Method and apparatus for rebuilding vehicle axles

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The instant method and apparatus comprehends means whereby a damaged vehicle axle can be repaired without either requiring that the vehicle be towed to wherever machine shop services are available or requiring that the entire axle be replaced.
The method comprehends the removal of the damaged terminal portion of an axle, including the bearing surfaces, and its replacement with a stub axle section having the necessary bearing surfaces and threads.
The damaged axle section is first removed by sawing or other appropriate method and a boring apparatus according to the instant invention is then secured to a brake flange or similar radially extending lip on the remaining portion of the axle.
The boring machine tool axis is aligned with the axis of the axle and a cylindrical cavity is bored into the end of the axle.
Next, the end of the axle is chamfered and radially oriented passageways which intersect the bored cavity are cut through the wall of the axle.
A sub axle portion having appropriately disposed bearing surfaces and a centrally disposed axial passageway is then driven into the cavity.
Finally, the axle stub is secured to the axle proper by weldments disposed within the plurality of radially oriented passageways.
The instant method thus provides a direct and straight-forward scheme whereby vehicle axles having damaged threads or bearing surfaces may be completely restored without the expense attendant either replacement of the complete axle or towing of the vehicle to a distant machine shop or repair facility.
The boring apparatus of the instant invention includes a substantially conventional axial boring machine having manually selectable feed rates and directions and which is powered by electricity.
The boring apparatus includes specially configured mounting components which adapt and facilitate securement of the boring apparatus to a brake flange or other radially oriented structure on an axle having a plurality of through openings oriented parallel to the axis of the axle and arranged in spaced-apart increments about a circle