Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Apparatus for molding a composite metal-elastomer styled wheel in which a middle mold part includes a metal wheel disc and rim subassembly. A base mold part seats against the outboard face of the metal wheel in the closed condition of the mold and has a mold cavity surface to provide an ornamental configuration for the outboard face of the decorative plastic body of the composite wheel. A clamp seats against the inboard face of the middle mold part to urge the middle part into sealing engagement with the base mold part. The mold parts are axially separable from one another to open the molding apparatus to clear the middle mold part from said clamp and base mold parts. The clamp includes a funnel adapted for registry with a liquid reaction mixture injection nozzle coupled with injecting mixing apparatus. The funnel has a nozzle passage registering with a bolt-hole pour opening in the disc in the closed condition of the mold. A sprue passageway is provided in a core part affixed to the base mold part in juxtaposed relation to the disc pour opening and cooperates with the margin of the pour opening to define an increasingly restricted sprue passageway to the mold cavity during the injection pour of the urethane reaction mixture. The sprue passageway and disc downstream of the pour opening define a zone of turbulance which promotes mixing of the liquid urethane reaction mixture. The sprue material remaining on the disc upon separation of the base mold part from the middle part has a narrow or thin cross-section junction with the plastic body to form a severance zone which facilitates cleavage of the solidified urethane reaction sprue material from the plastic body and disc.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim