High flap density abrasive flap wheel

• US 4,275,529 A
• Filed: 08/28/1979
• Issued: 06/30/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Teetzel, Michael L., James, Ralph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Whitehead, Harold D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adolphson, K. Bradford
• Application Number:
  US06/070,691
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 51/334-337, 51/406, 51/394, 51/395, 51/397, 51/401, 15/230.12, 15/230.14, 15/230.16
• US Class Current: 451/466
• CPC Class Codes: B24D 13/04 comprising a plurality of flaps or strips arranged around the axis

Abstract

An improved abrasive flap wheel is comprised of a highly compacted annulus of like-oriented, radially disposed, interleaved coated abrasive flaps and resilient, lofty, non-woven flaps adhesively fastened together at adjacent inner ends. The abrasive flap wheel is made by compressing a stack of juxtaposed flaps of a desired distribution to form a block substantially the same length as the inner perimeter of the annulus, fastening together the ends of the flaps on the surface of the block which will become the inner surface of the annulus and forming the block into an annulus with the free ends of the flaps directed radially outward. The inner ends of the flaps are adhesively fastened together in the process. The degree of annulus compaction is reflected by the compressed thickness of the ends of the non-woven flaps at the inner perimeter which is less than approximately 35% as thick as their uncompressed outer ends. The compacted flap wheel of the invention has a much higher abrasive grain efficiency than conventional less compacted flap wheels.

Claims

1. A rotative abrasive flap wheel comprising an annulus of approximately equal-sized, substantially rectangular, substantially like-oriented, coated abrasive flaps, each of said coated abrasive flaps being characterized by having an abrasive face, an inner end and an opposite outer flap end, said coated abrasive flaps having said abrasive faces in the same direction and being interleaved with compressible, lofty, non-woven flaps characterized by having inner ends, opposite outer flap ends, a compressed thickness adjacent said inner end and an uncompressed thickness adjacent said outer flap end, said coated abrasive flaps and said non-woven flaps being fastened adhesively together at said inner ends by adhesive which extends along that portion of said flaps adjacent said inner ends part way into the annulus to define a zone comprised of solidified adhesive and with said outer flap ends being free, said inner ends of at least said coated abrasive flaps defining a tubular surface providing an opening capable of receiving an arbor, said inner ends of said non-woven flaps extending a distance at least partially into said zone so that said non-woven flap inner ends are sufficiently anchored to resist removal in use, said coated abrasive flaps and said non-woven flaps being present in said wheel to provide a number ratio of coated abrasive flaps to non-woven flaps in a range of about 15:

1 to about 1;

5, said compressed thickness being less than about 35% of said uncompressed thickness for non-woven flap inner ends extended to said tubular surface.

2. The flap wheel of claim 1 wherein said rotative abrasive flap wheel also includes opposed rigid circular plates, each of which has an axially aligned central opening coaxial with said tubular surface and a flange adapted to be received into opposed slots on each side of said wheel.

3. The flap wheel of claim 1 wherein said flanges are adhesively bonded into said slots.

4. The flap wheel of claim 1, wherein said non-woven flaps contain abrasive material adhesively bonded therein.