	US 7,615,171 B2
	Composite wheel and method for manufacturing the same
Del C Schroeder, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (US); Mariana G Forrest, Troy, Mich. (US); Joseph G Salmonowicz, Ortonville, Mich. (US); John G Argeropoulos, Sterling Heights, Mich. (US); Jason E Fulcher, Royal Oak, Mich. (US); Ida M Baier, White Lake, Mich. (US); Janice M Makarewicz, Royal Oak, Mich. (US); and David G Speth, Sylvan Lake, Mich. (US)
Assigned to Chrysler Group LLC, Auburn Hills, Mich. (US)
Filed on Jul. 07, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/885,818.
Application 10/885818 is a division of application No. 10/225334, filed on Aug. 21, 2002, granted, now 7,040,714.
Prior Publication US 2004/0255462 A1, Dec. 23, 2004
Int. Cl. B32B 37/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 264—103 [264/257; 264/258]

10 Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a wheel from a braided fiber, comprising:

braiding a fiber into a braided tube;

pulling and folding said braided tube to create a first preform;

weaving thermoplastic fibers into said first preform;

trimming said first preform;

placing said first preform into a wheel mold cavity;

injecting a resin into said mold containing said first preform;

curing said resin to form a first section of the wheel;

trimming said first section to create a plurality of openings in said first section;

manufacturing a second section of the wheel that includes a plurality of openings from a second braided tube;

adhesively coupling said first section to said second section; and

adhesively coupling an annular mount to said second section so that protrusions formed on said annular mount pass through said plurality of openings of said first section and said plurality of openings of said second section.