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  Vibration stabilizing guide wheelUSPTO Application #: 20070015447Title: Vibration stabilizing guide wheel Abstract: A fixed guide wheel that when coupled to a saw blade or a grinding wheel provides a sawing or grinding system that will control the exact depth at which the tools are allowed to perform. The guide wheel also rolls along the top surface of the work piece pushing down on it (pinching it) while the cutting or grinding process is occurring. The guide wheel has a central bearing that carries the saw blade or grinding wheel across the surface of the stone keeping the tools centered and balanced with each other. The guide wheel is made from a rigid, low-density material that absorbs vibration that would normally transfer from the grinding wheel to the material being cut. (end of abstract)
Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP - Seattle, WA, US Inventor: John L. Waddell USPTO Applicaton #: 20070015447 - Class: 451281000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Abrading, Machine, Rotary Tool, Rotary Disk, Templet The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070015447. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not applicable. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of Invention [0003] This invention is a guide wheel that allows consistent vibration free grinding when used with electroplated diamond grinding wheels; segmented diamond grinding wheels and diamond rimmed saw blades. [0004] 2. Description of Prior Art [0005] For years, the industry has been using diamond tools to cut and fabricate ceramic tile and natural stone products. These tools are typically used with a portable tile saw that can easily be set up and used on location. All tile saws with a standard arbor size can use a profile wheel to create different profiles or shapes on the edge of the material being installed. The profile wheels are made in several different shapes and sizes. Since the introduction of profile wheels, people have come to realize that even though it is a good idea, their capabilities are extremely limited. The first problem is that all portable tile saws share the same basic design. They have a welded square tube frame that has a support post located in the back left side of the machine. This support post holds the upper saw assembly in place while the machine is operating. When a saw blade or a profile wheel is being used, the entire upper saw assembly would rise up slightly upon contact with the material and then go down as material is removed. This movement carries the profile wheel up and down creating a rough, inconsistent edge. If it does not grind enough, the material needs to be further worked. In either case, the machine is constantly moving up and down creating an impossible situation for precision grinding. [0006] The second problem is stone tiles will vary in thickness from one box to another throughout the job. Individual tiles can actually taper in thickness. [0007] The third problem is that natural stone has inconsistencies in material hardness. This allows the profile wheel to remove more material in a soft area and rise up and over a harder one. Even small pieces of debris under a tile being profiled can cause over grind situations. This forces the installer to cut that particular tile into a smaller size to be used elsewhere on the job. It should be appreciated that every natural stone tile is unique and if one is damaged due to over grinding, it cannot be readily replaced. [0008] When a saw blade is being used under these up and down conditions, it causes excessive chipping along the top edge of the tile. This larger or deeper chipping forces the fabricator to grind and polish a deeper bevel on the tile's edge. This ultimately affects the width of the grout line, especially if tiles are being installed very close together. This process is called "little or no grout" installation. [0009] Working with stone is a very slow process. Most material is so hard, only diamonds can be used to remove the material with consistent accuracy. The initial cut or profile grind must be accurate because the polishing process that follows wan not designed to remove material readily. The polishing process was designed to remove surface scratches and bring the stone to a final polish. SUMMARY [0010] The invention is a guide wheel that is preferably machined from acetate (delrin) and can be used with any diamond grinding wheel or diamond saw blade. When using the guide wheel with a grinding wheel, the size of the guide wheel is determined by the exact point at which the grinding wheel's shape should stop grinding. This eliminates the possibility of over grinding and creates a point from where all shapes can be consistently duplicated. When using the guide wheel with a diamond rimmed saw blade, the size of the guide wheel is determined by two things; the diameter of the saw blade and the thickness of the material being cut. An eight-inch saw blade with a seven-inch guide wheel will have half of an inch of cutting depth. The guide wheel has an alignment groove located on its outside edge. This groove is used by the operator to quickly set the grinding wheel slightly below the top surface of the stone. The guide wheel has a center cavity that holds a heavy-duty roller bearing with two rubber seals. A stainless steel threaded insert is pressed into the center of the bearing. This insert replaces the tile saw's standard arbor nut. When tightened, the threaded insert now holds the profile wheel or the saw blade into place. Now, with the machine on, the center bearing can turn and the guide wheel does not turn due to a small amount of friction applied between the face of the guide wheel and the flat inside surface of the tile saw's blade guard assembly. The friction is controlled by simply adjusting the wing nut that was used to mount the blade guard to the tile saw. DESCRIPTION [0011] FIG. 2 is a cross section of a fully assembled guide wheel. Stainless steel threaded insert (13) is press fit into bearing (12). Threaded insert (13) extends through bearing (12) 1/8.sup.th of an inch and lock ring (11) is press fit onto end of threaded insert (13). Once this is done, entire assembly press fits into center cavity of guide wheel (10). Then, internal snap ring (14) is installed. Note: Bearing (12) must make contact with guide wheel beating seat (19) to ensure proper clearance for snap ring (14). [0012] FIG. 4 shows an adjustable wing nut (27) connected to mount bolt (30). This bolt assembly connects the blade guard (26) to the tile saw that is being used. [0013] FIG. 4 shows blade guard contact area (16) making contact with the inside of the tile saw blade guard (26). FIG. 4 shows clearance (23) between inside of blade guard (26) and the face of threaded insert (13). FIG. 4 shows alignment groove (15) making contact with the top outside corner of tile material (25). FIG. 3 shows guide wheels tile contact surface area (17) making full contact with the tile material (25). FIG. 3 shows zero point (30). FIG. 3 shows profile wheel clearance (24) and clearance (20). Note: [0014] Clearance 20 0.035-0.040 [0015] Clearance 24 0.0125-0.130 [0016] Alignment groove 15 0.125.times.0.125 Description of Stainless Steel Threaded Insert (13) [0017] FIG. 1--Threaded insert (13) has internal threads (18) that are tapped through. Internal threads (18) are the same size as the tile saw arbor nut. Shoulder flange (22) seats up against bearing (12) to ensure proper alignment. Wrench flats (22) are machined into face of threaded insert (13). [0018] FIG. 2--Shows necessary clearance (23) between threaded insert (13) and blade guard contact area (16). TABLE-US-00001 REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS Guide wheel 10 Lock ring 11 Bearing 12 Stainless steel threaded insert 13 Stainless steel internal snap ring 14 Alignment groove 15 Blade guard contact area 16 Guide wheels tile contact surface 17 Internal threads thru 18 Guide wheel bearing seat 19 Clearance area .035-.040 20 Wrench flats 21 Shoulder flange 22 Clearance 23 Profile wheel clearance 24 Tile material 25 Blade guard 26 Wing nut 27 Waterfeed tubes 28 Profile wheel 29 Mount bolt 30 Saw blade 31 Blade shaft 32 Extension arm 33 Continue reading... Full patent description for Vibration stabilizing guide wheel Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Vibration stabilizing guide wheel patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Vibration stabilizing guide wheel or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Systems and methods for removing microfeature workpiece surface defects Next Patent Application: Polishing pad having edge surface treatment Industry Class: Abrading ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Vibration stabilizing guide wheel patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.67681 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m |
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