Method and apparatus for resurfacing brake rotors
AssigneeHunter Engineering Company
InventorsMichael D. Gerdes, Michael A. Olsen, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III, Matt Wise, Gerry E. Friton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to automotive vehicle brake lathes configured for resurfacing brake rotor components, and in particular, to an improved on-car brake lathe apparatus and a method for reducing vibrations during resurfacing of brake rotor components with a brake lathe having a variable speed spindle motor, an output spindle rotationally driven by the variable speed motor adapted to couple the brake lathe to the brake rotor component, and at least one adjustable cutting tip adapted to engage a surface of the vehicle brake component.
Claims20
A method for reducing vibrations during resurfacing of a vehicle brake component with a brake lathe having a variable speed spindle motor, an output spindle rotationally driven by the variable speed motor adapted to couple the brake lathe to a vehicle brake component, and at least one adjustable cutting tip adapted to engage a surface of the vehicle brake component, comprising the steps of:
- detecting vibrations resulting from contact between the at least one adjustable cutting tip with a vehicle brake component surface;
- altering a drive speed of the variable speed spindle motor responsive to a level of said detected vibrations exceeding a predetermined threshold.
A method for reducing the development of vibrations during resurfacing of a vehicle brake component with a brake lathe having a variable speed spindle motor, an output spindle rotationally driven by the variable speed motor adapted to couple the brake lathe to a vehicle brake component, and at least one adjustable cutting tip adapted to engage a surface of the vehicle brake component, comprising the step of:
- altering a drive speed of the variable speed spindle motor to a rotational speed of the output spindle during engagement of the at least one cutting tip with the surface of the vehicle brake component.
A method for attenuating vibrations during resurfacing of a vehicle brake component with a brake lathe having a controller, a rotationally driven output spindle adapted to couple the brake lathe to a vehicle brake component, and at least one adjustable cutting tip adapted to engage a surface of the vehicle brake component, comprising the step of:
- utilizing the controller to automatically alter a rotational speed of the output spindle during cutting engagement of the at least one cutting tip with the surface of the vehicle brake component.
A method for attenuating vibrations during resurfacing of a vehicle brake component with a brake lathe having a programmable controller, a rotationally driven output spindle adapted to couple the brake lathe to a vehicle brake component, and at least one adjustable cutting tip adapted to engage a surface of the vehicle brake component, comprising the steps of:
- programming the controller to regulate a rotational speed of the output spindle;
- and, utilizing the controller to vary a rotational speed of the output spindle in response to said programming, during cutting engagement of the at least one cutting tip with the surface of the vehicle brake component.
A brake lathe for resurfacing of a vehicle brake component, comprising:
- a variable speed spindle motor carried by a support structure and controlled by a motor controller;
- an output spindle carried by the support structure and rotationally driven by the variable speed motor, said output spindle adapted to couple the brake lathe to the vehicle brake component during a resurfacing procedure;
- at least one adjustable cutting tip carried by the support structure and adapted to engage a surface of the vehicle brake component during the resurfacing procedure;
- and
- a microprocessor operatively coupled to the motor controller, said microprocessor configured to direct the motor controller to alter a drive speed of the variable speed spindle motor to attenuate vibrations occurring during the resurfacing procedure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.