US3650073A

US3650073A - Iceskate blade sharpening machine and method of using said machine for sharpening iceskate blades

Info

Publication number: US3650073A
Application number: US11584A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles Weisman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-02-16
Filing date: 1970-02-16
Publication date: 1972-03-21
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-21

Abstract

A pair of iceskate blades are aligned with a templet in a jig. The templet is brought to bear against a rigid fence that is mounted on a structure that includes adjustably positioned endless abrasive belts that are arranged to contact and abrade the bottom surface of the iceskate blades.

Description

United States Patent Weisman [451 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] ICESKATE BLADE SHARPENING References Cited MACHINE AND METHOD OF USING UNITED STATES PATENTS SAID MACHINE FOR SHARPENING 2 406 689 8/1946 Ind 51/141 X ge ICESKATE BLADES 2,172,522 12/1956 Minami ..51/141 Inventor: Charles Weisman, 125 North Montgomery Street, Valley Stream, NY. 11580 Filed: Feb. 16, 1970 Appl. No.: 11,584

US. Cl ..5l/l4l Int. Cl ..B24b 21/16 Field ofSearch ..5l/135 R, 141

Primary Examiner-Othe1l M. Simpson Attorney-Leonard H. King [5 7] ABSTRACT 30 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures mammal I972 SHEET 1 0F 4 INVENTOR. 67/4/42 55 WE/JMd/l ATTORNEY ICESKATE BLADE SI-IARPENING MACHINE AND METHOD OF USING SAID MACHINE FOR SHARPENING ICESKATE BLADES The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

This invention relates generally to grinding machines and more particularly to a grinding machine for and a method of precisely sharpening the lower, running surface of a pair of iceskate blades.

BACKGROUND OF TI-IE INVENTION In order to achieve maximum efficiency in the use of iceskates, the blades must be accurately sharpened, so as to provide a concave surface on the bottom edge. The concave or hollow portion of the blade runs for the length of the blade and must be defined by sharp longitudinal edges that are in a common plane as near to perpendicular to the side edge of the blade as is possible. Furthermore, a generous radius is provided from the sole to the heel portions of the blade. A properly sharpened blade not only permits the skates to be used to maximum efficiency but it also makes skating easier thus adding to the enjoyment of skating for amateurs. Needless to say, professional skaters must maintain their blades at peak quality. However, in spite of the inherent hardness of the blade material they become dull with even limited US.

Iceskate blades can, of course, be honed by hand. However, it is virtually impossible to manually sharpen blades accurately regardless of the care that is exercised. For this reason, attempts have been made to develop machines that will perform the blade sharpening task automatically. Preferably, the machines should sharpen a pair of blades at the same time. While the prior art machines that are presently available represent a substantial improvement over hand operations, it has long been recognized that they leave much to be desired, as far as the accuracy of the sharpening and the convenience of the operation are concerned. Generally speaking the prior art machines use grinding stones that are susceptible to wear. Because of the expense of the stones they are frequently kept in service long after they have outlived their usefulness. While the stone can be dressed to restore it approximately to its original condition, this too, is a burdensome job that requires considerable skill in order to be done properly. The use of a high speed grinding stone requires considerable experience and even a skilled operator can improperly sharpen iceskate blades if he uses uneven pressure or if he does not manipulate the iceskate blades uniformly against the stone.

An example of the prior art, is disclosed in US. Pat. No. l,487,l42 issued on Mar. 18, 1924 to V.A. Boker. This patent teaches the use of a clamp for rigidly securing a pair of iceskate blades in parallel relationship to each other. The clamp is also providedwith means for retaining a guide plate. The guide plate is positioned against an arcuate guide that is located between a pair of rotatable grinding stones. When the stones are driven by a motor, the operator rocks the guide plate against the guide so that the iceskate blades are abraded by the stones. It is apparent that the success of the sharpening operation depends upon the skill and manual dexterity of the operator. Moreover, the stones must be frequently dressed to maintain them in their best condition.

SUMMARY The present invention by way of contrast, provides means for accurately sharpening a pair of iceskate blades whereby the need for an operator's skill and manual dexterity is minimized. Further, the present invention provides means for automatically grinding a transversely concave surface on the running edge of the blade in addition to the longitudinal radius. In accordance with this invention, the iceskate blades are held in a fixture in spaced parallel relationship to each other and to an accurately formed templet that is positioned intermediate to the two blades. The fixture is then brought adjacent to a grinding machine that includes two spaced endless abrasive belts that are in opposition to the blades. The belts are easily adjustable and easily replaced when worn. A rigid fence is positioned opposite the templet. The belts, in the vicinity of the blades traverse a substantially linear path as opposed to the periphery of the circular grinding stones used in the prior art. With the templet abutting the fence, all that is necessary for the operator to do is gently rock the templet back and forth against the fence so that the blades are ground in accordance with the shape of the templet. Means are provided for vertically adjusting the belts relative to each other, the belts being of a new type having an abrasive central section formed on a flexible material. The outboard lengths of the belts are free of abrasive material.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved iceskate blade sharpening machine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an iceskate blade sharpening machine utilizing endless abrasive belts.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for clamping a pair of iceskate blades on a jig in spaced parallel relationship to a templet, the blades and the templet being in opposition to endless abrasive belts and a rigid fence,

respectively.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an improved iceskate blade sharpening machine, as described above, further including means for accurately adjusting the position of the abrasive belts.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for sharpening iceskate blades.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out which particularity and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which forms an integral part thereof.

In the various figures of the drawing like reference characters designate like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the improved iceskate blade sharpening machine comprising the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the belts and drive means therefor that are used with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the belts and support means therefor taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating a portion of an endless abrasive belt and the support means therefor;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the iceskate blade holding jig taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the iceskate blade holding jig; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a typical templet used with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 3A, there is shown an iceskate blade sharpening machine 10 comprised of a grinding section 12 and a jig or support section 14. The grinding section 12 is comprised of a support casting 16 adapted to be secured to a table 18 by means of bolts 20. The upper portion of the casting 16 includes, as shown in FIG. 2, a dovetail slide 22 which is engaged by a platen mount 24 that includes a gib 26. Screws 28 provide means for properly aligning the gib 26 with respect to the casting 16. At the top of the casting there is provided a micrometer screw 30 (FIG. 1 and FIG. 3) with a I/IOOO-inch indicator dial 32.

Upper and lower platens 34a and 34b, respectively, are secured to the upper and lower platen mounts 24a and 24b by means of screws 36. The platens 34a and 34b may have a radius of one-half inch to 2 inches. At each end of each of the platen mounts 24a and 24b there are provided upper and lower idler pulleys 38 that turn on axles 40. Each of the idler pulleys are mounted on an arm 42 that is secured to an angle bracket 44 by means of bolts 46. The holes in the angle bracket 44 through which the bolts 46 pass are slotted in the vertical direction to permit vertical adjustment of the pulleys 38. The angle brackets 44 are secured to the platen mount 24 by means of bolts 48 which pass through horizontally slotted holes in the angle brackets 46 so as to permit horizontal adjustment of the idler pulleys 38.

Behind the vertical casting 16 there is provided a vertical plate 50 which is hingedly mounted thereon by means of a pin 52. A compression spring 54 acts between the plate 50 and the casting so as to normally urge the plate 50 in a direction away from the casting 10. A screw 54 provides means for adjusting the biasing effect of the spring 52. An electric motor 56 is secured to the plate 50 by means of a motor mount 58 and screws 60. Upper and lower drive pulleys 62a and 62b are secured to the drive shaft 64 of the motor 56 by means of set screws 66, one of which is shown typically in FIG. 2. The motor mount 58 has slotted screw holes so that the motor 56 and the drive pulleys 62a and 62b can be vertically adjusted. A motor well 68 is provided in the table 18 to allow space for the motor 56.

A pair of endless abrasive belts 70a and 70b are trained about the upper and lower drive pulleys 62a and 62b and the idler pulleys 38. As shown best in FIG. 3A, the abrasive belts 72 are coated only in the center portion 74 with the longitudinal edge portions 76 being free of any abrasive material. The abrasive belts 72 are made of a very flexible cloth so that they may very readily assume the radius of the platens 34a and 34b. Along the top and bottom edges of the upper and lower platen mounts 24a and 24b there are provided hinges 80 that are lightly pressured by springs 82 so that the hinges 80 press against the moving belts 72 and thereby keep them formed to the shape of the platens 34a and 34b.

As shown best in FIG. 3, the micrometer screw is threaded into the upper and lower platen mounts 24a and 24b with oppositely directed threads in each of the platen mounts 24a and 24b. That is, the upper portion of the micrometer screw 30 that is threaded in the upper platen 24a will be provided with right hand threads, for example, while the lower end of the micrometer screw 30 is threaded into the lower platen mount 24b where it will be provided with a left hand screw. Thus, when micrometer screw 30 is rotated the platen mounts 24a and 24b will move towards and away from each other in unison. In order to take up any axial play, that may be inherent in the mating screw threads, compression spring means 84 are positioned between the casting l6 and the upper platen mount 24a and also between the upper and lower platen mounts 24a and 24b.

The grinding section 12 of the device is completed by means of a fence 86 which is integral with laterally spaced arms 88 that are secured to the casting 16 by means of screws 90. Horizontally slotted holes in the arms 88 permit adjustment of the fence towards and away from the casting 16 in a horizontal plane.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 for a description of the jig or iceskate blade support section 14 of the machine 10. The jig 14 is comprised of two members 100 consisting of upper and

lower plates

102 and 104 respectively, and a connecting plate 106. A U-shaped bracket 108 is formed integrally with the connecting member 106 in order to receive a transverse alignment bar 110. Screws 112 rigidly clamp the members 100 to the alignment bar 110 when the members 100 are in their proper position. A cross piece 114 extends between each of the upper and

lower plates

102 and 104 and includes upper and lower blade clamps 116a and 116k secured thereto by means of screws 118. The blade clamps 116a and 1 1612 further comprise a central portion 120 that is secured to the cross pieces 114 by means of screws 122. Screws 124 extending between the blade clamp members 116:! and 120 as well as 1l6b and are used to adjust for various thicknesses of blades. A templet 126 which will be described in greater detail hereinafter is secured to the right hand edge (FIG. 1) of the central blade clamp portion 120 by means of a set screw 128.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a typical templet 126. The templets are approximately 16 inches long and 0.156 inch thick. They may be shaped to radii of 6 feet to 30 feet. The choice of the radius is made by the skater in accordance with the type of skating he wishes to do. A typical skate blade has a 7 foot radius rock and a concave running surface with a radius of five-eighths of an inch. The radius rock is the curvature of the bottom of the blade along its length. The concave hollor is the round depth of the bottom of the blade. The edges of the blade are defined as the inner and outer lower edges formed by the sides and bottom of the blade. It is essential that a line drawn transversely of the edges of the blades be perfectly square with the sides of the blades.

In order to sharpen a pair of blades, the thickness of the blade is measured with a micrometer. The standard thickness of a blade is usually 0.156 inch. The micrometer adjusting screw 30 is turned to indicate 0.156. It should be noted at this time that the center of the platens 34a and 34b are at the .same height above the table 18 as the points A and A in FIG. 1. When this is so, the indicator dial 32 reads 0.000. The screw of the micrometer 30 is provided with 20 threads per inch in order to impart a half-thousandths vertical movement of the platen mounts 34a and 34b while indicating one-thousandths on the indicator 32. Since the micrometer screw has 20 threads per inch, it will move the platens 34a and 34b up and down (depending upon the direction of rotation thereof) half of a thousand, while the indicator dial shows 1,000. Thus, the center of the blade is aligned vertically with the center of the platens 34a and 34b. With the templet 126 positioned against the fence 86, the templet 126 is aligned with the blades at the front and back of the blades. The templet 126 and the fence 86 are vertically aligned by means of a machinists square so that they are in the same plane.

The motor 56 is turned ON and the skate blade is rocked against the moving abrasive belts 72a and 72b which are backed up by the platens 34a and 34b respectively. It is not necessary to sweep the jig across the belts 72 because of the linear extent of the belts between the pulleys. After several passes against the belt 72, the blades will acquire the shape of the templet 126 and will also acquire a hollow that conforms to the radius of the platens 34a and 3412. After the skates are removed from the jig 14, any slight burs on the side of the blade may be removed with a small, fine grained stone.

As hereinbefore described a method for sharpening a pair of iceskate blades comprises the steps of aligning the blades with a reference template in a jig, placing the template against a flat, elongated fence and then rocking the blades on the fence so that the blades are abraded by endless, abrasive belts moving along a substantially linear path in the vicinity of the blades. The step of aligning the blades may include the step of aligning both the upper and lower edges of each blade with respective edges of the template. An additional step in the sharpening method may be the final removal of small burs using fine polishing means.

While the foregoing method contemplates sharpening two blades at one time, the structure of this invention lends itself to an iceskate blade sharpening method wherein one blade is sharpened at a time and then the sharpened blade is used as a template for sharpening the other blade of a pair. For example, only a single abrasive belt is used. A single blade is aligned in the jig with a template and is sharpened as described above. Then the jig is inverted and the template is replaced by the previously sharpened blade. Another blade is placed in the jig and is sharpened using the previously sharpened blade as the template. In this manner, the second blade is shaped exactly as the first.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing, that since the abrasive belts move along the length of the blades during sharpening, a very smooth skating surface is produced and the edges are very sharp and uniform. The radius rock of blades that have been improperly sharpened, or which have been worn from excessive use, may very easily be restored by means of standard templets. Because of the design of the apparatus, it is virtually impossible to accidentally dig into the blade while it is being sharpened. It is a very simple matter to remove a blemish anywhere on the blade by sharpening only that part. The apparatus is very simple to use and obviates the need for any skill or manual dexterity on thepart of the operator.

lt has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the invention presently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. An apparatus for sharpening an iceskate blade, said apparatus comprising the combination of:

a. first frame means;

b. a motor mounted on said first frame means, said motor having rotatable output means;

c. at least one endless, abrasive belt driven by said motor output means;

d. means on said first frame means for supporting said belt whereby at least a portion thereof traverses a substantially linear path;

e. second frame means for removably supporting at least one iceskate blade in opposition to said belt; and

f. template means and template follower means, one of said last two mentioned means being secured to said first frame means, the other of said last two mentioned means being secured to said second frame means, said template follower means being in opposition to said template means and arranged to be contacted by the surface thereof whereby the iceskate blade is placed in contact with and is abraded by said belt in accordance with the contour of said template means.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said belt supporting means comprises elongated platen means having a convex transverse cross section, said belt being flexible and adapted to conform to the shape of said platen means.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2 further includes means for adjusting the position of said platen means relative to said blade supporting means.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for adjusting the position of said platen means comprises a screw journaled in said first frame means and threaded through said platen means whereby rotation of said screw moves said platen means relative to the blade and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the blade.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for adjusting the position of said platen means comprises a tongue and groove arrangement for coupling said platen means and said first frame whereby said platen means is moveable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the blade and means for retaining said platen means in its adjusted position.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means for adjusting the position of said platen means comprises means for moving said platen means in a plane parallel to the longitudinal plane of the blade, said movement of said platen means being relative to said first frame means, and means for retaining said platen means in its adjusted position.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said belt has an abrasive surface only in the central portion thereof, the longitudinal edges of said belt being free of said abrasive.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further including means for retaining the longitudinal edges of said belt on said belt supporting means.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including a pair of spaced apart idler pulleys positioned at the ends of said belt support means, said pulleys together with said motor output means providing means for guiding said belt along a substantially triangular path.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including means for releasably clamping the blade on said second frame means.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said template means has an arcuate surface conforming to the desired blade rock.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11 further including means for releasably clamping said template means in said second frame means.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said template follower means has a substantially flat surface adapted to abut said template means.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 13 further including means for releasably clamping said template follower means in said first frame means.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second frame means comprises first and second support members and means for adjusting the lateral spacing there between.

16. An apparatus for simultaneously sharpening a pair of iceskate blades, said apparatus comprising the combination of:

a. first frame means;

0. a pair of endless abrasive belts driven by said motor output means, said belts being spaced apart in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of said motor output means;

d. means on said first frame means for supporting said pair of belts whereby at least a portion of each of said belts traverses a substantially linear path;

e. second frame means for removably supporting the pair of iceskate blades in substantially the same spaced apart relation and in opposition to said pair of belts; and

f. template means and template follower means, one of said last two mentioned means being secured to said first frame means, the other of said last two mentioned means being secured to said second frame means, said template follower means being in opposition to said template means and arranged to be contacted by the surface thereof whereby the iceskate blades are placed in contact with and are abraded by said belt in accordance with the contour of said template means.

17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said belt supporting means comprises a pair of spaced elongated platen means each having a convex transverse cross section, said belts being flexible and adapted to conform to the shape of said platen means.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17 further includes means for adjusting the position of each said platen means relative to said blade supporting means.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said means for adjusting the position of said platen means comprises a screw journaled in said first frame means and threaded through said platen means whereby rotation of said screw moves said platen means relative to the blades and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the blades.

20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said means for adjusting the position of said platen means comprises a tongue and groove arrangement for coupling said platen means and said first frame whereby said platen means is moveable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of the blade and means for retaining said platen means in their adjusted position.

21. The apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said means for adjusting the position of said platen means comprises means for moving said platen means in planes parallel to the longitudinal plane of the blades said movement of said platen means being relative to said first frame means, and means for retaining said platen means in its adjusted position.

22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said belts have an abrasive surface only in the central portion thereof, the longitudinal edges of each said belt being free of said abrasive.

23. The apparatus in accordance with claim 22 further including means for retaining the longitudinal edges of said belts on said belt supporting means.

24. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 further including a pair of spaced apart idler pulleys positioned at the ends of said belt support means, said pulleys together with said motor output means providing means for guiding said belts along a substantially triangular path.

25. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 further including means for releasably clamping the blade on said second frame means.

26. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said template means has an arcuate surface conforming to the desired blade rock of each of the blades.

27. The apparatus in accordance with claim 26 further including means for releasably clamping said template means in said second frame means.

28. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said template follower means has a substantially flat surface adapted to abut said template means.

29. The apparatus in accordance with claim 28 further including means for releasably clamping said template follower means in said first frame means.

30. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said second frame means comprises first and second support members and means for adjusting the lateral spacing there between.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sharpening an iceskate blade, said apparatus comprising the combination of: a. first frame means; b. a motor mounted on said first frame means, said motor having rotatable output means; c. at least one endless, abrasive belt driven by said motor output means; d. means on said first frame means for supporting said belt whereby at least a portion thereof traverses a substantially linear path; e. second frame means for removably supporting at least one iceskate blade in opposition to said belt; and f. template means and template follower means, one of said last two mentioned means being secured to said first frame means, the other of said last two mentioned means being secured to said second frame means, said template follower means being in opposition to said template means and arranged to be contacted by the surface thereof whereby the iceskate blade is placed in contact with and is abraded by said belt in accordance with the contour of said template means.

16. An apparatus for simultaneously sharpening a pair of iceskate blades, said apparatus comprising the combination of: a. first frame means; b. a motor mounted on said first frame means, said motor having rotatable output means; c. a pair of endless abrasive belts driven by said motor output means, said belts being spaced apart in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of said motor output means; d. means on said first frame means for supporting said pair of belts whereby at least a portion of each of said belts traverses a substantially linear path; e. second frame means for removably supporting the pair of iceskate blades in substantially the same spaced apart relation and in opposition to said pair of belts; and f. template means and template follower means, one of said last two mentioned means being secured to said first frame means, the other of said last two mentioned means being secured to said second frame means, said template follower means being in opposition to said template means and arranged to be contacted by the surface thereof whereby the iceskate blades are placed in contact with and are abraded by said belt in accordance with the contour of said template means.

28. The apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said template follower means has a substantially flat surface adapted to abut said template means. 29. The apparatus in accordance with claim 28 further including means for releasably clamping said template follower means in said first frame means.