Apparatus and method for automatically compensating for lateral runout

• US 6,216,571 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2000
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bonita IP LLC (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Joseph B. Willey
• Inventors: Newell, Harold, Wiggins, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Application Number:
  US09/480,140
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 82/11.1, 82/47, 821/18, 821/12, 821/50, 821/51, 821/61, 829/03, 821/70, 821/52, 821/63
• US Class Current: 82/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2235/045 Simultaneous machining of both sides of the brake disc
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2235/21 Compensation of run out
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 5/04 for reconditioning hubs or brake drums or axle spindles without removing same from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/10 Process of turning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/21 Portable lathe for brake drum, disc, or shoe
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2502 with program control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2535 Electrical type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2571 Alignment adjuster
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2574 Stop [e.g., carriage, tool, work, etc.]

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.

Claims

1. A method for automatically adjusting the alignment between a vehicle brake assembly and an on-vehicle brake lathe having a lathe body with a driving motor, a cutting head operably attached to the lathe body, and a drive shafts wherein the on-vehicle brake lathe is operably attached to the hub of the vehicle brake assembly to compensate for runout, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring movement of the lathe body;

(b) electronically comparing the measured movement of the lathe body with a stored acceptable limit and ceasing further adjustment if the measured movement is below the stored acceptable limit;

(c) automatically adjusting in a first direction a relative axial position of the lathe drive shaft with respect to an axis of rotation of the vehicle brake assembly;

(d) repeating measuring step (a), and, if the measured movement has decreased, repeating steps (a) and (c) until the measured movement increases;

(e) automatically adjusting in a second direction the relative axial position of the lathe drive shaft with respect to the axis of rotation of the vehicle brake assembly;

(f) repeating measuring step (a), and, if the measured movement has decreased, repeating steps (a) and (e) until the measured movement increases.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises repeating steps (a), (b), and (c) until the measured movement increases or the measured movement falls below the stored acceptable limit.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein step (f) comprises repeating steps (a), (b), and (e) until the measured movement increases or the measured movement falls below the stored acceptable limit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein steps (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) are implemented by an electronic closed-loop feedback system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring movement of the lathe body comprises measuring rotational acceleration of the lathe body.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring movement of the lathe body comprises measuring variations in a distance between the lathe body and the vehicle brake assembly.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the axial position of the lathe drive shaft comprises moving two plates relative to one another.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein adjusting the axial position of the lathe drive shaft comprises rotating the two plates relative to one another about a shared central axis of the two plates.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the plates comprise discs.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the discs include slanting surfaces.

12. A method for automatically adjusting the alignment between a vehicle brake assembly and an on-vehicle brake lathe having a lathe body with a driving motor, a cutting head operably attached to the lathe body, and a drive shaft, wherein the on vehicle brake lathe is operably attached to the hub of the vehicle brake assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring movement of the lathe body;

(b) automatically adjusting in a first direction a relative axial position of the lathe drive shaft with respect to an axis of rotation of the vehicle brake assembly;

(c) repeating measuring step (a), and, if the measured movement has decreased, repeating steps (a) and (b) until the measured movement increases;

(d) automatically adjusting in a second direction the relative axial position of the lathe drive shaft with respect to the axis of rotation of the vehicle brake assembly;

(e) repeating measuring step (a), and, if the measured movement has decreased, repeating steps (a) and (d) until the measured movement increases.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising electronically comparing the measured movement of the lathe body with a stored acceptable limit and ceasing further adjustment if the measured movement is below the stored acceptable limit.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein step (c) comprises repeating steps (a) and (b) until the measured movement increases or the measured movement falls below the stored acceptable limit.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising skipping steps (d) and (e) when the measured movement falls below the stored acceptable limit.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein step (e) comprises repeating steps (a) and (d) until the measured movement increases or the measured movement falls below the stored acceptable limit.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein steps (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) are implemented by an electronic closed-loop feedback system.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein measuring movement of the lathe body comprises measuring rotational acceleration of the lathe body.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein measuring movement of the lathe body comprises measuring variations in a distance between the lathe body and the vehicle brake assembly.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein adjusting the axial position of the lathe drive shaft comprises moving two plates relative to one another.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein adjusting the axial position of the lathe drive shaft comprises rotating the two plates relative to one another about a shared central axis of the two plates.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the plates comprise discs.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the discs include slanting surfaces.