Wheel assembly, and apparatus and method for making same

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a wheel hub to reduce lateral run-out. Specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus and a method for machining the inner and outer surfaces of the wheel hub after the wheel bolts and bearing have been attached to the wheel hub. A grind wheel is used to finish an inner flange portion and outer flange portion of the wheel hub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the flange portion includes an outer flange surface and wherein said grind wheel includes an outer lip configured to engage said outer flange surface. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the flange portion includes an inner flange surface and wherein said grind wheel includes an inner lip configured to engage said inner flange surface. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said flange portion includes a recessed channel located between said outer flange surface and said inner flange surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said wheel bolts are positioned within said recessed channel. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said grind wheel is constructed of boron. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said wheel hub includes a relief channel arranged between said inner flange surface and said outer flange surface. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the flange portion is includes an outer flange surface and an inner flange surface and rotation of said grind wheel finishes said outer flange surface and said inner flange surface to be substantially co-planar. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said bearing is press fit with said knuckle. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a wheel assembly comprising:
 providing a wheel hub having a flange portion with an outer flange surface and an inner flange surface;   securing a plurality of wheel bolts to said flange portion of said wheel hub;   connecting a bearing to said wheel hub;   applying a first milling tool to the inner flange surface or the outer flange surface; and   rotating said wheel hub and the first milling tool while the first milling tool contacts the inner flange surface or the outer flange surface;   wherein the milling tool rotates about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first and second axis of rotation are fixed, parallel and sufficiently offset so that the first milling tool contacts the inner flange surface or the outer flange surface without contacting the wheel bolts.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the method includes applying the first milling tool to said outer flange surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said bearing is connected to a knuckle prior to rotating said wheel hub with respect to said bearing. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method includes applying a second miffing tool to the inner flange surface. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the second milling tool rotates about a third axis of rotation, wherein the first and third axis of rotation are fixed, parallel and sufficiently offset so that the second miffing tool contacts the inner flange surface without contacting the wheel bolts. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the inner and outer flange surfaces are coplanar. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method includes moving the first and second milling tools from a storage position to a cutting position. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for preparing a flange surface of a wheel hub comprising:
 i) a first component for mounting a wheel hub having a flange portion and for rotating the wheel hub in a first axis of rotation; and   ii) a second component including a grind wheel, wherein the second component rotates the grind wheel about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation form an acute angle;   wherein the grind wheel includes a grind surface that is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the wheel hub is mounted on a bearing. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for preparing a flange surface of a wheel hub comprising:
 i) a first component for mounting a wheel hub having a plurality of wheel bolts and having a first flange portion, wherein the first component rotates the wheel hub in a first axis of rotation and the first flange portion is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation, and the first flange portion is located interior to a cylindrical region defined by a portion of the wheel bolts closest to the first axis of rotation; and   ii) a second component including a milling tool, wherein the second component rotates the milling tool about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are fixed, parallel and sufficiently offset so that the milling tool mills the first flange portion;   wherein the milling tool has a cutting surface generally perpendicular to the second axis of rotation.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the wheel hub is mounted to a bearing. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the second component includes a milling tool for milling a second flange portion located outside a cyclindrical region defined by a portion of the wheel bolts furthest from the first axis of rotation.