Manufacture of wheels

1. A method of making at least a component for a rim base of a multi-piece wheel for a vehicle, comprising providing a workpiece of tubular configuration and hot upset forging the workpiece in press tooling to form a part thereof to a required configuration, wherein the method includes the steps of:

heating a portion of the workpiece to a forging temperature in situ in the press tooling;

upset forging the workpiece in a first upset forging operation in which the press tooling defines a first cavity having a first configuration, to increase a thickness defined by the portion of the workpiece to a first thickness, and to shape the portion of the workpiece to a first shape corresponding to the first cavity; and

upset forging the workpiece in a second upset forging operation in the press tooling subsequent to the first upset forging operation, wherein the press tooling in the second upset forging operation defines a second cavity having a second configuration different than the first configuration, to increase the thickness of the portion of the workpiece to a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and to shape the portion of the workpiece to a second shape corresponding to the second cavity different than the first shape.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of heating the portion of the workpiece is effected by induction heating.

3. A method according to claim 2 comprising holding the workpiece by a first part of the press tooling and supporting an induction heating element for movement with a second part of the press tooling relative to the first part of the press tooling.

4. A method according to claim 3 comprising moving the second part of the press tooling relative to the first part of the press tooling to bring the induction heating element to a position adjacent the portion of the workpiece to be formed, energising the induction heating element to heat the portion of the workpiece, and further moving the second part of the tooling relative to the first part to effect the upset forging of the portion of the workpiece.

5. A method according to claim 3 further comprising moving the induction heating element relative to the workpiece while heating is in progress.

6. A method according to claim 1 including heating the portion of the workpiece between the first and second upset forging operations.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first and second upset forging operations utilise different portions of a forming formation in the press tooling.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the upset forging increases a wall thickness of the portion of the workpiece.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the portion of increased thickness of the workpiece is an edge portion, to provide a gutter band part of a rim base.

10. A method according to claim 8 , wherein the portion of increased thickness provides reinforcement in a part of the workpiece formed to provide a flange formation.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the upset forging provides an abutment formation for a back band part of a rim base.

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising forming a bead seat portion adjacent the abutment formation.

13. A method of making a rim base for a multi-piece wheel for a vehicle, comprising making a component by the method according to claim 1 , and welding the component to at least one further component.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the first component is welded to a further component which is also made by the method of claim 1 .

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the components comprise a gutter band part and a back band part of a rim base.

16. A method of making a one-piece rim base for a multi-piece wheel for a vehicle, comprising making a component by the method of claim 9 , and forming an opposite edge portion of the workpiece to provide a back band part of the rim base.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the opposite edge portion of the workpiece is cold formed.

18. A method according to claim 17 further comprising hot upset forging the workpiece to provide an increased wall thickness in a part thereof which is cold formed.

19. A method according to claim 16 wherein the opposite edge portion of the workpiece is formed by upset forging.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the respective edge portions of the workpiece are hot upset forged in separate press tool sets.

21. A rim base or a component for a rim base for a multi-piece wheel, made by a method according to claim 1 .

22. A multi-piece wheel, having a rim base according to claim 21 .

23. A method of making an article by hot upset forging a workpiece in press tooling, wherein the method includes at least the steps of:

heating a portion of the workpiece to a forging temperature in situ in the press tooling;

upset forging the workpiece in the press tooling in a first upset forging operation in which the press tooling defines a first cavity having a first configuration, to increase a thickness defined by the portion of the workpiece to a first thickness, and to shape the portion of the workpiece to a first shape corresponding to the first cavity; and

thereafter again upset forging the workpiece in the press tooling in a second upset forging operation, wherein the press tooling in the second upset forging operation defines a second cavity having a second configuration different than the first configuration, to increase the thickness of the portion of the workpiece to a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and to shape the portion of the workpiece to a second shape corresponding to the second cavity different than the first shape.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the heating is induction heating.