Portable Lathe For Brake Drum, Disc, Or Shoe Patents (Class 82/112)
  • Patent number: 11007577
    Abstract: An on-car brake lathe is provided with a runout compensation system configured to monitor the rotational position of a pair of slant discs within an aligning joint of the on-car brake lathe. The system monitors the amount of runout present between the rotating components of the on-car brake lathe and the wheel hub to which the on-car brake lathe is secured, and calculates a relative rotational position for each slant disc within the aligning joint required to impart a necessary adjustment in the wheel coupling rotational axis to align the on-car brake lathe with the rotational axis of the wheel hub. An adjustment mechanism within the aligning joint is configured to rotationally drive each slant disc to the calculated relative rotational positions with a minimum amount of rotational movement based on the current relative rotational position of each slant disc and the required calculated relative rotational positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: William James Nelgner, Jeffrey P. Talbott, Joel A. Clasquin
  • Patent number: 8914965
    Abstract: An outer member and an inner member constituting a wheel bearing device are assembled and the brake rotor is fixed to the hub ring of the inner member. In this state, the pad slide surfaces of the brake rotor are lathed with the reference provided by a wheel pilot end surface. Alternatively, the wheel pilot end surface of the hub ring by chucking the knuckle pilot of the outer member with the wheel bearing device put in its assembled state, and the pad slide surfaces of the brake rotor are lathed with the reference provided by the wheel pilot end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyotake Shibata, Kazunari Yamamoto, Kazuhisa Shigeoka, Taku Nishiki, Kazuo Komori, Takao Maeda
  • Patent number: 8800414
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and related methods for facilitating the application of a cutting tool to a work-piece rotating on the axis of a lathe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Peter B. Martin
  • Patent number: 8739663
    Abstract: A device for holding a tool holder for face milling a brake disc present on a vehicle has a coupling section which can be connected to a shaft or hub rotating around the axis of rotation, as well as a support for supporting the ancillary device, and holding the ancillary device at right angles to the axis of rotation. The holder comprises a hinge construction, a first part of which having a sphere function and the second part of which having a scale function, one of the parts being connected to the coupling section and the other part being connected to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventor: Joannes Hendricus Bakker
  • Patent number: 8707835
    Abstract: A device for holding a movable tool holder at right angles to a shaft for turning a brake disc on a vehicle, has a coupling section, which is formed by a plate that is fastened against a hub on the shaft, and securing devices, in the form of a disc, for securing the tool holder. The device also has devices for holding the tool holder at right angles to the shaft. These devices are formed by a hinge construction, which is built up of a sphere, which is fastened on an ancillary shaft that is fastened in the plate, and two scale-shaped parts. The scale-shaped parts can be pressed towards each other by turning a hollow nut, so that they can be clamped onto the sphere and block the hinge construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventor: Johannes Hendricus Bakker
  • Patent number: 8418367
    Abstract: To realize a manufacturing method for a wheel-supporting rolling bearing unit that can establish sufficient parallelism between a rotating side installation surface 14 for fastening to and supporting a disk of a disk brake and a stationary side installation surface 15 for fastening a caliper or support, in the present invention, while rotating a hub 2 comprising the rotating side installation surface 14 with respect to an outer race comprising the stationary side installation surface, a finishing process such as turning is performed on the rotating side installation surface 14 or both side surfaces in the axial direction of the disk which is fastened and supported to and by the rotating side installation surface 14, with the stationary side installation surface 15 as a reference surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ishikawa, Yasunori Suzuki, Narihito Otake, Tetsu Takehara, Kiyotaka Hirata, Shouji Horike, Tetsuo Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 8336430
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and related methods for facilitating the application of a cutting tool to a work-piece rotating on the axis of a lathe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Peter B. Martin
  • Patent number: 8323074
    Abstract: A brake disk braking surface processing device 1 includes a rotation driving device 11 that rotates a brake disk 2, a processing section 12 that processes braking surfaces 4 and 5 of the brake disk 2, and pressing rollers 13 and 14 that press the braking surfaces 4 and 5 of the brake disk 2. The brake disk braking surface processing device 1 includes the pressing rollers 13 and 14 that press the braking surfaces 4 and 5 of the brake disk 2. Therefore, even when tools are pressed against the braking surfaces 4 and 5 in a direction perpendicular to the braking surfaces 4 and 5, deformation of the braking surfaces 4 and 5 of the brake disk 2 can be suppressed with certainty. As a result, processing accuracy of the braking surfaces 4 and 5 of the brake disk 2 can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Maeda, Taku Nishiki
  • Publication number: 20120272797
    Abstract: A device for holding a tool holder for face milling a brake disc present on a vehicle has a coupling section which can be connected to a shaft or hub rotating around the axis of rotation, as well as a support for supporting the ancillary device, and holding the ancillary device at right angles to the axis of rotation. The holder comprises a hinge construction, a first part of which having a sphere function and the second part of which having a scale function, one of the parts being connected to the coupling section and the other part being connected to the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Joannes Hendricus Bakker
  • Patent number: 8245609
    Abstract: A reporting system, employing a microprocessor, tracks the operation of an on-vehicle brake lathe and provides records of the resurfacing operations performed by the lathe. Identification of the vehicle and wheel position of a brake disk to be resurfaced are inputted using an operator interface, and stored in a temporary memory. When tool bits of the lathe are positioned to set a depth of cut, a thickness monitor indicates the resulting thickness for the brake disk, which is compared to a minimum thickness specification for the inputted vehicle and wheel position to determine whether the disk can be resurfaced to meet the specification. If so, a cutting operation evaluator monitors a continuity checker that is responsive to contact of the tool bits and the disk to determine when the resurfacing operation is complete, at which time the collected data can be reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Greenwald, Jeffrey P. Hastings
  • Patent number: 8215212
    Abstract: An on-vehicle disk brake lathe has a motor connected to a right-angle gearbox mounted to a body of the lathe, the gearbox in turn driving a spindle shaft through a flexible drive linkage such as a belt or chain. The spindle shaft extends parallel to a gearbox output shaft, and both are normal to an axis of rotation of the motor. The flexible drive linkage can be tensioned by adjustably mounting the gearbox to the lathe body or by use of an adjustably positioned tensioning element. A cover can enclose the flexible drive linkage. The separate gearbox allows the use of durable bearings for the spindle shaft, and allows these bearings to be spaced apart to provide a high degree of stability. The modular structure of the resulting lathe simplifies fabrication and repair, and allows use of a modular body for the lathe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bloom, Christopher L. Greenwald
  • Patent number: 8205333
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a seal ring. The method includes positioning a mount assembly adjacent to at least one of an inner diameter and an outer diameter of an annular seal ring, and securing the annular seal ring to the mounting assembly. The method also includes forming at least one of an admission side hook and a steam joint side hook in the annular seal ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Paul Mortzheim, William Edward Adis, Edward Arthur Dewhurst, Reni Boisvert
  • Patent number: 8180480
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the contact of tool bits of a lathe with surfaces of a brake disk being machined employs a vibration sensor coupled to the lathe. Signals from the vibration sensor are processed as time-averaged segments that can be grouped within time intervals; a microprocessor employs a qualifying routine to compare the signal level to a background noise threshold value and indicates as “failed” those time periods where the average signal level is not above the background noise threshold. An accumulator records the indications over a number of intervals and compares the result to a standard to make a determination of whether the lathe is likely actively cutting the disk surfaces. To isolate intermittent, high-intensity noises, a consistency routine can check further to see whether individual segments within an interval fall within a range based on the average signal level for that interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Greenwald, Martin C. Poppe
  • Patent number: 8015903
    Abstract: In cutting the braking surface of a brake rotor-equipped wheel bearing device, which includes an outer member having a car body attaching flange in the outer periphery, an inner member having a wheel attaching flange in the outer periphery, a plurality of rows of rolling bodies incorporated between the two members and rotatably supporting the inner member, and a brake rotor attached to the wheel attaching flange, the cutting is performed such that subsequently to assembling the wheel bearing device in its mounted state, the end surface of a wheel pilot formed in the inner member is finish-cut. The brake rotor is then attached to the wheel attaching flange, whereupon the braking surface of the brake rotor is cut with the outer diameter of the wheel pilot gripped relative to the end surface of the wheel pilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Tanio
  • Patent number: 7963036
    Abstract: An outer ring of a bearing device for a vehicle has a cylindrical main body extending from an inner vehicle side to an axially opposite side. The main body has a raceway at an inner peripheral surface. A flange is provided at an outer peripheral surface of the outer ring toward the ring's vehicle inner side end. A cylindrical fitting tolerance part also is provided at the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, at a position closer to the vehicle inner side end than the flange. The axial length of the cylindrical fitting tolerance part may be designed to be any of various lengths. The bearing device is manufactured by turning the cylindrical main body while holding the flange, such as for embodiments in which the cylindrical fitting tolerance part has a short length unsuitable for holding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Mitarai, Shunji Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7905165
    Abstract: A adapter assembly for refinishing a hubbed rotor is provided. The adapter assembly for a hubbed rotor includes an adapter drum and a self-centering bearing mechanism sleeve mountable on a brake lathe arbor to secure a hubbed rotor during a refinishing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sun Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Turos
  • Patent number: 7861625
    Abstract: A dynamic alignment monitoring system allows an operator to monitor the misalignment of an on-vehicle disk brake lathe with respect to a vehicle axis about which the disk to be machined rotates, and can allow the operator to discontinue further alignment when appropriate in order to speed the overall time of the alignment process. The system processes signals from an angular rate sensor and a tachometer, using a scaling routine to derive a LRO value corresponding to the LRO of the disk which would result from machining in the current alignment condition. A representation of the derived LRO value is displayed to the operator. An operator override can allow the operator to discontinue further alignment adjustments when an acceptable alignment condition is indicated. The system can aid the operator by also presenting a representation of an acceptable LRO value for the particular vehicle being serviced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Greenwald, Jeffrey P. Hastings
  • Patent number: 7802502
    Abstract: An improved tool for attenuating vibration in a disk brake rotor during the machining (or facing) thereof using a disk brake lathe is described. In its most basic form, embodiments of the tool comprise a pair of substantially linear and parallel spaced apart legs that are fixedly coupled together by way of a coupling section proximate their proximal ends and have opposing pads attached to the opposing distal ends. An adjustable clamping mechanism is also provided through which the distance between the legs can be varied and/or the biasing force applied against opposing brake rotor surfaces can be varied by way of the legs acting through the pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Inventor: Surin Sookswat
  • Patent number: 7765667
    Abstract: A reversible flange plate for refinishing differently configured brakes on a brake lathe adapter is provided. The reversible flange plate includes a body formed with a hollow bore extending substantially through the center of the body. Opposing rings adjacent the bore are provided for holding a brake during operation of the brake lathe. Opposing lips are provided that extend inwardly from the bore from the peripheral edge of the reversible flange plate, and include a ledge that is engageable with a plane of the brake during operation. In addition, an annular disc is provided with a ledge, between the opposing rings and the opposing lips, for further engagement with a plane of the brake during operation. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure, but this abstract is not to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of any claim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Sun Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Turos
  • Patent number: 7712401
    Abstract: A cutting head assembly holds a pair of tool bits for an on-vehicle brake disk lathe having a platform. The cutting head assembly has a platform key fixed to the platform and extending parallel to a brake disk axis of rotation. The cutting head assembly also has a plate having a plate keyway that slidably engages the platform key. Tool bit arms are adjustably mounted to the plate and support the tool bits. A locking structure connected to the plate locks the platform key with respect to the plate keyway, and the interaction of the locking structure with the plate and the platform key creates a compressive load between the plate and the platform as the platform key is locked with respect to the plate keyway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher L. Greenwald
  • Patent number: 7681478
    Abstract: The present invention relates to automotive vehicle brake lathes configured for resurfacing brake rotor components, and in particular, to an improved on-car brake lathe apparatus and a method for reducing vibrations during resurfacing of brake rotor components with a brake lathe having a variable speed spindle motor, an output spindle rotationally driven by the variable speed motor adapted to couple the brake lathe to the brake rotor component, and at least one adjustable cutting tip adapted to engage a surface of the vehicle brake component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Gerdes, Michael A. Olsen, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III, Matt Wise, Gerry E. Friton
  • Patent number: 7677144
    Abstract: An improved brake drum and method for machining and balancing a brake drum are provided. The inner facing surface and the outer facing surface of the brake drum are machined. The inner and outer faces of the hub end of the brake drum are also machined. The machining is accomplished in a single operation that results in a radially balanced brake drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Consolidated MetCo, Inc
    Inventors: Joseph A. Brotherton, Timothy Todd Griffin
  • Publication number: 20100011919
    Abstract: There is disclosed a device (1) for resurfacing an axle-mounted brake disc (2), comprising means (7) for mounting the device (1) to the vehicle, means (9) for moving a part of the device with respect to an auxiliary shaft (8) extending substantially parallel to the axle, means (12) for rotating the axle, and drivable brake disc machining means (11) mounted on the movable part of the device. Advantageously, the resurfacing of a brake disc in mounted condition on the vehicle takes place by driving the machining means (11), and any movement of the brake disc (2) itself may take place slowly, so that every part thereof can be worked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: M.A.D. HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Frank Creemers, Willem Adriaan Nell, Rene Johannes Adriana Maria Jurriens
  • Patent number: 7640832
    Abstract: The present invention relates to automotive vehicle brake lathes configured for resurfacing brake rotor components, and in particular, to an improved on-car brake lathe apparatus and a method for compensating for runout between an on-car brake lathe and a vehicle wheel hub to which the on-car brake lathe is secured for a brake rotor resurfacing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Gerdes, Michael A. Olsen, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III, Matt Wise, Gerry E. Friton
  • Publication number: 20090301273
    Abstract: An on-vehicle disk brake lathe has a motor connected to a right-angle gearbox mounted to a body of the lathe, the gearbox in turn driving a spindle shaft through a flexible drive linkage such as a belt or chain. The spindle shaft extends parallel to a gearbox output shaft, and both are normal to an axis of rotation of the motor. The flexible drive linkage can be tensioned by adjustably mounting the gearbox to the lathe body or by use of an adjustably positioned tensioning element. A cover can enclose the flexible drive linkage. The separate gearbox allows the use of durable bearings for the spindle shaft, and allows these bearings to be spaced apart to provide a high degree of stability. The modular structure of the resulting lathe simplifies fabrication and repair, and allows use of a modular body for the lathe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Pro-Cut Licencing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bloom, Christopher L. Greenwald
  • Patent number: 7624662
    Abstract: A hubbed rotor adapter plate for refinishing a hubbed rotor is provided. The hubbed rotor adapter plate includes an adapter drum and a self-centering bearing mechanism sleeve mountable on a brake lathe arbor to secure a hubbed rotor during a refinishing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sun Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Turos
  • Publication number: 20090249927
    Abstract: An improved tool for attenuating vibration in a disk brake rotor during the machining (or facing) thereof using a disk brake lathe is described. In its most basic form, embodiments of the tool comprise a pair of substantially linear and parallel spaced apart legs that are fixedly coupled together by way of a coupling section proximate their proximal ends and have opposing pads attached to the opposing distal ends. An adjustable clamping mechanism is also provided through which the distance between the legs can be varied and/or the biasing force applied against opposing brake rotor surfaces can be varied by way of the legs acting through the pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventor: Surin Sookswat
  • Patent number: 7536935
    Abstract: A device for resurfacing a rotor of a vehicle brake system while the rotor is mounted on the vehicle includes a cutting assembly and a finishing assembly. The cutting assembly has a cutting tool that is moveable between a cutting position where the cutting tool is configured to machine a surface of the rotor, and a retracted position where the cutting tool is spaced from the surface of the rotor. The finishing assembly is coupled to the cutting assembly and has a finishing head that is moveable between a disengaged position where the finishing head is spaced from the surface of the rotor, and a finishing position where the finishing head is configured to finish the surface of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Greenwald, Jeff Hastings
  • Patent number: 7536936
    Abstract: The present invention relates to on-car brake lathes configured for resurfacing brake rotor components, and in particular, to improved on-car brake lathes configured with a drive system for controlling a rotational direction of an output spindle during a brake rotor resurfacing procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Gerdes, Michael A. Olsen, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III
  • Publication number: 20090107309
    Abstract: A dynamic alignment monitoring system allows an operator to monitor the misalignment of an on-vehicle disk brake lathe with respect to a vehicle axis about which the disk to be machined rotates, and can allow the operator to discontinue further alignment when appropriate in order to speed the overall time of the alignment process. The system processes signals from an angular rate sensor and a tachometer, using a scaling routine to derive a LRO value corresponding to the LRO of the disk which would result from machining in the current alignment condition. A representation of the derived LRO value is displayed to the operator. An operator override can allow the operator to discontinue further alignment adjustments when an acceptable alignment condition is indicated. The system can aid the operator by also presenting a representation of an acceptable LRO value for the particular vehicle being serviced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: PRO-CUT LICENCING COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. Greenwald, Jeffrey P. Hastings
  • Patent number: 7497151
    Abstract: A method of machining mechanical workpieces, in particular of machining the braking surfaces (2,3) of a brake disc (1) for vehicles is described and comprises the steps of loading the workpiece onto a work station (8) and clamping the workpiece in a median reference plane (A) between the opposed braking surfaces (2,3), as well as defining the excess material material thickness to be removed from each of the said surfaces, with respect to the positioning coordinates of the said plane in relation to a system of working axes of the station, to achieve a balanced, centred division of excess metal removed from the said surfaces (2,3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Maus S.p.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Sammartin
  • Patent number: 7484443
    Abstract: The invention provides a method including the steps of fixedly securing a brake rotor with a first rotatable fixture. The brake rotor includes a hat and a pair of plates, an inboard plate and an outboard plate. The method also includes the step of rough-cutting a plurality of surfaces of the brake rotor while the brake rotor is fixedly secured to the first rotatable fixture. The rough-cutting operations can be performed with one or more cutting tools. The method also includes the step of finishing the plurality of surfaces while the brake rotor is fixedly secured to the first rotatable fixture. The brake rotor can be completely processed, with respect to cutting operations at least, at a single workstation while supported by a single rotatable fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Potter, Gary D. Bruff, Chiung A. Lee, Youji Ma, Randy Wolin
  • Publication number: 20080134847
    Abstract: In cutting the braking surface (13a) of a brake rotor-equipped wheel bearing device (A) which comprises an outer member (1) having a car body attaching flange (4) in the outer periphery, an inner member (2) having a wheel attaching flange (6) in the outer periphery, a plurality of rows of rolling bodies (3) incorporated between the two members (1, 2) and rotatably supporting the inner member (2), and a brake rotor (13) attached to the wheel attaching flange (6), the cutting is performed such that subsequently to assembling the wheel bearing device in its mounted state, the end surface of a wheel pilot (9) formed in the inner member (2) is finish-cut, and then the brake rotor (13) is attached to the wheel attaching flange (6), whereupon the braking surface (13a) of the brake rotor (13) is cut with the outer diameter of the wheel pilot (9) gripped relative to the end surface of the wheel pilot (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Masayuki Tanio
  • Patent number: 7337699
    Abstract: An on-car disc brake lathe system for resurfacing a brake disc of a vehicle brake assembly includes a lathe body with a driving motor, a cutting head operably attached to the lathe body, and a drive shaft. The system also includes an alignment system having an electronic controller, input and output adaptors configured to rotate with the drive shaft, one or more adjustment discs, and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment disc is positioned between the input adaptor and the output adaptor, and an axial alignment of the input adaptor relative to the output adaptor may be varied based on a rotational orientation of the adjustment disc. The adjustment mechanism is configured to change the rotational orientation of the adjustment disc in response to commands from the electronic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Newell, John Wiggins
  • Patent number: 7334510
    Abstract: The present invention relates to on-car brake lathes configured for resurfacing brake rotor components, and in particular, to improved on-car brake lathes configured with a controlled variable speed drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Gerdes, Michael A. Olsen, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III, Alberto Caorle
  • Patent number: 7296332
    Abstract: A method for forming a brake assembly for a motor vehicle includes a wheel hub, a knuckle, and a brake rotor. The wheel hub includes a neck portion and a flange portion having a flange face. The flange face has a plurality of bolt receiving holes formed therein. The wheel hub is placed in rotational communication with the knuckle. The flange face of the wheel hub has a brake rotor secured thereto. The brake rotor has an inner surface, which is subjected to final finishing in order to reduce lateral run-out of the brake rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventors: Daniel Brinker, Robert Veldman
  • Patent number: 7270037
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically compensating for the lateral runout between an on-car lathe apparatus and a vehicle hub axis including one or more stop discs that rotate with the drive shaft of the lathe and that can be selectively stopped from rotating with the shaft by a stop mechanism. In response to such stopping, one or more adjustment discs are caused to rotate in order to adjust the relative position of the axis of the lathe with respect to the axis of the disc brake assembly. In this manner, the system compensates for and corrects lateral runout that exists between two concentrically attached rotating shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Newell, John Wiggins
  • Patent number: 7243584
    Abstract: A protective cover that is shaped as a mirror image of a portion of a wheel surface is attached to a support plate of a wheel lathe chuck assembly to protect the portion of the vehicle wheel surface during machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey L. Gatton
  • Patent number: 7243582
    Abstract: Wheels of model cars rotate upon axles and their rims contact a track. The present invention is a palm size hand powered lathe for rounding and truing a wheel upon a spindle. The lathe has a bracket that admits a blade to contact the outer edge of the wheel. The blade advances into the wheel by the turning of a threaded rod contained within a housing. The housing limits the inward and outward movement of the blade. The threaded rod has a handle upon one end and a rounded head upon the other end that engages a slot in the blade. A clip provides a rigid connection of the threaded rod to the bracket. The housing has a shape comfortable in the hand. And the invention provides a child the ability to remove wheel material within thousandths of an inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: William E. Launius
  • Patent number: 7217230
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for detecting a position of a drawbar unit installed in a spindle unit. The apparatus is a part of an automatic tool exchange device for exchanging tools in the spindle unit of a machine tool. The apparatus transmits a signal to a main controller after detecting the position of the drawbar such that the main controller checks a state of a tool clamped by the drawbar unit. The drawbar unit is installed in the spindle unit forming the automatic tool exchange device and clamps the tool at a front thereof. A core is installed at a rear peripheral portion of the drawbar unit and a coil section having a cylindrical shape is wound around an outer peripheral portion of the core. An LC oscillating circuit is provided such that the LC oscillating circuit includes the coil section as a part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Yiwon Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: Young-Jin Hyun
  • Patent number: 7114420
    Abstract: A clip engages a pair of legs of a vibration attenuator to reduce the local separation of the legs, thereby increasing the force of friction pads, affixed to the legs, against a brake disk to compensate for reduced thickness of the friction pads due to wear. The clip has a first end region, which can preferably be snappably engaged with one of the legs so as to pivot thereabout. The clip has a second end region with a protrusion which can be engaged with the other leg so as to restrain it at the reduced separation. Preferably, a second protrusion is provided to allow restraining the other leg at an even smaller local separation from the leg that is rotatably engaged by the first end region. A tab preferably extends beyond the first protrusion to aid in engaging and disengaging the second end region from the other leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Pro-Cut International, LLC
    Inventor: Harald Oppermann
  • Patent number: 7086315
    Abstract: A straddle-cutting device for machining a pair of parallel surfaces on a rotating workpiece in a single cut as the cutting tool is advanced over the workpiece. Apparatus is provided for biasing the cutting tools using a stack of spring washers and a pneumatic power cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Randy Beiser
  • Patent number: 7007575
    Abstract: An on-car disc brake lathe system for resurfacing a brake disc of a vehicle brake assembly includes a lathe body with a driving motor, a cutting head operably attached to the lathe body, and a drive shaft. The system also includes an alignment system having an electronic controller, input and output adaptors configured to rotate with the drive shaft, one or more adjustment discs, and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment disc is positioned between the input adaptor and the output adaptor, and an axial alignment of the input adaptor relative to the output adaptor may be varied based on a rotational orientation of the adjustment disc. The adjustment mechanism is configured to change the rotational orientation of the adjustment disc in response to commands from the electronic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Newell, John Wiggins
  • Patent number: 6895841
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically compensating for the lateral runout between an on-car lathe apparatus and a vehicle hub axis including one or more stop discs that rotate with the drive shaft of the lathe and that can be selectively stopped from rotating with the shaft by a stop mechanism. In response to such stopping, one or more adjustment discs are caused to rotate in order to adjust the relative position of the axis of the lathe with respect to the axis of the disc brake assembly. In this manner, the system compensates for and corrects lateral runout that exists between two concentrically attached rotating shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Pro-Cut Licensing Company, LLC
    Inventors: Harold Newell, John Wiggins
  • Patent number: 6865972
    Abstract: An improved attenuator for damping vibrations and noise when disc brake rotors are being machined in a machining lathe. The improved attenuator has a handle comprised of a squared end with legs extending at angle of 100° to the squared end toward each other. Damping pads are mounted on the ends of the legs to press against the surfaces of the rotor being machined. The 100° angle of the legs toward each other improves the biasing force against the rotor surfaces. Additionally, the damping pads are provided with a notch that fits around and over the tips of cutting bits of the machining lathe to securely hold the pressure pads in place. Another improvement includes a fastening strap attached to the squared end of the handle that wraps around a biasing spring and the carriage on the machining lathe to securely hold and maintain the position of the attenuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Brian K. Sipe
  • Patent number: 6813979
    Abstract: A brake disk turning device accommodates runout using a front flange coupled to an adapter connected to the brake hub, and a rear flange fixed to a chuck of a lathe for turning the disk. Spacing adjusters are at equal intervals around the flanges for individually adjusting a spacing between the flanges at each interval to tilt the front flange with respect to the rear flange to accommodate the runout. Each adjuster has a toothed wheel and a retractable pin movable by an actuator to intercept the wheel to incrementally rotate the wheel during rotation of the flanges. A pinion connected to the wheel is meshed with a gear. Annular grooves with varying depth are provided between the gear and the front flange with balls therein for adjusting the spacing between the gear and front flange (9) depending on their rotation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Onstruzioni Meccaniche Caorle S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Caorle
  • Patent number: 6729212
    Abstract: In a method for machining an electrically conductive workpiece with a cutting tool, an electric circuit is applied between the cutting tool and the workpiece which is positioned electrically insulated from the cutting tool, when the workpiece is subjected to a machining operation. At least one electric variable is determined and evaluated in the electric circuit during the machining operation. The advance of the workpiece is adjusted after each machining step of an entire surface of the workpiece, and the machining operation is terminated, when the at least one variable remains substantially constant during a machining step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Roland Müller
  • Patent number: 6708589
    Abstract: A method for forming a brake assembly for a motor vehicle includes a wheel hub, a knuckle, and a brake rotor. The wheel hub includes a neck portion and a flange portion having a flange face. The flange face has a plurality of bolt receiving holes formed therein. The wheel hub is placed in rotational communication with the knuckle. The flange face of the wheel hub has a brake rotor secured thereto. The brake rotor has an inner surface, which is subjected to final finishing in order to reduce lateral run-out of the brake rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Metaldyne Machining & Assembly Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Brinker, Robert Veldman
  • Patent number: 6702398
    Abstract: An automotive hub assembly, which carries a brake disk, has a hub provided with a spindle which rotates in a housing on a double row antifriction bearing having its raceways oriented obliquely to the axis of rotation so that the bearing accommodates both radial and axial loads. The bearing is set to a condition of preload so no free motion exists in it. The hub also has a flange at one end of its spindle, and the flange is machined on its face that is presented away from the housing to provide a machined mounting surface against which the brake disk is installed. The machining occurs after the hub assembly is assembled. To this end, the housing of the hub assembly is held fast while the hub is rotated on the bearing. With the hub rotating, a cutting tool is moved across the face of the flange, and it produces the machined mounting surface which is perpendicular to the axis of the bearing. The machined mounting surface has essentially no runout, so that the brake disk acquires no runout from the hub assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventor: Larry D. Laps
  • Patent number: RE44056
    Abstract: An improved attenuator for damping vibrations and noise when disc brake rotors are being machined in a machining lathe. The improved attenuator has a handle comprised of a squared end with legs extending at angle of 100° to the squared end toward each other. Damping pads are mounted on the ends of the legs to press against the surfaces of the rotor being machined. The 100° angle of the legs toward each other improves the biasing force against the rotor surfaces. Additionally, the damping pads are provided with a notch that fits around and over the tips of cutting bits of the machining lathe to securely hold the pressure pads in place. Another improvement includes a fastening strap attached to the squared end of the handle that wraps around a biasing spring and the carriage on the machining lathe to securely hold and maintain the position of the attenuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventor: Brian K. Sipe