An aluminum alloy wheel for a vehicle is provided, which includes: a wheel central portion, a rim portion, and a plurality of radial elements, wherein the aluminum alloy wheel is processed by centrifugal casting and forging to form a central portion with a morphology exhibiting a grain size variation with decreasing gradient in a lateral direction from an inner side of the wheel central portion to an outer side thereof.

A method for processing aluminum alloy rims including: providing a feed of a plurality of aluminum alloy rims of different compositions, each aluminum alloy rim having a serial number distinguishing that aluminum alloy rim from other aluminum alloy rims; storing in a non-transient computer-readable memory, a plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories; dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into a plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims by, for each rim in the feed of aluminum alloy rims, scanning that aluminum alloy rim to determine the serial number of that aluminum alloy rim; based on the serial number, determining, from amongst the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories, an aluminum alloy rim category for that aluminum alloy rim, wherein each batch of aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims corresponds to a category in the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories.

A method for processing aluminum alloy rims including: providing a feed of a plurality of aluminum alloy rims of different compositions, each aluminum alloy rim having a serial number distinguishing that aluminum alloy rim from other aluminum alloy rims; storing in a non-transient computer-readable memory, a plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories; dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into a plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims by, for each rim in the feed of aluminum alloy rims, scanning that aluminum alloy rim to determine the serial number of that aluminum alloy rim; based on the serial number, determining, from amongst the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories, an aluminum alloy rim category for that aluminum alloy rim, wherein each batch of aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims corresponds to a category in the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories.

Aluminum wheels include a rim and a disc having a mounting portion. The mounting portion includes an inner mounting face and an outer mounting face. The mounting portion also includes a coarse grain region and a fine grain region. The coarse grain region can be adjacent, and at least partially form, one of the inner mounting face or the outer mounting face. The coarse grain region includes aluminum alloy grains of a first average grain length that is greater than 1 mm. The fine grain region extends between the coarse grain region and the other of the inner mounting face or the outer mounting face. The fine grain region includes aluminum alloy grains of a second average grain length that is less than 0.5 mm.

Aluminum wheels include a rim and a disc having a mounting portion. The mounting portion includes an inner mounting face and an outer mounting face. The mounting portion also includes a coarse grain region and a fine grain region. The coarse grain region can be adjacent, and at least partially form, one of the inner mounting face or the outer mounting face. The coarse grain region includes aluminum alloy grains of a first average grain length that is greater than 1 mm. The fine grain region extends between the coarse grain region and the other of the inner mounting face or the outer mounting face. The fine grain region includes aluminum alloy grains of a second average grain length that is less than 0.5 mm.

A method and system for processing aluminum alloy rims are provided, involving providing a feed of a plurality of aluminum alloy rims of different compositions, each aluminum alloy rim in the plurality of aluminum alloy rims having a serial number distinguishing that aluminum alloy rim from other aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of aluminum alloy rims, storing in a non-transient computer-readable memory, a plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories, dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into a plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims by, for each rim in the feed of aluminum alloy rims, scanning that aluminum alloy rim to determine the serial number of that aluminum alloy rim; based on the serial number, operating a data processor to determine, from amongst the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories, an aluminum alloy rim category for that aluminum alloy rim, wherein each batch of aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims corresponds to a category in the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories; and then, allocating that aluminum alloy rim to the batch of aluminum alloy rims corresponding to that aluminum alloy rim category. After dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, each batch of the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims are separately processed.

A method and system for processing aluminum alloy rims are provided, involving providing a feed of a plurality of aluminum alloy rims of different compositions, each aluminum alloy rim in the plurality of aluminum alloy rims having a serial number distinguishing that aluminum alloy rim from other aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of aluminum alloy rims, storing in a non-transient computer-readable memory, a plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories, dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into a plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims by, for each rim in the feed of aluminum alloy rims, scanning that aluminum alloy rim to determine the serial number of that aluminum alloy rim; based on the serial number, operating a data processor to determine, from amongst the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories, an aluminum alloy rim category for that aluminum alloy rim, wherein each batch of aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims corresponds to a category in the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories; and then, allocating that aluminum alloy rim to the batch of aluminum alloy rims corresponding to that aluminum alloy rim category. After dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, each batch of the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims are separately processed.

Wheels for use on vehicles and methods of manufacturing vehicle wheels are described in the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, a method includes a step of manufacturing a wheel that includes a rim, a center disk, and a plurality of spokes. The rim may include a substantially-cylindrical barrel adapted to seal a tubeless tire. The center disk may include a central bore adapted for engagement with an axle of a vehicle. Also, the plurality of spokes may be adapted to connect the center disk to the rim. The method further includes the step of deforming outwardly-facing surfaces of the spokes using one or more hammering or punching instruments.

A forging and inclined window hole punching composite die includes an upper die holder, a connection sleeve, an upper die sliding sleeve, a pressure plate, inclined window puncher pins, a center puncher pin, first connection screw rods, first springs, second connection screw rods, second springs, hydraulic assistant systems, a lower die and a bottom plate. Bottom surface of the pressure plate of the composite die is a plane to avoid deformation of a front molding surface. Hydraulic power is added to the inclined window puncher pins to increase the pressure for punching inclined holes, avoid quality problems and increase a demolding force. A multi-split synchronous hydraulic device may well realize synchronization of the plurality of inclined window puncher pins.

Aluminum alloys described herein include silicon, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, and chromium. In various implementations, the aluminum alloys also include one or more of zinc and titanium. Typically, a total amount of iron and manganese in the aluminum alloys is no less than 0.28% by weight and no greater than 0.45% by weight, and the grains in the aluminum alloys have an average grain length of no greater than 6 mm. Aluminum alloy billets can be forged for wheel production at selected temperatures.