U.S. patent application number 09/801463 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-26 for method of abrading/polishing device and methods of making and using same.
Invention is credited to Calvin, Douglas, Wentworth, Robert J..
Application Number | 20010009839 09/801463 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23322503 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010009839 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wentworth, Robert J. ; et
al. |
July 26, 2001 |
Method of abrading/polishing device and methods of making and using
same
Abstract
An improved polishing wheel comprising the combination of a
flanged arbor nut having a stack of abrasive elements secured
thereon by means of a push on retainer nut and a threaded mandrel,
the distal end of which is adapted to be engaged by the chuck of a
power tool.
Inventors: |
Wentworth, Robert J.;
(Farmington Hills, MI) ; Calvin, Douglas;
(Livonia, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ATTN: Thomas N. Young
YOUNG & BASILE, P.C.
3001 WEST BIG BEAVER ROAD SUITE 624
TROY
MI
48084-3107
US
|
Family ID: |
23322503 |
Appl. No.: |
09/801463 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09801463 |
Mar 8, 2001 |
|
|
|
09337902 |
Jun 22, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
451/28 ;
451/510 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B24D 5/16 20130101; B24D
5/066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
451/28 ;
451/510 |
International
Class: |
B24B 001/00 |
Claims
1. A surface treating device comprising: a post having an axially
threaded interior surface, a smooth, unthreaded exterior surface
and an end flange; at least one surface treatment element disposed
on the post and against the end flange thereof; and a self-securing
retainer nut separate from said post and press-fit onto and secured
to the exterior surface of the post in clamping relationship to
said element to firmly secure said element between said retainer
nut and said flange.
2. A method of assembling a rotary contact device for surface
treating including the steps of: providing a flanged rigid post
having a hollow threaded interior bore and an exterior flange at
one end thereof; stacking one or more surface treatment elements on
the post to be supported by the exterior flange; pressing an
unthreaded, split center retainer nut onto and in direct engagement
with the post to bear compressingly against the stack of elements;
and, thereafter, assembling a mandrel to the post by threaded
engagement therewith, a mandrel carrying a hollow cylindrical skirt
which, when assembled to the post, bears against the retainer nut.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
09/337,902 filed on Jun. 22, 1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This patent relates to devices for treating the surfaces of
manufactured articles; e.g., abrading and polishing the exterior
surfaces of articles such as metal wheels.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is known in the prior art to assemble an abrading or
polishing device by providing a flanged post having a hollow and
partially threaded interior, placing one or more elements of
appropriate material on the post and thereafter splitting and
"flowering" the distal end of the post over and onto the topmost
element, or on to a washer where desired, to secure the element or
elements to the post and create a unitary assembly. This prior art
device and the essential structural characteristics thereof are
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing and are prominently labeled
PRIOR ART.
[0004] There are several disadvantages to this method. One
disadvantage is the requirement for the special tool to split and
flower the upper portion of the threaded post. Another is the fact
that the split and flowered post shank is on the face of the device
which addresses the work and can, if the device is mishandled, mar
the surface being treated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to the present invention, an improved method of
assembling a polishing or abrading device of the type described
above is provided. The present device eliminates the aforesaid
disadvantages of the prior art device.
[0006] In general, the device of the present invention comprises a
combination of a flanged post having a hollow interior thread, one
or more polishing or abrading elements disposed on the post and
against the flange and a simple retainer device such as a split
push-on retainer nut to clamp and secure the elements against the
surface of the post flange. Thereafter the device is assembled to a
mandrel which is adapted to be engaged by the chuck of a power tool
by inserting the threaded end of the mandrel into the interiorly
threaded but unsplit shank of the flange post. Preferably the
mandrel is provided with a skirt portion which overlies the
exterior of the flange post and provides a clamping function which
can grow tighter as the device is used.
[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, a method of
assembling an improved device of the type described above is
provided. According to the steps of this method, one provides first
a flanged post having a hollow interior thread. Thereafter one
places one or more apertured polishing or abrading elements on the
post and against the interior surface of the flange thereof.
Thereafter a retainer device such as a push-on retainer nut is
applied and, finally a mandrel is threaded into the device as
described above.
[0008] According to a third aspect of the invention, an improved
method of using a polishing or abrading device of the type
described above is provided. In essence, the method comprises the
assembly method described above followed by the further step of
inserting the mandrel into the chuck of an appropriate tool.
Thereafter the device is used in the prescribed manner and, when
depleted by wear, simply removed from the mandrel without removing
the mandrel from the tool. In this fashion the mandrel may be moved
from device to device without ever removing from the tool or
replacing it with another mandrel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0009] FIGS. 1 and 2 are plan view and side view illustrations of
the prior device as described above;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the improved
device of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of the device of FIG. 3 partly in
section; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a suitable
mandrel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring first to the prior art device of FIGS. 1 and 2, it
can be seen that a plurality of flat, tubular, abrasively coated,
rectangular shaped elements 10 used to abrade and polish metal
surfaces are stacked atop one another in an angularly fanned array
on a flanged post 12 in the form of an arbor nut having a hollow
interior with threads 14 extending partially from the flange 16
toward the opposite end. The elements are formed by rolling a flat
sheet of appropriate stock into a tube, stitching the roll and
cutting it into equal lengths. After the elements 10 are assembled
on the post 12 a cloth washer 18 is applied and thereafter the
unthreaded top end of the post 12 is split and flowered outwardly
to provide clamping fingers as shown at 20. The device is made
ready to do useful work by threading a suitable tool shaft into the
threaded portion 14 shown in FIG. 2. The tool shaft is inserted
into the chuck of a power tool.
[0014] The elements 10 need not be made in the manner described
above and need not be formed of stacked, plural elements; i.e., a
single element of appropriate thickness and radial end
configuration will suffice in many applications. Looking now to
FIGS. 3 through 5 the improved device of the present invention is
shown to comprise a flanged post 22 in the form of an arbor nut
having a hollow interior which is threaded as shown at 24. Note
that whereas the threads 14 prior art flange post 12 are in the
lower portion; i.e., in the portion closest to and running through
the flange 16, the flange 24 of the flange post 22 are at the upper
end. However, like the prior art device, the hollow interior of the
flange post 24 extends all the way through the device from one end
to the other. A plurality of polishing or abrasive elements 26, in
this case in the form of flat tubular elements of pliable,
abrasively-coated paper having a central die-cut aperture are
stacked in a fan-shaped array on the post and clamped against the
interior surface of the flange 27 by means of a press-on, split
retainer nut 28. Automated or manual clamping tools or fixtures may
be used to accomplish this step. This procedure finishes the
assembly of the abrasive device. Once again, the element 26 may be
replaced with a single element of appropriate shape and
thickness.
[0015] To utilize the device, a mandrel 30 having a collar 34
defining a shaft length 35 to be inserted into the chuck of a
suitable power tool 40 is provided. On the other side of the collar
34 the shaft 32 of the mandrel 30 is provided with a length of
threads 36 which enter into and are engaged with a threaded hole in
a hollow cylindrical skirt 38.
[0016] The final assembly is as shown in FIG. 4 wherein the
threaded portion 36 of the mandrel shaft is shown to be united not
only with the outer skirt 38 but also with the interior of the
arbor nut 22 such that the annular end surface 42 of the skirt 38
bears against the retainer nut 28 and actually enhances in the
clamping action provided thereby as the device is used.
[0017] When the elements 26 of the improved device are depleted by
wear, rather than dispose of the entirety of the combination of the
abrading element and the mandrel 30, it is more economical and
preferable to simply remove the abrading element including the
arbor nut 22 from the mandrel while leaving the mandrel 30 in the
tool and thereafter replacing the abrading unit with a new unit
simply by threading it on to the end of the mandrel in the same
fashion as the first element was assembled to the mandrel.
[0018] There are a number of variations that are possible with the
present device. For example, the retainer nut 28 may take any
number of several forms including retainer devices which are bonded
or even welded in place. The skirt 38 is preferably formed with
rounded shoulders and a slight taper as shown but may just as
easily be made purely cylindrical in configuration. The flat
tubular abrasively coated elements 26 may also be replaced with any
number of other devices such as soft nonabrasive polishing
materials, discs, or squares. It is generally preferable to have
the outer ends split or divided to create maximum surface contact
area and to provide multiple layers of material in the element.
* * * * *