SUCTION SYSTEM FOR ABRADING TOOL

• US 3,824,745 A
• Filed: 08/21/1972
• Issued: 07/23/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alma A. Hutchins
• Original Assignee: Alma A. Hutchins
• Inventors: Hutchins, Alma A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelly, Donald G.
• Application Number:
  US05/282,340
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 51/17R,17PT,17T,17TL,17EB,17MT,273,275,356 417/89,179,198
• US Class Current: 451/359
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 55/102 with rotating tools

Abstract

A work abrading tool having a suction system for withdrawing abraded particles from the work surface to a collection location. The suction system preferably includes a fan or fans driven by the motor of the abrading tool and producing a flow of air which partially or wholly creates the suction effect. For best results, the fan or fans and an aspirator coact to produce together the suction flow of air.

Claims

1. A portable abrading tool comprising a body, a unit mounted for movement relative to said body to abrade a work surface, a motor for driving said unit relative to said body, a container for receiving and collecting particles abraded from the work surface, a fan located essentially between said motor and said unit and driven rotatively by said motor and constructed to produce a first flow of air moving particles abraded from said work surface toward said container for collection therein, a second fan located essentially between said first fan and said motor and producing a second flow of cooling air through the motor and merging with said first flow of air produced by said first fan, and a speed reduction unit between said motor and said first fan driving the first fan and said first mentioned unit as a speed slower than the motor and said second fan.

2. A portable abrading tool as recited in claim 1, including a shroud extending at least partially about said first mentioned unit and confining said abraded particles for flow to said container, and an aspirator in which said second flow of air induces movement of said abraded particles from said first flow of air toward said container.

3. A portable abrading tool comprising a body, a unit mounted for movement relative to said body to abrade a work surface, a motor for driving said unit relative to said body, and suction means for withdrawing by suction from the vicinity of the work surface air and particles abraded from said surface, said suction means including an aspirator and a fan driven by said motor, said motor being driven by compressed air and discharging air to said aspirator to induce movement of said particles.

4. A portable abrading tool comprising a body, a unit mounted for movement relative to said body to abrade a work surface, a motor for driving said unit relative to said body, suction means for withdrawing by suction from the vicinity of the work surface air and particles abraded from said surface, said suction means including an aspirator and a fan driven by said motor, said motor being an electric motor, and a second fan driven by said motor and producing a flow of cooling air therethrough and then to said aspirator for inducing by aspirator action a secondary flow of air containing said particles.

5. A portable abrading tool comprising a body, a unit mounted for movement relative to said body to abrade a work surface, a motor for driving said unit relative to said body, and suction means for withdrawing by suction from the vicinity of the work surface air and particles abraded from said surface, said suction means including an aspirator and a fan driven by said motor, said fan being near said unit and producing an initial movement of said particles from near the work surface, and discharging a flow of air containing said particles to said aspirator.

6. A portable abrading tool comprising a body, a unit mounted for movement relative to said body to abrade a work surface, a motor for driving said unit relative to said body, and suction means for withdrawing by suction from the vicinity of the work surface air and particles abraded from said surface, said suction means including an aspirator and a fan driven by said motor, said unit being an essentially circular backing member driven rotatively by said motor about a predetermined axis and adapted to carry an abrasive disc disposed transversely of said axis, said fan being driven rotatively about said axis with said backing member and acting to draw air and abraded particles by suction from the work surface, a shroud extending at least partially about said backing member to confine said particles, said motor having a flow of air passing therethrough and discharging to said aspirator as a primary stream through the aspirator, and means conducting air and particles discharged from said fan to the aspirator as a secondary stream so that said primary stream assists in inducing movement of the particles.

7. A portable abrading tool as recited in claim 6, in which said motor is driven by compressed air and discharges said compressed air at superatmospheric pressure as said primary stream to the aspirator.

8. A portable abrading tool as recited in claim 6, in which said motor is an electric motor, there being a second fan driven by said motor and producing said flow of air through the motor as a cooling stream, and discharging said cooling air to said aspirator.

9. A portable abrading tool comprising a body, a unit movable relative to said body to abrade a work surface, a motor for moving said unit to abrade the work surface, an aspirator, means defining a first path along which a first stream of air and entrained particles abraded from the work surface flow to said aspirator, means defining a second path along which a second stream of air passes in isolation from said first stream to merge therewith at the aspirator, a fan at a location along one of said paths driven by said motor and acting against the air of one of said streams, but not the other, upstream of said aspirator and discharging air along said one path to the aspirator, and a container to which the air of both of said streams flows, together with said particles after leaving said aspirator.

10. A portable abrading tool as recited in claim 9, in which said fan is located along said first path and discharges said first stream of air and entrained particles to the aspirator.

11. A portable abrading tool as recited in claim 9, in which said fan is located along said second path and discharges air to said aspirator in a relation inducing movement of air along said first path by aspirator action.

12. A portable abrading tool as recited in claim 9, including a second fan driven by said motor at a location along the other of said paths and discharging air therealong to said aspirator.

13. A portable abrading tool as recited in claim 9, in which said motor is driven by compressed air and discharges air at superatmospheric pressure along said second path to said aspirator, said fan being located along said first path.

14. A portable abrading tool as recited in claim 9, in which said second stream of air flows through said motor, to cool it, before reaching said aspirator.

15. A portable abrading tool as recited in claim 9, in which said unit is an essentially circular backing member adapted to carry a disc of abrasive material and driven rotatively about a predetermined axis perpendicular to said backing member and disc by said motor, said fan being located axially between said motor and said backing member and being driven rotatively about said axis of the backing member.

16. A portable abrading tool as recited in claim 9, including a shroud extending at least partially about and at least partially enclosing said unit for confining said abraded particles to flow toward said container.

17. A portable abrading tool comprising a body, an essentially circular unit mounted for movement relative to said body to abrade a work surface, a motor for driving said essentially circular unit rotatively relative to said body about a predetermined axis, suction means for producing a partial vacuum acting to withdraw air and abraded particles by suction from near the work surface, and a shroud extending about a major portion of said unit and projecting to a location closely proximate said work surface and about said rotary unit and defining a space from which said suction means withdraw air and abraded particles, said shroud having an opening at one side of the axis of said unit through which a portion of said unit projects for contact with the work surface, said unit including a circular backing member adapted to removably carry an abrasive disc and adapted to flex locally with the disc, at the location at which said unit projects outwardly through said opening in the flange, and in a direction generally toward said motor and to a position of substantial angularity with respect to the remaindeR of said backing member and disc, without contact with or interference by the shroud.

18. A portable abrading tool as recited in claim 17, in which said shroud has a peripheral edge extending essentially circularly about and spaced from the periphery of said circular unit and lying essentially in a predetermined plane along the major portion of the circular extent of said edge but curving essentially arcuately away from said plane at the location of said opening in the shroud to form said opening.