WESTON EUGENE DICKERSON
Pilots at Pleasant Vly, Milford, MI

6505716, Jan 14, 2003

Sep 14, 2000

09/662452

Anwar R. Daudi - Ann Arbor MI
Weston E. Dickerson - Milford MI
Chris Milosavlevski - Livonia MI
Rob Walkowiak - Clinton Township MI

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. - Northville MI

F16D 6900

188250B

The invention relates to a brake rotor having improved damping characteristics and a method for producing the same. A surface of the brake rotor is EDG machined, also known as EDM machined, for improving the damping characteristics of the rotor. The decay rate of the brake rotor is increased and the Q factor of the brake rotor is reduced. The portion of the brake rotor which is EDG machined is formed of an electrically conductive material, preferably a ferrous material, more preferably a cast iron material, a gray iron material or a damped iron material. The brake rotor may include a solid friction section or a ventilated friction section. The brake rotor is preferably cast from a single material, although alternatively, it may be a composite rotor formed of more than one material.

6145386, Nov 14, 2000

Apr 8, 1998

9/057425

Weston E. Dickerson - Milford MI
John E. Saum - Okemos MI
Anwar R. Daudi - Ann Harbor MI

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. - Northville MI

G01P 506

7386185

The invention relates to an air flow test apparatus for determining the amount of air moving through vents in a turning ventilated rotor. The air flow test apparatus includes an elongated cylindrical shaft journalled for rotation in spaced apart bearing blocks mounted in a frame. A conventional belt drive couples the shaft to a variable speed motor for rotation. An adapter is mounted to the shaft and a work piece is mounted to the adapter end for rotation with the shaft. The work piece includes a hub secured to the adapter for receiving a plurality of different sized rotors, and a ventilated rotor mounted to the hub. The work piece may also include other vehicle components such as the caliper, a wheel, even an entire corner portion of a vehicle for simulation purposes. A pressure gauge is disposed adjacent the rotor, near the vents, to measure the air pressure near the turning rotor. The cooling effectiveness of the ventilated rotor can be determined by the amount of air moved through the vents which is proportional to the change in pressure of the moving air.

5878479, Mar 9, 1999

Apr 3, 1998

/054642

Weston E. Dickerson - Milford MI
Charles E. Burger - Farmington MI

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. - Romulus MI

B23P 1304, B22D 11128

295276

The invention is directed to a method of forming a vented rotor for caliper disc brakes and the like. Such a vented rotor includes an outer friction portion having one or more ring sections with opposed friction surfaces adapted to interface with associated friction members. The vented rotor is formed by first casting a rotor to the desired configuration including at least the ring section. This initial casting is formed in such a manner that one or more depressions are provided a surface of the ring section. Then, material is removed in one or more machining steps from portions of the friction surface opposite the friction surface having the depressions, to the point that the depressions extend completely through the ring section to form the vents.

5915747, Jun 29, 1999

Apr 4, 1998

9/055421

Weston E. Dickerson - Milford MI
Charles E. Burger - Farmington MI

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. - Romulus MI

B23P 1304, B22D 11128

295276

The invention is directed to a rotor having a vented hat section and a method of forming the same. Such a rotor includes a hat section having a central mounting face and a cylindrical shoulder or hat wall extending axially from the mounting face to an annular peripheral section having friction surfaces disposed on opposite sides. A plurality of spaced apart vents are defined in the wall of the hat section. The vented rotor is formed by first casting a rotor to the desired configuration including at least the hat section. The initial casting is formed in such a manner that one or more depressions are provided in the radially inner surface of the wall of the hat section. These depressions do not extend through the wall of the hat section. Then, material is removed in one or more machining steps from the radially outer surface of the wall of the hat section proximate the depressions. Such material is removed to the point that the depressions extend completely through the wall of the hat section to form the vents.

6243949, Jun 12, 2001

Apr 10, 1998

9/058614

Weston E. Dickerson - Milford MI
Petar Jakovljevic - Mississauga, CA

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. - Northville MI

B23P 1700

29894323

This invention relates to an improved method for producing aluminum MMC rotors. The method comprises the steps of initially casting an aluminum MMC rotor casting having a central pilot aperture, cold forming the friction section, cold forming the mounting section, punching the central pilot aperture to remove excess aluminum MMC material, and then forming fastener apertures in the mounting section. In the step of cold forming the friction section a plurality of cylindrical rollers are pressed against each side of the friction section and the rollers are moved in a circumferential direction around the friction section to finish the friction section to the desired dimensions. In the step of cold forming the mounting section a plurality of cylindrical rollers are pressed against each side of the mounting section and the rollers are moved in a circumferential direction around the mounting section to finish the mounting section to the desired dimensions. The excess aluminum MMC material is removed at the radially inner edge of the mounting section by punching the central pilot aperture. Finally, fastener apertures are formed in the mounting section.

6279697, Aug 28, 2001

Jul 30, 1999

9/364588

Weston E. Dickerson - Milford MI
Petar Jakovljevic - Mississauga, CA

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. - Northville MI

F16D 6512

188218XL

The invention is a brake rotor. The rotor includes a radially inner mounting section with a central mounting face for attaching the rotor to a wheeled vehicle. The mounting face has a plurality of fastener apertures and a central aperture. A hat wall extends axially from the periphery of the mounting face. The rotor also includes a radially outer annular friction section. The friction section has a pair of opposite friction surfaces machined to predetermined dimensions. Each machined friction surface is non-directional in that it does not include directional indentations. The non-directional friction surfaces include non-directional indentations such as dimples or pits.

6296549, Oct 2, 2001

Mar 13, 2000

9/524684

Weston E. Dickerson - Milford MI
Petar Jakovljevic - Mississauga, CA

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. - Northville MI

B24B 100

451 28

This invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for finish machining brake components. The apparatus includes an electrode ring adapted to be secured to a rotatable shaft. The electrode ring includes at least one plurality of circumferentially spaced apart electrodes adapted to be electrically connected to a power supply. Each one of the at least one plurality of electrodes are arranged adjacent each other around the circumference of the electrode ring. The apparatus further includes a positioning mechanism for positioning a rotating, electrically grounded rotor adjacent the electrode ring until sparks are formed between the electrode ring and the rotor. The sparks vaporize a portion of the rotor surface thereby creating a finished surface on the rotor having the desired dimensions.

2001004, Nov 15, 2001

Dec 29, 2000

09/752334

Anwar Daudi - Ann Arbor MI, US
Weston Dickerson - Milford MI, US

F16D065/10

188/2180XL, 188/01800A

A method of increasing the length, thickness, and density of graphite flakes in a brake rotor includes forming a brake rotor of gray iron, cast iron, or damped iron. The method further includes EDG machining a surface of the brake rotor.

6261153, Jul 17, 2001

Nov 16, 1998

9/193063

Weston E. Dickerson - Milford MI
Petar Jakovljevic - Mississauga, CA

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. - Northville MI

B24B 100

451 28

This invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for finish machining brake components. The apparatus includes an electrode ring adapted to be secured to a rotatable shaft. The electrode ring includes at least one plurality of circumferentially spaced apart electrodes adapted to be electrically connected to a power supply. Each one of the at least one plurality of electrodes are arranged adjacent each other around the circumference of the electrode ring. The apparatus further includes a positioning mechanism for positioning a rotating, electrically grounded rotor adjacent the electrode ring until sparks are formed between the electrode ring and the rotor. The sparks vaporize a portion of the rotor surface thereby creating a finished surface on the rotor having the desired dimensions.

6186292, Feb 13, 2001

Apr 22, 1998

9/064245

Weston E. Dickerson - Milford MI
Charles E. Burger - Farmington MI

Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. - Northville MI

F16D 6510

188218XL

The noise created by a vehicle rotor is reduced by adjusting the natural or resonant frequency at which the rotor tends to vibrate. The resonant frequency is moved away from the frequencies of excitation of such sources as the brake pads and vehicle drive train components. The resonant frequency of the rotor is adjusted by manipulating the geometry and mass of the rotor by adjusting the number, size, shape, spacing and location of cooling vents formed in the hat section of the rotor. The resulting rotor exhibits improved vibrational control.