METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLED DIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF A WHEEL CASTING

摘要

A method and apparatus for casting a metal wheel (50) having a wheel disk formed across a wheel rim (51). Forced cooling is applied to a wheel casting mold (80). The forced cooling controls the cooling of the molten metal in the mold cavity (101, 102, 103) such that solidification of the wheel casting occurs within the rim (51) and wheel disk (58) portions in a predetermined, controlled manner. Preferably, solidification begins at the junction of the wheel rim and disk and proceeds concurrently axially across the rim and radially across the wheel disk. This controlled directional solidification within the rim and wheel disk portions significantly reduces the amount of time required to cast a wheel casting and results in a lighter, stronger wheel.