Apparatus and method for automatically compensating for lateral runout

• US 6,474,203 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• 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:
  US09/562,917
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 82/11.1, 821/12, 82/47, 821/18, 821/51, 821/50, 821/52, 821/61, 829/03, 821/70, 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: G01B 5/255 for testing wheel alignment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/10 Process of turning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/16016 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/18 Lathe for wheel or axle
• 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 82/2571 Alignment adjuster
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2572 Attachment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2595 with noise or vibration dampener

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.

Claims

1. A method of resurfacing a brake disc of a vehicle brake assembly including a hub, the method comprising:

providing an on-vehicle brake lathe system having a lathe body with a driving motor, a cutting head operably attached to the lathe body, an input adaptor, and a rotatable drive shaft;

securing the input adaptor of the on-vehicle brake lathe system to the hub;

initiating rotation of the hub;

producing a signal indicative of alignment of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly;

using the signal indicative of alignment of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly as the drive shaft rotates to automatically adjust an orientation of the lathe body relative to the hub so as to reduce the relative movement of the lathe body with respect to the brake disc.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal indicative of alignment of the lathe body to adjust an orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly comprises axially aligning the drive shaft with respect to an axis of rotation of the brake disc.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the on-vehicle brake lathe system is further defined by an alignment system including at least one adjustment disc,

the alignment system adjusts an alignment of the lathe body relative to the hub, and

axially aligning the drive shaft with respect to the axis of rotation of the brake disc comprises changing a rotational orientation of the adjustment disc.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

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 the rotation of the drive shaft and in a second state to rotate relative to the rotation of the drive shaft.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

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 first state to follow the rotation of the drive shaft comprises electromagnetically actuating the tooth catch member to contact a specified tooth of the starwheel.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal indicative of movement is a measurement of rotational acceleration of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly as the drive shaft rotates.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the signal indicative of alignment is a measurement of variations in a distance between the lathe body and the hub of the vehicle brake assembly as the drive shaft rotates.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein using the signal indicative of alignment of the lathe body to automatically adjust an orientation of the lathe body relative to the hub so as to reduce the movement of the lathe body with respect to the brake disc is implemented using an electronic closed-loop feedback system.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the on-vehicle brake lathe system is further defined by an alignment system including two plate, and wherein adjusting an orientation of the lathe body includes moving the two plates relative to one another.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein adjusting an orientation of the lathe body including rotating the two plates relative to one another about a shared central axis of the two plates.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the plates comprises discs.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the discs includes slanting surfaces.

13. A method of resurfacing a brake disc of a vehicle brake assembly, the method comprising:

providing an on-vehicle brake lathe system having a lathe body with a driving motor, a cutting head operably attached to the lathe body, and a rotatable drive shaft;

securing the on-vehicle brake lathe system to the vehicle;

initiating rotation of the brake disc;

producing a signal indicative of alignment of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly as the drive shaft rotates; and

using the signal indicative of alignment of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly as the drive shaft rotates to automatically adjust an orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly so as to improve the alignment of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein using the signal indicative of alignment of the lathe body to automatically adjust an orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly comprises axially aligning the drive shaft with respect to an axis of rotation of the brake disc.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the on-vehicle brake lathe system is further defined by an alignment system including at least one adjustment disc,

the alignment system adjusts an alignment of the lathe body relative to the hub, and

axially aligning the drive shaft with respect to the axis of rotation of the brake disc comprises changing a rotational orientation of the adjustment disc.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

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 the rotation of the drive shaft and in a second state to rotate relative to the rotation of the drive shaft.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

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 first state to follow the rotation of the drive shaft comprises electromagnetically actuating the tooth catch member to contact a specified tooth of the starwheel.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the signal indicative of movement is a measurement of rotational acceleration of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly as the drive shaft rotates.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein using the signal indicative of alignment of the lathe body to automatically adjust an orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly comprises:

adjusting the orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly in a first direction; and

if the adjustment in the first direction reduces movement of the lathe body, continuing to adjust the orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly in the first direction until the adjustment increases movement of the lathe body.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein using the signal indicative of alignment of the lathe body to automatically adjust an orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly further comprises:

after adjustment of the orientation in the first direction increases movement of the lathe body, adjusting the orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly in a second direction; and

if the adjustment in the second direction reduces movement of the lathe body, continuing to adjust the orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly in the second direction until the adjustment improves the alignment of the lathe body.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein using the signal indicative of alignment of the lathe body to automatically adjust an orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly comprises:

adjusting the orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly in a first direction; and

if the adjustment in the first direction reduces movement of the lathe body, continuing to adjust the orientation of the lathe body relative to the vehicle brake assembly in the first direction until alignment of the lathe body falls within a threshold amount or the adjustment worsens alignment of the lathe body.