Patent Grant
11780056
This application is a U.S. national application of the international application number PCT/F12017/050079 filed on Feb. 13, 2017.
The solution to be presented relates to extracting debris during abrading a work piece with an abrading apparatus.
The solution relates to an intermediate pad suitable for use in an abrading system. The solution relates to an abrading system comprising an intermediate pad. The solution relates to a backing pad suitable for use in an abrading apparatus. The solution relates to an abrading system comprising a backing pad. The solution relates to an abrading article suitable for use in an abrading system. The solution relates to an abrading system comprising an abrading article. The solution further relates to methods of using an abrading system for extracting abrading debris.
Abrading is performed in a multitude of contexts such as automobile repair and paint work, building construction and repair, and manufacturing and repairing furniture and the like. In all such contexts, abrading creates debris which should be efficiently and controllably extracted from the abrading process, because remaining debris negatively affects abrading efficiency and result, and constitutes a health hazard and a nuisance if spread out. In some abrading applications, user control, cost efficiency and/or resulting surface quality can be improved by using an intermediate pad between the abrading article and the backing pad of an abrading apparatus.
The presented solution is an intermediate pad suitable for use in an abrading system. The presented solution is an abrading system comprising an intermediate pad. The presented solution is a backing pad suitable for use in an abrading apparatus. The presented solution is an abrading system comprising a backing pad. The presented solution is an abrading article suitable for use in an abrading system. The presented solution is an abrading system comprising an abrading article. The presented solution further relates to methods of using an abrading system for extracting abrading debris.
The presented solution discloses conduit arrangements in an intermediate pad, a backing pad and an abrading article. Such an intermediate pad, a backing pad and an abrading article are suitable for use in an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus capable of producing sucking pressure or capable of being connected to a source of sucking pressure for the purposes of extracting abrading debris away from the abrading process with the suction pressure.
When the said conduit arrangements are implemented on an intermediate pad, they may be adapted for improved conveyance of abrading debris away from the intermediate pad and an abrading article.
Such an intermediate pad may be suitable for use in an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus adapted to provide suction pressure. Such an intermediate pad may comprise an upper surface layer comprising attachment elements suitable for attaching the upper surface layer to a backing pad of an abrading apparatus, a lower surface layer comprising attachment elements suitable for attaching the lower surface layer to an abrading article, optionally a single- or multi-plied intermediate layer or layers between and attached to the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer, a lower surface facing the abrading article, an upper surface facing the backing pad, an outer side wall, at least one medial conduit which terminates with an orifice on the lower surface and is suitable for conveying air and abrading debris from the lower surface, and at least one peripheral conduit which extends from the outer side wall terminating with an orifice on the lower surface, is suitable for conveying incoming air onto the lower surface and is separated from the medial conduits by an unbroken portion of the intermediate pad.
When the said conduit arrangements are implemented on a backing pad, they may be adapted for extracting abrading debris away from the backing pad and an abrading article as well as an intermediate pad, if the abrading system comprises an intermediate pad.
Such a backing pad may be suitable for use in an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus adapted to provide suction pressure. Such a backing pad may comprise a body comprising attachment elements suitable for attaching the body to an abrading apparatus, a lower surface layer which may be attached to the body and comprise attachment elements suitable for attaching the lower surface layer to a abrading article, a lower surface facing the abrading article, an outer side wall, at least one medial conduit which terminates with an orifice on the lower surface and is suitable for conveying air and abrading debris from the lower surface, and at least one peripheral conduit which extends from the outer side wall terminating with an orifice on the lower surface, is suitable for conveying incoming air onto the lower surface and is separated from the medial conduits by an unbroken portion of the backing pad.
When the said conduit arrangements are implemented on an abrading article, they may be adapted for extracting abrading debris away from the interface between an abrading article and an abraded workpiece and/or from the interface between an abrading article and a backing pad or an intermediate pad.
Such an abrading article may be suitable for use in an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus adapted to provide suction pressure. Such an abrading article may comprise an upper surface layer which may comprise attachment elements suitable for attaching the upper surface layer to a backing pad of an abrading apparatus or to an intermediate pad, an upper surface facing the backing pad or the intermediate pad, a lower surface layer with a lower surface which comprises abrasive material such that the lower surface may be used for abrading a workpiece, an optional single- or multi-plied intermediate layer which may additionally be porous and/or comprise multiple plies, an outer side wall, and at least one peripheral conduit which extends from the outer side wall to the lower surface and is separated from any other possible conduits by an unbroken portion of the abrading article. Advantageously, the lower surface layer may comprise an open mesh with small openings, which mesh is coated with abrasive particles.
The disclosed conduit arrangements and related methods for extracting abrading debris provide the benefit of advantageously directing air and debris flows on the surface of the intermediate pad, backing pad and/or the abrading article so that the surface is evenly flushed, when suitably used as attached to an abrading apparatus adapted to provide suction pressure. Such advantageous directing of air comprises controllably introducing incoming air also onto the medial regions of the said surfaces so as to bring about even flushing of the said surfaces including their medial regions. According to the disclosed conduit arrangements, peripheral conduits, which are blind in that they do not convey air and/or debris into any conduit in another component in the system, may force air and/or debris to pass over the said surfaces before reaching the nearest suction pressure-connected extraction conduit.
Such forced passing over the said surfaces by air and/or debris may bring about significantly more even flushing of the said surfaces than is the case with known backing pads, intermediate pads and abrading articles. Namely, with known backing pads, intermediate pads and abrading articles, the flushing of the medial regions of the said surfaces is less complete than the flushing of the central regions and peripheral regions.
Such even flushing of the said surfaces has the benefit of eliminating or reducing the amount of abrading debris remaining in the said surfaces. This is beneficial, because debris remaining in the abrading process, i.e. in the interface between an abrading article and an intermediate pad or a backing pad and/or in the interface between an abrading article and the abraded work piece may adversely affect abrasion efficiency and resulting surface quality, and may even clog the abrading article. In addition, any debris caught between the abrading article and the component of the abrading system it is attached to, i.e. an intermediate pad or a backing pad, may progressively damage the attachment elements until eventual failure. For example, drywall plaster dust may gradually abrade the hooks of a hook-and-loop fastening system on a backing pad or an intermediate pad to the extent that the backing pad or the intermediate pad must be replaced. Such replacement increases the cost of abrading, interrupts the work for the duration of replacement and requires a stock of replacements to be kept. Furthermore, accumulated debris on the abrading article, the intermediate pad and/or the backing pad adds to the weight of the system component on which debris accumulates, resulting in an imbalanced abrading system with compromised user control, abrading efficiency and surface quality.
The disclosed intermediate pad may be used as a part of an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus, a backing pad and the disclosed intermediate pad. For abrading a work piece, the disclosed intermediate pad may be attached to an abrading article which is preferably porous and most preferably an abrading net which comprises an open mesh with small openings, which mesh is coated with abrasive particles. The backing pad and/or the abrading article may be of the type that does not comprise conduit arrangements according to as disclosed.
The disclosed backing pad may be used as a part of an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus and the disclosed backing pad. For abrading a work piece, the disclosed backing pad may be attached to an abrading article which is preferably porous and most preferably an abrading net which comprises an open mesh with small openings, which mesh is coated with abrasive particles. The abrading article may be of the type that does not comprise conduit arrangements according to as disclosed.
The disclosed abrading article may be used as a part of an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus and a backing pad and optionally an intermediate pad. For abrading a work piece, the disclosed abrading article may be attached to a backing pad, or the abrading article may be attached to an intermediate pad which is attached to a backing pad. The backing pad and/or the intermediate pad may be of the type that does not comprise conduit arrangements according to as disclosed.
An abrading system comprising the disclosed intermediate pad, the disclosed backing pad or the disclosed abrading article may have applications in automobile repair and paint work, building construction and repair, and manufacturing and repairing furniture and the like.
The figures illustrate example embodiments of the presented solution, and are not to be taken to be limiting the scope its use. The figures are not in any particular scale. Moreover, any conduits in the Figures are illustrated schematically, and therefore the precise shapes and contours of the conduits may be varied while adhering to their general principles as illustrated.
In all abrading, whether abrading a discrete work piece or a larger surface such as a wall or a ceiling, abrading debris is created. This debris comprises abraded material from the abraded surface as well as abrasive particles detached from an abrading article such as a sandpaper or a sanding net. In the interest of abrading productivity, a high volume of abraded material from the abraded surface and therefore a high and constant volume of abrading debris is desirable.
Debris extraction and conveyance is commonly brought about with a suction-based system such that there are holes on a backing pad and an abrading article through which abrading debris is sucked away from the abrading process. However, with a uniformly porous abrading article such as an abrading net, characterized by a high number of apertures distributed over the entire surface of the abrading article, debris may accumulate on a backing pad or an intermediate pad if the attachment area remains unevenly flushed. Adding more suction holes does not bring about even flushing, as illustrated in
The following text describes a solution to enable such even extraction of abrading debris with a novel configuration of conduits which can be implemented in a backing pad, in an intermediate pad and an abrading article. The conduit configurations may differ with respect to the precise embodiment of a backing pad, and intermediate pad and an abrading article, but they share the same guiding principles especially with respect to controllably introducing incoming air to the medial region of the product in question.
In the text, reference is made to the figures with the following numerals and denotations:
Intermediate Pad
An intermediate pad 100 according to one embodiment is shown in
The structure of the intermediate pad 100 according to one embodiment is illustrated in
According to the embodiment illustrated in
The intermediate pad 100 has an outer side wall 120 enclosing the upper surface layer 130, the lower surface layer 150 and the intermediate layer 140, if any. In the embodiment illustrated in
The upper surface layer 130 may comprise attachment elements for attaching the intermediate pad 100 to a backing pad, and the lower surface layer 150 may comprise attachment elements for attaching the intermediate pad 100 to an abrading article. Such attachment elements may enable mechanical or adhesive attachment. Advantageously, such attachment enables removal and re-attachment. According to a preferred embodiment, attachment elements may comprise hook-and-loop type of fastening with the capability for convenient re-attachment. In this preferred embodiment, the upper surface layer 130 of the intermediate pad 100 may comprise hooks and the lower surface layer of the backing pad 10 may comprise loops, or vice versa, and/or the lower surface layer 150 of the intermediate pad 100 may comprise hooks and the upper surface layer of the abrading article 300 may comprise loops, or vice versa.
In another embodiment, the attachment elements may be premised on pressure sensitive adhesion, i.e. PSA. In such an embodiment, the upper surface layer 130 of the intermediate pad 100 may comprise pressure sensitive adhesive and the lower surface layer of the backing pad 10 may comprise an even surface adapted for pressure sensitive adhesion, or vice versa, and/or the lower surface layer 150 of the intermediate pad 100 may comprise pressure sensitive adhesive and the upper surface layer of the abrading article 300 may comprise an even surface adapted for pressure sensitive adhesion, or vice versa.
In the specific embodiment depicted in
In the specific embodiment comprising the intermediate layer 140 and illustrated in
The intermediate pad 100 comprises a central region referring to the portion of the intermediate pad 100 at and near its center, a peripheral region referring to the portion of the intermediate pad 100 at and near its outer side wall 120, and a medial region referring to the portion of the intermediate pad 100 between the central and peripheral regions. The central region, the peripheral region and the medial region are defined on the SX, SY plane.
According to the embodiment illustrated in
In the specific embodiment depicted in
In other embodiments with different shapes for the intermediate pad 100 on the SX, SY plane, such as the intermediate pad 100 being rectangular or triangular, the central region, the medial region, and the peripheral region may be similarly defined by replacing the notion of a radius with the distance between the center of the intermediate pad 100 and any given point at the outer side wall 120, for example, the nearest point with respect to the center of the intermediate pad 100.
The intermediate pad 100 may comprise a plurality of conduits 110a-110c which may terminate with orifices on the lower surface 160. Such conduits may comprise a central conduit or conduits 110a located in or at least originating from the central region, a medial conduit or conduits 110b located in the medial region, and/or a peripheral conduit or conduits 110c originating from the peripheral region and extending into the medial region. Such conduits 110a-110c may be surrounded by an unbroken portion of the intermediate pad 100 such that no conduit 110a-110c extends into another conduit 110a-110c. The central conduit 110a and the peripheral conduit or conduits 110c may not be connected to a source of suction pressure, for example to a medial conduit or conduits 110b.
An unbroken portion of the intermediate pad refers to a portion of the intermediate pad 100 which contains no conduit or conduits 110a-110c, and therefore resists the flow of air to such a degree that air will flow substantially more freely along a conduit 110a-110c than through an unbroken portion of the intermediate pad 100. The purpose of conduits 110a-110c being separated from each other by unbroken portions of the intermediate pad 100 is to enable controlled conveyance of air through the conduits 110a-110c so that surface flushing can be brought about with air flowing from conduits not connected to suction pressure to conduits connected to suction pressure over the surface of the intermediate pad 100. Such controlled conveyance of air would be disturbed if the flow of air was to leak from one conduit 110a-110c directly into another.
As the peripheral conduit or conduits 110c may extend into the medial region of the intermediate pad 100, the peripheral conduit or conduits 110c may extend to the distance of more than 10%, or 15%, or 20%, or 25%, or 30%, or 35% of the distance between the starting point of the peripheral conduit 110c at the outer side wall 120 and the center of the intermediate pad 100 in correspondence with what was said about the extent of the peripheral region above.
The technical effect of separating the medial conduits 110b adapted to be connected to suction pressure in an abrading system from conduits 110a,110c not adapted to be connected to suction pressure in the abrading system is to enable controlling the flow of air from ambient pressure to low, i.e. suction pressure in order to bring about even flow of air over and across the surface of the intermediate pad 100. In the embodiment illustrated in
The peripheral conduits 110c may pass through the outer side wall 120 of the intermediate pad 100. The peripheral conduits 110c may be elongated such that the peripheral conduits 110c may extend from the peripheral region of the intermediate pad 100 to its medial region such that the end of the peripheral conduit 110c which is nearest to the center of the intermediate pad 100 is nearer to the center of the intermediate pad 100 than the medial conduit 110b which is most distant from the center of the intermediate pad 100. The peripheral conduits 110c may extend in the direction of or towards the central conduit 110a and/or the central region.
If suitably used as a part of an abrading system, as illustrated in
The peripheral conduits 110c may be elongated such that the peripheral conduits 110c extend towards the center of the intermediate pad 100 and into its the medial region so that the ends of the peripheral conduits 110c extend towards the center of the intermediate pad 100 to the distance of more than half of the radius of the intermediate pad 100.
In the specific embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment premised on what is illustrated in
In the intermediate pad 100, each group of conduits, i.e. the central conduits 110a, the medial conduits 110b, and/or peripheral conduits 110c, may employ a different type of conduit as explained above. Furthermore, each said group of conduits may employ different types of conduits within that group such that more than one of the conduit types explained above and illustrated in
In the intermediate pad 100, each group of conduits, i.e. the central conduits 110a, the medial conduits 110b, and/or peripheral conduits 110c, may use conduit type different from another group of conduit.
The intermediate pad 100 according to the specific embodiment illustrated in
The intermediate pad 100 without the intermediate layer 140 but otherwise in accordance to the said specific embodiment illustrated in
Embodiments of the intermediate pad 100 comprising conduits of the types illustrated in
The intermediate pad 100 as explained above may be used in an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus 1 and the backing pad 10 and the intermediate pad 100, as illustrated in
The abrading article 300, the backing pad 10 and the intermediate pad 100 may be of any shape on the SX, SY plane, such as rectangular, triangular, or preferably round if rotating. Advantageously, the backing pad 10, the intermediate pad 100 and the abrading article 300 are substantially of the same shape. The backing pad 10 and the abrading article 300 may be, for example, of conventional, known type, or they may incorporate the principles of the solution disclosed for the backing pad 200 and the abrading article 400.
An embodiment of the abrading system is illustrated in cross section in
It is to be generally understood that for conduits to be aligned, the conduits do not necessarily have to be geometrically perfectly aligned such that, for example, their orifices would perfectly match each other without any geometrical offset or difference in area, or that the conduits would need to be hermetically coupled to each other. Instead, conduits are to be understood to be aligned when they constitute a functional air and/or debris conveyance pathway, i.e. it is possible to convey air and/or debris from one conduit into another.
During operation of the abrading system, the central conduit 11a of the backing pad 10 may convey incoming air through the central conduit 110a of the intermediate pad 100 onto the lower surface 160 of the intermediate pad 100. The peripheral conduits 110c (not visible in the cross section in
According to the embodiment illustrated in
Furthermore, if the abrading article 300 is porous such an abrading net which comprises an open mesh, which mesh is coated with abrasive particles and comprises a plurality of openings, during abrading, abrading debris may move from the abrading article 300 onto the lower surface 160 of the intermediate pad 100, and the lower surface of the abrading article 300 may be flushed in a similar manner as the lower surface 160 of the intermediate pad 100.
In other embodiments of the intermediate pad 100, the conduits 110a-110c may be differently configured on the SX, SY plane, such as according to the examples illustrated in
In yet other embodiments of the intermediate pad 100, the central conduit or conduits 110a may be connected to suction pressure and thereby function as air and debris extraction conduits, instead of conveying incoming air onto the lower surface 160 of the intermediate pad 100. In such embodiments, the central conduit or conduits 110a may therefore function similarly to the medial conduits 110b according to what has been described above. Such embodiments may otherwise adhere to the principles of the solution as described above. Thus, in such embodiments incoming air may originate through the peripheral conduits 110c and over the outer side wall 120 of the intermediate pad 100 and be forced to pass over the lower surface 160 of the intermediate pad 100 before reaching the nearest suction pressure-connected central or medial conduit 110b, 110a thereby providing surface flushing which extends substantially into the medial and central regions of the intermediate pad 100.
Backing Pad
A backing pad 200 according to one embodiment is shown in
The structure of the backing pad 200 according to one embodiment is illustrated in
According to the embodiment illustrated in
The backing pad 200 has an outer side wall 220 enclosing the body 230 and the lower surface layer 240. In the specific embodiment illustrated in
The lower surface layer 240 may comprise attachment elements to attach the backing pad 200 to the abrading article 300. Such attachment elements may enable mechanical or adhesive attachment. Advantageously, such attachment enables removal and re-attachment. According to a preferred embodiment, attachment elements may comprise hook-and-loop type of fastening with the capability for convenient reattachment. In this preferred embodiment, the lower surface layer 240 of the backing pad 200 may comprise hooks and the upper surface of the abrading article 300 may comprise loops, or vice versa.
In another embodiment, attachment elements may be premised on pressure sensitive adhesion, i.e. PSA. In such an embodiment, the upper surface of the abrading article 300 may comprise pressure sensitive adhesive and the lower surface layer 240 of the backing pad 200 may comprise an even surface adapted for pressure sensitive adhesion, or vice versa.
The body 230 of the backing pad may comprise attachment elements to attach the backing pad 200 to the abrading apparatus 1. Such attachment elements may enable mechanical attachment and may advantageously enable removal and re-attachment. Such attachment elements may comprise, as is known, for example, a bolt or bolts, a nut or nuts and/or a screw or screws, with the abrading apparatus 1 having suitable elements for being attached to the attachment elements of the body 230.
In the specific embodiment depicted in
Examples of design choices concerning the characteristics of the body 230 may include absorption of mechanical vibration, absorption of sound, weight, recyclability, cost, manufacturability, plasticity, and the attachability to the lower surface layer 240. Such choices may affect the controllability of the abrading system as well as the quality of the abraded surface.
In the specific embodiment illustrated in
The backing pad 200 comprises a central region referring to the portion of the backing pad 200 at and near its center, a peripheral region referring to the portion of the backing pad 200 at and near its outer side wall 220, and a medial region referring to the portion of the backing pad 200 between the central and peripheral regions. The central region, the peripheral region and the medial region are defined on the SX, SY plane.
According to an embodiment illustrated in
In the specific embodiment depicted in
In other embodiments with different shapes for the backing pad 200 on the SX, SY plane, such as the backing pad 200 being rectangular or triangular, the central region, the medial region, and the peripheral region may be similarly defined by replacing the notion of a radius with the distance between the center of the backing pad 200 and any given point at the outer side wall 220, for example, the nearest point with respect to the center of the backing pad 200.
The backing pad 200 may comprise a plurality of conduits 210a-210c which may terminate with orifices on the lower surface 250. Such conduits may comprise at least a central conduit 210a located in or at least originating from the central region, a medial conduit or conduits 210b located in the medial region, and/or a peripheral conduit or conduits 210c originating from the peripheral region and extending into the medial region. Such conduits 210a-210c may be surrounded by an unbroken portion of the backing pad 200 such that no conduit 210a-210c extends into another conduit 210a-210c. The central conduit 210a and the peripheral conduit or conduits 210c may not be connected to a source of suction pressure, such as a medial conduit or conduits 210b.
An unbroken portion of the backing pad 200 refers to a portion of the backing pad 200 which contains no conduit or conduits 210a-210c, and therefore resists the flow of air to such a degree that air will flow substantially more freely along a conduit 210a-210c than through an unbroken portion of the backing pad 200. The purpose of conduits 210a-210c being separated from each other by unbroken portions of the backing pad 200 is to enable controlled conveyance of air through the conduits 210a-210c so that surface flushing can be brought about with air flowing from conduits not connected to suction pressure to conduits connected to suction pressure over the lower surface 250 of the backing pad 200. Such controlled conveyance of air would be disturbed if the flow of air was to leak from one conduit 210a-210c directly into another.
As the peripheral conduit or conduits 210c may extend into the medial region of the backing pad 200, the peripheral conduit or conduits 210c may extend to the distance of more than 10%, or 15%, or 20%, or 25%, or 30%, or 35% of the distance between the starting point of the peripheral conduit 210c at the outer side wall 220 and the center of the backing pad 200 in correspondence with what was said about the extent of the peripheral region above.
The technical effect of separating the medial conduits 210b adapted to be connected to suction pressure in an abrading system from conduits 210a,210c not adapted to be connected to suction pressure in the abrading system is to enable controlling the flow of air from ambient pressure to low, i.e. suction pressure in order to bring about even flow of air over and across the surface of the backing pad 200. In the embodiment illustrated in
The peripheral conduits 210c may pass through the outer side wall 220 of the backing pad 200. The peripheral conduits 210c may be elongated such that the peripheral conduits 210c may extend from the peripheral region of the backing pad 200 to its medial region such that the end of a peripheral conduit 210c which is nearest to the center of the backing pad 200 is nearer to the center of the backing pad 200 than the medial conduit 210b which is most distant from the center of the backing pad 200. The peripheral conduits 210c may extend in the direction of or towards the central conduit 210a and/or the central region.
If suitably used as a part of an abrading system, as illustrated in
The peripheral conduits 210c may be elongated such that the peripheral conduits 210c extend towards the center of the backing pad 200 and into its the medial region so that the ends of the peripheral conduits 210c extend towards the center of the backing pad 200 to the distance of more than half of the radius of the backing pad 200.
In the specific embodiment illustrated in
According to this specific embodiment, the central conduit 210a and/or the medial conduits 210b may be of the conduit type illustrated in
As illustrated in the cross section A-A of
In the backing pad 200, each group of conduits, i.e. the central conduits 210a, the medial conduits 210b, and/or peripheral conduits 210c, may employ a different type of conduit as explained above. Furthermore, each said group of conduits may employ different types of conduits within that group such that more than one of the conduit types explained above and illustrated in
The backing pad 200 according to the specific embodiment illustrated in
The backing pad 200 comprising the conduits 210a-210c of the types illustrated in
The backing pad 200 as explained above may be used in an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus 1 and the backing pad 200, as illustrated in
The abrading article 300 and the backing pad 200 may be of any shape on the SX, SY plane, such as rectangular, triangular, or preferably round if rotating. Advantageously, the backing pad 200 and the abrading article 300 are substantially of the same shape. The abrading article 300 may be, for example, of conventional, known type, or it may incorporate the principles of the solution disclosed for the abrading article 400. If the abrading article 300 comprises central, medial and/or peripheral conduits, all or some of such conduits may be aligned with the central, medial and/or peripheral conduits 210a-210c of the backing pad in accordance with the air conveyance principles described above.
It is to be generally understood that for conduits to be aligned, the conduits do not necessarily have to be geometrically perfectly aligned such that, for example, their orifices would perfectly match each other without any geometrical offset or difference in area, or that the conduits would need to be hermetically coupled to each other. Instead, conduits are to be understood to be aligned when they constitute a functional air and/or debris conveyance pathway, i.e. it is possible to convey air and/or debris from one conduit into another.
An embodiment of the abrading system is illustrated in cross section in
During operation of the abrading system according to this embodiment, the central conduit 210a of the backing pad 200 may convey incoming air onto the lower surface 250 of the backing pad 200. The peripheral conduits 210c (not visible in the cross section in
In this embodiment, during abrading, abrading debris may be extracted from the lower surface 250 of the backing pad 200, that is from the space between the backing pad 200 and the abrading article 300 housing their attachment elements, with suction pressure through the medial conduits 210b of the backing pad 200 into the conduits 2 of the abrading apparatus 1. The extracted abrading debris may be conveyed into a debris collection receptacle 4. Replacement air, pulled in by suction pressure onto the lower surface 250 of the backing pad 200, may originate through the central conduit 210a, the peripheral conduits 210c and over the outer side wall 220 of the backing pad 200. Thus, the peripheral conduits 210c are not connected to suction pressure. As the peripheral conduits 210c may be blind, as explained above, incoming air through these conduits may be forced to pass over the lower surface 250 of the backing pad 200 before reaching the nearest suction pressure-connected medial conduit 210b, thereby providing surface flushing which extends substantially into the medial regions of the backing pad 200.
Furthermore, if the abrading article 300 is porous such an abrading net which comprises an open mesh, which mesh is coated with abrasive particles and comprises a plurality of openings, during abrading, abrading debris may move from the abrading article 300 onto the lower surface 250 of the backing pad 200, and the lower surface of the abrading article 300 may be flushed in a similar manner as the lower surface 250 of the backing pad 200.
In other embodiments of the backing pad 200, conduits 210a-210c may be differently configured on the SX, SY plane, such as according to the examples illustrated in examples in
In yet other embodiments of the backing pad 200, the central conduit or conduits 210a may be connected to suction pressure and thereby function as air and debris extraction conduits, instead of conveying incoming air onto the lower surface 250 of the backing pad 200. In such embodiments, the central conduit or conduits 210a may therefore function similarly to the medial conduits 210b according to what has been described above. Such embodiments may otherwise adhere to the principles of the solution as described above. Thus, in such embodiments incoming air may originate through the peripheral conduits 210c and over the outer side wall 220 of the backing pad 200 and be forced to pass over the lower surface 250 of the backing pad 200 before reaching the nearest suction pressure-connected central or medial conduit 210b,210a thereby providing surface flushing which extends substantially into the medial and central regions of the backing pad 200.
Abrading Article
An abrading article 400 according to one example embodiment is shown in
The abrading article 400 may have a plurality of conduits 410a-410c for desirably directing flows of air, when used as a part of an abrading system used for abrading a work piece. Such desirable flows of air flush the surface or surfaces of the abrading article 400 evenly extracting abrading debris so that very little abrading debris remains on the surface or surfaces of the abrading article 400, with the resulting benefits that the lifetime of the abrading article 400 is increased and the abrading process is not impaired by accumulated debris in the system and/or on the surface of the abraded work piece. As is known, flows of air capture abrading debris and convey the captured abrading debris away from the surfaces of the abrading article 400 as the flows of air exit the surface of the abrading article 400.
The structure of the abrading article 400 according to an embodiment is illustrated in
According to the embodiment illustrated in
The abrading article 400 has an outer side wall 420 enclosing the upper surface layer 430, the lower surface layer 450, and the intermediate layer 440, if any. In the embodiment illustrated in
The upper surface layer 430 may comprise attachment elements for attaching the abrading article 400 to the backing pad 10 or the intermediate pad 20. Such attachment elements may enable mechanical or adhesive attachment. Advantageously, such attachment enables removal and re-attachment. According to a preferred embodiment, attachment elements may comprise by hook-and-loop type of fastening with the capability for convenient re-attachment. In this preferred embodiment, the upper surface layer 430 of the abrading article 400 may comprise hooks and the lower surface layer of the backing pad 10 or the intermediate pad 20 may comprise loops, or vice versa.
In another embodiment, the, attachment elements may be premised on pressure sensitive adhesion, i.e. PSA. In such an embodiment, the upper surface layer 430 of the abrading article 400 may comprise pressure sensitive adhesive and the lower surface layer of the backing pad 10 or the intermediate pad 20 may comprise an even surface adapted for pressure sensitive adhesion, or vice versa.
In the embodiment depicted in
In the embodiment comprising the intermediate layer 440 and illustrated in
The lower surface layer 450 may comprise abrasive material comprising abrasive particles such that the lower surface 460 may be used for abrading a work piece.
According to a preferred embodiment, the lower surface layer 450 may comprise an open mesh, which mesh may be coated with abrasive material comprising abrasive particles, and which mesh may comprise a plurality of openings. In such a preferred embodiment, the intermediate layer 440 may be of porous material which may allow air and abrading debris to traverse the intermediate layer 440. In a variation of such a preferred embodiment, the abrading article 400 does not comprise an intermediate layer 440, in which case the lower surface layer 450 may be attached to the upper surface layer 430. Such a preferred structural embodiment, in which the structural lower surface layer 450 comprises an open mesh coated with abrasive material comprising abrasive particle and which comprises a porous intermediate layer 440, including its said variation which does not comprise an intermediate layer 440, may be advantageously combined with the embodiment of the abrading article 400 illustrated in
According to another embodiment, the lower surface layer 450 may comprise abrasive grains adjoined to a resin. In such an embodiment, the surface layer 450 may further comprise, for example, a backing material, such as paper, cardboard, polymeric film or fabric, to which the abrasive grains adjoined to a resin are attached. Such a structural embodiment may be advantageously combined with the embodiment of the abrading article 400 illustrated in
The abrading article 400 comprises a central region referring to the portion of the abrading article 400 at and near its center, a peripheral region referring to the portion of the abrading article 400 at and near its outer side wall 420, and a medial region referring to the portion of the abrading article 400 between the central and peripheral regions. The central region, the peripheral region and the medial region are defined on the SX, SY plane.
According to embodiments, as illustrated in
In the specific embodiments depicted in
In other embodiments with different shapes for the abrading article 400 on the SX, SY plane, such as the abrading article 400 being rectangular or triangular, the central region, the medial region, and the peripheral region may be similarly defined by replacing the notion of a radius with the distance between the center of the abrading article 400 and any given point at the outer side wall 420, for example, the nearest point with respect to the center of the abrading article 400.
The abrading article 400 may comprise a plurality of conduits 410a-410c which may terminate with orifices on the lower surface 460. The conduits 410a-410c do not refer to any minute openings within a porous material such as in some embodiments an open mesh in the lower surface layer 450 of the abrading article 400 or elsewhere, or in some embodiments porous material in the intermediate layer 440 or the upper surface layer 430 of the abrading article 400.
Such conduits may comprise a central conduit or conduits 410a located in or at least originating from the central region, a medial conduit or conduits 410b located in the medial region, and/or a peripheral conduit or conduits 410c originating from the peripheral region and extending into the medial region. Such conduits 410a-410c may be surrounded by an unbroken portion of the abrading article 400 such that no conduit 410a-410c extends into another conduit 410a-410c. The central conduit or conduits 410a and the peripheral conduit or conduits 410c may not be connected to a source of suction pressure, for example to a medial conduit or conduits 410b.
An unbroken portion of the abrading article 400 refers to a portion of the abrading article 400 which contains no conduit or conduits 410a-410c, and therefore resists the flow of air to such a degree that air will flow substantially more freely along a conduit 410a-410c than through an unbroken portion of the abrading article 400. The purpose of conduits 410a-410c being separated from each other by unbroken portions of the abrading article 400 is to enable controlled conveyance of air through the conduits 410a-410c so that surface flushing can be brought about with air flowing from conduits not connected to suction pressure to conduits connected to suction pressure over the surface of the abrading article 400. Such controlled conveyance of air would be disturbed if the flow of air was to leak from one conduit 410a-410c directly into another.
As the peripheral conduit or conduits 410c may extend into the medial region of the abrading article 400, the peripheral conduit or conduits 410c may extend to the distance of more than 10%, or 15%, or 20%, or 25%, or 30%, or 35% of the distance between the starting point of the peripheral conduit 410c at the outer side wall 420 and the center of the abrading article 400 in correspondence with what was said about the extent of the peripheral region above.
The technical effect of separating the medial conduits 410b adapted to be connected to suction pressure in an abrading system from conduits 410a,410c not adapted to be connected to suction pressure in the abrading system is to enable controlling the flow of air from ambient pressure to low, i.e. suction pressure in order to bring about even flow of air over and across the abrading surface 460. In the embodiment illustrated in
The peripheral conduits 410c may pass through the outer side wall 420 of the abrading article 400. The peripheral conduits 410c may be elongated such that the peripheral conduits 410c may extend from the peripheral region of the abrading article 400 to its medial region.
In embodiments of the abrading article 400 which comprise the medial conduit or conduits 410b and the peripheral conduit or conduits 410c, and which may additionally comprise the central conduit or conduits 410a, the peripheral conduits 410c may be elongated such that the end of the peripheral conduit 410c which is nearest to the center of the abrading article 400 is nearer to the center of the abrading article 400 than the medial conduit 410b which is most distant from the center of the abrading article 400. The peripheral conduits 410c may extend in the direction of or towards the central conduit 410a and/or the central region
In the specific embodiment of
In the specific embodiment of
If suitably used as a part of an abrading system, as illustrated in
In the embodiments which comprise the central conduit or conduits 410a, the central conduit or conduits 410a may be used for introducing incoming air onto the lower surface 460 and/or the upper surface 470 of the abrading article 400. Correspondingly, in the embodiments which comprise the medial conduit or conduits 410b, the medial conduits 410b may be used for conveying air and debris away from the said surface or surfaces.
In embodiments without the central conduit 410a and the medial conduits 410b and wherein the lower surface layer 450 which may comprise an open mesh, which mesh may be coated with abrasive particles and comprise a plurality of small openings, air and debris may be conveyed away from the lower surface 460 through the holes, i.e. the small openings, between the said threads, and air and debris may be conveyed away from the upper surface 470 through conduits on the backing pad 10 or the intermediate pad 20.
In the specific embodiments illustrated in
In the embodiment according to
In the embodiment according to
The principles of the conduit types of
The abrading article 400 according to the embodiments illustrated in
The abrading article 400 comprising a peripheral conduit or conduits 410c of the type illustrated in
For the specific embodiments of the abrading article 400 which are in accordance with
In the example of the abrading article 400 not comprising the intermediate layer 440 but otherwise in accordance with the said specific embodiments, such punching may be carried out with suitable punches and dies, a sheet comprising the upper surface layer 430 and the lower surface layer 450. Such layers may be attached to each other adhesively prior to punching. Alternatively, such layers may be punched separately and attached to each other after punching, for example adhesively.
Such a punching-based manufacturing may apply to the specific preferred embodiment of the abrading article 400 explained above.
The abrading article 400 as explained above may be used in an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus 1, the backing pad 10 and the abrading article 400, as illustrated in
According to another embodiment, the abrading article 400 as explained above may be used in an abrading system comprising the abrading apparatus 1, the backing pad 10, an intermediate pad 20 and the abrading article 400. During abrading a work piece, the abrading apparatus 1 may rotate and/or oscillate the backing pad 10 and thereby rotate and/or oscillate the intermediate pad 20 and the abrading article 400 as well. Such rotation and/or oscillation may be brought about by a source of power of the abrading apparatus 1 such as an electric or a pneumatic motor.
The abrading article 400 and the backing pad 10 and the intermediate pad 20, if any, may be of any shape on the SX, SY plane, such as rectangular, triangular, or preferably round if rotating. Advantageously, the abrading article 400 and the backing pad 10 and the intermediate pad 20, if any, are substantially of the same shape. The backing pad 10 and the intermediate pad 20 may be, for example, of conventional, known type, or they may incorporate the principles of the solution disclosed for the backing pad 200 and the intermediate pad 100.
An embodiment of the abrading system is illustrated in cross section in
It is to be generally understood that for conduits to be aligned, the conduits do not necessarily have to be geometrically perfectly aligned such that, for example, their orifices would perfectly match each other without any geometrical offset or difference in area, or that the conduits would need to be hermetically coupled to each other. Instead, conduits are to be understood to be aligned when they constitute a functional air and/or debris conveyance pathway, i.e. it is possible to convey air and/or debris from one conduit into another.
During operation of the abrading system, and in correspondence with what is illustrated in
In this embodiment of the abrading system, during abrading, abrading debris may be extracted from the lower surface 460 of the abrading article 400 with a suction pressure led through the medial conduits 410b of the abrading article 400, then through the medial conduits 11b of the backing pad 10 into the conduits 2 of the abrading apparatus 1. The extracted abrading debris may be conveyed into a debris collection receptacle 4. In embodiments in which the attachment elements between the abrading article 400 and the backing pad 10 are of the hook-and-loop type, debris may be similarly extracted from the interface between the abrading article 400 and the backing pad 10, which interface houses the attachment elements.
Replacement air, pulled in by suction pressure onto the lower surface 460 of the abrading article 400, may originate through the central conduit 410a, peripheral conduits 410c and over the outer side wall 420 of the abrading article 400. Thus, the peripheral conduits 410c are not connected to suction pressure. As the peripheral conduits 410c may be blind, as explained above, incoming air through these conduits may be forced to pass over the lower surface 460 of the abrading article 400 before reaching the nearest suction pressure-connected medial conduit 410b, thereby providing surface flushing which extends substantially into the medial regions of the abrading article 400.
In other embodiments of the abrading article 400, which comprise the central conduit 410a, a plurality of the medial conduits 410b and a plurality of the peripheral conduits 410c, conduits 410a-410c may be differently configured on the SX, SY plane, such as according to the examples illustrated in
In yet other embodiments of the abrading article 400, which comprise a plurality of the peripheral conduits 410c but not the central conduit 410a and not the medial conduits 410b, and in which the lower surface layer 450 may comprise an open mesh coated with abrasive particles, and in which the intermediate layer 440, if any, may be of porous material, such as the preferred specific embodiment explained above, the abrading article 400 may not comprise conduits which could be aligned with the central and/or medial conduits 11a and 11b of the backing pad 10, of which the medial conduits 11b of the backing pad 10 are aligned with the conduits 2 of the abrading apparatus.
In these embodiments, during operation of the abrading system, the central conduit 11a of the backing pad 10 may convey incoming air through the small openings in the open mesh in the lower surface layer 450 and through the pores of the porous intermediate layer 440, if any, of the abrading article 400 onto the lower surface 460 of the abrading article 400. In embodiments in which the attachment elements between the abrading article 400 and the backing pad 10 additionally are of the hook-and-loop type, during operation of the abrading system, the central conduit 11a of the backing pad 10 may additionally convey incoming air into the interface between the abrading article 400 and the backing pad 10, which interface houses the attachment elements for attaching the abrading article 400 to the backing pad 10. The elongated peripheral conduits 410c such as depicted in
In such embodiments of the abrading system, during abrading, abrading debris may be extracted from the lower surface 460 of the abrading article 400 with a suction pressure through the small openings in the open mesh in the lower surface layer 450 and through the pores of the porous intermediate layer 440, if any, of the abrading article 400, then through the medial conduits 11b of the backing pad 10 into the conduits 2. The extracted abrading debris may be conveyed into a debris collection receptacle 4. In such embodiments in which the attachment elements between the abrading article 400 and the backing pad 10 additionally are of the hook-and-loop type, debris may be extracted through the medial conduits 11b from the interface between the abrading article 400 and the backing pad 10, which interface houses the attachment elements.
In such embodiments, replacement air, pulled in by suction pressure onto the lower surface 460 of the abrading article 400, may originate through the central conduit 410a, peripheral conduits 410c and over the outer side wall 420 of the abrading article 400. Thus, the peripheral conduits 410c are not connected to suction pressure. As the peripheral conduits 410c may be blind, incoming air through these conduits may be forced to pass over a portion of the lower surface 460 of the abrading article 400 before entering into a plurality of small openings, thereby providing surface flushing which extends substantially into the medial regions of the abrading article 400. Furthermore, as the peripheral conduits 410c may be blind, incoming air through these conduits may be forced to pass over a portion of the upper surface 470 of the abrading article 400 before entering into the medial conduit 11b of the backing pad 10, thereby providing flushing of the interface between the abrading article 400 and the backing pad 10, which extends substantially into the medial regions of the abrading article 400 and the backing pad 10.
In other embodiments of the abrading article 400, which comprise a plurality of the peripheral conduits 410c but not the central conduit 410a and not the medial conduits 410b, conduits 410c may be differently configured on the SX, SY plane, such as according to the examples illustrated in
In embodiments of the abrading system which additionally may comprise the intermediate pad 20 attached between the backing pad 10 and the abrading article 400, the air and debris flows during the operation of the abrading system may adhere to the same principles as explained above, because in such embodiments the intermediate pad 20 may comprise a central conduit or conduits and/or a medial conduit or conduits which may correspond to and be capable of being aligned with the central conduit or conduits 11a and the medial conduit or conduits 11b of the backing pad 10. In other words, in such embodiments, the conduit pattern on the intermediate pad 20 may substantially match the conduit pattern on the backing pad 10.
Below are presented example implementations of the invention:
Example 1: An intermediate pad suitable for use in an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus adapted to provide suction pressure, the intermediate pad comprising:
Example 2: The intermediate pad according to example 1, wherein the intermediate pad further comprises at least one central conduit, the at least one central conduit:
Example 3: The intermediate pad according to any of the preceding example, wherein the attachment elements on the upper surface layer and/or the lower surface layer enable re-attachment.
Example 4: The intermediate pad according to example 3, wherein the attachment elements on the upper surface layer are premised on hooks and loops, or mechanical fasteners, or pressure sensitive adhesion.
Example 5: The intermediate pad according to example 3 or 4, wherein the attachment elements on the lower surface layer are premised on hooks and loops, or mechanical fasteners, or pressure sensitive adhesion.
Example 6: The intermediate pad according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the at least one central conduit and/or the medial conduits is/are holes which extend through the upper surface layer, the intermediate layer and the lower surface layer of the intermediate pad.
Example 7: The intermediate pad according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the at least one peripheral conduit is a groove on the lower surface or a slit, the groove or the slit having an open end at the outer side wall.
Example 8: The intermediate pad according to any of the preceding examples, wherein at least one of the peripheral conduits extends towards the center of the intermediate pad past at least one of the medial conduits or to the distance of more than 10% of the distance between the starting point of the peripheral conduit at the outer side wall and the center of the intermediate pad.
Example 9: The intermediate pad according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the intermediate pad has a circular shape.
Example 10: The intermediate pad according to example 9, wherein the intermediate pad further comprises a plurality of the medial conduits arranged along at least one concentric circle which is/are concentric with the center of the intermediate pad.
Example 11: The intermediate pad according to any of the preceding examples, wherein at least one of the medial conduits or at least one of the peripheral conduits has an elongated orifice on the lower surface of the intermediate pad.
Example 12: The intermediate pad according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the intermediate layer comprises
Example 13: An intermediate pad suitable for use in an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus adapted to provide suction pressure, the intermediate pad comprising:
Example 14: The intermediate pad according to example 13, wherein the intermediate pad further comprises at least one central conduit, the at least one central conduit:
Example 15: The intermediate pad according to examples 13 or 14, wherein the attachment elements on the upper surface layer and/or the lower surface layer enable re-attachment.
Example 16: The intermediate pad according to example 15, wherein the attachment elements on the upper surface layer are premised on hooks and loops, or mechanical fasteners, or pressure sensitive adhesion.
Example 17: The intermediate pad according to example 15 or 16, wherein the attachment elements on the lower surface layer are premised on hooks and loops, or mechanical fasteners, or pressure sensitive adhesion.
Example 18: The intermediate pad according to any of the examples 14-17, wherein the at least one central conduit and/or the medial conduits is/are holes which extend through the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer of the intermediate pad.
Example 19: The intermediate pad according to any of the examples 13-18, wherein the at least one peripheral conduit is a groove on the lower surface or a slit, the groove or slit having an open end at the outer side wall.
Example 20: The intermediate pad according to any of the examples 13-19, wherein the at least one peripheral conduit extends towards the center of the intermediate pad past at least one of the medial conduits or to the distance of more than 10% of the distance between the origin of the peripheral conduit at the outer side wall and the center of the intermediate pad.
Examples 21: The intermediate pad according to any of the examples 13-20, wherein the intermediate pad has a circular shape.
Examples 22: The intermediate pad according to example 21, wherein there is a plurality of the medial conduits arranged along at least one concentric circle which is/are concentric with the center of the intermediate pad.
Example 23: The intermediate pad according to any of the examples 13-22, wherein at least one of the medial conduits has an elongated orifice on the lower surface of the intermediate pad.
Example 24: An abrading system, comprising:
Example 25: A method of using the abrading system according to example 24 for removing abrading debris from the lower surface of the intermediate pad; the method comprising:
Example 26: A method of using the abrading system according to example 24 for removing abrading debris from the lower surface of the intermediate pad; the method comprising:
Example 27: A backing pad suitable for use in an abrading apparatus adapted to provide suction pressure, the backing pad comprising:
Example 28: The backing pad according to example 27, wherein the backing pad further comprises at least one central conduit, the at least one central conduit:
Example 29: The backing pad according to examples 27 or 28, wherein the attachment elements on the body and/or the lower surface layer enable re-attachment.
Example 30: The backing pad according to any of the examples 27-29, wherein the at least one central conduit, and/or the at least one medial conduit is/are orifices which extend through the body and the lower surface layer of the backing pad.
Example 31: The backing pad according to any of the examples 27-30, wherein the at least one peripheral conduit is a groove on the lower surface having an open end at the outer side wall.
Example 32: The backing pad according to any of the examples 27-30, wherein the at least one peripheral conduit comprises a groove on the lower surface with at least two closed ends and an orifice on the outer side wall.
Example 33: The backing pad according to any of the examples 27-32, wherein the at least one peripheral conduit extends towards the center of the backing pad past at least one of the medial conduits or to the distance of more than 25% of the distance between the starting point of the at least one peripheral conduit at the outer side wall and the center of the backing pad.
Example 34: The backing pad according to any of the examples 27-33, wherein the backing pad has a circular shape.
Example 35: The backing pad according to example 34, wherein the backing pad further comprises a plurality of the medial conduits arranged along at least one concentric circle which is/are concentric with the center of the backing pad.
Example 36: The backing pad according to any of the examples 27-35, wherein at least one of the medial conduits or at least one of the peripheral conduits has an elongated orifice on the lower surface of the backing pad.
Example 37: An abrading system, comprising:
Example 38: A method of using the abrading system according to example 37 for removing abrading debris from the lower surface of the backing pad; the method comprising:
Example 39: A method of using the abrading system according to example 37 for removing abrading debris from the lower surface of the backing pad; the method comprising:
Example 40: An abrading article suitable for use in an abrading system comprising an abrading apparatus adapted to provide suction pressure, the abrading article comprising:
Example 41: The abrading article according to example 40, wherein the at least one peripheral conduit is a slit or a groove having an open end at the outer side wall.
Example 42: The abrading article according to example 40 or 41, wherein the at least one peripheral conduit is a groove, which groove
Example 43: The abrading article according to any of the examples 40-42, wherein the at least one peripheral conduit extends towards the center of the abrading article to the distance of more than 25% of the distance between the starting point of the peripheral conduit at the outer side wall and the center of the abrading article.
Example 44: The abrading article according to any of the examples 40-43, the abrading article further comprising:
Example 45: The abrading article according to any of the examples 40-44, the abrading article further comprising at least one central conduit suitable for conveying air onto the lower surface or conveying air and abrading debris from the lower surface, the at least one central conduit extending from the upper surface to the lower surface and being separated from the at least one medial conduit, if any, and the at least one peripheral conduit by an unbroken portion of the abrading article.
Example 46: The abrading article according to examples 44 or 45, wherein the at least one medial conduit and/or the at least one central conduit is/are orifices which extend from the upper surface to the lower surface of the abrading article.
Example 47: The abrading article according to any of the examples 40-46, wherein at least one of the peripheral conduits extends towards the center of the abrading article to the distance of more than 10% of the distance between the starting point of the at least one peripheral conduit at the outer side wall and the center of the abrading article.
Example 48: The abrading article according to any of the examples 40-47, wherein the abrading article has a circular shape.
Example 49: The abrading article according to example 48, wherein is the abrading article further comprises a plurality of the medial conduits arranged along at least one concentric circle which is/are concentric with the center of the abrading article.
Example 50: The abrading article according to any of the examples 44-49, wherein at least one of the medial conduits, if any, has an elongated orifice on the lower surface of the abrading article.
Example 51: The abrading article according to any of the examples 40-50, wherein the lower surface layer comprises an open mesh with small openings, which mesh is coated with abrasive particles.
Example 52: The abrading article according to any or the examples 40-51, wherein the attachment elements on the upper surface layer enable re-attachment.
Example 53: The abrading article according to any of the examples 40-52, wherein the abrading article further comprises an intermediate layer between and attached to the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer.
Example 54: An abrading system, comprising:
Example 55: A method of using the abrading system according to example 54 for removing abrading debris from the interface between the abrading article and the backing pad, and for removing abrading debris from the lower surface of the abrading article; the method comprising:
Example 56: An abrading system, comprising:
Example 57: A method of using the abrading system according to example 56 for removing abrading debris from the interface between the abrading article and the intermediate pad, and for removing abrading debris from the lower surface of the abrading article; the method comprising:
Example 58: An abrading system, comprising:
Example 59: A method of using the abrading system according to example 58 for removing abrading debris from the interface between the abrading article and the backing pad, and for removing abrading debris from the lower surface of the abrading article; the method comprising:
Example 60: A method of using the abrading system according to example 58 for removing abrading debris from the interface between the abrading article and the backing pad, and for removing abrading debris from the lower surface of the abrading article; the method comprising:
Example 61: An abrading system, comprising:
Example 62: A method of using the abrading system according to example 61 for removing abrading debris from the interface between the abrading article and the intermediate pad, and for removing abrading debris from the lower surface of the abrading article; the method comprising:
Example 63: A method of using the abrading system according to example 61 for removing abrading debris from the interface between the abrading article and the intermediate pad; and for removing abrading debris from the lower surface of the abrading article; the method comprising:
In embodiments of the abrading article pad 400 which comprise one or more of the central conduits 410a, the central conduit or conduits 410a may in some system embodiments be connected to suction pressure and thereby function as air and debris extraction conduits, instead of conveying incoming air onto the upper surface 470 and the lower surface 460 of the abrading article 400. Such embodiments may otherwise adhere to the principles of the solution as described above. Thus, in such embodiments incoming air may originate through the peripheral conduits 410c and over the outer side wall 420 of the abrading article 400 and be forced to pass over the upper surface 470 and the lower surface 460 of the abrading article 400 before reaching the nearest suction pressure-connected conduit thereby providing surface flushing which extends substantially into the medial and central regions of the abrading article 400.
The disclosed solutions are not limited to the examples and embodiments explained above and these examples and embodiments should not be construed as limiting. These examples and embodiments may be applied in useful combinations also. The solution is defined in the appended claims supported by this description.
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| 20200023495 A1 | Jan 2020 | US |
