Grinding wheel

Claim 2

A grinding wheel assembly, which comprises: a cylindrical wheel support for rotation about its axis, said support having a peripheral groove extending therearound with at least one inclined surface thereon; a grinding wheel supported in said groove, said wheel being of less thickness than the width of said groove; and a plurality of movable wedges circumferentially positioned around said groove and interposed between the wheel and at least said one inclined surface of the groove, said wedges having an inclined surface complementary to the surface of the groove, and said wedges being designed to move radially outwardly under centrifugal force as said grinding wheel support is rotated to apply compressive reactive forces to said wheel so that in the event of wheel failure the wheel fragments are contained in said groove.

Claim 3

A grinding wheel assembly, as recited in claim 1, wherein: said cylindrical wheel support peripheral groove has a pair of oppositely disposed, inclined surfaces which are inclined toward each other in a radially outward direction; and said wedges are positioned on opposite sides of said wheel in said groove.

Claim 4

A grinding wheel assembly, as recited in claim 2, wherein said pair of surfaces are continuous about the periphery of said wheel assembly.

Claim 5

A grinding wheel assembly,as recited in claim 2, wherein the width of said peripheral groove is slightly greater than the thickness of said wheel and said wedges so that the wedges are loose fitting when the wheel assembly is stationary, and so that the wedges move radially outwardly as the wheel is brought up to speed.

Claim 6

A grinding wheel assembly, as recited in claim 2, wherein said pair of surfaces are continuous about the periphery of said wheel support and each is inclined toward the other to define a continuous recess of trapezoidal cross-section in a plane containing the axis of rotation of said wheel.

Claim 7

A grinding wheel as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner surfaces of said wedges which are in engagement with said wheel are in a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said wheel.

Claim 8

A grinding wheel as recited in claim 1, which further comprises; means for biasing said wedges radially outwardly when the wheel is stationary.

Claim 9

A grinding wheel assembly for supporting and rotating a one piece cylindrical grinding wheel, which comprises: a cylindrical wheel support for rotation on its axis, Said support having a peripheral groove extending around the outer circumferential surface thereof, said groove having at least one inclined surface which slopes toward the centerline of said support as the inclined surface progresses radially outwardly for receiving said grinding wheel; and a plurality of movable wedges circumferentially positioned around said groove and interposed between said wheel and said inclined surface of the groove, said wedges having an inclined surface complementary to the surface of the groove, and said wedges being designed to move radially outwardly under centrifugal force as said grinding wheel support is rotated to apply compressive reactive forces to said wheel so that in the event of wheel failure the wheel fragments are contained in said groove.

Claim 10

A grinding wheel assembly for supporting and rotating a one piece cylindrical grinding wheel, which comprises: a cylindrical wheel support for rotation on its axis, Said support having a peripheral groove extending around the outer circumferential surface thereof, said groove having at least one inclined surface which slopes toward the centerline of said support as the inclined surface progresses radially outwardly for receiving said grinding wheel; and a plurality of movable wedges circumferentially positioned around said groove and interposed between said wheel and said inclined surface of the groove, said wedges having an inclined surface complementary to the surface of the groove, and said wedges being designed to move radially outwardly under centrifugal force as said grinding wheel support is rotated to apply compressive reactive forces to said wheel so that in the event of wheel failure the wheel fragments are contained in said groove.

Claim 11

A grinding wheel assembly, as recited in claim 8, wherein: said cylindrical wheel support peripheral groove has a pair of oppositely disposed, inclined surfaces which are inclined toward each other in a radially outward direction; and said wedges are positioned on opposite sides of said wheel in said groove.

Claim 12

A grinding wheel assembly, as recited in claim 9, wherein the width of said peripheral groove is slightly greater than the thickness of said wheel and said wedges so that the wedges are loose fitting when the wheel assembly is stationary, and so that the wedges move radially outwardly as the wheel is brought up to speed.