On car brake lathe aligning apparatus

• US 6,626,073 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hennessy Industries Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hennessy Industries Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Carpenter, David M., Cunningham, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US09/611,535
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 821/12, 821/13, 821/17, 821/28, 821/33, 821/34, 82/71, 82/76, 82/80, 821/51, 821/52, 821/63, 821/70, 829/03, 700/192, 700/193
• US Class Current: 82/112
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2250/04 Balancing rotating components
• 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 82/2522 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 82/2571 Alignment adjuster

Abstract

A brake lathe alignment system is provided for mounting a brake lathe upon an adapter attached to a wheel hub. A first structure is adapted to be attached to the wheel hub. A second structure is adapted to be attached to the brake lathe. A plurality of hydraulic pistons are carried by the second structure and engage the first structure, so that alignment of the second structure relative to the first structure is adjustable by extending and retracting the hydraulic pistons. The adjustment of position of the hydraulic pistons can be manually controlled on-the-fly by operation of manually actuated hydraulic pumps.

Claims

1. A brake lathe alignment apparatus for mounting a brake lathe upon an adapter attached to a wheel hub, comprising:

a face plate adapted to engage the adapter for defining an alignment of the wheel hub and the adapter;

a brake lathe body;

a coupling head assembly mounted upon the brake lathe body for defining an alignment of the brake lathe body, the coupling head assembly including a fixable portion and a rotatable portion;

an adjustable three-point support system between the face plate and the coupling head assembly, at least two of the three points being adjustable, so that the alignment of the brake lathe body relative to the wheel hub and the adapter can be adjusted;

first and second hydraulic pistons carried by the coupling head assembly and being adjustable independently of each other, the pistons extending from the coupling head assembly into engagement with the face plate, the pistons defining the two adjustable points of the three-point support system, the hydraulic pistons being mounted on the rotatable portion of the coupling head assembly;

first and second hydraulic pumps for supplying hydraulic fluid to the two hydraulic pistons to adjust the pistons and thus adjust the alignment of the brake lathe body relative to the wheel hub and the adapter, the hydraulic pumps being mounted on the fixable portion of the coupling head assembly;

wherein the coupling head assembly has first and second fluid conduits defined therethrough from the first and second pumps to the first and second pistons, respectively; and

the coupling head assembly includes rotating fluid seals between the fixable portion and the rotatable portion, the seals being associated with the first and second conduits, so that the alignment of the brake lathe body relative to the wheel hub and adapter can be manually adjusted by operating the hydraulic pumps while the brake lathe is rotating the wheel hub and the adapter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means for allowing the fixable portion to rotate with the rotatable portion of the coupling head assembly after the alignment has been adjusted, so that seal wear and hydraulic fluid loss are minimized during lathe operation.

3. A brake lathe alignment apparatus for mounting a brake lathe upon an adapter attached to a wheel hub, comprising:

a face plate adapted to engage the adapter for defining an alignment of the wheel hub and the adapter;

a brake lathe body;

a coupling head assembly mounted upon the brake lathe body for defining an alignment of the brake lathe body;

an adjustable three-point support system between the face plate and the coupling head assembly, at least two of the three points being adjustable, so that the alignment of the brake lathe body relative to the wheel hub and the adapter can be adjusted;

first and second hydraulic pistons carried by the coupling head assembly and being adjustable independently of each other, the pistons extending from the coupling head assembly into engagement with the face plate, the pistons defining the two adjustable points of the three-point support system;

first and second hydraulic pumps for supplying hydraulic fluid to the two hydraulic pistons to adjust the pistons and thus adjust the alignment of the brake lathe body relative to the wheel hub and the adapter, each of the hydraulic pumps includes including a threaded plunger and a knob attached to the plunger, so that the knob can be manually rotated to move the plunger.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

each of the hydraulic pistons includes a convex curved outer end engaging the face plate.

5. A wheel hub mounted brake lathe alignment apparatus, comprising:

a first structure adapted to be attached to the wheel hub;

a second structure adapted to be attached to the brake lathe;

a fixed length support extending between the first and second structures;

a plurality of hydraulic pistons carried by the second structure and engaging the first structure, so that alignment of the second structure relative to the first structure is adjustable by extending and retracting the hydraulic pistons, wherein the plurality of hydraulic pistons includes two and only two hydraulic pistons which with the fixed length support define an adjustable three-point support system;

first and second adjustable hydraulic fluid pressure sources independently communicated with the two pistons, for independently adjusting a position of each of the two pistons, each of the pressure sources includes a threaded plunger pump operable by rotation of a plunger to advance and retract the plunger.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the plunger pumps each have a plunger axis which lies generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the first structure.