 |
Description  |
|
|
This invention relates to a dust collector and more particularly to a dust
collector for use with a grinding machine in a machine shop.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Precision parts are required in many instances. A standard effort to
produce these precision parts is by grinding and otherwise treating a
surface. This is typically done in specialty areas, such as a small
machine tool shop. During the course of this practice, an amount of dust
and grindings, and even sparks can be created. When these dust sparks and
grindings are created, it is desirable to control the dusts and grindings
and keep them away from the machine tool operator.
A grinding machine is customarily placed adjacent to wall of a shop. The
horizontal axis of the grinding machine is usually at an acute angle with
the wall. The machine operator usually stands within the obtuse angle
formed by the grinding machine and the wall.
As in most situations requiring precision work, it is desirable in this
field to work in clean environment. A clean environment adds to the
quality of a product and the efficiency of the work place. With the
increased awareness of pollution concerns, the clean environment becomes
even more important.
It is well settled that residue; such as dust, sparks or grindings in the
atmosphere; can have an adverse effect on health. Any device, which can
minimize, these problems provides many advantages. However, such a device
must not unreasonably interfere with the work in progress. The avoidance
of residue and the interference with work seem to be odds with each other.
Maximization of one minimizes the other, when it is desirable to maximize
the advantages of both.
Typical dust covers do not accomplish this goal of dual maximization.
Typical dust covers do permit the dust and grindings to, at best dirty the
shop area and at worst, provide an environmental hazard from the dust and
grindings being put into the air. It is very difficult to control these
dusts and grindings and provide a dust cover, which causes the dust to
flow away from that operation.
Such a dust cover must keep the dust and grinding residues away from the
operator, must permit the operator to see the area of work and must not
otherwise interfere with the function of the grinding machine or other
shaping machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of a dust
collector to remove dust and grindings to safe area with minimal
interference with the work.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a movable dust collector.
Yet another objective of this invention is to provide a dust collector to
simplify cleaning of a work area.
Still another objective of this invention is to provide a dust collector to
reduce pollution at a work area.
Additionally, an objective of this invention is to a dust collector to
provide a good view of the work area.
Also, an objective of this invention is to provide a dust collector with
minimized interference with the work piece.
A still further objective of this invention is to provide a dust collector
to control sparks in a work area.
Yet a further objective of this invention is to provide a dust collector
having a flexible position.
These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become
clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a
whole) are met by providing a dust collector, with a funnel assembly
mounted on a flexible arm and provided with a vacuum assist, in order to
remove residue caused by a machining practice applied to a work piece.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 depicts a standard grinding device 110 with a standard dust guard
112 in position thereon.
FIG. 2 depicts a standard grinding device 110 with the dust collector 100
of this invention in place.
FIG. 3 depicts a top view of dust collector 100.
FIG. 4 depicts a side cross-sectional view of dust collector 100 combined
with a designed dust trail 130.
FIG. 5 depicts a front exploded view of the frontal assembly 150 for the
dust collector 100.
FIG. 6 depicts a reverse view of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 depicts a front view of the dust housing 180.
FIG. 8 depicts a rear view of the dust housing 180.
FIG. 9 depicts a side cross-sectional view of the dust housing 180.
FIG. 10 depicts a side perspective view indicating the mobility of dust
collector 100.
FIG. 11 depicts a top over view of the adjustable mount system 250 of the
dust collector 100.
Throughout the figures of the drawings where the same part appears in more
than one figure the same number is applied thereto.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A dust collector uses a funnel assembly mounted on an adjustable arm to
permit the dust collector to be positioned in relation to the work piece
or material being ground, in combination with a vacuum hose to cause safe
and efficient removal of residue from a work area. The grinding device
includes a grinding wheel and other standard machine tool devices for
moving the material under the grinding wheel to be finished or otherwise
shaped.
The adjustable dust collector includes a funnel assembly, also known as a
dust cone assembly. The wide mouth for the funnel of the dust collector
receives the dust from the grinding wheel and directs it to the narrow
base of the funnel. The narrow base is connected to a vacuum to assist
with the residue collection. All residue from the grinding of the material
enter the funnel.
Included in the residue are dust, larger particles such as grindings, and
sparks. Any one of these items, at best, dirties the work area and can
interfere with the production of a good product. At worst, the residue can
create a severe environmental hazard and extreme danger to the operator.
This dust collector can substantially minimize all of those problems.
There is an adjustable arm mount used in combination with the funnel
assembly or dust cone assembly, which assists in positioning the dust
collector appropriately. The base of the funnel is connected to a vacuum
hose. In this picture, the grinding device has a grinding wheel. A work
piece or piece of material is supported on a travel table, which moves the
material under the grinding wheel. This is a standard setup for a grinding
tool. The hose and the funnel along with the adjustable arm mount provide
tremendous adjustability for the dust collector.
The dust collector has an plastic funnel housing with a steel cone therein.
A channel edge surrounds the outer side of plastic funnel and directs dust
into the funnel. In the center of the steel cone, is a slidably mounted
torpedo, which serves as a guide to help collect the sparks and dust. The
torpedo adjusts the flow of dust into the vacuum hose and can assist in
directing or guiding the hot spark and dust trail to a point for
collecting the same.
This particular vacuum structure with the torpedo permits the hot spark and
dust trail to be concentrated at the center and leaves fine dust and other
dust to go outside and be collected by the other avenues of the funnel.
The steel cone and the plastic funnel combine to provide for a flow of the
dust into the channel. The steel cone is mounted around the torpedo but
provides space between the torpedo and permits the dust flow to be
achieved. The steel cone is secured in the plastic funnel with fastener
screws or another suitable fastening device.
Within the base of the plastic funnel is an exhaust channel, which permits
dust to flow thereout and into the vacuum hose. The vacuum hose is secured
to the funnel by a hose end of the base sleeve. Base sleeve has a funnel
end which attaches to the base of plastic funnel. In this fashion, the
assemblage of the dust collector to the funnel is permitted.
The adjustable arm of the dust collector permits adjustment thereof as
desired, due to the following structure. Mounted on the wall adjacent to
the machine is a hinge clamp with a base tube clamp. The base bracket
mounts to the wall. Rotatably mounted thereon is the hinge clamp with the
base tube clamp and the base bracket.
The base tube runs from the base tube clamp to an elbow bracket which is
connected to an elbow clamp. The elbow clamp has an elbow tube connected
to the funnel clamp, which in turn holds the funnel in position. The elbow
tube runs from the elbow clamp and reaches to the ball joint clamp, which
is attached to the funnel clamp. The vacuum hose is then attached to the
hose clamp. With this particular structure of the tube to elbow clamp and
adjustments therein, the dust collector can be put in any suitable
position around the grinding device as desired.
Referring now to FIG. 1, the grinding device 110 is depicted with a prior
art, standard dust guard 112 in place. The grinding device 110 includes a
power grinding wheel 114 and other standard machine tool devices for
moving the material 116 under the grinding wheel 114 for a finishing and
supporting the material thereon. A magnet base 118 assists in supporting
the stock or material 116 on grinding base 120. Lamp 122 is standardly
connected to illuminate the work area as desired. Grinding base 120 is in
turn supported on a travel table 124, as is typical of a grinding device
110.
Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the grinding device 110 is shown with
the dust collector 100 in position. The funnel assembly 140 of the dust
collector 100 receives the dust from the grinding wheel 114 as assisted
thereby with a vacuum. Dust, sparks and grindings enter the funnel
assembly 140, and pass therethrough into a vacuum hose 146. Vacuum hose
146 transports the flow of residue to a desirable disposal point (not
shown).
The disposal point can include any suitable container or other device to
receive the residue from the grinding operation. Such residue may then
recycled, if possible, or properly disposed of, if required.
There is an adjustable mount system 250 which assists in positioning the
funnel assembly 140 appropriately. The base 142 of the funnel assembly 140
of course is connected to the vacuum hose 146. The grinding device 110 can
be seen as having a grinding wheel 114. The work piece or material 116 is
supported on travel table 124 which drives the material 116 under the
grinding wheel 114. This is a standard setup for a grinding tool, such as
grinding device 110.
Adding FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 to the consideration, the cooperation of the
vacuum hose 146 and the funnel assembly 140 along with the adjustable
mount system 250 become more clear. The vacuum drawn through hose 146
collects sparks 181, dust 182, and grindings 184 into the funnel assembly
140 and transports the residue to a safe place, for eventual recycling or
disposal. Sparks 181 are brief light flashes capable of starting a fire
created by the grinding process. Dust 182 includes fine particles
separated from material 116 by the grinding process. Grindings 184 include
larger particles separated from material 116 by the grinding process.
In FIG. 4, a cross-section of the dust collector 100 shows a plastic funnel
housing 152 having contained therein a steel cone 154. This FIG. 4 when
combined with FIG. 5 cooperates to depict funnel assembly 140.
Channel edge 156 snaps onto the outer side of plastic funnel housing 152 in
a standard fashion. Any other removable mount may be used to thus secured
channel edge 156. The standard snap mount is preferred. At any rate, the
lower u-shaped end cap 192 and upper crescent end cap 194 surrounds the
outer side of plastic funnel housing 152 to collect dust or other residue,
that can otherwise miss the funnel assembly 140, and directs dust into the
funnel assembly 140.
In the center of the steel cone 154, is a slidably mounted torpedo 160. The
torpedo 160 adjusts the flow of residue dust into the funnel assembly 140.
Then vacuum hose 146 can assist in the hot spark and dust trail
collection. This particular structure with the torpedo 160 permits the hot
spark and dust trail to be concentrated at the center of funnel assembly
140.
The fine dust and other dust tends to go outside of funnel assembly 140 and
be collected by the other avenues of the funnel assembly 140 such as
channel edge 156. The steel cone 154 and the plastic funnel housing 152
combine to provide for a flow of the dust into the channel edge 156 and
then into the funnel assembly 140.
The steel cone 154 is mounted around the torpedo 160 but provides space
between the torpedo 160 and permits the dust flow to be achieved. The
steel cone 154 is mounted in the plastic funnel housing 152 by fastener
screws 157, which fit into apertures 158 within the funnel assembly 140.
Torpedo 160 has a conical tip 162 protruding through the steel cone 154.
The conical tip 162 has a truncated cone 164 protruding from the base of
conical tip 162. A torpedo pilot 166 in the form of a cylindrical base
extends from truncated cone 164 and is oppositely disposed from conical
tip 162.
Adding FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 to the consideration, within the base 142 of the
plastic funnel housing 152 is an exhaust channel 170 which permits dust to
flow thereout and into the vacuum hose 146. The vacuum hose 146 is secured
to the hose end 172 of the base sleeve 174. Base sleeve 174 has a funnel
end 176 which attaches to the base 142 of plastic funnel housing 152. In
this fashion, the assemblage of the dust collector 100 and the vacuum hose
146 is permitted.
Base sleeve 174 is of a generally cylindrical shape, and also includes also
includes a hose end 172. Hose end 172 attaches to vacuum hose 146. Funnel
end 176 usually has a smaller diameter than hose end 172 in order to slide
into base 142 of plastic funnel housing 152. Hose end 172 generally
includes a mount coupling finger 185 to permit the attachment of clamp 251
to adjustable mount 250 and base sleeve 174.
With FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, the structure of plastic housing collar 190 is
depicted. Plastic housing collar 190 fits around the outer edge of plastic
funnel housing 152, and joins with a lower u-shaped end cap 192 and upper
crescent end cap 194. Plastic housing collar 190, lower u-shaped end cap
192 and upper crescent end cap 194 are snap fitted in position on plastic
funnel housing 152 by a pair of oppositely disposed side channel end caps
156.
The relationship of plastic housing collar 190 and plastic funnel housing
152 is emphasized by FIG. 7 in combination with FIG. 4. Plastic housing
collar 190 serves to trap dust 182 and drive it through dust apertures 198
in the rim or wide mouth of plastic funnel housing 152.
In FIG. 9, torpedo 160 is depicted as mounted in hose end 172. Hose end 172
includes a vertical strut support 202, with a central ring 204 therein to
receive torpedo pilot 166 and thence mount torpedo 160 in funnel assembly
140.
Base sleeve 174 is of a generally cylindrical shape, and also includes also
includes the hose end 172. Hose end 172 attaches to vacuum hose 146.
Funnel end 176 usually has a smaller diameter than hose end 172 in order
to slide into funnel end 176.
Referring now to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the adjustable mount system 250 of
the dust collector 100 is shown. A machine end 252 is mounted on grinding
device 110. Alternatively, a wall (not shown) adjacent to the grinding
device 110 may receive machine end 252. Funnel end 254 of the adjustable
mount system 250 is oppositely disposed from machine end 252. Funnel end
254 has funnel assembly 140 secured thereto.
Located at machine end 252 is a hinge clamp 256 with a base tube clamp 258
mounted thereon. A base bracket 260 for hinge clamp 256 mounts to the
grinding device 110 and secures hinge clamp 256 in a desirable position.
Thus, rotatably mounted on the base bracket 260 is the hinge clamp 256.
The base tube clamp 262 cooperates with the hinge clamp 256 and the base
bracket 260. The base tube 264 is received between the hinge clamp 256 and
base tube clamp 262. Base tube 264 extends from base tube clamp 262 to an
elbow bracket 270 which is connected to an elbow clamp 272.
The elbow clamp 272 has a funnel tube 274 connecting the elbow clamp 272 to
a ball joint clamp 280. The ball joint clamp 280 holds the funnel assembly
140 in a desired position. The funnel tube 274 reaches to elbow clamp 272
from the ball joint clamp 280.
The ball joint clamp 280, which is fixed to the dust cone assembly 140 at
funnel end 176 of base sleeve 174, is accomplished by gripping the base
sleeve coupling mount finger 78. The ball joint clamp 280 thus provides
flexibility in the attachment of the funnel assembly 140, and simplifies
the structure with its dual purpose. The vacuum hose 146 is then attached
to the hose clamp 276. With this particular structure of the funnel tube
274 to elbow clamp 272 and adjustments therein, the dust collector 100 can
be put in any suitable position.
With this structure, it thus becomes possible to move funnel assembly 140
into operating position 259 adjacent to the grinding wheel 114. The
adjustable mount system 250 makes this clearly possible by permitting the
movement of the funnel assembly 140 into operating position 259, to
collect the sparks 181, dust 182 or grindings 184.
While various parts of funnel assembly 140 are described as being made of
aluminum, steel or plastic; it is clear that other materials may be used.
The criticality is that the various parts have the desired durability and
structure required to survive for a substantial period of time in the
somewhat harsh environment of a machine shop.
This application--taken as a whole with the specification, claims,
abstract, and drawings--provides sufficient information for a person
having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention disclosed and
claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well
within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that
person has made a careful study of this disclosure.
Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure,
modification of this method and apparatus can become clear to a person
having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are
clearly covered by this disclosure.
* * * * *
|
|
 |
|
 |
Description |
|
