Abrasive-containing element for multi-element abrasive tool, abrasive tool, and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

An abrasive-containing element has at least one pellet provided with an abrasive-containing layer and an abrasive-free layer, and at least one holding member having one end connected with the abrasive-free layer of the pellet and another opposite end introducible into a tool body for connecting the pellet to the tool body, and an abrasive tool has a plurality of such abrasive-containing elements connected to its tool body.

What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set in particular in the appended claims: 
     
         1 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An abrasive tool, comprising
 a tool body having an outer surface adapted to face an object to be machined; and   a plurality of abrasive-containing elements inserted into the tool body and each having an abrasive-containing layer and an abrasive-free layer, and at least one holding member having one end introduced in the abrasive-free layer and another opposite end introduced in the tool body to connect the abrasive-containing elements with the tool body,   wherein the abrasive-free layer of each of the abrasive-containing elements is introduced into the tool body, while the abrasive-containing layer of each of the abrasive-containing elements projects outwardly of the outer surface of the tool body and is located completely outside of the tool body,   wherein each of said abrasive-containing elements has an outer working surface of a curvilinear shape,   wherein said one end of said at least one holding member has a surface which faces said outer working surface of each of said abrasive-containing elements and has a curvilinear shape substantially corresponding to the curvilinear shape of said outer working surface of each of said abrasive-containing elements.   
     
     
         8 . An abrasive tool of  claim 7 , wherein the abrasive-free layer of each of the abrasive-containing elements has a surface which faces the abrasive-containing layer and is coplanar with the outer surface of the tool body. 
     
     
         9 . An abrasive tool of  claim 7 , wherein the abrasive-free layer of each of the abrasive containing elements has a surface which faces the abrasive-containing layer and is located outwardly of the tool body at a distance from the outer surface of the tool body. 
     
     
         10 . An abrasive tool of  claim 7 , wherein at least some of the abrasive-containing elements have each more than one holding member and each of the holding members has one end connected with the abrasive-free layer and another opposite end introducible into the tool body. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing an abrasive tool, comprising the steps of
 providing a tool body having an outer surface adapted to face an object to be machined;   providing a plurality of abrasive-containing elements inserted into the tool body and each having an abrasive-containing layer and an abrasive-free layer, and at least one holding member having one end introduced in the abrasive-free layer and another opposite end introduced in the tool body to connect the abrasive-containing elements with the tool body; and   introducing the abrasive-free layer of each of the abrasive-containing elements into the tool body, so that the abrasive-containing layer of each of the abrasive-containing elements projects outwardly of the outer surface of the tool body and is located completely outside of the tool body   forming each of said abrasive-containing elements with an outer working surface of a curvilinear shape,   forming said one end of said at least one holding member with a surface which faces said outer working surface of each abrasive-containing elements and has a curvilinear shape substantially corresponding to the curvilinear shape of said outer working surface of each of said abrasive-containing elements.   
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing an abrasive tool of  claim 11 , further comprising arranging the abrasive-free layer of each of the abrasive-containing elements so that its surface which faces the abrasive-containing layer is coplanar with the outer surface of the tool body. 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing an abrasive tool of  claim 11 , further comprising arranging the abrasive-free layer of each of the abrasive containing elements so that its surface which faces the abrasive-containing layer is located outwardly of the tool body at a distance from the outer surface of the tool body. 
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing an abrasive tool of  claim 11 , further comprising providing at least some of the abrasive-containing elements each with more than one holding member so that each of the holding members has one end connected with the abrasive-free layer and another opposite end introducible into the tool body. 
     
     
         15 . An abrasive tool of  claim 7 , wherein the curvilinear shape of said outer working surface of each of said abrasive-containing elements and the corresponding curvilinear shape of said end of said holding member are selected from the group consisting of a convex shape and a concave shape. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing an abrasive tool of  claim 11 , and further comprising forming the curvilinear shape of said outer working surface of each of said abrasive-containing elements and the corresponding curvilinear shape of said end of said holding member as a shape selected from the group consisting of a convex shape and a concave shape.