METHOD OF MAKING A STEERING HAND WHEEL INSERT

摘要

A method of making a steering hand wheel insert including the steps of: (a) in a gas assisted injection molding apparatus, forming a mold cavity (40) having an outer channel (42), an inner channel (44), and a plurality of spoke channels; (b) forming a stationary mold insert in the outer channel (42) dividing the latter into a pair of symmetric outer channel segments (56A, 56B) having downstream ends connected by a plurality of choke passages (54) around the stationary mold insert; (c) injecting a short shot of a flowable plastic melt (69) into each of the outer channel segments through a gate (58) diametrically opposite the stationary insert and into the inner channel through a second gate (60); (d) injecting inert gas under pressure into the flowable plastic melt diametrically opposite the stationary insert; (e) maintaining the gas pressure until all of the flowable plastic melt cures in the mold cavity; (f) relieving the pressure of the inert gas, and (g) opening the mold cavity and removing the molded plastic steering hand wheel insert having a hollow tubular rim (74), a solid plastic inner bracket (76), and a plurality of integral spokes (78).