Abstract: A bearing comprises an inner race defining an inner track, an outer race defining an outer track, and a compound roller assembly interconnecting the inner and outer races for relative rotation between the inner and outer races. The compound roller assembly includes a plurality of first rollers and a plurality of second rollers. The first and second rollers respectively contact the inner track of the inner race and the outer track of the outer race for rolling contact therewith. Each of the first rollers contacts at least one of the second rollers such that the first and second rollers rotate in opposite directions during relative rotation between the inner and outer races.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for forming a spherical component using a centrifugal processing machine. The process includes the steps of providing a component having an initial shape with at least a portion that is non-spherical, placing the component into a container in the centrifugal processor, adding a first stage abrasive media into the container, and rotating the container so as to produce centrifugal and rotational motion of the abrasive within the container. The motion of the abrasive causes the component shape to change from the initial shape to a substantially spherical shape through the repeated contacting of the component's surface by the abrasive. In one embodiment, the components are further processed in a second stage using a different media to polish the surface of the component.

Abstract: A rotational processor comprises an outer vessel and a plurality of inner vessels having an outer traction surface adapted for rolling contact with an inner surface of the outer vessel. A plurality of drive rollers drive the inner vessels about a center line of the outer vessel in rolling contact with the outer vessel. Each of the drive rollers contacts each of a pair of adjacently located inner vessels when the inner vessels are not being driven about the outer vessel. The outer traction surfaces compress in response to centrifugal forces applied by the rolling contact with the outer vessel such that each of the drive rollers separates from one of the adjacently located pair of the inner vessels.

Abstract: A fixture for holding tools to be processed in a rotational processing apparatus. The fixture includes at least one mounting rod with a plurality of spacers slidably disposed on the mounting rod. A plurality of tools are disposed about the rod, each tool being spaced from an adjacent tool by one of the spacers. A removable attachment is provided on at least one end of the rod for inhibiting the spacers from sliding off the rod. The fixture may also include first and second end plates mounted to the rod on either side of the products being finished. One or more springs may also me incorporated onto the rod between a spacer and the first or second end plates. A process for loading and using the fixture is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bearing comprises an inner race defining an inner track, an outer race defining an outer track, and a compound roller assembly interconnecting the inner and outer races for relative rotation between the inner and outer races. The compound roller assembly includes a plurality of first rollers and a plurality of second rollers. The first and second rollers respectively contact the inner track of the inner race and the outer track of the outer race for rolling contact therewith. Each of the first rollers contacts at least one of the second rollers such that the first and second rollers rotate in opposite directions during relative rotation between the inner and outer races.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for performing high speed welding of two or more materials. The apparatus includes an outer vessel having an inner surface and a central axis. At least one inner vessel is positioned within the outer vessel and adapted to receive at least two materials to be subjected to a bonding or welding process. A drive system causes the inner vessel to rotate with respect to the outer vessel. The apparatus is designed to inhibit the formation of an oxidation layer on the materials during rotation. In one embodiment, the oxidation layer is inhibited by creating a vacuum within the inner vessel. In another embodiment, the inner vessel is filled with a gas which inhibits formation of an oxide layer on the materials. A method for high speed welding is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for leveling and strengthening a rim of a saw blade is disclosed which includes a rotatable support for holding a saw blade, a first arm with a contact bearing for contacting a first face of a saw blade mounted in the support, and a second arm with a contact bearing for contacting the opposite face of the saw blade. The device also includes means for positioning the first and second contact bearings with respect to the saw blade support. In one embodiment the device the means for positioning includes a lateral adjustment mechanism attached to the first and second arms which varies the lateral spacing with respect to one another of the ends of the arms. A method for leveling and strengthening a rim of a saw blade is also disclosed.

Abstract: A horizontal centrifugal finisher is disclosed for subjecting a product to centrifugal and rotational motion. The finisher includes a main frame which rotationally supports a central shaft about a horizontal longitudinal axis. At least two radial supports are mounted to and extend radially outward from the shaft. One or more containers are rotatably supported by the radial supports. Each container has two side walls, two end walls, a bottom and an open top. The walls and the bottom define an enclosure for containing products to be finished. A cover is attached to the container for closing off the open top. A drive system is incorporated into the finisher for rotating the containers. The drive system includes a primary drive system adapted to rotate the shaft about its horizontal axis, and a secondary drive system adapted to rotate the containers about their respective longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A fixture for holding tools to be processed in a rotational processing apparatus. The fixture includes at least one mounting rod with a plurality of spacers slidably disposed on the mounting rod. A plurality of tools are disposed about the rod, each tool being spaced from an adjacent tool by one of the spacers. A removable attachment is provided on at least one end of the rod for inhibiting the spacers from sliding off the rod. The fixture may also include first and second end plates mounted to the rod on either side of the products being finished. One or more springs may also me incorporated onto the rod between a spacer and the first or second end plates. A process for loading and using the fixture is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for performing high speed processing of a workpiece. The apparatus includes an outer vessel having an inner surface and a central axis. At least one intermediate vessel is located within the outer vessel and has an outer surface which contacts the inner surface of the outer vessel. At least one inner vessel is positioned within the intermediate vessel and adapted to receive an object to be subjected to a manufacturing process. The inner vessel is located at a position within the intermediate vessel such that the central axis of the inner vessel is spaced apart from the central axis of the outer vessel. A drive system controls the rolling of the intermediate vessel along the inner surface of the outer vessel. The rolling of the intermediate vessel causes the inner vessel to rotate about its axis and the axis of the outer vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for leveling and strengthening a rim of a saw blade is disclosed which includes a rotatable support for holding a saw blade, a first arm with a contact bearing for contacting a first face of a saw blade mounted in the support, and a second arm with a contact bearing for contacting the opposite face of the saw blade. The device also includes means for positioning the first and second contact bearings with respect to the saw blade support. In one embodiment the device the means for positioning includes a lateral adjustment mechanism attached to the first and second arms which varies the lateral spacing with respect to one another of the ends of the arms. A method for leveling and strengthening a rim of a saw blade is also disclosed.

Abstract: A horizontal centrifugal finisher is disclosed for subjecting a product to centrifugal and rotational motion. The finisher includes a main frame which rotationally supports a central shaft about a horizontal longitudinal axis. At least two radial supports are mounted to and extend radially outward from the shaft. One or more containers are rotatably supported by the radial supports. Each container has two side walls, two end walls, a bottom and an open top. The walls and the bottom define an enclosure for containing products to be finished. A cover is attached to the container for closing off the open top. A drive system is incorporated into the finisher for rotating the containers. The drive system includes a primary drive system adapted to rotate the shaft about its horizontal axis, and a secondary drive system adapted to rotate the containers about their respective longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for performing high speed welding of two or more materials. The apparatus includes an outer vessel having an inner surface and a central axis. At least one inner vessel is positioned within the outer vessel and adapted to receive at least two materials to be subjected to a bonding or welding process. A drive system causes the inner vessel to rotate with respect to the outer vessel. The apparatus is designed to inhibit the formation of an oxidation layer on the materials during rotation. In one embodiment, the oxidation layer is inhibited by creating a vacuum within the inner vessel. In another embodiment, the inner vessel is filled with a gas which inhibits formation of an oxide layer on the materials. A method for high speed welding is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for performing high speed processing of a workpiece. The apparatus includes an outer vessel having an inner surface and a central axis. At least one intermediate vessel is located within the outer vessel and has an outer surface which contacts the inner surface of the outer vessel. At least one inner vessel is positioned within the intermediate vessel and adapted to receive an object to be subjected to a manufacturing process. The inner vessel is located at a position within the intermediate vessel such that the central axis of the inner vessel is spaced apart from the central axis of the outer vessel. A drive system controls the rolling of the intermediate vessel along the inner surface of the outer vessel. The rolling of the intermediate vessel causes the inner vessel to rotate about its axis and the axis of the outer vessel.

Abstract: An improved saw blade is disclosed that includes a high precision finish on the blade for providing a low friction surface. Preferably the surface finish is less than approximately 10 Ra. The low friction surface allows for a thinner cutting tip relative to the blade. A method for forming a saw blade having a high precision surface finish. The method involves providing a high speed centrifugal finishing apparatus having an outer vessel and at least one inner vessel. A plurality of saw blades are mounted into the inner vessel, each saw blade being spaced apart from an adjacent saw blade. An abrasive finishing media is added into the inner vessel. The inner vessel is then rotated at high speed relative to the outer vessel. The high speed rotation causes the abrasive media to surface finish the blades. The finished saw blades are then removed from the inner vessel.

Abstract: A method for finishing a workpiece is disclosed. The method involves placing a ferrofluid finishing material into a vessel. The ferrofluid finishing material including a ferrofluid and a dispersed or colloidally suspended abrasive media. Placing a workpiece in the vessel so that the workpiece is submerged in the ferrofluid finishing material. A magnetic field is then applied in the vicinity of the vessel. The magnetic field produces an increase in viscosity of the ferrofluid. The increased viscosity generates a clamping force on the workpiece that results in increased surface resistance over the entire workpiece. Also, as the viscosity increases, it forces the workpiece to move relative to the ferrofluid. The relative motion between the abrasive media and the workpiece and increased surface resistance causes the abrasive media to finish the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A centrifugal finisher uses centrifugal and rotational forces for finishing at least one object. A fixed, non-rotatably outer vessel has an inner surface and a central axis. At least one inner vessel is positioned inside the outer vessel and is adapted to hold an object to be finished. The inner vessel has an outer surface. At least one intermediate roller is positioned between the inner surface of the outer vessel and the outer surface of the inner vessel and engages the surfaces of respective outer and inner vessels. A drive mechanism rotates the inner vessel around the central axis of the outer vessel, thereby causing rotation of the inner vessel by engagement of the inner vessel with the intermediate roller which moves by rotation along the inner surface of the outer vessel.

Abstract: A method for finishing a surface of a workpiece, having the steps of agitating the workpiece with a first mixture including a first plurality of discrete, homogeneous compressed felt chunks having a first particulate abrasive coating thereon, and then agitating the workpiece with a second mixture including a second plurality of discrete, homogeneous compressed felt chunks having a second particulate abrasive coating thereon with an abrasive size smaller than an abrasive size of the first particulate abrasive coating.

Abstract: A centrifugal finisher having an outer vessel and at least one inner vessel includes a traction surface between the inner surface of the outer vessel and the outer surface of each inner vessel. The inner vessels revolve about the axis of the outer vessel, and rotate about their own internal axes. The traction surface permits the outer wall to restrain the inner vessels and simultaneously causes the rotation of the inner vessels through interaction with the outer vessel, which can be stationary or moving at a different rotational speed and/or at a different rotational direction than the part which revolves the inner vessels.

Abstract: A centrifugal disk finisher includes a porous layer at the bottom of the vertical wall of the containment vessel. A pressurized fluid, preferably air, is forced through the porous layer so as to form a fluid bearing between the bottom of the porous layer and the spinning disk enclosed within the containment vessel. The containment vessel is levitated above the spinning disk by a small amount due to the presence of the fluid bearing, so that the disk spins without any contact with the containment vessel, thus reducing wear. The fluid bearing also acts as a seal, which repels particles from the interface between the disk and the porous layer due to the small height of the fluid bearing and its imperviousness to all but the most energetic particles.