U.S. patent application number 11/311208 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for disc brush.
This patent application is currently assigned to Weiler Corporation. Invention is credited to Frank J. Hettes.
Application Number | 20070136970 11/311208 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37944726 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070136970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hettes; Frank J. |
June 21, 2007 |
Disc brush
Abstract
A disc brush has a disc having a face including at least a first
portion and a second portion. A plurality of abrasive filaments are
fixed to the first portion and extend generally perpendicularly
from the disc. The abrasive filaments are arranged around the
second portion. The second portion is recessed from the first
portion to form a recess having a diameter and axial depth
sufficient to receive at least a portion of a raised portion of a
work piece. In one preferred embodiment, the disc brush is provided
with an arbor hole to allow the disc brush to be driven by a rotary
drive device and is sized to fit within a well portion of an
automobile wheel to allow the disc brush to be rotatably driven to
de-burr an interior portion of the wheel.
Inventors: |
Hettes; Frank J.;
(Greentown, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH;ATTN: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP
ONE LOGAN SQUARE
18TH AND CHERRY STREETS
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-6996
US
|
Assignee: |
Weiler Corporation
|
Family ID: |
37944726 |
Appl. No.: |
11/311208 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/180 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/3093 20130101;
A46B 13/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/180 |
International
Class: |
A46B 7/08 20060101
A46B007/08 |
Claims
1. A disc brush comprising: a disc having a face including at least
a first portion and a second portion; and a plurality of abrasive
filaments fixed to the first portion and extending generally
perpendicularly from the disc and arranged around the second
portion, the second portion being recessed from the first portion
to form a recess having a diameter and axial depth sufficient to
receive at least a part of a raised portion of a work piece.
2. The disc brush of claim 1, wherein the recess is concentric with
a remainder of the disk.
3. The disc brush of claim 1, wherein the abrasive filaments
comprise a polymeric material impregnated with an abrasive
grit.
4. The disc brush of claim 1, wherein the abrasive filaments are
grouped in bundles.
5. The disc brush of claim 1, wherein the work piece is an
automobile wheel and the disc is sized to fit within an interior
well of the wheel and the recess is sized to receive a raised
surface of a central portion of a hub of the wheel.
6. The disc brush of claim 5, wherein the recess diameter is in the
range of 7.5 to 8.5 inches.
7. The disc brush of claim 5, wherein the recess axial depth is in
the range of 0.25 to 2.0 inches.
8. The disc brush of claim 1, wherein the disc is fabricated from a
polymeric material.
9. The disc brush of claim 8, wherein the polymeric material is
polypropylene.
10. The disc brush of claim 1 further comprising means to couple
the disc to a rotary drive device.
11. The disc brush of claim 10, the disc further including a second
face having an opening extending at least partially through the
disc and forming an arbor hole, wherein the means to couple the
disc to the rotary drive device includes the arbor hole.
12. The disc brush of claim 11, wherein the arbor hole has a
diameter in the range of 5.8 to 6.0 inches.
13. The disc brush of claim 1, wherein the disc comprises a first
member and a second member rigidly connected to the first
member.
14. The disc brush of claim 13 wherein the second member has an
opening extending at least partially therethrough to form the
recess.
15. The disc brush of claim 13 wherein the first member has an
opening extending at least partially therethrough to form an arbor
hole and a second member having a second opening extending at least
partially therethrough to form the recess.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates generally to rotatably driven disc
brushes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is known to employ a disc brush having a plurality of
abrasive filaments, coupled to and driven for rotation by a rotary
drive apparatus, for de-burring.
[0003] While the prior art brushes are well-adapted for use on
planar surfaces, a problem may occur when the brush is used to
de-burr a contoured surface. For example, the interior well portion
of an automobile wheel typically includes a raised surface
proximate a central portion of the wheel hub. A disc brush having
bristles arranged in an annulus surrounding a central portion of a
disc is used in the de-burring operation performed on the interior
well portion. When the brush is in a pristine condition, the brush
functions satisfactorily to de-burr the interior surface of the hub
adjacent the raised surface. However, with continued use the brush
filaments wear away, to a point where the central portion of the
brush disc contacts the raised surface, preventing further use of
the brush. In the prior art brushes, the filaments are not
completely consumed at the point where the contact between the
raised surface and the disc prevents further use of the brush.
Consequently, the brush filaments are not fully utilized. For
example, if, when the brush is in a pristine condition, the
filaments have a length of 5.0 inches, and there are 3 inches of
travel between the work piece raised surface and the central
portion of the disc when the tips of the filaments operatively
engage the work piece, then the disc brush would have to be
replaced when the filaments have worn by 3 inches. Thus, of the
original 5 inch length, only approximately 3 inches, or 60 percent
of the abrasive filament provided, is productively consumed. A need
exists therefore to reduce waste and improve utilization of the
abrasive filaments of disc brushes used with work pieces having
contoured surfaces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention is a disc brush comprising a disc having a
face including at least a first portion and a second portion. A
plurality of abrasive filaments are fixed to the first portion,
extend generally perpendicularly from the disc, and are arranged
around the second portion. The second portion is recessed from the
first portion to form a recess having a diameter and axial depth
sufficient to receive at least part of a raised portion of a work
piece.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are
shown in the drawings an embodiment of the invention which is
presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this
invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and
instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a disc brush in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the disc brush of FIG.
1, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional
automobile wheel.
[0009] FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view of the disc brush of FIGS. 1
and 2, shown decoupled from a drive apparatus and also shown
positioned within an interior well of the conventional automobile
wheel of FIG. 3 in a position suitable for a de-burring operation
of an interior surface of a hub portion of the wheel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a
disc brush in accordance with the present invention is indicated
generally by the reference numeral 10. The disc brush 10 comprises
a disc 20 having a first face 22 including at least a first portion
24 and a second portion 26. The disc brush 10 further comprises a
plurality of abrasive filaments 40 fixed to the first portion 24
and extending generally perpendicularly from the disc 20 and
arranged around the second portion 26 preferably in an annular
pattern. The second portion 26 is recessed from the first portion
24, forming a recess 28. The recess 28 has a diameter D1 and axial
depth L1 sufficient to receive at least part of a raised portion of
a work piece. The recess diameter D1 is preferably in the range of
7.5 to 8.5 inches. The total diameter of the disc 20 is preferably
in the range of 14.5 to 15.5 inches.
[0011] The plurality of abrasive filaments 40 each have a fixed end
42 attached to the first portion 24 and a tip 44. The filaments 40
are preferably fabricated from a polymeric base material, such as a
linear polyamide (commonly know as nylon) impregnated with an
abrasive grit, such as silicon carbide or aluminum oxide. As noted,
the filaments 40 are preferably arranged on the first portion in an
annular pattern, preferably in discrete bundles. The radial extent
of the annulus preferably corresponds generally to the radial
extent of the portion of the working surface to be de-burred. For
example, the radial extent of the annulus may comprise an inner
radius R1 in the range of 4.5 to 5.0 inches and an outer radius R2
in the range of 7.25 to 7.75 inches. In addition, the brush may,
for example, comprise a first set of filament bundles having a
total exposed length L2 of 3.75 inches and a second set of filament
bundles having a total exposed length L3 of 3.25 inches.
Alternatively, if used on a relatively flat work piece, each
filament bundle could have the same length. It will, of course, be
understood that specific dimensions are given only as illustrative,
and are not intended to limit the invention to specific dimensions
or ranges of dimensions. Rather, individual dimensions may be
chosen as appropriate for particular applications of the brush.
[0012] The disc 20 has a central axis 12. The disc 20 comprises the
first face 22 as well as a second face 30. The disc 20 may be
fabricated as a single, unitary member. Alternatively, the disc 20
may be fabricated as an assembly of multiple members, for example,
a first member 34 and a second member 36 rigidly connected
together. The disc 20 may be fabricated from any number of
materials well known to those of ordinary skill in the art of
surface finishing tools, for example, metal, wood, or polymeric
materials. A preferred material of construction for the disc 20 is
polypropylene. The abrasive filaments 40 are affixed to the disc 20
in a conventional manner well known to the artisan in the
field.
[0013] The disc 20 may be operably coupled to the rotary drive
device (not illustrated) using any of a number of means well known
to the person of ordinary skill in the art. For example, in the
preferred embodiment illustrated, the disc 20 includes an arbor
hole 32 by which the disc 20 is coupled to an arbor (not
illustrated) of a rotary drive device (not illustrated). The arbor
hole 32 is circular, preferably with a diameter D2 of approximately
5.9 inches to receive a standard arbor, and is centered about the
disc central axis 12. Alternatively, other forms of drive and other
opening shapes, such as square or hexagonal, can be used without
departing from the invention. The particular drive device and the
manner in which the brush is coupled to the drive device is not
critical to the present invention.
[0014] In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the recess 28 and
the arbor hole 32 are coaxial, and meet to form a continuous
opening extending through the disc 20. However, the recess depth L1
need not extend to meet the arbor hole 32. Moreover, it is not a
requirement of the present invention that the arbor hole 32 be
provided, and if provided, the arbor hole need not extend to a
depth to meet the recess 20.
[0015] The person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that
various means other than the arbor hole 32 could be employed to
couple the disc brush 10 to a rotary drive device. For example, the
disc 20 could be provided with a rod rigidly fixed to and extending
from the second face 30. The rod could be received by and coupled
to the rotary device. Alternatively, fasteners such as screws could
be used to couple the disc brush 10 to the rotary device.
[0016] With reference now to FIG. 3, the disc brush 10 illustrated
in FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly well-adapted for use with an
automobile wheel 50. The wheel 50 rotates about an axis of rotation
52, and typically comprises a hub portion 54 and a rim portion 66.
The hub portion 54 has an exterior side 56, visible to an observer
outside the automobile (not shown) when the wheel 50 is mounted to
the automobile, and an interior side 58. The hub portion 54 also
has a central portion 60, where the wheel 50 mounts to the
automobile axle assembly (not shown). Typically, forces acting on
the hub portion 54 are highest proximate this central portion 60,
and it is conventional that the central portion 60 will be thicker
and more massive than other portions of the hub 54. Frequently, the
hub portion 54 will be designed such that the interior side 58 is
contoured, with the interior side of the central portion 60
projecting inwardly from a remainder of the hub 54 interior side,
the central portion 60 thus having an interior raised surface 62.
Typically, it is not necessary to de-burr the raised surface 62,
but only a surrounding annular work surface 64. The annular
arrangement of the filaments 40 is chosen to correspond to the
extent of the work surface 64 requiring the de-burring operation.
The rim portion 66 includes first and second rim flanges 68 and 70,
respectively. The rim flanges 68, 70 are used to retain a tire (not
shown) to the wheel 50. A wheel well 72 is formed within the rim
portion 66 and hub portion 54.
[0017] With reference now to FIG. 4, the disc brush 10 is shown
within the wheel well 72. The wheel 50 is shown in phantom, and is
not as part of the invention. In use the disc brush 10 is driven
for rotation about the central axis 12 and simultaneously the tips
44 of the abrasive filaments 40 are brought into contact with the
annular work surface 64 of the hub interior side 58. As the
abrasive filaments 40 rotate against the hub 54, the wheel 50 work
piece is de-burred. The disc brush 10 has a length of travel T
between the raised surface 62 and the second portion 26 where disc
20 eventually, with sufficient wear of the filaments 40, contacts
the raised surface 62.
[0018] The travel T associated with the disc brush 10 exceeds the
corresponding travel T' a prior art brush not provided with the
recess would permit. That is, since the recess diameter D1 and
depth L1 are sufficiently large to receive at least a part of the
raised surface 62, the disc brush 10 enables an additional length
of travel relative to a prior art disc, up to an amount equal to
the recess depth L1. This additional travel increases the amount of
the abrasive filaments 40 which may be productively used before the
disc brush 10 must be replaced.
[0019] For example, if the recess depth L1 is chosen to be
approximately 0.85 inches, then for the geometry of the preferred
embodiment illustrated in conjunction with the wheel geometry
illustrated, the length of travel is approximately 2.65 inches. If
the recess 28 was not provided, the length of travel would be
approximately 2.65-0.85=1.8 inches. Thus, of the original 3.75 inch
length L1, approximately 1.8/3.75=48 percent of the abrasive
filament material would be consumed before replacement of a prior
art disc brush would be required, compared to 2.65/3.75=70 percent
of the abrasive filament material in the disc brush 10 being
productively consumed. The disc brush 10 of the present invention
thus significantly reduces waste of abrasive fibers 40. As the cost
of the abrasive fibers 40 is a significant cost element of the disc
brush 10, a significant decrease in the overall cost of the disc
brush 10 results.
[0020] From this disclosure, the artisan will recognize that other
types of abrasive media, such as a non-woven abrasives, could be
substituted for the abrasive filaments 40. Further, the artisan
will recognize that the present invention need not be applied
solely to disc brushes used in de-burring operations, but could be
applied to rotary discs adapted for other types of surface
finishing operations involving contoured parts.
[0021] While the invention has been described and illustrated with
respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be
understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and
various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein
and thereto, without parting from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
* * * * *