U.S. patent application number 10/635134 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-12 for orbital sander with suction ring.
Invention is credited to Marton, Miksa.
Application Number | 20040029506 10/635134 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21991633 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040029506 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marton, Miksa |
February 12, 2004 |
Orbital sander with suction ring
Abstract
A rotary orbital sander includes a motor having a rotatable
shaft with a radially off-set portion. A suction housing is mounted
to the motor around the motor shaft and connectable with a vacuum
source. A sanding pad assembly including a backing pad having a
plurality of apertures therethrough and an annular frame having a
circumferential side wall including first and second
circumferential edges is mounted to the radially off-set portion of
the shaft. A circular back wall extends from one of the
circumferential edges and has an opening therein sealable with the
suction housing. The other circumferential edge is attached to the
backing pad. The sanding pad assembly resists flapping at high
rotational speeds. A sanding disk having a size and shape
complimentary to that of the sanding pad, and a plurality of holes
aligning with the apertures in the sanding pad is mountable on the
sanding pad. A vacuum source draws sanding waste through the
aligned apertures and out the suction housing.
Inventors: |
Marton, Miksa; (Windsor,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Fildes & Outland, P.C.
Suite 2
20916 Mack Avenue
Grosse Pointe Woods
MI
48236
US
|
Family ID: |
21991633 |
Appl. No.: |
10/635134 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10635134 |
Aug 6, 2003 |
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10054517 |
Nov 13, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
451/357 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B24B 23/03 20130101;
B24B 55/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
451/357 |
International
Class: |
B24B 023/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sanding pad assembly for use with a rotary orbital sander
having a suction housing connectable with a vacuum source for
drawing out sanding waste, said sanding pad assembly comprising: a
backing pad having a periphery; a plurality of apertures extending
through said backing pad; an annular frame having a circumferential
side wall attached to said backing pad and including a
circumferential edge defining in part a back wall having an opening
in vacuum pressure flow communication with said suction
housing.
2. The sanding pad assembly of claim 2, further including a sanding
disk having a plurality of holes disposed in like fashion to said
apertures in said backing pad so that the plurality of holes of the
disk align with the apertures in the sanding pad assembly.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a division of application Ser. No.
10/054,517 filed Nov. 13, 2001.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to a rotary orbital sander, and more
particularly to a rotary orbital sander that is adapted for use
with a vacuum source.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/738,305 I disclosed a
double action orbital sander having a sanding pad including a
plurality of radially extending suction channels for drawing
sanding waste through holes in a sanding disk aligned with the
annular channels. Although this arrangement has been very effective
for collecting and transporting loosened particles to a suction
housing, I have improved upon the delivery of vacuum pressure
provided through the holes in the sanding disk.
[0004] My earlier application also included a unique balancing
system that uniquely balanced a pad backing and backing pad mounted
on the rotatable shaft and minimized flapping of the pad backing
and back up pad under the high rotational operational speed of the
pad, that may be in excess of 10,000 rpm. While improving delivery
of vacuum presence, I have further improved upon eliminating the
flapping associated with the high speed rotation of a large
diameter pad backing of a disk shape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a suction ring for an orbital
sander and/or a rotary orbital sander that improves upon the
unobstructed flow of vacuum pressure provided through holes in a
backing pad and sanding disk. In this way, the suction ring
increases the delivered vacuum pressure to the sanding disk.
[0006] The present invention also provides a suction ring that
improves upon the elimination of flapping associated with the high
speed rotation of a disk shaped pad backing and backing pad of
relatively large diameter by providing a bridge-like structure that
attaches to the backing pad to work as one piece with the pad
backup and backup pad.
[0007] The suction ring is provided for use with an orbital sander
including a motor having a rotatable shaft with a radially off-set
portion, a suction housing mounted to the motor around the motor
shaft and connectable with a vacuum source for supplying vacuum
pressure around the shaft, and a sanding pad assembly having a
plurality of apertures therethrough.
[0008] The suction ring includes an annular frame having a
circumferential side wall including first and second
circumferential edges. The suction ring is disposed between the
suction housing and the sanding pad assembly. One of the edges
defines an opening and is adapted to mount to the sanding pad
assembly. A circular back wall having an opening therein
communicates the vacuum pressure from the suction housing to the
orbital sanding pad assembly. The back wall is continuous with the
other circumferential edge of the circumferential side wall.
Sanding waste is communicated through the sanding pad passageways
and suction ring to the suction housing.
[0009] In one embodiment a plurality of radially disposed ribs
extends generally from the circumferential side wall to a like
plurality of leg members disposed about the opening in the circular
back wall, forming a bridge-like structure attached to the sanding
pad assembly which includes a pad backing and back up pad. The
suction ring itself is rigid and it stiffens the assembly against
deformations that can occur at high rotational velocity, which is
often about 10,000 rpm.
[0010] The ring may be made generally of metal or high impact
plastic, and aluminum is the preferred material.
[0011] A rotary orbital sander of the invention includes a motor
having a rotatable shaft with a radially off-set portion. A suction
housing is mounted to the motor around the motor shaft and
connectable with a vacuum source. A sanding pad assembly is mounted
to the radially off-set portion of the shaft.
[0012] The sanding pad assembly further includes a backing pad
having a plurality of apertures therethrough and an annular frame
having a circumferential side wall including first and second
circumferential edges and disposed between said suction housing and
the sanding pad assembly. A circular back wall extends from one of
the circumferential edges and has an opening therein sealable with
the suction housing. The other circumferential edge is attached to
the backing pad.
[0013] The sanding pad assembly further includes a sanding disk
having a size and shape complimentary to that of the sanding pad,
and a plurality of holes aligning with the apertures in the sanding
pad.
[0014] A sanding pad assembly for use with a rotary orbital sander
having a suction housing connectable with a vacuum source for
drawing out sanding waste includes a backing pad having a
periphery, a plurality of apertures extending through said backing
pad, and an annular frame having a circumferential side wall
attached to said backing pad and including a circumferential edge
defining in part a back wall having an opening in vacuum pressure
flow communication with said suction housing.
[0015] The sanding pad assembly can further include a sanding disk
having a plurality of holes disposed in like fashion to the
apertures in the backing pad so that the plurality of holes of the
disk align with the apertures in the sanding pad assembly.
[0016] These and other features and advantages of the invention
will be more fully understood from the following detailed
description of the invention taken together with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In the drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rotary orbital sander
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a suction housing
illustrating a connector adapted for connection with a vacuum
source;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view, partially in section,
illustrating a sanding pad assembly of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view of a suction ring of the
invention illustrating a plurality of radially disposed ribs and
like plurality of leg members forming a bridge-like structure;
and
[0022] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a sanding pad illustrating the hole
configuration therein and in the pad backing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Referring now to the drawings in detail, a rotary orbital
sander is generally indicated by 10 and includes a system 12 for
communicating sanding waste in accordance with the invention.
Sander 10 includes a handle 14 mounted to a drive motor 16. Motor
16 has a rotatable shaft 18 with a radially off-set portion 20
extending generally perpendicular to the direction of the handle
14. A suction housing 22 is mounted on the motor 16 and the housing
receives and surrounds the rotatable shaft 18. Suction housing 22
is adapted to connect with a vacuum source, for example, a shop
vacuum, and includes a connector 24 for such connection illustrated
in FIG. 2.
[0024] A sanding pad assembly 26 is mounted for rotation on the
rotatable shaft 18. The sanding pad assembly 26 includes a disk
shaped pad backing 28 that includes a plurality of apertures 30
through which vacuum pressure is communicated. On a backside of pad
backing 28 there is attached a suction ring 32 for rotation with
the pad backing.
[0025] Suction ring 32 comprises an annular frame 34 having a
circumferential side wall 36 including first and second
circumferential edges 38, 40. Suction ring 32 is disposed between
the suction housing 22 and pad backing 28. One of the edges 38
defines an opening and is adapted to mount and/or attach to the pad
backing 28. A circular back wall 42 having an opening 44 therein
communicates vacuum pressure from the suction housing 22 to the
apertures in pad backing 28. The back wall 42 may be continuous
with circumferential edge 40 and the opening 44 is spaced closely
to the suction housing 22.
[0026] A seal ring 46, shown in phantom in FIG. 1 may be mounted
around suction housing 22 adjacent the suction ring opening 44 and
lightly contact the suction ring 32 to prevent false outside air
from getting into the flow of vacuum pressure which draws loosened
particles or sanding waste.
[0027] On the face of the pad backing 28 there is mounted a
resilient sanding pad 48 which includes a plurality of apertures 50
similarly disposed as the apertures 30 in pad backing 28. Sanding
pad 48 removably mounts a sanding disk 52 having abrasive qualities
and a like aperture 54 configuration as apertures 30, 50. As
particles are loosened during the sanding process, they are drawn
by the vacuum source directly through aligned apertures 30, 50, 54,
into the suction ring 32 and out the suction housing 22.
[0028] In one embodiment, best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the suction
ring 32 includes a plurality of radially disposed ribs 56 that
extend generally from circumferential side wall 36 to a like
plurality of leg members 58 disposed about the opening 44 in the
circular back wall 42 forming a bridge-like structure. In the
illustrative embodiment, there are eight ribs 56 and eight leg
members 58. The ribs 56 have a section that extends perpendicular
to the pad backing 28 and with the suction ring 32 mounted together
with the sanding pad assembly 26 to act as one, the assembly is
greatly stiffened against possible deformation at high rotational
speeds.
[0029] Preferably, the suction ring 32 is made of aluminum as is
the pad backing 28. High impact plastic construction may be used,
but is less durable in commercial applications.
[0030] Although the invention has been described by reference to
specific embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes
may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts
described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be
limited to the described embodiments, but that it have the full
scope defined by the language of the following claims.
* * * * *