Abstract: A system for monitoring electrical contacts for an overhead trolley line may include a wear sensor arranged such that an electrical contact on a vehicle or work machine for contacting the overhead trolley line is continually or periodically in its line of sight. The wear sensor may be configured to capture spatial data defining the surface profile of the electrical contact. The system may also include a data processing module configured to receive the spatial data and identify a defect in the electrical contact based on the spatial data.

Abstract: A robotic cleaner includes a housing, a suction conduit with an opening, and a leading roller mounted in front of a brush roll. An inter-roller air passageway may be defined between the leading roller and the brush roll wherein the lower portion of the leading roller is exposed to a flow path to the suction conduit and an upper portion of the leading roller is outside of the flow path. Optionally, a combing unit includes a plurality of combing protrusions extending into the leading roller and having leading edges not aligned with a center of the leading roller. Optionally, a sealing strip is located along a rear side of the opening and along a portion of left and right sides of the opening. The underside may define side edge vacuum passageways extending from the sides of the housing partially between the leading roller and the sealing strip towards the opening.

Abstract: A method of finishing a metallic surface includes the steps of: disposing a mask layer onto an initial metallic surface of a substrate, etching at least a portion of the initial metallic surface with an etchant to provide an etched surface, and separating the etchant from the etched surface. The etched surface is smoother than the initial metallic surface. On a depth basis: the etchant etches said at least a portion of the mask layer and said at least a portion of the initial metallic surface at substantially the same rate; and/or the etchant penetrates said at least a portion of the mask layer and etches said at least a portion of the initial metallic surface at substantially the same rate. A substrate finished by the disclosed method and a kit for practicing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A coated abrasive article (10) having a flexible backing (12) and an abrasive coat (20) attached to the backing (12) by a tie coat (18), wherein the tie coat (18) is liquid-softenable such that the tie coat (18) maintains the flexible backing (12) in a substantially rigid state when the tie coat (18) is dry and allows the backing (12) to flex when the tie coat (18) is in its softened state.

Abstract: A coated abrasive article (10) having a backing (12) and an abrasive coat (20) attached to the backing (12), the abrasive coat (20) comprising a cured abrasive slurry containing a plurality of abrasives particles, wherein the abrasive slurry is soluble such that it retains the abrasive particles on the backing (12) when in its solid state, and releases the abrasive particles from the backing (12) during the process of dissolution to a dissolved state.

Abstract: Provided are abrasive articles, and related methods, that include a flexible abrasive layer having opposed first and second major surfaces, a foam backing bonded to the second major surface, the foam backing being resiliently compressible, and a plurality of slits disposed on the first major surface and penetrating through the flexible abrasive layer and at least partially through the foam backing. In further disclosed embodiments, the abrasive article includes, a flexible abrasive layer having opposed first and second major surfaces, a structured member extending across the second major surface of the flexible abrasive layer, where the structured member and the flexible abrasive layer have respective three-dimensional patterns of discrete, isolated wells that correspond to each other, and a foam backing extending across a major surface of the structured member opposite the flexible abrasive layer, the foam backing being resiliently compressible.

Abstract: Described herein is an improved abrasive material (300) in which the cutting performance is orientation-independent. The abrasive material (300) comprises an abrasive structure (310) including a plurality of elongate abrasive elements (320, 330) aligned to be define a first open square. A plurality of pyramidal abrasive elements (340, 350) arranged in a second open square are located within the first open square defined by the elongate elements (320, 330).

Abstract: Provided are abrasive articles, and related methods, that include a flexible abrasive layer having opposed first and second major surfaces, a foam backing bonded to the second major surface, the foam backing being resiliently compressible, and a plurality of slits disposed on the first major surface and penetrating through the flexible abrasive layer and at least partially through the foam backing. In further disclosed embodiments, the abrasive article includes, a flexible abrasive layer having opposed first and second major surfaces, a structured member extending across the second major surface of the flexible abrasive layer, where the structured member and the flexible abrasive layer have respective three-dimensional patterns of discrete, isolated wells that correspond to each other, and a foam backing extending across a major surface of the structured member opposite the flexible abrasive layer, the foam backing being resiliently compressible.

Abstract: Described herein is an improved abrasive material (300) in which the cutting performance is orientation-independent. The abrasive material (300) comprises an abrasive structure (310) including a plurality of elongate abrasive elements (320, 330) aligned to be define a first open square. A plurality of pyramidal abrasive elements (340, 350) arranged in a second open square are located within the first open square defined by the elongate elements (320, 330).

Abstract: An abrasive article comprising abrasive particles and a UV-cured formulation and a filler, wherein the filler is substantially transparent to UV-radiation and the filler is present in a range from 20 to 80 percent by weight based on the combined weight of the formulation and filler and the filler comprises microspheres of aluminosilicate ceramic having an average particle size in a range of from 1 micrometer to 40 micrometers. A method of making and using the abrasive articles is also provided.

Abstract: An abrasive article comprising abrasive particles and a UV-cured formulation and a filler, wherein the filler is substantially transparent to UV-radiation and the filler is present in a range from 20 to 80 percent by weight based on the combined weight of the formulation and filler and the filler comprises microspheres of aluminosilicate ceramic having an average particle size in a range of from 1 micrometer to 40 micrometers. A method of making and using the abrasive articles is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a web material useful as a tack pad comprising a non-woven cross-laid web which is needle-tacked and at least one of chemically or thermally-bonded and at least one major surface of which is impregnated with a tackifier. The invention also provides a dispenser that will accept a stack of tack pads. The dispenser is shaped to contain a stack of tack pads in position over an outlet opening in the bottom of the dispenser and to permit one access to one edge of the bottom pad of the stack. The edge is located inside the dispenser and the dispenser comprises an at least partially open front and a door mounted on the dispenser. The door may be pivoted between an open position and a closed position over the front. The door has turned-back side edges to fit around the dispenser to prevent dust from entering the dispenser. The bottom pad can be pulled downwardly away from the stack through the outlet opening.

Abstract: A binder for abrasive products, coated abrasive articles and a method of making the same comprising a urea formaldehyde resin precursor cured in the presence of a sole catalyst which consists essentially of at least one salt of an acid with a diamine of the formula H2N—R—NH2 wherein R is an alkylene group of 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and the acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric, citric, nitric, sulphuric, acetic, phosphoric and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A binder for abrasive products, coated abrasive articles and a method of making the same comprising a urea formaldehyde resin precursor cured in the presence of a sole catalyst which consists essentially of at least one salt of an acid with a diamine of the formula H2N—R—NH2 wherein R is an alkylene group of 3 to 10 carbon atoms, and the acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric, citric, nitric, sulphuric, acetic, phosphoric and combinations thereof