Apparatus and method for automatically compensating for lateral runout
First Claim
1. In a brake lathe system for resurfacing a brake disc of a vehicle brake assembly, the brake disc rotating about a rotor axis and the brake lathe system including one or more portions rotating about a lathe axis, the brake lathe system being further defined by an alignment apparatus that automatically compensates for lateral runout between the brake lathe system and the vehicle brake assembly, the alignment apparatus comprising:
- a) a sensor operable to produce a signal indicative of the lateral runout;
b) an electronic controller operable to receive the signal from the sensor and to use the signal to generate at least one control signal; and
c) at least one adjustment mechanism operable, in response to the control signal, to adjust the orientation of the lathe axis with respect to the rotor axis, wherein the electronic controller generates the at least one control signal so as to reduce the lateral runout between the brake lathe system and the vehicle brake assembly.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
45 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In a brake lathe system for resurfacing a brake disc of a vehicle brake assembly, the brake disc rotating about a rotor axis and the brake lathe system including one or more portions rotating about a lathe axis, the brake lathe system being further defined by an alignment apparatus that automatically compensates for lateral runout between the brake lathe system and the vehicle brake assembly, the alignment apparatus comprising:
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a) a sensor operable to produce a signal indicative of the lateral runout;
b) an electronic controller operable to receive the signal from the sensor and to use the signal to generate at least one control signal; and
c) at least one adjustment mechanism operable, in response to the control signal, to adjust the orientation of the lathe axis with respect to the rotor axis, wherein the electronic controller generates the at least one control signal so as to reduce the lateral runout between the brake lathe system and the vehicle brake assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of resurfacing a brake disc of a vehicle brake assembly including a hub, the method comprising:
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a) attaching an on-vehicle brake lathe system to the hub of the vehicle brake assembly;
b) automatically adjusting the on-vehicle brake lathe system to compensate for lateral runout, wherein automatically adjusting the on-vehicle brake lathe system includes;
i) generating a measurement signal indicative of the orientation of a lathe axis of rotation with respect to a rotor axis of rotation;
ii) electronically generating at least one control signal in response to the measurement signal; and
iii) adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation in response to the at least one control signal so as to improve the alignment of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation; and
c) rotating the hub of the vehicle brake assembly with respect to a lathe cutting head to resurface the brake disc of the vehicle brake assembly. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
the on-vehicle brake lathe system is further defined by an alignment system including at least one adjustment disc, the alignment system adjusting an alignment of the on-vehicle brake lathe system relative to the vehicle brake assembly, and adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis with respect to the rotor axis comprises changing a rotational orientation of the adjustment disc.
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10. The method of claim 9 wherein:
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the alignment system further includes at least one stop disc, and changing the rotational orientation of the adjustment disc comprises operating the stop disc in a first state to follow rotation about the lathe axis of rotation and in a second state to rotate relative to the lathe axis of rotation.
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11. The method of claim 10, wherein:
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the stop disc comprises a starwheel having protruding teeth, the alignment system further including a toothed catch member operable to engage at least one tooth of the starwheel, and operating the stop disc in a second state to rotate relative to the lathe axis of rotation comprises actuating the tooth catch member to contact a specified tooth of the starwheel.
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12. The method of claim 8 wherein adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation in response to the at least one control signal so as to improve the alignment of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation comprises:
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adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation relative to the vehicle brake assembly in a first direction; and
if the adjustment in the first direction reduces movement of the on-vehicle brake lathe system, continuing to adjust the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation relative to the vehicle brake assembly in the first direction.
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13. The method of claim 12 wherein adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation in response to the at least one control signal so as to improve the alignment of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation further comprises:
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after adjusting the orientation of the on-vehicle brake lathe system in the first direction, adjusting the orientation of the on-vehicle brake lathe system in a second direction; and
if the adjustment in the second direction reduces movement of the on-vehicle brake lathe system, continuing to adjust the orientation of the on-vehicle brake lathe system relative to the vehicle brake assembly in the second direction.
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14. The method of claim 8 wherein adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation in response to the at least one control signal so as to improve the alignment of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation further comprises:
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adjusting the orientation of the on-vehicle brake lathe system relative to the vehicle brake assembly in a first direction; and
if the adjustment in the first direction reduces movement of the on-vehicle brake lathe system, continuing to adjust the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation relative to the vehicle brake assembly until movement of the on-vehicle brake lathe system relative to the vehicle brake assembly falls below a threshold amount or the adjustment increases movement of the on-vehicle brake lathe system relative to the vehicle brake assembly.
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15. In a brake lathe system, a method for automatically compensating for lateral runout between the brake lathe system and a vehicle brake assembly having a rotor axis of rotation, the method comprising:
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a) generating a lateral runout signal indicative of the orientation of a lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation;
b) receiving the lateral runout signal at an electronic controller;
c) generating at least one control signal at the electronic controller in response to the received lateral runout signal;
d) adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation in response to the at least one control signal, so as to improve the alignment of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
the brake lathe system is further defined by an alignment system including at least one adjustment disc, the alignment system adjusts an alignment of the brake lathe system relative to the vehicle brake assembly, and adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation comprises changing a rotational orientation of the adjustment disc.
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17. The method of claim 16 wherein:
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As the alignment system further includes at least one stop disc, and changing the rotational orientation of the adjustment disc comprises operating the stop disc in a first state to follow rotation about the lathe axis of the rotation and in a second state to rotate relative to the lathe axis of rotation.
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18. The method of claim 17 wherein:
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the stop disc comprises a starwheel having protruding teeth, the alignment system further includes a toothed catch member operable to engage at least one tooth of the starwheel, and operating the stop disc in a second state to rotate relative to the lathe axis of rotation comprises actuating the toothed catch member to contact a specified tooth of the starwheel.
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19. The method of claim 15 wherein adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation in response to the at least one control signal so as to improve the alignment of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation comprises:
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adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation relative to the vehicle brake assembly in a first direction; and
if the adjustment in the first direction reduces movement of the on-vehicle brake lathe system, continuing to adjust the orientation of the lathe axis of ration relative to the vehicle brake assembly in the first direction.
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20. The method of claim 19 wherein adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation in response to the at least one control signal so as to improve the alignment of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation further comprises:
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after adjusting the orientation of the on-vehicle brake lathe system in the first direction, adjusting the orientation of the on-vehicle brake lathe system in a second direction; and
if the adjustment in the second direction reduces movement of the on-vehicle brake lathe system, continuing to adjust the orientation of the on-vehicle brake lathe system relative to the vehicle brake assembly in the second direction.
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21. The method of claim 20 wherein adjusting the orientation of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation in response to the at least one control signal so as to improve the alignment of the lathe axis of rotation with respect to the rotor axis of rotation further comprises:
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adjusting the orientation of the on-vehicle brake lathe system relative to the vehicle brake assembly in a first direction; and
if the adjustment in the first direction reduces movement of the on-vehicle brake lathe system, continuing to adjust the orientation of the on-vehicle brake lathe system relative to the vehicle brake assembly until movement of the on-vehicle brake lathe system relative to the vehicle brake assembly falls below a threshold amount or the adjustment increases movement of the on-vehicle brake lathe system relative to the vehicle brake assembly.
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Specification