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 buff is made from a non-woven fabric where the fibers are first carded and formed into a fairly thick fleece. The fleece is passed over a topographical surface on, for example, a moving belt or a drum. The fleece is subject to a bow-tie hydroentanglement process where many fine jets of water entangle the fibers on the topographical surface. Excess water is vacuumed from the system. The fabric is dried and chemically treated. With the fabric a variety of buffing tools are made, in wheel, belt or roll form. Tests against standard and mill treatment buffs show a remarkably lower fabric weight loss percentage and lower or normal operating temperatures. The fabric has exceptional mechanical strength having a tensile strength in excess of 650 N/50 mm according to DIN 29073/3. Preferably the fabric has a tensile strength of at least 1,000 N/50 mm in the machine direction and in excess of 900 N/50 mm in the cross direction according to such DIN.

Abstract: A power operated brush or buff and method includes a plurality of brush or buff rolls mounted on a drive arbor. End caps provide a torque connection between the ends of the outermost rolls and the drive arbor while a bridge ring provides a torque connection between the adjoining ends of the rolls. The rolls, end caps and bridge rings are formed of a plastic material for ease of assembly and disassembly. The rolls are extruded with an interior spline while the end caps and bridge rings are provided with a short exterior spline section to form the torque connection.

Abstract: A headliner made from a laminate comprising a core layer sandwiched between two stiffening layers to form an I-beam construction that provides the necessary strength for the headliner. The core layer is preferably a blend of nonwoven fibers including some fine denier fibers to provide improved sound absorption properties. The stiffening layers also comprise a blend of nonwoven fibers. Both the core layer and the stiffening layers include some binder fibers to bond together the various fibers within each layer and the layers to each other.

Abstract: A buff is made from a non-woven fabric where the fibers are first carded and formed into a fairly thick fleece. The fleece is passed over a topographical surface on, for example, a moving belt or a drum. The fleece is subject to a bow-tie hydroentanglement process where many fine jets of water entangle the fibers on the topographical surface. Excess water is vacuumed from the system. The fabric is dried and chemically treated. With the fabric a variety of buffing tools are made, in wheel, belt or roll form. Tests against standard and mill treatment buffs show a remarkably lower fabric weight loss percentage and lower or normal operating temperatures. The fabric has exceptional mechanical strength having a tensile strength in excess of 650 N/50 mm according to DIN 29073/3. Preferably the fabric has a tensile strength of at least 1,000 N/50 mm in the machine direction and in excess of 900 N/50 mm in the cross direction according to such DIN.

Abstract: A strip brush moving surface guard mounted on a fixed surface and projecting over the edge of the moving surface includes a base for the strip brush and an elongated holder secured to the fixed surface. The holder includes a drop-in recess for the base with the primary horizontal fasteners for the holder extending through the recess so that they are concealed when the base is in place. Smaller secondary fasteners extend transversely of the primary fasteners or almost vertically to hold the strip brush base in place in the drop-in recess. The recess and base include mating pilot surfaces to facilitate the seating or placement of the base in the recess.

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: A strip brush moving surface guard is mounted to extend along a fixed surface with the strip brush projecting over the edge of the moving surface to guard the gap between the moving and fixed surfaces. The strip brush includes a base. An elongated holder is secured to the fixed surface and the base and holder are hingedly connected so that the strip brush may yield and pivot or hinge away from the moving surface. The hinge may be an elongated rod and socket connection. When assembled to the fixed surface, the fixed surface acts to block disassembly of the hinge without removal of the holder form the fixed surface.

Abstract: A finishing star or spinner abrasive tool is formed of inner and outer packs of square sheets of abrasive cloth or sandpaper with the inner packs angularly offset from the outer packs on the mandrel axis. Each sheet is formed with discontinuous radial slits extending beyond an unslit center section around a center fastener forming the mandrel drive hole. The slits provide surface flexibility while maintaining sheet integrity as it wears to circular form. An optional backing core is provided in the middle of the tool in the form of a cloth-sisal quilt acting as a cushion backing for the sheets, and which may retain coolant or compound during operation. The tool has longer working life with improved flexibility and working characteristics.

Abstract: A safety barrier is provided for transports such as moving walks or stairs (escalators) which have a moving surface and fixed sidewalls. The barrier is a strip barrier brush assembly adapted to be attached to the sidewall and includes at least one brush strip adapted to project over the edge of the moving surface. The assembly includes a rail housing having a channel slot extending parallel to the direction of movement of the surface. The rail housing includes a hollow upper or lower portion including a rearward surface and a spaced outer surface. A through hole is formed through such surfaces by a smaller opening in the rearward surface and a larger opening in the spaced outer surface so that the rearward surface forms a fastener retention surface with access there to being obtained through the larger opening. The larger opening may be closed by a flush through hole cap.

Abstract: Honing tools and methods of making such tools utilize a compact bundle of abrasive containing plastic monofilaments projection a relatively short distance from a holder with the compacted tips forming the working face of the tool. The bundle may be secured to the holder by a thin layer of adhesive or by a clinched or swaged girdling lip or rim on the holder which embraces the bundle. In addition, the bundle is further infused with an elastomer, preferably foamed. The bundle is enclosed in a mold which may be part of the clinching process and an elastomer is injected into the mold to infuse and encapsulate the bundle. The encapsulation fills the interstices of the bundle and form an integument around the bundle in effect making the tip action tool into a solid yet elastic block. This enables the abrasive monofilaments to have a higher abrasive loading since they are additionally supported by the matrix, and the tool to be applied at higher pressures.

Abstract: An abrading tool or brush is formed with an open center low density tuft. The tufts are laterally slightly compressed and encapsulated in a medium density elastomeric foam reinforcement having a density of from about 20 to about 50 lbs/cu/ft (320-800.90 Kg/cu. meter). When the tufts are formed, preferably of wire, they are twisted about a core extending axially of the tufts. The core includes angled facets which form corners around which the wire is bent to form closely spaced bends to promote short fracture of the wire in use.

Abstract: Honing tools and methods of making such tools utilize a compact bundle of abrasive containing plastic monofilaments projection a relatively short distance from a holder with the compacted tips forming the working face of the tool. The bundle may be secured to the holder by a thin layer of adhesive or by a clinched or swaged girdling lip or rim on the holder which embraces the bundle. In addition, the bundle is further infused with an elastomer, preferably foamed. The bundle is enclosed in a mold which may be part of the clinching process and an elastomer is injected into the mold to infuse and encapsulate the bundle. The encapsulation fills the interstices of the bundle and form an integument around the bundle in effect making the tip action tool into a solid yet elastic block. This enables the abrasive monofilaments to have a higher abrasive loading since they are additionally supported by the matrix, and the tool to be applied at higher pressures.

Abstract: An abrasive tool includes a rotatable hub from which extends a bundle of plastic abrasive monofilaments. The bundle has a high filament count and each filament includes a substantial amount of abrasive uniformly entrained therein. After the bundle is secured to the hub, the tool is placed in a mold completely enclosing at least the projecting bundle and a foamable elastomer is injected into the mold to produce a light density cellular matrix bond encapsulating the filaments. The preferred plastic for the plastic monofilaments is nylon 6-12 and the preferred elastomer is a low density (2-20 lbs/cu/ft) polyurethane. The cellular matrix bond for the preferred applications upon wear does not produce a liquid phase at even high tool pressures. Radially extending enlarged coolant passages may be formed during the encapsulation and injection process step. The tool may be in disk, cup or twisted stem form.

Abstract: A process for forming a twisted stem tool uses a specially designed clamping jaw fixture at the nose or bight portion of a half-round wire or cotter pin which helps to reduce the required clamping force and distribute that force over the entire wire-fill material interface. The jaws of the clamping fixture engage the outside of the nose over a substantial area, and in some forms actually bite into the wire or pin. After the twisting operation, the stem is placed in a swaging or coining press, and the stem beyond the fill material is reformed into a three or six-sided drive stem. The cold flow of the metal to form the flat sides locks the twisted half round wire or pin sections together so that the stem will resist unwinding if the tool is driven in a reverse direction. The coining of the stem providing flats provides a tighter confinement of the bundle of fill material at the stem, and enables a common three or six jaw Jacob's style chuck, for example, to obtain a more secure grip.

Abstract: A process for forming a twisted stem tool uses a specially designed clamping jaw fixture at the nose or bight portion of a half-round wire or cotter pin which helps to reduce the required clamping force and distribute that force over the entire wire-fill material interface. The jaws of the clamping fixture engage the outside of the nose over a substantial area, and in some forms actually bite into the wire or pin. After the twisting operation, the stem is placed in a swaging or coining press, and the stem beyond the fill material is reformed into a three or six-sided drive stem. The cold flow of the metal to form the flat sides locks the twisted half round wire or pin sections together so that the stem will resist unwinding if the tool is driven in a reverse direction. The coining of the stem providing flats provides a tighter confinement of the bundle of fill material at the stem, and enables a common three or six jaw Jacob's style chuck, for example, to obtain a more secure grip.

Abstract: A composite idler roller has an integral internal bearing surface which interfits with the outer or tread portion of the roller. Flange seals or internal lubricant retaining grooves may be incorporated in the bearing surface. The outer or tread portion of the roller is inserted in a mold concentric with a core pin. The bearing material is injected into the space between the outer portion and the core pin. The centering of the outer portion may be by external contact with the mold or internal shoulder contact with the core pin. The core pin may be wholly or partly collapsible. The roller may have a wide variety of tread styles and may be stud or yoke mounted. In another form, the entire roller is formed of the bearing material.

Abstract: A composite idler roller has an integral internal bearing surface which interfits with the outer or tread portion of the roller. Flange seals or internal lubricant retaining grooves may be incorporated in the bearing surface. The outer or tread portion of the roller is inserted in a mold concentric with a core pin. The bearing material is injected into the space between the outer portion and the core pin. The centering of the outer portion may be by external contact with the mold or internal shoulder contact with the core pin. The core pin may be wholly or partly collapsible. The roller may have a wide variety of tread styles and may be stud or yoke mounted. In another form, the entire roller is formed of the bearing material.