US 2001/0015307 A1Published application

Final balanced brake drum having integral squealer band and method for producing same

AssigneeMeritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC

InventorsLarry B. Hester, Jay K. Julow, Robert A. DeRegnaucourt, John C. Hall

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Abstract

An improved method for final balancing a brake drum determines the location and length of a first constant depth cut and a second constant depth cut along the squealer band which are necessary to correct the imbalance, and using a cutting machine, makes the first and second constant depth cuts at the predetermined location and for the predetermined length along the squealer band to produce a final balanced brake drum. Preferably, the cutting machine is a milling machine which produces a plunge type entrance/exit cut. It is a further feature of the invention to provide a feather type entrance/exit cut to reduce the stress concentrations, and produce a cosmetically more appealing final balanced brake drum.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method for producing a final balanced brake drum comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a brake drum including a generally cylindrical body provided with an integral raised squealer band, the squealer band having an outwardly facing surface initially machined to a predetermined diameter around its entire circumference, the brake drum having the initially machined squealer band incorporating an unacceptable imbalance;
(b) determining first balancing specifications consisting of the location, length, and depth of a first circumferentially extending substantially constant depth cut which extends along a predetermined length of the squealer band and a second balancing specifications consisting of the location, length, and depth of a second circumferentially extending substantially constant depth cut which extends along a predetermined length of the squealer band which are necessary to correct the imbalance;
(c) positioning the brake drum on a cutting machine;
and
(d) operating the cutting machine to make the first and second constant depth cuts along the squealer band in accordance with the balancing specifications determined in step (b) to thereby produce a final balanced brake drum.

2 more elements

A method for producing a final balanced brake drum comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a brake drum including a generally cylindrical body provided with an integral raised squealer band, the squealer band having an outwardly facing surface initially machined to a predetermined diameter around its entire circumference, the brake drum having the initially machined squealer band incorporating an unacceptable imbalance;
(b) positioning the brake drum on a balancer;
(c) determining the location and amount of the imbalance relative to a predetermined fixed reference point on the brake drum;
(d) providing a reference mark on the brake drum at the predetermined reference point;
(e) transferring the brake drum to a cutting machine which includes a reference mark;
(f) positioning the brake drum on the cutting machine such that the reference mark on the brake drum is aligned with the reference mark on the cutting machine;
(g) measuring the outer diameter of the squealer band near the location of the imbalance;
(h) determining as a function of the outer diameter of the squealer band, first balancing specifications consisting of the location, length, and depth of a first substantially constant depth cut along the squealer band and second balancing specifications consisting of the location, length, and depth of a second substantially constant depth cut along the squealer which are necessary to correct the imbalance;
and
(i) operating the cutting machine to make the first and second constant depth cuts along the squealer band in accordance with the balancing specifications determined in step (h) to thereby produce a final balanced brake drum.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/849,200Filed 4 May 2001
Priority: 14 Jun 1993
Published: 23 Aug 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B23C 3/00
Milling particular work
F16D 65/0006
Parts or details: noise or vibration control
G01M 1/34
Compensating imbalance: by removing material from the body to be tested, e.g. from the tread of tyres
Y10T 82/10
Turning: process of turning

Family

Application08/076,986Division · filed 14 Jun 1993
Application08/572,227Continuation in part · filed 13 Dec 1995
Application08/572,227Division · filed 13 Dec 1995
Application08/773,678Continuation · filed 24 Dec 1996
Application08/773,678Continuation in part · filed 24 Dec 1996
Application09/444,614Continuation · filed 23 Nov 1999
Application09/849,200Continuation · filed 4 May 2001
US 5,483,855 ARelated patent
US 5,586,625 ARelated patent
US 5,992,581 ARelated patent
US 6,279,699 B1Related patent
US 6,321,886 B2Related patent
US 2001/0015307 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.