Frederick J Brooks

US Patent:

6406356, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

Mar 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/803204

Inventors:

Frederick E. Brooks - Fullerton CA 92635

International Classification:

B24B 100

US Classification:

451 36, 451104, 451106, 451113

Abstract:

A wheel finishing apparatus for abrasively finishing the front faces of automobile wheels. The apparatus has a rotating carousel hub and multiple arms connected to the carousel hub which extend out to wheel mounting ends. A wheel is rotatably mounted to each wheel mounting end such that the front face of each wheel faces a known direction of carousel rotation and forms an impingement with an orbital path traversed by the wheel mounting end. Each wheel may be independently pivoted about a respective pivot axis at each wheel mounting end for variably adjusting the impingement angle. By adjusting the impingement angle to less than ninety degrees, partially submerging the wheels in a media bath, and rotating the carousel drive structure about a central axis of rotation, the abrasive polishing media impinges the submerged portions of the front faces and rotates the wheels about their respective wheel rotational axes to abrasively finish all areas of the front faces.