Abstract: A coupling mechanism which enables a rotating body to follow an undulation of a polishing surface without generating flutter or vibration of the rotating body, and can finely control a load on the rotating body on a polishing surface in a load range which is smaller than the gravity of rotating body is disclosed. The coupling mechanism includes an upper spherical bearing and a lower spherical bearing disposed between a drive shaft and the rotating body. The upper spherical bearing has a first concave contact surface and a second convex contact surface which are in contact with each other, and the lower spherical bearing has a third concave contact surface and a fourth convex contact surface which are in contact with each other. The first concave contact surface and the second convex contact surface are located above the third concave contact surface and the fourth convex contact surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sanding a number of surface features on a surface of an object. A first type of operation may be performed on the number of surface features on the surface of the object using a first end effector. Feedback laser data may be generated about the number of surface features after the first type of operation has been performed using a laser device. A second type of operation may be performed on the number of surface features using a second end effector and the feedback laser data to rework the number of surface features until the number of surface features has been reworked to within selected tolerances.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tool for finishing a work piece where the tool includes multiple pieces of abrasive material (sandpaper) mounted to a cylindrical housing and carrying a shank for mounting the tool to a portable electric drill or drill press or bench motor. The drill is powered to rotate the shank and housing in a first direction and the sheets of abrasive material are mounted at spaced locations around the periphery of the housing and wrapped in an opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the shank and housing, The sheet of abrasive material is cut from the end opposite to the attached end to form a plurality of finger-like projections which are not secured but tend to move outward when the housing is rotated. The fingers provide a yieldable abrasive surface which can adapt to the contours of the work piece and allow for finishing an irregular work piece.

Abstract: The machining device is for machining the material of a pipe system that has a joint area between a pipe that has a smaller inner diameter and a pipe that has a larger inner diameter. The device has protruding parts that have been adapted to position the device inside the pipe that has the smaller diameter. A steerable actuator is adapted for removing material from the joint area and steering device for controlling the direction of the machining device in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pipe that has the smaller inner diameter while removing material from the joint area. The method is for machining material of the joint area that has a thinner and a thicker pipe.

Abstract: A fan-type grinding wheel comprises a rigid support plate and is provided with grinding elements. These grinding elements comprise a main portion forming a first working face and a bending portion forming a peripheral working face. Furthermore, they comprise an outer portion forming a second working face.

Abstract: A flap wheel includes a hub with axially extending slots for receiving discrete packs, each pack including a clip receivable in the slot with walls projecting beyond the slot, and end caps fitting on the ends of the hub and including fingers interlaced with the ends of projecting packs projecting beyond the hub and dampening vibrations between the hub and packs. The end caps not only confine the flap packs in the hub slots, but also engage the projecting ends of the flap packs to dampen vibrations between the flap packs and the hub, and center the hub and tool on its axis of rotation.

Abstract: A cylindrical drum has at its circumferential edge a number of recesses, each adapted for accommodating a replaceable grinding element including a retainer in which is mounted a sandpaper, support brushes and/or retainer brushes. The recesses in the cylindrical drum are made with side walls. The retainer is made with corresponding outer side walls. During use, by wedge action between the side walls of the recesses and the outer side walls of the retainer, a squeezing force on the side walls of the retainer directed in the circumferential direction arises. The retainer is designed with grooves for fastening at least one sandpaper, and the grooves extend from an upper side of the retainer and into the retainer for forming at least one elastic and pliable flap which is disposed between the grooves and at least one outer side wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to abrasive flap discs which are used for a variety of finishing, grinding and polishing operations, particularly on welded fabrications. The present invention provides an abrasive flap disc (20) comprising a backing plate (11), an annular array of flaps (12) of abrasive material arranged on the backing plate (11) and bonded thereto along the lower most edge of each flap (12), wherein each flap (12), at least in a radially outer region is substantially spaced from each adjacent flap (12) such that the flaps (12) have freedom to flex and conform to an underlying surface in use.

Abstract: A flap wheel includes an aluminum hub with outwardly opening peripheral slots. Flap clips also made of aluminum each holding a bundle of flaps fit snugly in the slots. The slots and clips include an elongated socket and knob construction. The socket of the slot and knob of the clip both have an arched or rounded bottom and straight parallel side walls terminating in opposed retaining keys projecting inwardly from the side walls of the slot or corresponding key ways in the clip. The outer ends of the clips include a thin wall U-shape flap bundle retention slot having a flat but skew or slanting bottom wall. The slots extend uniformly in a non-radial direction angled away from the direction of rotation. The flat but skewed bottom of the clips also slants inwardly toward the direction of rotation to position the outer edges of the flaps in the same skewed slanting direction exposing or splaying an outer edge portion of each of the faces or flat surfaces of the flaps to the work as the wheel rotates.

Abstract: An integrally molded brush. A preferred embodiment of the integrally molded brush includes a) a generally planar hub having an outer periphery, where the hub has a thickness of at least 0.05 inches; and b) a plurality of bristles extending from the outer periphery of the hub, where each of the bristles includes a bristle tip opposite the hub, where the bristle tip has a thickness up to 0.03 inches, and where the molded brush comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material. The present invention also provides a method of molding an integrally molded brush. A preferred embodiment of the method includes the steps of: a) heating a thermoplastic polymer to allow the thermoplastic polymer to be injected into a mold; b) injecting the thermoplastic polymer into a mold, wherein the mold includes a hub section and a plurality of bristle sections in fluid communication with the hub section, where the bristle tip section has a thickness up to 0.

Abstract: Surface treating articles and methods for the manufacture of such articles are provided. The articles of the invention comprise a rotatable core; a plurality of surface treating segments, the segments having first ends adjacent the core and second ends opposite the first ends; and a cured, expanded adhesive composition bonding the surface treating segment to the core, the adhesive composition comprising (a) an organic epoxide compound having an epoxide functionality of at least 1, (b) an epoxide hardener, (c) a film-forming material, and (d) a foaming agent; wherein the expanded adhesive provides a substantially continuous bond area extending from the core into and around the first end of the segments.

Abstract: Surface treating articles and methods for the manufacture of such articles are provided. The articles of the invention comprise a rotatable core; a plurality of surface treating segments, the segments having first ends adjacent the core and second ends opposite the first ends; and a cured, expanded adhesive composition bonding the surface treating segment to the core, the adhesive composition comprising (a) an organic epoxide compound having an epoxide functionality of at least 1, (b) an epoxide hardener, (c) a film-forming material, and (d) a foaming agent; wherein the expanded adhesive provides a substantially continuous bond area extending from the core into and around the first end of the segments.

Abstract: A drive system for engaging a small diameter abrasive disc with a power tool. The drive system includes an arbor which is adapted to engage the power tool. The arbor includes a shaft portion formed on one end and external threads formed on the other end. The external threads have a first pitch. The drive system also includes an abrasive disc backing plate which has a mount extending outward from the backing plate on one side of the backing plate. The mount has internal threads formed on it for threadingly engaging the threads formed on the arbor. The engagement of the threads in the mount with the threads on the arbor providing a rigid attachment for facilitating rotation of the disc by the power tool when the arbor is engaged with the power tool. The threads on the mount having a second pitch which is different from the first pitch. The difference in pitch locking the backing plate into engagement with the arbor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a support member on an abrasive wheel has (a) an annular surface which fixedly supports (as by epoxy) a plurality of flaps in a partially overlapping relationship between successive flaps and (b) a central hole for receiving a mandrel which rotates the wheel. Each flap has on one of its surfaces abrasive particles facing outwardly from the annular surface. Each flap defines an acute angle with the annular surface and preferably extends at its opposite axial ends beyond the axial positions of support by such support surface to obtain a fixed positioning of the flaps relative to the support surface even at the axial positions beyond the axial ends of such annular surface. In a second embodiment, the flaps are disposed on the annular support surface in a tighter relationship than in the first embodiment so that each flap contacts adjacent flaps along a portion of its length.

Abstract: An injection molded disposable honing tool is made by an injection molding process. The tool has an elongated rectangular base from which projects an elongated section which may be somewhat smaller. The elongated section terminates in a working face. The entire tool may incorporate abrasive therein homogeneously or simply the elongated section which terminates in the working face. A shot of a plastic melt such as nylon is formed with abrasive mixed homogeneously which is then injected into a mold. For higher cost abrasive, a two shot process may be used with one shot being abrasive free. Alternatively, an abrasive-free insert may be placed in the mold before the abrasive mix is injected. The surface of the working face may be formed to act as a working face of closely packed fingers by placing patterns in the mold surface forming the working face, or subsequently cutting the working face, or a combination of both.

Abstract: An abrasive flap brush including a central core, a layer of adhesive disposed on the peripheral surface of the core by a coater, and a plurality of abrasive flaps adhered to the core by the adhesive. The adhesive is uniformly distributed around the core by providing either the core or the adhesive coater with spacing projections that maintain a predetermined minimum distance between the coater and the core when the adhesive is applied. A coater including the spacing projections is also disclosed, as is a method for making an abrasive flap brush.

Abstract: An abrasive feed system is shown in FIG. 3 in which pressurized air from air compressor (10A) is cooled and dried by heat exchanger (123A), water separator (125A) and chemical air dryer (127A) for delivery to a differential pressure regulator (104A) and an abrasive container (100A) for sodium bicarbonate or other hydroscopic or water soluble or moisture sensitive particles. Differential pressure regulator (104A) senses the fluid pressure in transport line (117A) though a sensing line (130A) and automatically maintains the fluid pressure in air supply line (102A) to the abrasive container (100A) at a predetermined set pressure differential between line (102A) and (117A) so that the pressure in line (102A) is maintained at a predetermined pressure level above the pressure in transport line (117A).