GB2487936A

GB2487936A - Swarf tray

Info

Publication number: GB2487936A
Application number: GB1102194.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Laker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-09
Filing date: 2011-02-09
Publication date: 2012-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-09
Also published as: GB201102194D0; GB2487936B

Abstract

The swarf tray includes a flexible and portable surface 1 to engage particulate material such as metal chips, filings, shavings or other debris from metalworking operations. A raised border 2 surrounds the surface. The tray may also have an adhesive surface which may be separate. At least two lanyard attachment points may be included on the tray.

Description

SWARF TRAY

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a swan tray, or more particularly a tray for collection of swan or particulate metal.

Background

Swarf is an old engineering term for oil and grease, but is now commonly refers to the chips, filings, shavings and/or chippings of metal, being the debris or waste resulting from metalworking operations. These may also be called particulate metal.

Being chipped metal, these chips can be very dangerous, and extremely sharp, and may create a safety problem if not dealt with adequately In addition if not removed and dependant on composition of the metal concerned, swan can persist in the environment for a long time before degrading.

Clean-up and disposal of swarf may be hard to deal with as it is bulky and can clog the nozzle of a vacuum.

Swarf when produced by structural work on live' aircraft is of great importance and in particular it is of extreme importance that no swarf is left on aircraft after maintenance; or in or around electrical looms, electrical components, pipe work or other similar delicate metal structures.

Swan will be corrosive if it is left in contact with another metal surface which is made of a different metal. In general and in addition, swaff is very difficult to completely remove in hard accessible areas.

Prior Art

Ways of addressing the problem of minimising the contamination of locations with swan have been proposed in the past, including: United Kingdom patent application GB 2 416 486 (STOCKWELL) discloses a flexible mat having at least one surface that is formed with depressions to catching and retaining a fluid so as to prevent the fluid from spilling off the mat, and further provided with at least one permanent magnet for retaining ferromagnetic components that are placed on or fall onto the mat.

United States patent application US 2003 0 138 620 (FONSECA) discloses a flexible magnetic layer based rubberized mat comprising: a layer of a flexible magnetic composition; a layer of an adhesive composition on said magnetic composition; and a layer of a rubberized composition on said adhesive composition; whereby the layers of the magnetic composition, the adhesive composition and the rubberized composition form a unitary flexible mat for use on metal surfaces.

United States patent application US 3 704 959 (JOHN) discloses a retractable guard, more particularly for an axially movable cutting tool spindle of a machine tool to prevent ingress of swarf, and consisting of a stainless steel strip wound as a helical spiral with adjacent turns partially overlapping so that the axial movement varies the amount of overlap and the conicity of the guard.

Advantageously therefore the present invention provides a flexible portable means for preventing multiple forms of swart contamination in multiple locations.

Summarq of the Inverffion According to the present invention there is provided a swart tray comprising: a flexible and portable surface being disposed to engage particulate metal; and a border disposed to prevent engaged particulate metal from leaving the surface.

Ideally the tray takes the form of a planar rectangular mat with minimal depth, having a border that has a deeper cross-section than the surface or engaging surface of the tray Further embodiments may be circular or polygonal. Ideally the border in any event forms a perimeter on all sides.

The border is ideally disposed to prevent the swan from leaving the surface, and may curl over the surface or otherwise provide a lip for stopping or providing a block to the movement of swarf.

The tray may additionally be provided with a resiliently deformable nature, frame or structure. This may ensure that the tray can be adjustably positioned in a variety of locations.

This resiliently deformable nature may comprise a metallic mesh, wire, or internal structure in the surface and/or border.

In addition or in the alternative the border may have heavier weighting than the surface such as to ensure that the tray may be securely positioned on a variety of surfaces. Ideally it may be possible, by combination of these two features, for instance to drape the tray over a pipe.

In some embodiments the tray may be made in part or whole of a fluorescent rubber for dark areas or areas of limited visibility or light provision.

The tray may have a surface that is in part or whole magnetic for work with ferrous metal. It is envisaged however that the standard version would be for aluminium, which is for the majority of aircraft work.

Embodiments disposed for steel drilling would have a magnetic strip/piece, instead of a type of double sided adhesive surface which would instead catch aluminium or non-ferrous swarf as well.

Such adhesive surfaces may be replaceable and/or disposable. In addition they may be formed of a paper-based material, such that in order to harvest the swan for recycling a used surface may be burnt.

Ideally the tray may be available in a set of various sizes with only the removable sticky patches to replace thereafter.

Further embodiments of the tray may have ridged or corrugated surfaces.

Internal mesh or wiring may be further provided in some embodiments in order for flexibility and positioning, such that the tray may be configured according to location and left in said position

Brief Description of Ficiures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the tray; and Figure 2 shows an isometric view of a second preferred embodiment of the tray.

Detailed DescrjpjjonoLPreferred Embodiment of the Invention The pictured embodiment in Figure 1 shows the engaging surface 1, surrounded on all sides by the border 2. The border 2 may have a bevelled edge 20. This bevelling is inclined with the widest part of the bevelling at the point of intersection with the surface 1. Further embodiments may have the inclination of the chamfering or bevelling 20 in the opposite direction that is the bevel may incline underneath the border 2 in order that any unstuck swarf is not lost such as when the border is disposed lower vertically than the surface.

In order to further increase the usability of the tray, eyelets or lanyard attachment points may be included on the border or elsewhere, in order that the tray may be attached to itself or other objects, so as to curl, hang or otherwise suspend the tray.

The tray may be largely or entirely constructed of rubber compound, such that the tray is flexible, deformable, unlikely to tear or damage and is weighted in order to ensure that the tray can be left in a large variety of locations and will be effective in ensuring that swarf can harvested from a large variety of overhead positions.

In some embodiments the surface may be provided in a disposable format. This may comprise a detachable adhesive layer, ideally double sided.

Where adhesive layer is provided as the surface for first use a cover may be provided. After each use the double-sided adhesive surface is removed and disposed of.

The embodiment in Figure 2 has bevelling (21) at the external extremities of the border 2 also. This bevelling enhances the flexibility of the border 2 whilst simultaneously reducing the weight of border 2.

The border 2 around the mat has a raised edge so that the adhesive sheets may be placed onto the mat to keep it neat and enhance re-usability.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and deschbed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

S