US 4,825,596 AGranted

Flywheel resurfacing method and apparatus

OwnerJames Kinnerinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for surfacing the face of a clutch flywheel or other friction disk achieves a surface pattern which promotes proper wearing-in of the flywheel or disk and of a friction disk or pad which engages the disk. The abrasive surface of a rotating abrading wheel is applied to a disk rotating in the same angular direction as that of the abrading wheel. A rotating cup-shaped abrading wheel is tilted slightly with respect to the frictional contact surface of the disk so that only one portion of the wheel engages the disk at a time resulting in a resurface pattern of lines that essentially do not cross over each other. Advancement of the abrading wheel against the flywheel or disk may be automatically controlled in fine adjustment mode. Current drawn by the abrading wheel motor is sensed, and when it is below a preset level a lead screw motor is automatically powered to advance the abrading wheel against the disk. When current reaches the preset point, the lead screw motor is stopped.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of grinding and resurfacing flywheels or disks having at least one face with an annular frictional contact area and having a central hub area with at least one opening, and for producing on the frictional contact area a desirable surface pattern of curving lines generally transverse to the circumference of the flywheel or disk, comprising:

securing the flywheel or disk to a shaft via an opening in the hub area of the flywheel or disk, the shaft extending from a first housing secured to a table;
providing a motor-driven cup-shaped abrading wheel on a base connected to the table, with a rotational axis generally parallel to the shaft holding the flywheel or disk, and with position adjustment means in association with the base for advancing the abrading wheel substantially axially forward toward the flywheel or disk in position to contact the frictional contact area of the flywheel or disk, the abrading wheel being on a rotational axis which is slightly tilted with respect to the shaft with the flywheel or disk, so that only a portion of the abrading wheel in a single arc contacts the flywheel or disk at one time and being positioned so that only a portion of the wheel's abrasive surface overlaps the face of the flywheel or disk;
rotating the shaft with the flywheel or disk at a first predetermined speed at least about 400 rpm, and rotating the abrading wheel at a second predetermined speed at least about 3450 rpm;
advancing the abrading wheel toward and into contact with the frictional contact area of a face of the flywheel or disk, using the position adjustment means such that the single arc of contact of the tilted abrading wheel on the frictional contact area extends substantially only from the periphery of said central hub area to the outer edge of the flywheel or disk, until the frictional contact area is rendered substantially smooth and there is produced a desirable surface pattern comprising curving lines non-concentric with the flywheel or disk and positioned generally radially on the flywheel or disk essentially without crossing over each other, for promoting proper wear.

1 more element

An apparatus for surfacing a face of a flywheel or disk having at least one face with an annular frictional contact area, and a central hub area with a central hole, and for generating a desired surface pattern on the frictional contact area, comprising

a table;
means for supporting the flywheel or disk generally from its center, said supporting means being secured to the table;
means for causing the flywheel or disk to rotate in a first angular direction, including a first driven shaft having an axis about which flywheel or disk rotates, said supporting means comprising a support plate secured to the first driven shaft and means for securing the flywheel or disk against the support plate by engaging the central hole in the flywheel or disk;
an abrasive surface;
a cup-shaped abrading wheel having
abrading adjustment means for adjusting the axial position of the abrading wheel, including a coarse adjustment means and a fine adjustment means, for engaging the abrading wheel against the flywheel or disk face and for controlling the depth to which the disk face is abraded;
base means for supporting the abrading wheel such that the abrasive surface is slightly tilted with respect to the flywheel or disk face, said base means including a second shaft supporting said abrasive wheel, said second shaft being slightly tilted with respect to and offset from the first shaft such that the abrading wheel makes a single arc of contact with the flywheel or disk face, said single arc of contact extending substantially only from the periphery of said central hub area to the outer edge of the brake disk;
and
motor means for driving the abrading wheel on an axis of the second shaft in the same angular direction as the rotation of the flywheel or disk, and such that only a portion of the wheel's abrasive surface overlaps the face of the disk;
whereby there is formed on the flywheel or disk face a surface pattern of curving lines not concentric with the disk and generally radially disposed on the disk and essentially not crossing over each other, for promoting proper wear of the flywheel or disk face.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/234,384Filed 19 Aug 1988 · continuation in part
Priority: 18 Dec 1986
Granted: 2 May 1989
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B24B 49/16
Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or work; Arrangements of indicating or measuring…
B24B 7/16
Single-purpose machines or devices: for grinding end-faces, e.g. of gauges, rollers, nuts, piston rings
Y10S 451/902
Abrading: brake abrading
B24B
Machines, devices, or processes for grinding or polishing