US2093268A - Steel wool pad - Google Patents

Description

H. A. DYER STEEL WOOL PAD Sept. 14, 1937;

Filed Sept. 27, 1934 INVENTOR HERBERT f2 DYE-R BY 2 I B I z ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE STEEL WOOL PAD Herbert A. Dyer, Far Rockaway, N. Y., assignor to American Steel Wool Mfg. Co. Inc., New

York, N. Y.

Application September 27, 1934, Serial No. 745,666

1 Claim.

This invention relates to abrasive pads and, more particularly to steel wool pads intended primarily for industrial purposes.

In the use of steel wool pads of prior known constructions, the abrasive action of the pad is very uneven because the pressure applied to the pad is, not distributed uniformly over the surface which is in contact with the object subjected to its action. For this reason, the abrading action 1'0 of the pad is irregular and, in some instances, alternate ridges and depressions are formed in the surface of the object due to the fact that the pad is so held and the pressure is so applied that a relatively high pressure is exerted in the re- 15 gion proximate the fingertips while a relatively low pressure is exerted at other portions of the pad.

An object of the present invention is to provide a steel wool pad so constructed that the pressure 2 applied thereto in using the pad is distributed uniformly over the entire surface in contact with the work.

It has been proposed to form laminated steel wool pads so that successive layers of the pad F25 could be removed when they lose their abrasive action whereby to expose unused portions of the pad. It has been proposed to form a pad of this type by spirally winding on itself a fiat strip of steel wool, made up of steel wool strands extending longitudinally of the strip, and to subsequently expose unused portions of the pad by unwinding said strip. However, in pads of this type, it is difiicult to properly remove the used outer layer from the adjacent unused layer be- 35 cause during the use of the pad the uneven pressure exerted thereon causes the layers to become so matted or entangled that in attempting to remove a used layer, portions of the adjacent unused layer are also removed and when the used layer tears, which is frequently'the case, portions thereof remain attached to the adjacent unused layer. Thus, there usually results a waste of material due to the removal of unused steel wool, and an unsatisfactory abrasive sur- 45 face is formed because of the presence of adhered portions of used steel wool of reduced or negligible abrasive or polishing properties.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laminated steel woolpad in which the used layer can be removed readily from the adj acent unused layer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pad of predetermined size and shape and so constructed that it can be operated by a machine.

A yet further object of this invention is generally to improve the construction of steel wool pads whereby to obtain improved results in the utilizationthereof.

. According to a preferred embodiment of this 5 invention, there is disposed within the pad a substantiallyrigidflat core or plate located be tween a plurality of substantially fiat layers of steel wool in a plane parallel with the upper and lower surfaces of the pad. Said plate is co- 1 extensive in length and substantially coextensive in width with the length and width, respectively, of the steel wool layers of the pad. By virtue of this construction, pressure exerted on the pad during its use is distributed evenly over 15 the active surface of the pad so that a uniform abrading action is obtained, distortion of the pad is prevented, and the layers of steel wool are maintained in such condition as to permit a used layer to be unwound without being torn and without removing portions of the adjacent unused layer.

The invention Will best be understood from the following description read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a steel wool pad embodyingthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a strip or ribbon of arbitrary length of steel wool which may be employed in forming the pad shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 'is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are views of cores of modified constructions which may be used in the pad shown in Fig. 1.

According to the present invention the steel wool pad 10 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a plurality of steel wool layers l2 and a pressure distributing member here shown as a fiat rectangular core or plate l4 disposed between said 40 layers and preferably coextensive in length therewith. The core or plate I4 is of substantial rigidity whereby the pressure applied to the pad during its use is distributed uniformly over substantially the entire area of the active or abrading surface of the pad in contact with the object subjected to the action of said surface. For this purpose, the plate I4 may be made of card board, wood or other suitable material, of a thickness which affords this function. It will be un- 0 dersto'od, however, that while the plate I4 is sufficiently rigid thus to distribute uniformly the pressure exerted on the pad, said plate is prefdesired, a handle or holder maybe attached to the pad to facilitate its manipulation.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the side edges 16 of the core 14 are smooth and the core is of uniform width. As there is a substantial amount of friction between the edges I6 of the core and the adjacent layer of steel wool, the

core'issecurely held in positionwithin thepad. However, in 1 order to'more securely v look the core within the pad or to prevent the steel wool layers from being displaced longitudinally. of the core, particularlywhen the steel wool layers. are wound somewhat loosely, either ofgthe core);

constructions shown in Figs, .4 and .5 may be utilized. For this purposelin theiconstruction shown in Fig; 4, thecore Ma is provided with l rough or serrated edges I6a. In the construc- 'tion shown in Fig. 5,"th'e core" Hlbis provided with lateral extensions I 8 definingside edges 160 which are engaged by the steel wool strip when the latter is wound on the core, said extensions engaging opposite ends of thesaid lay- :ers, thereby to prevent the latter from being displaced longitudinally of the"core.. In other respects the cores I la and-14b are of the; same construction asthe 'core' 14. w i 1 7 As shown in .Fig lythe layersl2 are formed by winding a steel wool strip 12?, illustrated in Fig. 2,-about 'the'iplate M, initially in engagement'with the side edges 16 of said plate'fand subsequently in'e'ngagement 'with the adjacent inner layer of 'steel wool, the engagement of said layers at the edges of the pad being along substantially circular'arcs of about 180 and the engagement of said layers atthe sides of the pad'being substantially in flat. planes spaced from each otherby the thickness of each layer. The'strip I! of whichthe pad is formed is composed of a suitable thickness of steel wool strands which extend longitudinally of the strip in substantially parallel relation, said strands,

however, being somewhat irregular and. wavy and-therefore, interlocking with each other to form a compa'ct s'trip. In for'ming' said strip, loose steel wool strands are arranged in long itudinally extending and substantially parallel relation and are then compressed toform a compact strip which will provide the definite layers l2 of substantially uniform 'thickness in the pad II! when wound about the plate 14.

The pad as thus constructed is wella dapted to accomplish the objects of this invention, since "While; thel preferredi:iembodimerit of the V quired' by the appended claim.

the substantially rigid plate prevents excess pressure from being exerted in some portions of the active surface of the pad while insufficient pressure is exerted on other portions of. said surface. Thus, a uniform abrading or polishing action of great efficiency is obtained and l the steel wool is maintained substantially in its original well defined layersv Sothat aused layer can be readily unwound and reversed to permit use of its opposite unused surface or to permit 10 its removal from the pad to expose for use an 1 adjacent unused layer. Also, said plate prevents distortion of the pad. and maintains the abrading surface thereof in flat uni-planor condition.

Furthermore; thesize and shape of the pad is 15 predetermined and maintained constant by the plate; and as the size and shape of the pad is thus maintained constant substantially through V out .its life, it can be used as atool'in an abrading or polishing machine.

present p'ad andi'esever'al 'r'nodifi'c'ations'a of the 7 pressure distributing 'memberf ha'v ei be'eng dfsclosed; it will be'iunderstood that the construc- Therefore, I do not wish' to be li'rriited to the precise constructions shown except as may be retions disclosed are not=exhaustive ot the practical embodiments. -:of the 'presntiinventio'n.

WhatI claim is: i i 1 tact with the object subjected to thefaction ofi said surface, "said ribbon being wound spirally about said padi forminga-plurality of flatlayers of steel Wool capable of 'bein unw undqazte'r an unused layer, 'substant'ially without' disiritegration thereof sub tantial cohesion: "be. j ween portions 5 of" the unwound 5 l yer nd the jacent. unused layer;'

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