Abrasive configuration for fluid dynamic removal of abraded material and the like

Abstract

An abrasive tool utilized to remove material from a workpiece is formed to comprise fluid-dynamically-designed features (apertures, airfoils) configured to efficiently remove abraded material and waste from the surface of the workpiece. An abrasive component (and/or backing plate) is formed to include fluid-dynamically-designed features that create an air flow stream/pressure differential which draws the created debris (variously referred to as “swarf”, meaning in general any material removed by an abrading tool) away from the grinding surface.

1 . An abrasive tool incorporating fluid-dynamically-designed features to improve removal of waste material from a workpiece, the abrasive tool comprising:
 a substrate having a working surface and a backing surface, wherein at least the working surface has a coating of an abrasive composition; and   a plurality of features formed on or through the substrate, wherein the plurality of features are configured to create a pressure differential between the working surface and the backing surface of the substrate during the abrading process.   
   
   
       2 . An abrasive tool as defined in  claim 1  wherein the substrate comprises a circular disk and the plurality of features comprises a plurality of blower vanes attached to the substrate working surface and disposed downwardly therefrom, the plurality of blower vanes for channeling waste material directed to the periphery of the circular disk substrate as the abrasive tool is rotated. 
   
   
       3 . An abrasive tool as defined in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of features comprise a plurality of apertures formed through the thickness of the substrate. 
   
   
       4 . An abrasive tool as defined in  claim 3  wherein at least some of the plurality of apertures are formed to comprise a working surface diameter, which is less than an associated backing surface diameter, creating a pressure differential upon use of the abrasive tool. 
   
   
       5 . An abrasive tool as defined in  claim 4  wherein a sidewall of the least some of the plurality of apertures is formed to include a curved surface. 
   
   
       6 . An abrasive tool as defined in  claim 3  where at least one of the plurality of apertures is tilted with respect to the thickness of the substrate, the tilted apertures creating a pressure differential when the abrasive tool is used. 
   
   
       7 . An abrasive tool as defined in  claim 1  wherein the substrate comprises a linear belt. 
   
   
       8 . An abrasive tool as defined in  claim 1  wherein the substrate comprises a drum component. 
   
   
       9 . An abrasive tool as defined in  claim 8  wherein the substrate includes a plurality of apertures formed therethrough and a plurality of airfoils disposed on an inner perimeter thereof to create the desired pressure differential upon rotation of the drum. 
   
   
       10 . An abrasive tool as defined in  claim 1  wherein the substrate comprises a wheel component. 
   
   
       11 . An abrasive tool as defined in  claim 10  wherein the substrate includes a plurality of apertures formed therethrough and a plurality of airfoils disposed on an inner perimeter thereof to create the desired pressure differential upon rotation of the wheel. 
   
   
       12 . An abrasive system including
 an abrasive component having a working surface and a backing surface, at least the working surface having a coating of an abrasive composition;   a plurality of apertures formed through the thickness of the abrasive component; and   an impeller coupled to the abrasive component for imparting motion to the abrasive component, the impeller including a plurality of spaced-apart impeller blades coupled to the backing surface of the abrasive component, wherein the plurality of apertures and/or the plurality of spaced-apart impeller blades are configured to create a pressure differential between the working surface and the backing surface of the abrasive component upon movement of said abrasive disk.   
   
   
       13 . An abrasive system as defined in  claim 12  wherein the impeller blades are configured to exhibit an airfoil geometry for creating the pressure differential between the abrasive component working and backing surfaces upon movement. 
   
   
       14 . An abrasive system as defined in  claim 12  wherein the impeller blades are configured to exhibit an airfoil geometry for removing heat from the abrasive component during use. 
   
   
       15 . An abrasive system as defined in  claim 12  wherein the impeller blades are configured to exhibit a pinwheel-like structure for creating the pressure differential between the abrasive component working and backing surfaces upon movement. 
   
   
       16 . An abrasive system as defined in  claim 12  wherein the impeller blades are configured to exhibit a pinwheel-like structure for removing heat from the abrasive component during use. 
   
   
       17 . An abrasive system as defined in  claim 12  where at least one of the plurality of apertures is formed to comprise a working surface diameter less than an associated backing surface diameter, creating a pressure differential upon movement of the abrasive disk. 
   
   
       18 . An abrasive system as defined in  claim 12  wherein a sidewall of at least one of the plurality of apertures is formed to include at least one curved surface. 
   
   
       19 . An abrasive system as defined in  claim 12  where at least some of the plurality of apertures are tilted with respect to the thickness of the abrasive component, the tilt creating a pressure differential when said abrasive component is moved. 
   
   
       20 . An abrasive tool incorporating fluid-dynamically-designed features to contain waste material from a workpiece, the abrasive tool comprising:
 a substrate having a working surface and a backing surface, wherein at least the working surface has a coating of an abrasive composition;   a plurality of features formed on or through the substrate, wherein the plurality of features are configured to create a pressure differential between the working surface and the backing surface of the substrate during the abrading process so as to draw waste material away from the workpiece; and   a containment channel coupled to the substrate to contain the removed waste material in an isolated manner such that re-entry of the waste material onto the workpiece is prevented.