Scratch removal device and method

Abstract

A polishing wheel including a lower polishing surface and defining a different color from a secondary portion of the polishing wheel, so as to indicate wear of the polishing surface. The polishing surface includes a plurality of main radial flutes extending from a central passage to an outer edge. A reduced profile for the main radial flutes is provided adjacent to the outer edge. A plurality of secondary radial flutes is provided extending from the outer edge, but not in communication with either the central passage or the main radial flutes. The reduced profile for the main radial flute is defined by a variable depth portion. The secondary radial flutes defined by a variable depth portion. Each of the main radial flutes and the secondary radial flutes formed by a circular saw. An indexing machine is used to move the polishing wheel during the forming process.

1 . A polishing wheel comprising:
 a body defining a central longitudinal axis and a central passage coaxial with the longitudinal axis, the body mountable to a rotating polishing tool;   the body having a lower polishing surface defining a planar portion;   wherein the lower polishing surface includes a plurality of main radial flutes extending from the central passage to an outer edge of the polishing surface;   wherein secondary radial flutes are provided in the lower polishing surface extending from the outer edge and terminating in an area before the central passage, and further wherein the secondary radial flutes are not in communication with the main radial flutes;   wherein the main radial flutes have a reduced profile adjacent to the outer edge, relative to a portion of the main radial flutes disposed radially inwardly, wherein the reduced profile of each of the main radial flutes is defined by a varying depth portion for each of the main flutes adjacent to the outer edge.   
   
   
       2 . The polishing wheel of  claim 1 , wherein six main radial flutes are provided, and six secondary radial flutes are provided, equally spaced around the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       3 . The polishing wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary radial flutes have a varying depth portion, wherein each of the varying depth portions of the main radial flutes and each of the varying depth portions of the secondary radial flutes are defined by a curved surface. 
   
   
       4 . The polishing wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the central passage includes a threaded portion, the threaded portion of the central passage mountable to a threaded shaft of the rotating polishing tool. 
   
   
       5 . A polishing wheel comprising:
 a body defining a central longitudinal axis and a central passage coaxial with the longitudinal axis, the body mountable to a rotating polishing tool;   the body having a lower polishing surface defining a planar portion;   the body having a lower portion defining the lower polishing surface;   the body having an upper portion, the upper portion disposed on an opposite side of the lower portion from the lower polishing surface;   the lower portion including a first material and having a first color;   the upper portion including the same first material, and having a second color visually different from the first color;   the lower portion including a polishing material impregnated in the first material;   the lower polishing surface including a plurality of main flutes extending from the central passage to an outer edge of the polishing surface;   the lower polishing surface including secondary flutes extending from the outer edge and terminating in an area before the central passage, and further wherein the secondary flutes are not in communication with the main flutes;   wherein the main flutes and the secondary flutes extend radially relative to the longitudinal axis;   wherein the main flutes have a reduced profile adjacent to the outer edge, relative to a portion of the main flutes disposed radially inwardly, wherein the reduced profile of each of the main flutes is defined by a varying depth portion for each of the main flutes adjacent to the outer edge.   
   
   
       6 . The polishing wheel of  claim 5 , wherein the upper portion does not include the polishing material. 
   
   
       7 . The polishing wheel of  claim 5 , wherein the first material is a polymeric material. 
   
   
       8 . The polishing wheel of  claim 7 , wherein the polymeric material is a urethane material, and wherein the polishing material is cerium oxide. 
   
   
       9 . The polishing wheel of  claim 5 , wherein six main flutes are provided, and six secondary flutes are provided, equally spaced around the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       10 . The polishing wheel of  claim 5 , wherein the secondary flutes have a varying depth portion for each of the secondary flutes adjacent to the central passage. 
   
   
       11 . The polishing wheel of  claim 10 , wherein the varying depth portion of each of the secondary flutes is defined by a curved surface. 
   
   
       12 . The polishing wheel of  claim 5 , wherein the varying depth portion of each of the main flutes is defined by a curved surface. 
   
   
       13 . The polishing wheel of  claim 5 , wherein the body includes a threaded nut with an outer projection positioned in the upper portion, wherein the threaded nut is not positioned in the lower portion, the threaded nut including an inner threaded passage coaxial with the central passage and mountable to the rotating polishing tool. 
   
   
       14 . A method of polishing a surface comprising a steps of:
 a.) providing a polishing wheel including:
 i.) a body; 
 ii.) a polishing surface; 
 iii.) a central fluid passage through the body; 
 iv.) a plurality of passages extending from the central fluid passage across the polishing surface to an outside edge of the outside surface; 
 v.) a plurality of cutouts in the polishing surface not in fluid communication with the plurality of passages; 
   b.) passing polishing fluid from the central fluid passage into the plurality of passages;   c.) rotating the body about the central longitudinal axis;   d.) polishing the surface with rotation of the polishing wheel and with the polishing fluid passing from the central fluid passage through the plurality of passages to the outside edge of the polishing surface.   e.) providing flow restriction passages within the plurality of passages, wherein the flow restriction passages are adjacent to the outside edge of the polishing surface, wherein the flow restriction passages are defined by varying depth portions;   f.) restricting fluid flow through the plurality of passages by the flow restriction passages.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a.) polishing with the polishing wheel until the flow restriction passages are worn down to a predetermined level;   b.) reforming the flow restriction passages to a greater depth with a cutting tool, wherein the reformed flow restriction passages have a reduced area relative to the plurality of passages.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a) polishing with the polishing wheel until the reformed flow restriction passages are worn to a predetermined level;   b) further reforming the flow restriction passages to a greater depth with a cutting tool, wherein the further reformed flow restriction passages have a reduced area relative to the plurality of passages.   
   
   
       17 . A method of forming a polishing wheel comprising:
 a.) providing a disk-shaped polishing wheel including:
 i.) a body; 
 ii.) a polishing surface; 
 iii.) a central fluid passage through the body; 
   b.) cutting a plurality of main radial flutes extending from the central fluid passage to an outer edge of the polishing surface, wherein the main radial flutes include a varying depth portion adjacent to the outer edge.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the varying depth portion is curved. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of main radial flutes are equally spaced about the central fluid passage. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising cutting a plurality of secondary radial flutes extending from adjacent to the central fluid passage but not in fluid communication with the central fluid passage, the secondary radial flutes extending to the outer edge, wherein the secondary radial flutes include a varying depth portion adjacent to the central fluid passage. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of main radial flutes are equally spaced about the central fluid passage, wherein the plurality of secondary radial flutes are equally spaced about the central fluid passage, wherein the plurality of main radial flutes and the plurality of secondary radial flutes alternate around the central fluid passage. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the varying depth portion of each of the main radial flutes is curved. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cutting steps for the main radial flutes and the secondary radial flutes include cutting the body with a rotating circular saw perpendicularly positioned relative to the polishing surface. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising providing an indexing machine for holding the body, and moving the indexing machine to equally space the main radial flutes and the secondary radial flutes. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cutting steps for the main radial flutes and the secondary radial flutes include cutting the body with a rotating circular saw perpendicularly positioned relative to the polishing surface. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising providing an indexing machine for holding the body, and moving the indexing machine to equally space the main radial flutes and the secondary radial flutes. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of recutting only a portion of the main radial flutes adjacent to the outer edge, after the polishing surface is partially worn away during polishing.