US3727353A

US3727353A - Buffing wheel and method of making same

Info

Publication number: US3727353A
Application number: US00218769A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Pixley
Original assignee: United Aircraft Corp
Current assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corp
Priority date: 1972-01-18
Filing date: 1972-01-18
Publication date: 1973-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-17

Abstract

A buffing wheel is made from abrasive sheet material by folding at least one sheet of the abrasive sheet material over a retaining wire, then corrugating the retaining wire and the abrasive sheet at the fold so as to impart corrugations to the abrasive sheet material, then forming the corrugated sheet material and retaining wire into circular form and retaining the circular form abrasive sheet material for rotation concentrically about an axis with the corrugated retaining wire being retained between the faces of a central split disc.

Description

[22] Filed:

United States Patent 1 Pixley BUFFING WHEEL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME [75 Inventor: Robert C. Pixley, Huntington, Conn.

[73] Assignee: United Aircraft Corporation, East Hartford, Conn.

Jan. 18, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 218,769

[52] US. Cl. ..51/376, 15/230.17, 51/293 [5 1] Int. Cl. ..B24d 17/00, 324d 1 H00 [58] Field of Search ..51/358, 376, 293,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/1955 Jones ..5l/293 9/1957 Schafiner ..51/376 51 Apr. 17, 1973 2/1964 Mockiewicz et a] ..,;.....5l/376 l/l968 Schaffner ..5l/358 X Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson AttorneyVernon F. Hauschild ABSTRACT A buffing wheel is made from abrasive sheet material by folding at least one sheet of the abrasive sheet material over a retaining wire, then corrugating the retaining wire and the abrasive sheet at the fold so as to impart corrugations to the abrasive sheet material, then forming the corrugated sheet material and retaining wire into circular form and retaining the circular form abrasive sheet material for rotation concentrically about an axis with the corrugated retaining wire being retained betweenthe faces of a central split disc.

23 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures BUFFING WHEEL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of Invention This invention relates to buffing wheels and more particularly to buffing wheels which are made of abrasive or grit cloth and brought into the formation of a corrugated wheel by folding the grit cloth in layers over a malleable wire, then corrugating the wire and the grit cloth folded thereabout to impart corrugations to the grit cloth sheets, then forming and mounting the grit cloth in circular, corrugated form to serve as a buffing or deburring tool when rotated upon an axis of rotation, and with the outer periphery of the wheel which is formed by the outer periphery of the grit cloth, contacting the article to be buffed or deburred.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the buffing wheel art, many constructions have been utilized to support abrasive sheet material for rotation about an axis so as to be able to perform a buffing or deburring function therewith, however, there are problems associated with each of these prior art constructions. For example, grit cloth or other abrasive sheet material has been formed into individual fingers or tufts and supported for rotation as a group in wheel fashion as in US. Pat. Nos. 2,146,284; 2,350,216; 2,522,093; 2,687,602; 2,724,937; and 3,023,549, however, constructions of this type are expensive to manufacture in that special problems are encountered in supporting the individual fingers of the wheel. In the buffing wheel art, buffing wheels have previously been made from sheet material including a wire member, however, the wire member has always been a straight wire and the corrugations are formed only in the abrasive sheet material, which is foled over the wire by gathering or bunching the folded sheet material along the wire to form the corrugations as in US. Pat. Nos. 2,871,631; 3,080,689; 3,208,893; and 3,212,868. These prior art patents teach a continuous machine process of forming corrugations wherein idler toothed rollers retard the material and compact it while retaining the corrugations. The straight wire mentioned above does not begin to serve to retain the corrugations until its opposite ends are brought together and tied to form a ring. Contrary to this, the method taught herein is a manual one wherein the wire is corrugated with the abrasive material so as to immediately serve to retain the corrugations in that form regardless of the freedom of the ends of the wire. The advantage of this capability is the avoidance of the need for a supplemental tool or holding fixture to retain the corrugations from springing back during this manual forming operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to provide a buffing wheel made of corrugated abrasive cloth mounted in circular form for rotation about an axis. The abrasive cloth is retained by being folded about a malleable member and both the malleable member and the abrasive cloth so folded are corrugated, and then formed into circular form. The circularly formed abrasive cloth and malleable retaining member are concentrically mounted between a split disc member to form a wheel, so as to be assembled on a shaft whereby the wheel may be so rotated to thereby permit the outer periphery of the corrugated abrasive cloth to serve as the working surface of the bufi'rng wheel.

In accordance with the present invention, the split disc portions are formed so as to define an annular ring therebetween in which the corrugated retaining wire and the corrugated, folded end of the abrasive sheets are received and retained relative to the disc.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a plurality of substantially identical layers of abrasive cloth or sheet material are stacked one upon the other and joined to each other by a double-sided adhesive tape running along the longitudinal centerline of the abrasive sheets, a retaining wire is attached to one side of the sheet members along the longitudinal centerline of the sheets so that, after the sheet members have been folded into U-shape cross section about the retaining wire, the retaining wire and the folded portion of the sheet members may be corrugated, formed into circular or wheel form, and then supported for rotation about an axis of rotation so as to form a buffing wheel.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, when the buffing wheel is being fabricated and the abrasive sheet material is folded about the retaining wire, corrugations are imparted to the retaining wire and the folded edge portion of the abrasive sheet members by passing the retaining wire and the folded portion of the abrasive sheet members between saw or gear tooth rollers to impart loose corrugations thereto, then either, manually or mechanically, the loose corrugations are compressed or compacted into tight corrugations prior to forming the abrasive material into buffing wheel form.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a tape member is positioned in circular formation on either exposed face of the buff'mg wheel external of the split disc retaining'member so as to visually advise the operator of the amount of abrasive material left during the buffing operation.

In accordance with the present invention, the sheets of abrasive material are held to one another by doublesided adhesive tape, and the retaining wire is held to the side of the abrasive sheet which eventually becomes the inner fold member of the buffing wheel by doublesided adhesive tape.

It is an object of the invention to provide a buffing wheel and a method of making same which is simple in construction, easy and inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight, and susceptible to stacking in side-byside relation with other buffing wheel members so as to form an elongated buffing roll or drum member which may be cylindrical inform or which may be contoured along its outer periphery to deburr or buff a selectively shaped object, such that the outer periphery of the buffing roll is contoured to the shape of the object being deburred.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention may be seen by referring to the following description and claims, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of two sheets of abrasive material shown in the relative positions which they assume during the buffing wheel fonning process.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of two abrasive sheet members stacked and folded about or around the retaining wire so as to form buffing sheets of U-shape cross section with the fold of the U surrounding the retaining wire.

FIG. 3 is a showing of the apparatus to impart loose corrugations to the retaining wire and the abrasive sheet members folded therearound as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a buffing wheel fabricated according to the method taught herein.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partial showing of a series of buffing wheels of the type taught herein stacked and mounted for rotation upon a common axis of rotation with other such buffing wheels so as to form a buffing roll or drum.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Probably the best way to understand the construction of the buffing wheel taught herein is to consider the method of manufacture. As previously stated, this buffing wheel is formed by fabricating a plurality of layers of abrasive sheet material in corrugated circular form for rotation about an axis so that the outer periphery thereof can perform a deburring, polishing, debuffing or a like function, and so that the abrasive sheets have corrugations therein to provide greater surface of contact between the buffing wheel periphery and the part being buffed. The buffing wheel is fabricated utilizing the steps shown in FIGS. 1 through 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, one or more sheets of grit cloth 10, 16, preferably in rectangular shape are stacked, and the centerfold 14 is determined. Wire retainer 22 is then laid into the centerfold as the edges are brought together as depicted in FIG. 2. If we are forming a deburring wheel, material of sheet 10 can be made of a 120 grit cloth manufactured by Baystate Company, Massachusetts, or other suitable material. If the wheel which we are manufacturing is to be used as a bufiing wheel, the material of sheet 10 would better be cotton cloth or other suitable buffing material.

Sheet 10 may be cloth, broadgoods or any type of flexible, flat goods of desired qualities of stiffness and abrasiveness to perform the intended polishing, buffing, deburring or related functions. By proper selection of the material of these sheets, the tool formed by the teaching of this invention will perform a polishing, buffmg, deburring or related function.

If it is necessary to add a positive means to keep the wire at the bottom of the'fold, a strip of double-sided adhesive tape may be applied over or along one side of the centerline 14 of the inner layer of grit cloth, as shown in phantom in FIG. 1 as 15. For further holding action of the multiple layers of grit cloth together, additional strips of tape may be used between each layer, as shown in phantom in FIG. 1 as 17. Other known holding means such as stitching or fluid adhesive may be used, but proper handling makes these unnecessary. Retainer member 22 may be any malleable material of any cross-sectional shape, and it has been found that I/ I6 inch aluminum wire is particularly well suited for the purpose.

Accordingly, to this point of fabrication progression, we have built up a folded stack of abrasive sheets as best shown in FIG. 2 in cross section. It should be borne in mind, however, that any number of sheets could be so stacked and folded although two only are shown for the purpose of illustration and, in fact, the buffing wheel could be made of a singlesheet comparable to sheet 10 or 16.

As best shown in FIG. 2, when the abrasive sheets 10 and 16 are wrapped or foled around retaining wire 22, they form folded, U-shaped abrasive sheets with the folded portion thereof folding or wrapping around retaining wire 22 and the sides or

legs

16A and 16B of sheet 16 extend substantially parallel to one another and parallel to the corresponding sides or legs 10A and 10B of sheet 10.

Legs

10A, 10B, 16A and 16B will probably be in abutting relationship and extend substantially equal distances from wire .22 so that the peripheral edges 10C, 10D, 16C and 16D will form the outer periphery of a buffing wheel at substantially the same outer outer diameter.

Next, strips of nylon adhesive 24 and 26 may preferably be applied substantially parallel to wire 22 along the opposite outer surfaces of the abrasive material so folded in the FIG. 2 position, where these strips are shown in phantom. The function of these strips is to permit the buffing wheel operator to be able to gauge how much usable buffing wheel remains as the buffing wheel abrades away during the buffing operation. Any appropriate device, such as a cardboard disc or paint may be substituted for

members

24 and 26 to provide the same function.

With the abrasive material wrapped or folded around the retaining wire 22 as shown in FIG. 2, we are now ready to apply the corrugations to the retaining wire 22 and the foldededges 10E and 16E of sheets 10 and 16. Accordingly, the folded end of the partially fabricated buffing wheel shown in FIG. 2 is passed between gears or

sawtooth rollers

28 and 30, which are mounted for rotation about their respective axes 32 and 34 as shown in FIG. 3. It is important that the folded construction of FIG. 2 is passed between sawtooth rollers '28 and 30 such that the retaining wire 22 and the folded edge portion of 10E and 16E of sheets 10 and 16 pass between the teeth members 36 and 38 of

sawtooth rollers

28 and 30, so that the corrugations are imparted to the retaining wire 22 and hence to the folded ends 10E and 16E of the abrasive or buffing sheets 10 and 16. The corrugations imparted to wire 22 are substantially perpendicular to

sheet legs

10A, 10B, 16A and 16B and will be substantially parallel to the axis about which the buffing wheel is eventually mounted for rotation. This imparting of corrugations to the retaining wire and folded edges 10E and 16E of sheets 10 and 16 causes these corrugations to be imparted throughout the full length of the sheets 10 and 16 out to the tip portions 10C, 16C, 16D and 10D thereof, so that a buffing wheel of corrugated periphery and having radially extending corrugations will be formed.

It should be noted by viewing FIG. 3 that passing the partially fabricated buffing wheel of FIG. 2 through the

sawtooth rollers

28 and 30 impart loose corrugations 40 thereto. In many instances, it is preferred to have compressed or compacted corrugations at the inner periphery of the buffing wheel and this can be accomplished by removing the partially fabricated buffing wheel of FIG. 2 from between the

sawtooth rollers

28 and 30 after the loose corrugations 40 are imparted thereto, and then manually compressing or compacting the corrugations to the tight corrugations shown at 42. In the alternative, any type of braking means can be applied to the corrugations to the right of the

rollers

28 and 30 so as to retard their motion, thereby causing

rollers

28 and 30 not only to impart the original loose corrugations 40 but to cooperate with the braking means to thereafter impart the compressed corrugations 42. Apparatus to perform the looseto-compressed corrugation function is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,115,730 which uses apparatus to impart such corrugations to sheet material only, and not the retaining member 22 associated therewith.

With the buffing wheel now partially fabricated so as to form the construction shown in FIG. 3 but with either loose or compacted corrugations formed in retaining wire 22 and sheet folded edges 10E and 16E, the folded sheet members and retaining member are then formed into circular form as shown in FIG. 4 and, since retaining wire 22 was originally cut of selected length to extend beyond sheets 10 and 16, the ends thereof can be knotted or otherwise joined as shown at 50 in FIG. 4 so that the retaining wire 22 and the folded edges 10E and 1615 of sheets 10 and 16 now form the inner diameter 52 of the buffing wheel sheets and the opposite ends lC-D and 16C-D form the outer diameter 54 of the buffing wheel in corrugated formation.

To cause the outer diameter 54 of the buffing wheel to rotate concentrically about axis 56, the buffing wheel is supported from centrally located split-disc member 58, each half or portion of which has an inner diameter 60 and an outer diameter 62.

As best shown in FIG. 5,

side portions

64 and 66 of split disc member 58 are shaped to abut and extend radially to axis 56 and to cooperate to form annular passage or cavity 68 between their selectively shaped outer ends. Annular cavity 68 serves to receive corrugated retainer wire 22 with the corrugated and folded ends 10E and 16E of sheets members 10 and 16 folded thereabout, so that it serves to retain the sheet member so folded for rotation with the split disc support means 58. The two

halves

64 and 66 of split disc 58 are joined in any convenient manner, such as spot welds 65. It will accordingly be seen that support member 58, retainer wire 22 and sheet members 10 and 16 cooperate to form the buffing wheel 70 shown in FIG. 5.

For use in aligning the supporting disc 58 to the abrasive outer portion, any convenient fixture may be utilized, for example, the form 90 shown in phantom in FIG. which comprises a flat circular plate with upturned edges 91 of diameter slightly larger than the size of the finished wheel. A threaded stud 92 determines the center of the form. To form the buffing wheel, disc half 64 is inserted over the stud, followed by the ring shaped abrasivedisc portion, with outer diameter edge 54 positioned by the turned edge 91 of the form. Then, disc half 66 is inserted over the stud and clasped to the form by a suitable washer 93 and ring nut 94. Initial spot welds 65 may then be made through openings in the form 90 to join the disc halves 64, 66 and thus to form the buffing wheel 70 installation.

While buffing wheel 70 can be used in the form shown in FIG. 4, when a particularly large and'selectively contoured object is to be buffed, it may be desira ble to stack a plurality of such buffing wheels 70. as shown in FIG. 6, to form buffing roll or drum 72, which includes the plurality of buffing wheels 70 stacked in side-by-side relationship and mounted on central tube 74 and retained thereon by. wedge and spacer member 76, which is pressed against the outer most buffing wheel 70 by the action of retaining nut 78 on the threaded end of central shaft or tube 74. It will be evident that buffing roll 72, can be mounted for rotation about axis 80- and that the outer periphery 82 of the various buffing wheel 70 can be cut to suit the precise shape of the part being deburred or buffed.

In view of the fact that wheel 70 can be used to perform a polishing, buffing, deburring or other functions, it will be evident that the material selected for sheets 10 and 16 will be of selected abrasiveness depending upon the function to be performed by wheel 70 and that the term abrasive sheet material," as used herein, should be construed synonymously with sheet material of selected abrasive qualities to perform the desired function of polishing, buffing, deburring, etc.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

1. A buffing wheel adapted to be mounted to rotate about an axis including:

A. a corrugated retaining member formed in ring shape and adapted to be positioned concentrically about the axis and having substantially continuous corrugations extending substantially parallel to the axis,

B. abrasive sheet material wrapped around said retainer member so as to be of U-shaped cross section and with the retainer member received in the fold of the U so that the abrasive sheet material takes the corrugated form of the retainer member and so that the portions of the abrasive sheet on opposite sides of the fold extend radially outwardly from the retainer member substantially equal distances to define the periphery of the buffing wheel, and

C. means to support said corrugated retainer member and said abrasive sheet material for concentric rotation about the axis.

2. A buffing wheel according to claim 1 wherein said,

abrasive sheet material is abrasive cloth. 7

3. A buffing wheel according to claim 1 wherein said abrasive sheet material is abrasive broadgoods.

4. A buffing wheel according to claim 2 wherein said abrasive material includes a plurality of layers of abra sive cloth. I

5. A buffing wheel according to claim 1 wherein said retainer member is a wire.

6. A buffing wheel according to claim I wherein said means is a split disc of selected outer diameter and inner diameter, with the opposite side portions thereof positioned on opposite sides of the retainer member and the abrasive sheet material and shaped so that when the opposite portions of the support means are connected, the abrasive sheets are corrugated retainer member are supported therebetween for rotation about the axis.

7. A buffing wheel according to claim 6 wherein the portions of the split disc support means are connected by spot welding.

8. A buffing wheel according to claim 1 and including means to retain said retaining member in the fold of the abrasive sheet material.

9. A buffing wheel according to claim 4 and including means to retain the abrasive cloth layers in selected position relative to one another.

10. A buffing wheel according to claim 1 and including means to retain said retaining member in the fold of the abrasive sheet material and means to retain the abrasive cloth layers in selected position relative to one another.

11. A buffing wheel according to claim 6 wherein said split disc support means is shaped so that the opposite sides thereof form an annular chamber therebetween of selected dimension to snugly engage and to retain said corrugated retainer member and abrasive sheet material.

12. A buffing wheel according to claim 8 wherein said retaining means is a strip of double-sided adhesive tape.

13. A buffing wheel according to claim 9 wherein said retaining means is double-sided adhesive tape.

14. A buffing wheel according to claim 10 wherein both of said retaining means is double-sided adhesive tape.

15. The method of forming a buffing wheel including the steps of:

A. positioning a first abrasive sheet of substantially rectangular shape in a flattened condition,

B. applying a first strip of double-sided adhesive tape to the first abrasive sheet and extend along the longitudinal centerline thereof,

C. positioning a second sheet of abrasive material of substantially identical shape as the first sheet upon the first sheet in overlapping relationship so that the two sheets of abrasive material are connected to one another by the double-sided adhesive tape,

D. applying a second strip of double-sided adhesive tape along the longitudinal center of the second abrasive sheet,

E. positioning a length of malleable material of selected length along the top surface of the second adhesive tape strip and along the centerline of the abrasive sheets and extending slightly therebeyond,

F. folding the two abrasive material sheets about the malleable material so as to be U-shape in cross section and so as to form abutting layers of abrasive sheet material,

G. selectively corrugating the malleable material and the folded portion of the abrasive sheets so that the corrugations extend substantially perpendicular to the abrasive sheets so folded,

H. forming the abrasive sheets and retaining member into circular form with the retaining member and the fold portion of the abrasive sheets forming the diameter of the circle and the opposite edges of the abrasive sheetsfrom the fold forming the outer diameter of a circle and the outer periphery of the buffing wheel, and

l. supporting said abrasive sheets and retaining member for rotation in circular or wheel form about an axis.

16. The method of forming a buffing the steps of:

A. positioning an abrasive sheet of substantially rectangular shape in a flattened condition,

B. causing a double-sided adhesive strip to adhere to the abrasive sheet and extend along the longitudinal centerline thereof,

C. positioning a length of malleable material of selected length along the top surface of the adhesive strip and along the longitudinal centerline of the abrasive sheet and extending slightly therebeyond,

D. folding the abrasive sheet about the malleable material so as to be U-shape in cross section and so as to form abutting layers of abrasive sheet,

E. selectively corrugating the malleable material and the fold portion of the abrasive sheet so that the corrugations formed therein extend substantially perpendicular to the abrasive sheets so folded,

F. forming the corrugated abrasive sheet and malleable material into circular form with the malleable material and the fold portion of the abrasive sheet forming the inner diameter of a wheel and the opposite edges of the abrasive sheet from the fold portion forming the outer diameter of a wheel, and the outer periphery of the buffing wheel, and

G. supporting said corrugated abrasive sheets and malleable material for rotation in circular or wheel form about an axis.

. 17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the step of selectively corrugating the malleable material and the folded portion of the abrasive sheet is performed by first passing the malleable material with the abrasive sheet folded thereabout between gear tooth rollers so as to form loose corrugations therein, and then manually compressing the corrugations so formed.

18. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of selectively corrugating the malleable material and the folded portion of the abrasive sheets folded thereabout is accomplished by first passing the malleable material and the folded portion of the abrasive sheets through sawtooth rollers so as to loosely corrugate the malleable material and the folded sheets, then manually compressing the corrugations so formed.

19. The method of fabricating the buffing wheel comprising:

A. folding at least one abrasive sheet about an elongated, straight retaining member so that the abrasive sheet is of substantially U-shape cross section with opposite legs abutting and extending substantially equidistant from the retaining member,

B. corrugating the elongated retaining member with the abrasive sheet folded thereabout so that the corrugations extend substantially perpendicular to the legs of the folded abrasive sheet,

C. forming the corrugated abrasive sheet and retaining member into circular form with the retaining member and the folded portion of the abrasive sheet forming the inner diameter of a circle and the opposite edges of the abrasive sheet forming the outer diameter of a circle and the periphery of the buffing wheel, and

D. providing support means for supporting said circularly formed retaining member and abrasive sheet for concentric rotation about an axis of rotation.

wheel including comprising:

wheels mounted for concentric rotation about a common axis and each including:

20. The method of fabricating the buffing wheel A. folding at least one abrasive sheet about an elongated, straight retaining member so that the abrasive sheet is of substantially U-shape cross section with opposite legs abutting and extending substantially equidistant from the retaining member,

B. forming loose corrugations along the elongated retaining member with the abrasive sheet folded thereabout so that the corrugations extend substantially perpendicular to the legs of the folded abrasive sheet,

C. compacting the corrugations in the elongated retaining member and the abrasive sheet,

D. forming the corrugated abrasive sheet and retaining member into circular form with the retaining member and the folded portion of the abrasive sheet forming the inner diameter of a circle and the opposite edges of the abrasive sheet forming the outer diameter of a circle and the periphery of the buffing wheel, and

E. providing support means for supporting said circularly formed retaining member and abrasive sheet for concentric rotation about an axis of rotation.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein said loose corrugation forming step is formed by passing the elongated retaining member and the abrasive sheet folded thereabout between gear toothed rollers so as to form loose corrugations therein, and wherein said corrugation compacting step is performed manually.

22. A buffing roll comprising a plurality of buffing stacked in side-by-side relationship. and

A. a plurality of buffing wheels each including:

1. a-corrugated retaining member formed in ring shape and adapted to be positioned concentrically about the axis and having substantially continuous corrugations extending substantially parallel to the axis,

2. abrasive sheet material wrapped around said retainer member so as to be of U-shape cross section and with the retainer member received in the fold of the U so that the abrasive sheet material takes the corrugated form of the retainer member and so that the portions of the abrasive sheet on opposite sides of the fold ex tend radially outwardly from the retainer members substantially equal distances to define the periphery of the buffing wheel,

3. means to support said corrugated retainer member and said abrasive sheet material for concentric rotation about the axis, and

B. means to support said buffing wheels in side-byside relationship and for concentric rotation about an axis.

23. A buffing wheel according to claim 1 wherein said abrasive material includes a plurality of layers of abrasive cloth, wherein said retainer member is a wire, and wherein said support means is a split disc of selected outer diameter and inner diameter, with the opposite sides thereof positioned on opposite sides of the corrugated retainermember and the corrugated sheet material and shaped so that when the opposite sides of the support means are connected, the abrasive sheets and corrugated retainer member are supported therebetween for rotation about the axis.

Claims

1. A buffing wheel adapted to be mounted to rotate about an axis including: A. a corrugated retaining member formed in ring shape and adapted to be positioned concentrically about the axis and having substantially continuous corrugations extending substantially parallel to the axis, B. abrasive sheet material wrapped around said retainer member so as to be of U-shaped cross section and with the retainer member received in the fold of the U so that the abrasive sheet material takes the corrugated form of the retainer member and so that the portions of the abrasive sheet on opposite sides of the fold extend radially outwardly from the retainer member substantially equal distances to define the periphery of the buffing wheel, and C. means to support said corrugated retainer member and said abrasive sheet material for concentric rotation about the axis.

2. A buffing wheel according to claim 1 wherein said abrasive sheet material is abrasive cloth.

2. abrasive sheet material wrapped around said retainer member so as to be of U-shape cross section and with the retainer member received in the fold of the U so that the abrasive sheet material takes the corrugated form of the retainer member and so that the portions of the abrasive sheet on opposite sides of the fold extend radially outwardly from the retainer members substantially equal distances to define the periphery of the buffing wheel,

3. means to support said corrugated retainer member and said abrasive sheet material for concentric rotation about the axis, and B. means to support said buffing wheels in side-by-side relationship and for concentric rotation about an axis.

4. A buffing wheel according to claim 2 wherein said abrasive material includes a plurality of layers of abrasive cloth.

5. A buffing wheel according to claim 1 wherein said retainer member is a wire.

6. A buffing wheel according to claim 1 wherein said means is a split disc of selected outer diameter and inner diameter, with the opposite side portions thereof positioned on opposite sides of the retainer member and the abrasive sheet material and shaped so that when the opposite portions of the support means are connected, the abrasive sheets are corrugated retainer member are supported therebetween for rotation about the axis.

15. The method of forming a buffing wheel including the steps of: A. positioning a first abrasive sheet of substantially rectangular shape in a flattened condition, B. applying a first strip of double-sided adhesive tape to the first abrasive sheet and extend along the longitudinal centerline thereof, C. positioning a second sheet of abrasive material of substantially identical shape as the first sheet upon the first sheet in overlapping relationship so that the two sheets of abrasive material are connected to one another by the double-sided adhesive tape, D. applying a second strip of double-sided adhesive tape along the longitudinal center of the second abrasive sheet, E. positioning a length of malleable material of selected length along the top surface of the second adhesive tape strip and along the centerline of the abrasive sheets and extending slightly therebeyond, F. folding the two abrasive material sheets about the malleable material so as to be U-shape in cross section and so as to form abutting layers of abrasive sheet material, G. selectively corrugating the malleable material and the folded portion of the abrasive sheets so that the corrugations extend substantially perpendicular to the abrasive sheets so folded, H. forming the abrasive sheets and retaining member into circular form with the retaining member and the fold portion of the abrasive sheets forming the diameter of the circle and the opposite edges of the abrasive sheets from the fold forming the outer diameter of a circle and the outer periphery of the buffing wheel, and I. supporting said abrasive sheets and retaining member for rotation in circular or wheel form about an axis.

16. The method of forming a buffing wheel including the steps of: A. positioning an abrasive sheet of substantially rectangular shape in a flattened condition, B. causing a double-sided adheSive strip to adhere to the abrasive sheet and extend along the longitudinal centerline thereof, C. positioning a length of malleable material of selected length along the top surface of the adhesive strip and along the longitudinal centerline of the abrasive sheet and extending slightly therebeyond, D. folding the abrasive sheet about the malleable material so as to be U-shape in cross section and so as to form abutting layers of abrasive sheet, E. selectively corrugating the malleable material and the fold portion of the abrasive sheet so that the corrugations formed therein extend substantially perpendicular to the abrasive sheets so folded, F. forming the corrugated abrasive sheet and malleable material into circular form with the malleable material and the fold portion of the abrasive sheet forming the inner diameter of a wheel and the opposite edges of the abrasive sheet from the fold portion forming the outer diameter of a wheel, and the outer periphery of the buffing wheel, and G. supporting said corrugated abrasive sheets and malleable material for rotation in circular or wheel form about an axis.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the step of selectively corrugating the malleable material and the folded portion of the abrasive sheet is performed by first passing the malleable material with the abrasive sheet folded thereabout between gear tooth rollers so as to form loose corrugations therein, and then manually compressing the corrugations so formed.

19. The method of fabricating the buffing wheel comprising: A. folding at least one abrasive sheet about an elongated, straight retaining member so that the abrasive sheet is of substantially U-shape cross section with opposite legs abutting and extending substantially equidistant from the retaining member, B. corrugating the elongated retaining member with the abrasive sheet folded thereabout so that the corrugations extend substantially perpendicular to the legs of the folded abrasive sheet, C. forming the corrugated abrasive sheet and retaining member into circular form with the retaining member and the folded portion of the abrasive sheet forming the inner diameter of a circle and the opposite edges of the abrasive sheet forming the outer diameter of a circle and the periphery of the buffing wheel, and D. providing support means for supporting said circularly formed retaining member and abrasive sheet for concentric rotation about an axis of rotation.

20. The method of fabricating the buffing wheel comprising: A. folding at least one abrasive sheet about an elongated, straight retaining member so that the abrasive sheet is of substantially U-shape cross section with opposite legs abutting and extending substantially equidistant from the retaining member, B. forming loose corrugations along the elongated retaining member with the abrasive sheet folded thereabout so that the corrugations extend substantially perpendicular to the legs of the folded abrasive sheet, C. compacting the corrugations in the elongated retaining member and the abrasive sheet, D. forming the corrugated abrasive sheet and retaining member into circular form with the retaining member and the folded portion of the abrasive sheet forming the inner diameter of a circle and the opposite edges of the abrasive sheet forming the outer diameter of a circle and the periphery of the buffing wheel, and E. providing support means for supporting said circularly formed retaining member and abrasive sheet for concentric roTation about an axis of rotation.

22. A buffing roll comprising a plurality of buffing wheels stacked in side-by-side relationship and mounted for concentric rotation about a common axis and each including: A. a plurality of buffing wheels each including:

23. A buffing wheel according to claim 1 wherein said abrasive material includes a plurality of layers of abrasive cloth, wherein said retainer member is a wire, and wherein said support means is a split disc of selected outer diameter and inner diameter, with the opposite sides thereof positioned on opposite sides of the corrugated retainer member and the corrugated sheet material and shaped so that when the opposite sides of the support means are connected, the abrasive sheets and corrugated retainer member are supported therebetween for rotation about the axis.