David Allen Sullivan

US Patent:

59922761, Nov 30, 1999

Filed:

Apr 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/058085

Inventors:

David R. Sullivan - Corona CA

International Classification:

B23B 500

US Classification:

82112

Abstract:

A safety apparatus for use in connection with motor driven machine tools such as engine lathes of the character used to dress the brake shoe and brake pad engaging surface of automobile brake drums and rotors. The safety apparatus can be quickly and easily attached to conventional brake drum/disc dressing lathes without the necessity of substantially modifying the lathes, does not interfere with the normal machining processes and yet fully protects the operator from accidentally contacting the rotating work pieces during the dressing operation. The apparatus includes novel safety switch mechanisms which positively prevent energization of a motor of the lathe using the factory installed "on-off" switch of the machine so long as the safety guard is in a raised position. Accordingly, required work piece set-up operations can be accomplished only through use of a specially wired foot switch which permits controlled, intermittent energization of the lathe motor by the operator.