US2815613A - Sanding machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1957 P. R. VAN SITTERT SANDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1957 INVENTOR.

PAUL R. VAN S/TTERT BY M ss 65 I III Fig.5

Dec. 10, 1957 P. R. VAN SITTERT 2,815,613

SANDING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 v 57 INVENTOR.

32 iug R. VAN SITTERT Fig. 7 w \Lm can IN VENTOR. PAUL R. VAN SITTERT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 SANDING MACHINE P. R. VAN SITTERT Dec. 10, 1957 Filed May 1, 1957 United States Patent SANDING MACHINE Paul R. Van Sittert, Cleveland, Ohio, ass'ignor to The Rotor Tool Company, a corporation of Ohio Application May 1, 1957, Serial No. 656,367 8 Claims. (Cl. 51-135) The invention relates in general to sanding machines and more particularly to sanding machines which are supported at a work area and which may be moved angularly in a plurality of planes with respect to a supporting mechanism.

In the automobile industry, as in many others, sanding operations are necessary. It is quite convenient in many instances to support the sanding mechanism from an overhead position by means of a vertically extending chain or the like. The source of power for the sanding mechanism also conveniently extends from the overhead position. Since many different types of surfaces and objects must be sanded, which surfaces and objects may be at any angle with respect to the horizontal, the sander must be moved to accomplish this end. In present sanders, this can be accomplished only by physically lifting and twisting the sanders to meet some positions or by twisting the sander in other directions to meet other the support and power lines.

Pulleys are also utilized to support and rotate sanding belts carried by the sanding machines which accomplish the sanding operation. When a sanding belt is new and unused it will tend to locate itself substantially centrally with respect to the pulleys upon which it is turning. When the sanding belt becomes worn and uneven from use, it will no longer locate itself centrally with respect to the pulley but will tend to run oil of the same;

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sander which is capable of many angular movements relative to the vertical and horizontal, without undue effort and without fouling support and/or power lines.

Another object of the invention is to provide asander ing belt to track on a different portion of a pulley of the sander. t

Another object of the invention is to provide a sander having an air motor mounted on .a support which motor drives a pulley which in turn moves .a sanding belt, with means for angularl-y adjusting the motor and .hence the pulley to provide a tracking adjustment for the sanding belt.

Other objects and .a [fuller understanding of :my :invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a plan view-of the sanding machine of the present invention partially insertion;

positions and fouling Figure 2 is a view taken generally along the line 2-2 of Figure '1;

Figure 3 is an end view taken generally along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 with the full line drawing illustrating one position of the sander and with the dot-dash line drawing indicating another position of the sander;

Figure 4 is a view taken along the line 44 of Figure 1 Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in section taken generally along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view taken generally along the line 7--7 of Figure 6 and showing the elements of Figure 6 in a different position relative to each other; and

Figure 8 is a view taken along the line 8--8 of Figure 3.

The sanding machine of the present invention has been indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and includes generally a support member 12, first and second air motor assemblies 14 and 15, respectively, and a supporting or balancing assembly 16.

The support member 12 may sometimes be referred to as a manifold or cylindrical member and is of a hollow construction and is provided with first and second end portions 18 and 19, respectively, and an intermediate portion 20. The supporting or balancing assembly 16 comprises a housing 23 which surround the intermediate portion 20 of the hollow cylindrical support member 12. A plate 25 is fixedly secured to the housing 23 by means of bolts 26 and has an opening 27 through which a supporting ring 28 extends. A snap 29 (Figure 3) connects with the ring 28 and is in turn secured to an overhead support which is not shown in the accompanying drawings. This type of construction supports the sanding machine from an overhead beam or other suitable support.

First and second lock collars 32 and 33, respectively, are fixedly secured to the cylindrical support member 12 by means of bolts 34 and 35 and are located on either side of, the housing 23. This prevents axial movement of the supporting assembly 16 on the cylindrical member 12 and at the same time permits rotative movement of the cylindrical member within the housing 23. Shoulders 37 are provided on each of the lock collars and complementary shoulders 38 are provided on the housing 23. These shoulders permit only a predetermined rotational movement of the cylindrical member relative to the housing 23. This movement is approximately ninety degrees for the machine shown (see Figure 6).

Wall means 41 within the housing 23 define an annular chamber 42 between the housing 23 and the intermediate portion 20 of the cylindrical member. Openlugs 43 and 44 provide communication between the inside of the member 12 and the annular chamber 42. Grooves 45 are provided in the housing within which reside O-rings 46 which provide an air-tight seal between the mating surfaces of the housing and the cylindrical support member 12. The housing 23 has a nipple 49 (Figure 6) which is formed integrally therewith which supportmember 12 and which has an opening 51 extending to and communicating with the annular chamber 42.

A swivel member 53 having a bore extending therethrough fits over the nipple 49 and is adapted to rotate thereabout in a plane generally normal to the extent of the nipple, A bolt 54 screws into the end of the nipple 4? and the head thereof shoulders up against the swivel member 53 to maintain the same on the nipple member. The bolt 54 also serves to close the end of the opening 51 .in. the nipple member. Grooves 57 are provided in the swivel member within which reside .O-rings 58 which provide a rotating seal between the nipple and the swivel member. The swivel member has an opening 60 which extends generally normal .to the extent of the opening 51 and which communicates with the opening 51,. A

fitting assembly indicated generally at 61 provides for connection between the swivel member 53 and an air supply line 63. This assembly 61 may, if desired, be capable of relative rotative movement. Figure 7 shows the relative angular movement which is possible because of the construction between the swivel member 53 and the nipple 49. With this construction, the cylindrical support member 12 can be moved in a first plane relative to the air supply line without twisting and fouling the air supply line.

The first and second air motor assemblies each comprise a split collar 65 which surrounds the respective end portion of the cylindrical support member, which collars are fixedly secured thereto by means of screws 67 which extend through the collars and into the cylindrical member. The collars are additionally secured to the cylindrical support member by means of screws 68 which extend between the ends of the split collar and securely bring the two together to tighten the collar about the cylindrical support member. Wall means 70 (Figure 3) are provided in each of the split mounting collars 65 which define annular chambers 72 between the collars and the rmpective end portions of the cylindrical support members. Each of the end portions of the cylindrical support members are provided with openings 75 which provide for communication between the cylindrical member and the annular chamber 72. Each of the split mounting collars 65 are provided with flanges 77 thereon and the flange of the first air motor assembly has been provided with ordinary circular openings 79 extending therethrough. A first air motor 80 is secured to the split mounting collar of the first motor assembly 14 by means of bolts 82 extending through the openings 79 in the flange of the first air motor assembly and into the air motor. Passageway means have been provided to admit air into the air motor 80 from the annular chamber 72 of the first air motor assembly. This passageway has not been shown in the accompanying drawings for the first air motor assembly but it has been shown in the hereinafter second air motor assembly (Figure 3) and the two are of a similar construction. The first air motor 80 includes a pulley 84 driven by a shaft (not shown) and is adapted to carry and drive a sanding belt 86 which extends therearound. To provide for good frictional driving engagement between the pulley and the sanding belt, the outside surface of the pulley is preferably made of rubber or some other suitable frictional material. Integrally formed with the split mounting collar 65 of the first air motor assembly is an operating handle 88. The handle 88 is generally opposite the air motor 80 with respect to the split mounting collar and extends in generally the same direction. A first guard supporting post 90 is fixedly secured to the split collar 65 as at 92 (Figure and extends therefrom generally parallel to the air motor 80. A first sleeve 94 surrounds the guard supporting post 90 and is capable of rotational movement thereabout. A second sleeve 95 surrounds the first sleeve 94 and forms a space or chamber 97 therebetween. An idler plate 99 is carried by the first sleeve 94 upon which is journalled an idler wheel 100. Extending from and secured to the second sleeve 95 is a handle 102 secured thereto by means of bolts 103. Within the chamber 97 is a spring member 105 having one end 106 secured to the second sleeve 95 and having the other end 107 (Figure 2) secured to the idler plate 99. It will thus be seen that movement between the handle 102 and the idler plate 99 is transmitted by way of the spring member 105. The handle or lever arm 102 is movable between first and second positions as best seen in Figure 2. The full line drawing of the handle 102 in Figure 2 shows the handle in the first position whereas the dotdash line position 108 indicate the handle as being in the second position. A detent 110 is carried by the operating handle 88 and is biased upwardly by a spring 111. This spring biased detent 110 maintains the handle 102 in the first position. When it is desired that the handle be moved to the second position, the detent is depressed and then the handle is capable "of being moved arcuately with respect thereto which in turn moves the first and second sleeves and the idler plate 99. When the handle 102 is in the first position, the spring member urges the idler plate with a generally constant force in the direction indicated by the arrow 112 in Figure 2. This maintains a substantially constant force on the sanding belt 86 which extends around and is tensioned by the idler wheel 100.

The idler wheel 100, best seen in Figures 1 and 4, is secured to the idler plate by means of a central bolt or shaft 113 secured in place by a nut 114. The idler wheel 100 is adapted to rotate about this shaft on bearings 118. A one piece U-shaped washer 115 has been provided and is utilized for the purpose of changing or shifting the axis. of rotation of the idler wheel 100. As best seen in Figure 4, the U-shaped washer 115 includes first and second opposed wedge shaped sides 116 and 117, respectively.. The side 116 engages and resides on the upper surface of the idler plate and the wedge shaped side 117 engages and resides on the lower side of the idler plate. When the nut 114 is tightened with the U-shaped washer in one: position, the axis of rotation of the idler wheel will be in. one position. If it is then desired to shift the axis of rotation, it is necessary to loosen the nut 114 and move the U-shaped washer angularly with respect to the shaft 113. When the axis has been shifted the desired amount, the nut is re-tightened and the idler wheel will then rotate on its new rotational axis. The idler plate has also been provided with a pin 119 which extends therefrom and is carried by the plate.

The flange 77 of the second air motor assembly 15 is provided with first and second slotted openings 121 and a circular opening 122. A second air motor 123 is provided and is secured to the flange of the second air motor assembly by means of bolts 124 which extend through the slotted openings 121 and into this air motor. A dowel pin 125 extends through the opening 122 and ,into the air motor 123. This construction has been provided so that the air motor 123 may be shifted angularly with respect to the cylindrical support member 12 and the split mounting collar 65 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The shifting of the air motor 123 from one position to another has been illustrated in Figure 1 by means of the full line position and the dot-dash line position 126. Passageway means 129 (Figure 3) lead from the annular chamber 72 of the second air motor assembly and into the second air motor 123. This described passageway means is the same as the construction of the passageway means of the first air motor 80 which was described hereinabove but not shown in the drawings. A second guard supporting post 132 which is provided with a slot therethrough is fixedly secured to the split mounting collar of the second air motor assembly as at 133 and extends therefrom. An eccentric nut member 134 is journalled for rotative movement on the guard supporting post 132. An angular movement plate 135 which is secured to the air motor 123 by bolts 136 is provided with wall means 137 which surround the eccentric portion of the nut member. Thus when the bolts 124 are loosened in the slotted openings 121, the air motor 123 may be shifted angularly by rotating the eccentric nut member 134. When the air motor has been shifted the desired amount, the bolts 124 are re-tightened and the air motor is again fixedly locked in position. The split collar 65 of the second air motor assembly is provided with an operating handle 109 which is integrally formed therewith and which is similar to handle 88.

.As best shown in Figure 2, a guard 139 fits over the first guard supporting post 90 and is secured thereon by means of a cotter pin 140 whereas the opposite end portion resides within the slot in the second guard supporting post.1 32. The ,pin 119 whichis carried by the idler ,plateSiDds adapted to engage :the guard .139 and .keep [it in theposition shownin Figure 2.

Inroperation it maybe assumed for .the sake of ex ample that a new sanding belt is to be used by the machine. To put the sanding belt on the machine, the handle 102 is moved from the first to the second position v(Figure 2) by depressing the spring biased detent 110 which permits travel of the handle and the idler wheel .100 to the dot-dash position 108. The new belt is then placed over the pulleys of the air-motors and around the idler wheel. Thehandle 102 is then moved back to the first position. This properly tensions the sanding belt. To acuate the device, air travels through the air supply line 63, through .the opening 60 of the swivel member 53, and from there through the opening 51 in the nipple 49 and into the chamber 42 (Figure 6). From the chamber 42, the air travels into the hollow cylindrical support member and from there to either end thereof and into the respective air motors. This actnates the air motors and causes the sanding belt to rotate on the pulleys. The sanding machine may be moved in two mutually perpendicular planes relative to the position shown in Figure 1 and the movement in the one plane is possible because of the construction of and cooperation between the swivel 125 member 53 and the nipple 49 (Figures 6 and 7). The movement in the other mutually perpendicular plane is possible because of the construction and cooperation of the support member 12 and the housing where the support member extends through the housing 23 of the balancing. 130 assembly. The relative movement about the axis of the cylindrical support member 12 has been shown in Figure 3. If the sanding machine is in the position of the full line drawing of Figure 3 while sanding a substantially horizontal surface, and it is desired to sand 35 a vertical surface, it is only necessary to grasp the handles and swing the device through 90 degrees. Movement in the other plane can be accomplished in much the same manner. It is thus possible to move the sanding machine to many positions without fouling the air supply line 63 or any of the supporting lines. This can also be done without excessive fatigue to the workmen handling the device.

After the sanding belt has been in use for a period of time, the wear on the same is in most instances not even across the entire width of the belt. As a result, the belt will tend to track either toward the outside or the inside of the pulley upon which it is riding. Depending upon where the wear has taken place on the belt, thus determining which way the belt is tracking, the angular posi-C5 tion of the air motor of the second assembly is then shifted by loosening the bolts 124 and turning the eccentric nut member 134 until the desired tracking is obtained and then bolts 124 are re-tightened. To accomplish the desired tracking of the sanding belt on .the pulley of the Q first air motor, it is necessary to shift the axis of rotation of the idler wheel 100. This is done by loosening the nut "H4 and moving the U-shaped washer 115. When the axis of rotation has been shifted to give the desired tracking, the nut 114 is tightened. It will be apparent Oii that at many times, the sanding of an object will not take place exactly on the pulley which supports the sanding belt but will take place at some point in between. Since the idler plate and hence the idler wheel, are held in the position of Figure 2, only by the spring member (IQ 105, it will be seen that if the belt is deformed centrally between the pulleys, the idler wheel 100 will tend to float and thus compensate for this deformation. This maintains the sanding belt at a substantially constant tension.

It will thus be seen that the sanding machine of the (F1 present invention is capable of many angular positions relative to the vertical and horizontal without undue veflort and without fouling support and/or power lines. The "tracking adjustments of the machine also provide forthe repositioning of the sanding belt when it becomes 5.5.

warm. The sander of the present invention is also desirable from the standpoint that the cylindrical support member in addition to supporting the air motors, serves as a manifold for distributing air under pressure to the motors for driving the same.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred .form with a certain degree-of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form .-has been made only by way .ofexample and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of .parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed:

What is claimed is:

1. A sanding machine including a hollow cylindrical member having first and .second end portions and anin- .termediate portion, a supporting assembly comprising a housing surrounding said intermediate portion of said cylindrical member, first and second lock collars secured to said cylindrical member on either side of housing to prevent said supporting assembly from axial movement on said cylindrical member, shoulders on said lock collars and on said supporting assembly permitting a predetermined angular movement between said cylindrical member and said supportingassembly, wall means in said housing defining an annular chamber .between said housing and said intermediate portion of said cylindrical member, said housing having a nipple extending generally normal to the extent of said cylindrical member and having an opening therein extending to and communicating vwith said annular chamber, a swivel member .fitting over said nipple and swivelably secured thereon by a screw extending into said nipple, said swivel member having an opening therein communicating with said opening .in said nipple, connection means interconnecting said opening of said swivel member with an air supply line, said connection means providing for relative angular movement between said air supply line and said swivel member, first and second air motor assemblies secured to said first and second end portions of said cylindrical member respectively, said first air motor assembly comprising a first split mounting collar surrounding-said first end portion of said cylindrical member .andfixedly secured thereto by means of a screw extending through said first collar and into said cylindrical member and a screw extending between the ends of said first split collar, Wall means in said first mounting collar defining a first annular chamber between said collar and said first end portion of said cylindrical member, said first end portion of said cylindrical member having an opening communicating with said first annular chamber, said first mounting collar having a flange thereon, said flange having openings extending therethrough, a first air motor, bolts extending through said flange and into said first air motor for securing same together, passageway means leading from said first annular chamber into said first air motor, a first guard supporting post fixedly secured to and extending from said first mounting collar, a pivot collar surrounding said guard supporting post, an idler plate carried by said pivot collar, a pin carried by said idler plate, a lever arm connected to said pivot collar for moving same about said guard supporting post, said lever arm movable between first and second positions, an idler wheel mounted by said idler plate and comprising a shaft, a nut securing said shaft to said idler plate, a one-piece washer having opposed wedge-shaped surfaces residing on either side of said idler plate with said shaft extending therethrough, a first handle secured to said first split collar opposite'said first air motor, a spring biased detent mounted by said first handle and normally engaging said lever arm to maintain same in said first position, said second air motor assembly comprising a second split mounting collar surrounding said second end portion of said cylindrical member and fixedly secured thereto by means of a screw extending through said second collar and into said cylindrical member and a screw extending between the ends of said second split collar, wall means in said second mounting collar defining a second annular chamber between said second collar and said second end portion of said cylindrical member, said second end portion of said cylindrical member having an opening communicating with said second annular chamber, said second mounting collar having a flange thereon, said flange having first and second slotted openings and a third opening extending therethrough, a second air motor, bolts extending through said first and second slotted openings and a pivot member extending through said third opening and into said second air motor for adjustably securing said second air motor, passageway means leading from said second annular chamber into said second air motor, a second guard supporting post fixedly secured to and extending from said second collar, an eccentric nut member iournalled for rotative movement on said second guard supporting post, wall means extending from said second air motor and surrounding said eccentric member, each of said first and second air motors including a pulley, said pulleys and said idler Wheel adapted to support and drive a sanding belt, and a guard mounted at one end portion by said first guard supporting post and mounted at the other end portion by said second guard supporting post with said idler plate pin adapted to engage said guard at an intermediate portion.

2. A sanding machine including a tubular member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion, a balancing assembly mounting said intermediate portion of said tubular member for relative rotation of same with respect to said balancing assembly, means for securing said balancing assembly to an overhead support, air supply means, connection means connecting said air supply means with said balancing assembly and providing for relative angular movement of said connection means relative to said balancing assembly, passageway means providing for the passage of air from said balancing assembly into said tubular member, first and second air motor assemblies fixedly mounted on said first and second end portions respectively of said tubular member, each said air motor assemblies including an air motor having a pulley rotatively driven by a drive shaft, each said air motor assemblies having passageway means providing for the passage of air to said first and second air motors respectively from said first and second end portions of said tubular member respectively, said first air motor assembly mounting an idler plate for lateral movement with respect thereto, said idler plate having an idler wheel journalled for rotation thereon, means for adiusting the axis of rotation of said idler wheel, said pulleys of said air motors and said idler wheel adapted to mount and drive a sanding belt, means for adjusting said air motor of said second air motor assembly for angular movement with respect to said air motor of said first air motor assembly, and a sanding belt guard mounted by said first and second air motor assemblies.

3. A sanding machine including a tubular member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion, a balancing assembly mounting said intermediate portion of said tubular member for relative rotation of same with respect to each other, air supply means, connection means connecting said air supply means with said balancing assembly and providing for relative angular movement therebetween, passageway means providing for the passage of air from said balancing assembly into said tubular member, first and second air motor assemblies fixedly mounted on said first and second end portions respectively of said tubular member, each said air motor assemblies including an air motor having a pulley rotatively driven by a drive shaft, each said air motor assemblies having passageway means providing for the passage of air to said first and second air motors respectively from said first and second end portion of said tubular member respectively, said first air motor assembly mounting an idler plate for lateral movement with respect thereto, said idler plate having an idler wheel journalled for rotation thereon, means for adjusting the axis of rotation of said idler wheel, said pulleys of said air motors and said idler wheel adapted to mount and drive a sanding belt, and means adjustably mounting said air motor of said second air motor assembly for angular movement with respect to said air motor of said first air motor assembly.

4. A sanding machine including a tubular member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion, a balancing assembly mounting said intermediate portion of said tubular member for relative rotation of same with respect to each other, air supply means, connection means connecting said air supply means with said balancing assembly and providing for relative angular movement therebetween, passageway means providing for the passage of air from said balancing assembly into said tubular member, first and second air motor assemblies mounted on said first and second end portions respectively of said tubular member, each said air motor assemblies including an air motor having a pulley, each said air motor assemblies having pasageway means providing for the passage of air to said first and second air motors respectively from said first and second end portion of said tubular member respectively, said pulleys of said air motors adapted to mount and drive a sanding belt, and means adjustably mounting said air motor of said second air motor assembly for angular movement with respect to said air motor of said first air motor assembly.

5. A sanding machine including a tubular member having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion, a supporting assembly mounting said intermediate portion of said tubular member for relative movement of the same with respect to each other, air supply means, connection means connecting said air supply means with said balancing assembly and providing for relative angular movement therebetween, passageway means providing for the passage of air from said balancing assembly into said tubular member, first and second air motor assemblies fixedly mounted on said first and second end portions respectively of said tubular member, each said air motor assemblies including an air motor having a pulley, each said air motor assemblies having passageway means providing for the passage of air to said first and second air motors respectively from said i rst and second end portion of said tubular member respectively, said first air motor assembly mounting an idler plate for lateral movement with respect thereto, said idler plate having an idler wheel journalled for rotation thereon, and means for adjusting the axis of rotation of said idler wheel, said pulleys of said air motors and said idler wheel adapted to mount and drive a sanding belt.

6. A mechanism for driving an abrading member including a tubular manifold, first and second air motors secured to opposed end portions of said manifold, means for supporting said manifold, an air supply conduit, connection means for supplying air from said air supply conduit to an intermediate portion of said manifold, said connection means permitting movement of said motors in two mutually perpendicular planes relative to said air supply conduit, passageway means supplying air from said manifold into said air motors, means for shifting said second air motor angularly with respect to said manifold, an idler wheel for engaging the abrading member, and means for shifting the axis of rotation of said idler wheel.

7. A mechanism for driving an abrading member in- 'cluding a second member having air passageway means her, passageway means supplying air from said air passageway means of said second member into said air motors, and means for shifting said second air motor angularly with respect to said second member.

8. A mechanism for driving an abrading member including a support manifold, first and second air motors secured to opposed end portions of said support manifold, an air supply means, connection means for supplying air from said air supply means to said support manifold, said connection means permitting movement of said motors relative to said air supply means, passageway means supplying .air from said manifold to said air motors, and

means for shifting said second air motor with respect to said manifold.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 871,323 Clemons Nov. 19, 1907 927,066 Oakley July 6, 1909 2,431,795 Elmes Dec. 2, 1947 2,449,519 Sutton Sept. 14, 1948 2,463,278 Krueger Mar. 1, 1949 2,507,677 Packer et a1. May 16, 1950 2,561,589 Newton July 24, 1951

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