US1480285A - Portable sanding machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8 1924. 1,480,285

- R. A. MOORE PORTABLE SANDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TTCEA/EYQS.

PORTABLE SANDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31 1917 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fiber fAMbO Patented Jan. 8 1924.

UNITED STATES ROBERT A. MOORE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PORTABLE SANDING MACHINE.

Application filed December 31, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. Moons, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Detroit, county of lVayne, and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Portable Sanding Machines, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so' as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention, relating, as indicated to a portable surfacing machine, has particular reference to a machine which may be readily operated by a single person for the purpose of smoothing up curved surfaces, such for example as automobile bodies, although obviously the invention is not limited to any particular use. A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which may be readily operated by a single person for the purpose of rubbing or smoothing concave surfaces, and surfaces which include moldings which must ordinarily be rubbed by hand, with considerable labor and the expenditure of a great deal of time. A further object of the invention is the provision in such a machine of means for continuously and effectively removing the dirt, grit and other material which is abraded from the surface being rubbed. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine in operation against a vertical surface; Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlarged scale with the side cover plate removed to show the mechanism; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the rolls for supporting the belt; ig. 5 is a section-on the line 55, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an elevation of the roll shown in Fig. 4 when in operating contact with a curved concave surface, such View also showing the sanding belt in transverse section; Fi 7 is an enlarged end view of one .of the rol s showing the condition of the belt when Serial No. 209,756.

passing thereover; Fig. 8 is a plan view of one form of belt; Fig. 9 is a sectional view through a corner of the casing; and Figs. 10 and 11 are views of a belt construction that may be used.

As will readily be seen from Figs. 1 and 2, my improved mechanism consists of a rectangular box-like casing 1, on one side of which is mounted a handle 2, and in the end of which there is provided aconduit 3 for receiving and introducing fluid pressure for operating a motor 4 shown in outline only in Figure 2. The end opposite to that receiving the conduit 3 is formed at an acute angle to the side bearing the handle 2, and is the end of the device at which the sanding or rubbing belt is exposed to operate against a surface. Thus in Fig. 1 a belt 5 is shown in operative contact with a substantially vertical surface 6, and the belt 5, as indicated in Figure 2, extends over a ulley or roller 7 mounted at the left end of t e casing under an idler or tension pulley 8 and over a plurality of parallel supporting rolls 9. Ad jacent to the pulley 7 is a second roller or driving pulley 10, which engages against the surface of the belt 5 and is driven by means of a gear 11 mounted on the end of the shaft bearing the pulley 1O exteriorly of the casing, and is driven by a gear 12 also disposed exteriorly of the casing, and is driven by the shaft 13 of the motor 4. The roller 10 is mounted in the ends of two supporting links 14 shown in Fig. 2, and may be adjusted toward or away from the ulley 7 to take up any difference in thic ness of the belt 5.

I have not shown the detailed construction of the motor 4, and this may be of any suitable type, although preferably a fluid pressure motor, as already indicated, to which fluid pressure is supplied through the conduit 3, and which discharges such fluid pressure after use through a conduit 15 extending along the lower side of the casing adjacent to the belt 5 and terminating in a narrow rectangular slot or mouth 16, which is disposed at the end of the casing in a discharge opening 17 formedtherein. This discharge casing 17 has its outer side extended to within a very short distance of the lower end of the belt 5 where the same passes around the lowermost one of the rolls 9. As the belt is moved in a clockwise direction over the various rolls, it is moving toward the discharge spout 17 and the pasupon by the belt 5, and this dirt, grit and other material may either be discharged into the atmosphere or be collected in a suitable the same when once in position.

container (not shown) which may be attached to the end of the conduit 17 The casing is formed open at the right end and is provided on its sides, which may be removed, with guide strips 19 and 20. On a framework 60, consisting of parallel plates, between which are supported the various rolls and. belt, are formed complementary guides 21 and. 22, which engage against guides 19 and 20 as the frame 60 is moved into the casing and properly positions The framework is locked by resilient latches 23 which engage in openings 24 formed in the sides of the casing, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Each of the supporting rolls 9, the construction of which is shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, consists of a plurality of individual and radially depressible sections 25. Each of these sections 25 consists of a spiral coiled spring of relatively narrow width which has its inner end .attached to a shaft 26 which is rotatably mounted on pins 27 set into the two sides of the casing. The connection of the coiled spring to the shaft is preferably by means of a bayonet joint for convenient removal, although the springs may of course.

be riveted to the shaft if desired, as is shown in Fi re 5.

It as been found that by using a large number of individual and relatively narrow depressible sections in each of the rolls 9, it is possible to operate over surfaces hav ing a considerable degree of curvature, whether the curvature be inward or outward, and this is of great importance in connection with the smoothing of automobile bodies and particularly around the con nection between the body proper and the dash, where there is usually more or less molding. It is difficult to properly smooth fine inward curves in molding even though the work be done by hand, and by means of the present rollers it is possible to finish molding with extremely fine curves and in dented lines.

The present machine is adapted not only to sanding various surfaces, but also to rubbing down varnish and for other uses, and it is only necessary, to adapt the machine for these various Iiurposes, to change the belt. In Figure 6 have shown a sanding belt 28. This sanding belt 28 is mounted upon a composition or cork belt 29, which in turn is supported upon one or more belts 30 of felt or wool. The use of a number of belts gives the entire belt a thickness of perhaps a quarter of an inch, but makes it very flexible and strong, and in order to insure flexibility, both transverse and longitudinal, I preferably make a series of transverse slits 31 in the cork belt which underlies the sanding belt. At right angles to the transverse slits 31 there are formed two or more longitudinal grooves 32 (see Figures 6 and 8), in which I dispose rubber bands 33 which tend to return the transverse sections into their proper position after the belt has passed over any of the rollers.

The motor end of the casing is provided with a removable side coverplate 40 (see re 9), which is of course within the driving gears 11 and 12. A cover or housing 41 is mounted over the gears against the side of the casing, a flange 42 being formed on the housing, as shown in Figure 9, which permitsconvenient attachment to the easing 1.

Another form of beltis shown in longitu-' dinal section in Figure 10. The outer surface of the same, supporting the sanding belt proper, is formed of separate narrow sections 44 held together by means of cords 43 passing around each section and thus affording a ve strong but flexible belt layer. In Figure 11 show more clearly the retaining cable for the belt strips.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may e employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctlg claim as my invention.

1. n a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing, a motor therein, a roller operated by said motor, a frame removably mounted therein, a series of spaced rollers on said frame, an endless belt mounted around said rollers on said frame and removable therewith, and means adapt ed to lock said frame in said casing with said belt in operative relation with said first 3. A portable surfacing machine comprisinga casing, a motor mounted in one end of said casing, a roller mounted adjacent said pose a relatively flat portion of said belt in motor, a belt supporting means mounted at a plane at an acute angle to the long dimenthe other end of said casing, an endless sursion of said casing. 10 facing belt mounted about said roller and Signed by me, this 8th day of December,

5 said supporting means, means operably con- 1917. n

necting said belt and said motor, and said belt supporting means being mounted to ex- ROBERT A. MOORE.

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