Fabricated vehicle wheel and method for producing same

Abstract

A full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel comprises a full face wheel disc defining an axis and having an outer end and a wheel rim having an outer end joined to the outer end of the wheel disc by at least one weld to produce the full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel. The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel includes only a generally radially outwardly extending outer end formed by a combination of at least a portion of two of the outer end of the wheel disc, the outer end of the wheel rim and the at least one weld.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel comprising:
 a full face wheel disc defining a horizontal axis and having an outer end; and   a wheel rim having an outer end joined to said outer end of said wheel disc by at least one weld to produce the full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel;   wherein the full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel includes only a generally radially outwardly extending outer end formed by a combination of at least a portion of at least two of said outer end of said wheel disc, said outer end of said wheel rim and said at least one weld.   
     
     
         2 . The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel of  claim 1  wherein said outer end of said wheel rim is joined to said outer end of said wheel disc by two welds. 
     
     
         3 . The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel of  claim 1  wherein said outer end of said wheel rim is joined to said outer end of said wheel disc by three welds. 
     
     
         4 . The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel of  claim 1  wherein said generally radially outwardly extending outer end is formed by at least a portion of said outer end of said wheel disc, said outer end of said wheel rim and said at least one weld. 
     
     
         5 . The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel of  claim 1  wherein said outer end of said wheel disc is turned axially inwardly so as to extend generally parallel with respect to said axis and said outer end of said wheel rim is turned radially outwardly so as to extend generally perpendicular with respect to said axis. 
     
     
         6 . The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel of  claim 1  wherein said outer end of said wheel disc is turned axially inwardly so as to extend generally parallel with respect to said axis and said outer end of said wheel rim is turned radially inwardly so as to extend generally perpendicular with respect to said axis. 
     
     
         7 . The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel of  claim 1  wherein said outer end of said wheel rim and said outer end of said wheel disc extend generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular with respect to said axis. 
     
     
         8 . The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel of  claim 1  wherein said outer end of said wheel disc defines a first thickness and said outer end of said wheel rim defines a second thickness which is less than said first thickness. 
     
     
         9 . The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel of  claim 1  wherein said at least one weld is deposited in a fit up area gap defined by opposed adjacent surfaces of said outer end of said wheel rim and said outer end of said wheel disc. 
     
     
         10 . The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel of  claim 1  wherein said outer end of said wheel rim includes an end surface which extends generally parallel with respect to said axis and said wheel disc includes an outer surface which is spaced apart from contact with and extends generally parallel to said end surface of said outer end of said wheel rim. 
     
     
         11 . The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel of  claim 1  wherein said outer end of said wheel rim includes an outer surface which extends generally perpendicular with respect to said axis and said wheel disc includes an inner surface which is disposed adjacent to and in contact with at least a portion of said outer surface of said outer end of said wheel rim. 
     
     
         12 . A method for producing a full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a full face wheel disc defining a horizontal axis and having an outer end; and   (b) providing a wheel rim having an outer end; and   (c) positioning the outer ends of the wheel disc and wheel rim in a predetermined position relative to each other; and   (d) joining the wheel disc and the wheel rim together by at least one weld to produce the full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel, wherein the full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel includes only a generally radially outwardly extending outer end formed by a combination of at least a portion of at least two of the outer end of the wheel disc, the outer end of the wheel rim and the at least one weld.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein step (d) includes joining the wheel disc and the wheel rim together by two welds. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the outer end of the wheel disc provided in step (a) is turned axially inwardly so as to extend generally parallel with respect to the axis in step (c), and wherein the outer end of the wheel rim provided in step (b) is turned radially outwardly so as to extend generally perpendicular with respect to the axis in step (c). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the outer end of said wheel disc provided in step (a) is turned axially inwardly so as to extend generally parallel with respect to the axis in step (c), and wherein the outer end of the wheel rim provided in step (b) is turned radially inwardly so as to extend generally perpendicular with respect to the axis in step (c). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein in step (c) the outer end of the wheel rim provided in step (b) and the outer end of the wheel disc provided in step (a) extend generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular with respect to the axis. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the outer end of the wheel rim provided in step (b) defines a first thickness and the outer end of the wheel disc provided in step (a) defines a second thickness which is greater than the first thickness. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the outer end of the wheel rim provided in step (b) includes an end surface which extends generally parallel with respect to the axis and the wheel disc provided in step (a) includes an outer surface which in step (c) is spaced apart from contact with and extends generally parallel to the end surface of the outer end of the wheel rim. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the outer end of the wheel rim provided in step (b) includes an outer surface which extends generally perpendicular with respect to the axis and the wheel disc provided in step (a) includes an inner surface which in step (c) is disposed adjacent to and in contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the outer end of the wheel rim. 
     
     
         20 . A full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel comprising:
 a full face wheel disc defining a horizontal axis and having an outer end defining a first thickness; and   a wheel rim having an outer end joined to said outer end of said wheel disc by at least one weld to produce the full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel, said outer end of said wheel rim defining a second thickness;   wherein the full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel includes only a generally radially outwardly extending outer end having a third thickness defined by at least a combination of said first thickness of said outer end of said wheel disc and said second thickness of said outer end of said wheel rim.   
     
     
         21 . The full face fabricated euroflange vehicle wheel of  claim 20  wherein said first thickness of said outer end of said wheel disc is greater than said second thickness of said outer end of said wheel rim.