Dust collector - Patent Review 5941766

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This invention relates to a dust collector and more particularly to a dust collector for use with a grinding machine in a machine shop, having improved flow characteristics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Precision parts are required in many instances. A standard effort to produce these precision parts includes grinding and otherwise treating a surface. This production is typically accomplished in a specialty shops, such as a small machine tool shop or section of a larger organization. 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.

The problems caused by dust from grinding are thoroughly discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,972, which patent has the same inventor as this application and is incorporated herein by reference. The dust cover must keep the dust and grinding residues away from the operator, must permit the operator to see what the area of work and must not otherwise interfere with the function of the grinding machine or other shaping machine. These functions are discussed thoroughly in the referenced patent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of a dust collector to remove dust and grindings to a 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 fixed torpedo for a dust collector, the dust collector including 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, with enhanced flow characteristics due to the fixed torpedo having a dual cone shape fixedly secured in the funnel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of standard grinding device 110 with a standard dust guard 112 in position thereon.

FIG. 2 depicts a front plan view of dust collector 100.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of a standard grinding device 110 with the dust collector 100 of this invention in place combined with a designed dust trail 130.

FIG. 3 depicts a front plan view of dust collector 100.

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of the dust collector 100 of this invention used with the adjustable mount system 250 of the prior art, as defined in the applicant's prior patent, as referenced herein.

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.

The dust collector described in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,972 is an effective collector. With this invention the center fixture of the funnel is now mounted in a permanent position and provides an extremely effective dust collection device. A series of three (3) radially spaced mounting brackets form a mounting device, which secures the center fixture to the funnel. The mounting brackets are small enough to permit the dust to flow as freely as ever and provide for the center fixture in view of the fact that the center fixture is basically shaped as two (2) conical-solids joined at the base thereof. The interior conical-solid has a longer height than the funnel contained conical-solid.

Preferably, the height of the interior cone is 1.1 to 5 times the height of the funnel cone. More preferably, the height of the interior cone is 1.3 to 4 times the height of the interior cone. Most preferably, the height of the cone 1.5 to 2.5 times the height of the cone. This cone's structure permits a very efficient dust collection. It also permits the collection while avoiding the formerly necessary ability of the center fixture. In this fashion, a very great problem is solved in a more simple fashion.

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. The adjustable arm of the dust collector permits adjustment thereof as desired. 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.

The dust collector as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,972 is an effective collector. The dust collector of this invention is an improvement thereover in that the center fixture is smaller, more effective, and somewhat more simply mounted. A series of three (3) radially spaced mounting brackets secure the center fixture to the funnel. The mounting brackets are small enough to permit the dust to flow as freely as ever and provide for the center fixture in view of the fact that the center fixture is basically shaped as two (2) cones or conical-solids joined at the base thereof. The interior conical-solid has a longer height than the funnel contained conical-solid.

Preferably, the height of the interior cone is 1.1 to 5 times the height of the interior or funnel-contained conical solid. More preferably, the height of the interior cone is 1.3 to 4 times the height of the interior cone. Most preferably, the height of the cone 1.5 to 2.5 times the height of the cone. This cone's structure permits a very efficient dust collection. It also permits the collection while avoiding the formerly necessary ability of the center fixture. In this fashion, a very great problem of dust in a grinding area is solved in a more simple fashion.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the grinding device 110 is depicted with a 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. The stock or material 116 is supported on grinding base 120. Grinding base 120 is in turn supported on a travel table 124, as is typical of a grinding device 110.

Dust collector 100 receives the vacuum, as it is drawn through hose 146, which is connected to the hose end sleeve 174 of dust collector 100. In this manner hose 146 collects sparks 180, dust 182, and grindings 184 into the funnel assembly 140 and transports the residue to a safe place, for eventual recycling or disposal. Sparks 180 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. 2 and FIG. 3, the dust collector 100 shows a plastic funnel housing 152 having contained therein a steel dual-cone 154. In the center of the steel dual-cone 154 are three radially spaced mounting brackets 156. Each mounting bracket 156 supports the steel dual-cone 154, by being secured at one end thereto by welding or other appropriate fastening device. The steel dual-cone 154 is mounted in the plastic funnel housing 152 by fastener screws 157, which fit into apertures 158 within the funnel assembly 140 and hold each mounting bracket 160 therein, by either an aperture or clamping.

So one end of each bracket 156 is secured to torpedo 160. The other end of each bracket 156 is secured to funnel housing 152. When three of bracket 156 are used in a radial spacing, the triangulated support permits strong support for torpedo 160, while leaving the opening adequate for any dust flow, and minimizing moving parts.

Torpedo 160 has the form of two (2) conical-solids joined at the base thereof. The interior conical-solid 162 has a longer height than the funnel contained conical-solid 164. Funnel contained conical solid 164 has an inner conical tip 166 protruding through the plastic funnel housing 152 into the funnel assembly 140. The inner conical tip 166 extends into shared base 168 with interior conical-solid 162. Interior conical solid 162 has a hose tip 180 extending into the hose 146.

With this structure, it thus becomes possible to move funnel assembly 140 into operating position 260 adjacent to the grinding wheel 114 (FIG. 1). The adjustable mount system 250 of FIG. 4 makes this clearly possible by permitting the movement of the funnel assembly 140 into operating position 260, to collect the sparks 180, 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.

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