US4642943A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Belt abrading apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-11-21
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Granted: 1987-02-17
•
Expires: 2005-11-21
Abstract
Abstract The invention comprises an apparatus and method for abrading a work piece to a desired flat surface by using a compact, high speed endless abrasive belt which travels a pathway over a drive roller and an idler roller and in which an air cushion is formed between the belt and the support table surface therebeneath during the upper run of the belt. The air cushion is created by a plurality of cavities in the idler roller which introduce an air flow between the belt and support table surface at the beginning of the upper run of the belt. The air cushion formed is maintained beneath the length of the upper run of the belt by the milled surface of the support table which serves to restrain the air flow and confine it between the belt and table surface. In this fashion a compact and high speed abrading machine is provided which requires only a relatively small horsepower motor for motivation and which obviates complex and expensive cooling systems utilized heretofore.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph R. Taylor, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:46
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B21/00; B24B21/04; B24B21/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
In an abrading machine comprising an endless belt having a working face of abrasive material, a drive roller positioned within said endless belt, an idler roller positioned within said belt in spaced-apart relationship to said drive roller, and a support table positioned under the upper run of said endless belt, the improvement wherein said idler roller defines a plurality of surface cavities therein for introducing an air cushion between said belt and said table at the beginning of the upper run of said belt, and said table surface comprises a plurality of lands and grooves for maintaining said air cushion under the upper run of said belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
In an abrading machine comprising an endless belt having a working face of abrasive material, a drive roller positioned within said endless belt, an idler roller positioned within said belt in spaced-apart relationship to said drive roller, and a support table positioned under the upper run of said endless belt, the improvement wherein said idler roller defines a plurality of surface cavities therein for introducing an air cushion between said belt and said table at the beginning of the upper run of said belt, and said table surface comprises a plurality of lands and grooves for maintaining said air cushion under the upper run of said belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 1 wherein said plurality of cavities defined by said idler roller comprises a row of holes across said roller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 2 wherein said holes are about 1/16 to 1/8 inch deep.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 1 wherein said drive roller defines a plurality of surface cavities therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 1 wherein said table is iron and the surface thereof has been milled so as to create said lands and grooves therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 5 wherein said lands and grooves extend substantially perpendicularly to the direction of travel of said belt thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 1 including an electric motor operatively associated with said drive roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 7 wherein said electric motor is a single phase 7.5 horsepower motor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
In an abrading machine comprising an endless belt having a working face of abrasive material, a drive roller positioned within said endless belt, an idler roller positioned within said belt in spaced-apart relationship to said drive roller, and a support table positioned under the upper run of said endless belt, the improvement wherein said idler roller defines a row of surface cavities thereacross for introducing an air cushion between said belt and said table adjacent the beginning of the upper run of said belt, and said support table comprises a milled surface defining lands and grooves for maintaining said air cushion under the upper run of said belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
In an abrading machine comprising an endless belt having a working face of abrasive material, a drive roller positioned within said endless belt, an idler roller positioned within said belt in spaced-apart relationship to said drive roller, and a support table positioned under the upper run of said endless belt, the improvement wherein said idler roller defines a row of surface cavities thereacross for introducing an air cushion between said belt and said table adjacent the beginning of the upper run of said belt, and said support table comprises a milled surface defining lands and grooves for maintaining said air cushion under the upper run of said belt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 9 wherein said cavities are about 1/16 to 1/8 inch deep.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 9 wherein said lands and grooves extend substantially perpendicularly to the direction of travel of said belt thereon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 9 including an electric motor operatively associated with said drive roller.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of abrading a work surface comprising the steps of driving an endless belt along a predetermined path of movement around a drive roller and spaced-apart idler roller, providing a work table positioned between said rollers and beneath the upper run of said belt, introducing an air cushion between said work table and said belt with said idler roller, said air cushion being effected by a plurality of surface cavities provided in said idler roller to introduce an air flow between said belt and said table adjacent the beginning of the upper run of said belt, and maintaining the air cushion between said belt and said table with a plurality of lands and grooves provided in the surface of said table.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of abrading a work surface comprising the steps of driving an endless belt along a predetermined path of movement around a drive roller and spaced-apart idler roller, providing a work table positioned between said rollers and beneath the upper run of said belt, introducing an air cushion between said work table and said belt with said idler roller, said air cushion being effected by a plurality of surface cavities provided in said idler roller to introduce an air flow between said belt and said table adjacent the beginning of the upper run of said belt, and maintaining the air cushion between said belt and said table with a plurality of lands and grooves provided in the surface of said table.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of abrading as described in claim 13 wherein said surface cavities are holes arranged in a row across the idler roller which extend about 1/16 to 1/8 inch into the roller surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of abrading as described in claim 13 wherein said lands and grooves extend substantially perpendicularly to the direction of travel of said belt.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of abrading as described in claim 13 wherein said belt is driven by an electric motor operatively associated with said drive roller.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
104 words
In an abrading machine comprising an endless belt having a working face of abrasive material, a drive roller positioned within said endless belt, an idler roller positioned within said belt in spaced-apart relationship to said drive roller, and a support table positioned under the upper run of said endless belt, the improvement wherein said idler roller defines a plurality of surface cavities therein for introducing an air cushion between said belt and said table adjacent the beginning of the upper run of said belt, and said support table comprises a rough surface for maintaining said air cushion under the upper run of said belt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
In an abrading machine comprising an endless belt having a working face of abrasive material, a drive roller positioned within said endless belt, an idler roller positioned within said belt in spaced-apart relationship to said drive roller, and a support table positioned under the upper run of said endless belt, the improvement wherein said idler roller defines a plurality of surface cavities therein for introducing an air cushion between said belt and said table adjacent the beginning of the upper run of said belt, and said support table comprises a rough surface for maintaining said air cushion under the upper run of said belt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 17 wherein said plurality of cavities defined by said idler roller comprises a horizontal row of holes across said roller, said holes not extending through said roller.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 18 wherein said holes are about 1/16 to 1/8 inch deep.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 17 wherein said rough surface comprises lands and grooves which extend substantially perpendicularly to the direction of travel of said belt thereon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 17 wherein said drive roller defines a plurality of surface cavities therein.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 17 including an electric motor operatively associated with said drive roller.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
An abrading machine as described in claim 22 wherein said electric motor is a single phase 7.5 horsepower motor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-16 | 1990-08-18 | 1991-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-16 | 1994-08-18 | 1995-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-16 | 1998-08-18 | 1999-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |