; and in whichthe 3) individual longitudinal elements of the rim cross section from points of contact with the roller sections remain constant through the whole forming process.

6. The machine claimed in claim 4 and comprising means in each of the inner rollers for displacing the sections of the roller toward each other, said means being brought into functional relationship by the axial movement of the drive shafts.

7. The machine claimed in claim 4 and comprising means, in each of the inner rollers, for displacing the sections of the roller toward each other, said means comprising pressure elements, the pressure element in each roller being positioned to come into direct engagement with the pressure element of the other roller as the inner rollers are moved axially toward each other and lever means, pivotally mounted in each of said rollers, one part of said lever means bearing upon said pressure element and another part upon the section of the roller to be displaced.

8. The machine claimed in claim 4 and comprising means for lockin the sections of the inner rollers with respect to one another, and means for unlocking said locking means.

9. The machine claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said inner rollers has an inner section and an outer section, spring means forcing said sections apart, locking means for maintaining said sections separated, and means for unlocking said locking means to permit said inner section to be brought into contact with said outer section by axial movement of said rollers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,105,289 1/38 Lobdell 153-48 2,185,347 1/40 Le Jeune 29159.l 2,268,330 12/41 Bouee 15329 2,478,231 8/49 Bowers 78-15 MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Primary Examiner.

WHITEMORE A. WILTZ, CHARLES W. LANHAM,

Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. A PROFILING MACHINE FOR BENDING A CYLINDRICAL BLANK INTO A WHEEL RIM COMPRISING AN OUTER ROLLER AND TWO INNER ROLLER, THE ROLLERS BEING POSITIONED TO ENABLE A CYLINDRICAL BLANK TO BE DISPOSED WITH THE INNER ROLLS INSIDE AND THE OUTER ROLLER OUTSIDE THE BLANK, THE INNER ROLLERS BEING COAXIAL WITH ONE ANOTHER, AXIALLY ADJUSTABLE, AND EACH DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS, MEANS FOR MOVING THE OUTER ROLLER RADIALLY OF A BLANK POSITIONED BETWEEN IT AND THE INNER ROLLER AND THUS PRESSING SUCH BLANK AGAINST THE INNER ROLLERS, MEANS FOR MOVING THE INNER ROLLER TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AND FOR MOVING A SECTION OF EACH INNER ROLLER TOWARD THE OTHER SECTION OF THAT ROLLER, TWO SETS OF ROLLER

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