Rock tumbling method and apparatus

Abstract

After three or four abrasive rock tumbling steps with successively finer and finer adhesive, the rocks are tumbled with pieces of an elastomer, for example plastic foam. The plastic foam may be pulyurethane foam. The result is a higher polish than could be achieved by prior abrasive and finishing approaches.

1 . A method comprising the steps of:
 placing rocks, water, and abrasive of a first grit are placed into a first container;   operating the first container for a period of time of at least one day, thereby moving the rocks, thereby yielding rocks that have reached a first processing state;   placing some of the resulting rocks, along with water and abrasive of a second grit into a second container, the abrasive of the second grit being finer than the abrasive of the first grit;   operating the second container for a period of time of at least one day, thereby moving the rocks, thereby yielding rocks that have reached a second processing state;   placing some of the resulting rocks along with water and abrasive of a third grit into a third container, the abrasive of the third grit being finer than the abrasive of the second grit;   operating the third container for a period of time of at least one day, thereby moving the rocks, thereby yielding rocks that have reached a third processing state;   placing some of the resulting rocks from the preceding step, along with pieces of an elastomer, into yet another container;   operating this container for a period of time of at least one day, thereby moving the rocks, thereby yielding rocks that have reached a final processing state.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising first and second intermediate steps, the first and second intermediate steps taking place between the step of operating the third container and the step of placing some of the resulting rocks from the preceding step, along with pieces of elastomer, into yet another container;
 the first intermediate step comprising placing some of the resulting rocks from the previous step, along with water and abrasive of a fourth grit, into a fifth container, the abrasive of the fourth grit being finer than the abrasive of the third grit; 
 the second intermediate step comprising operating the fifth container for a period of time of at least one day, thereby moving the rocks, thereby yielding rocks that have reached a further processing state. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first container, second container, third container and fourth container are the same container. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of placing some of the resulting rocks from the preceding step, along with pieces of an elastomer, into yet another container further comprises placing water into the container. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each container is a drum, and wherein the operating of the container comprises rotating the drum, and wherein the moving of the rocks comprises tumbling the rocks. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each container is a tub, and wherein the operating of the container comprises vibrating the tub, and wherein the moving of the rocks comprises vibrating the rocks. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step, performed after the step of operating the container with the pieces of an elastomer, of allowing the pieces of an elastomer to dry before storage. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the elastomer is an elastomer foam, whereby the pieces of an elastomer are pieces of elastomer foam. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the elastomer foam is plastic foam, whereby the pieces of an elastomer foam are pieces of plastic foam. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the plastic foam is polyurethane foam, whereby the pieces of plastic foam are pieces of polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pieces of an elastomer have a durometer value in the range of of 0 to 80 Shore00 Durometer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pieces of an elastomer have a size in the range of 0.8 cubic centimeters to 8 cubic centimeters. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pieces of an elastomer are pieces of elastomer foam, the pieces of elastomer foam having a size in the range of 0.8 cubic centimeters to 8 cubic centimeters, the pieces of elastomer foam having a durometer value in the range of of 0 to 80 Shore00 Durometer. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the pieces of elastomer foam are plastic foam. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the pieces of plastic foam are polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus comprising a package, the package no larger than 0.2 cubic meters, the package containing a multiplicity of pieces of polyurethane foam, the pieces of polyurethane foam having a size in the range of 0.8 cubic centimeters to 8 cubic centimeters, the pieces of polyurethane foam having a durometer value in the range of of 0 to 80 Shore00 Durometer.