Adjustable Stroke Mechanism For Random Orbital Machine

Abstract

An adjustable stroke mechanism for a random orbital machine including a housing having a wall enclosing a cavity, an adjuster ring surrounding the housing and having a first set of gear teeth along a first portion of an inner surface, and a second set of gear teeth along a second portion of the inner surface, a counterweight having gear teeth on an exterior surface disposed within the housing, and a bearing carriage having gear teeth disposed within the housing. At least one counterweight gear that meshes with the gear teeth of the counterweight and the first set of gear teeth of the adjuster ring, and at least one bearing carriage gear that meshes with the gear teeth of the bearing carriage and the second set of gear teeth of the adjuster ring, so that movement of the adjuster ring causes movement of both the counterweight and the bearing carriage.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An adjustable stroke mechanism for providing a random orbital machine comprising:
 a housing having a wall enclosing a cavity;   at least one counterweight movably disposed within the housing;   a mounting assembly disposed within the housing, the mounting assembly including a mechanism to attach to a workpiece;   a stroke adjustor linking the at least one counterweight with the mounting assembly, the stroke adjustor enabling the counterweight and mounting assembly to move with respect to one another such that a distance between the counterweight and the mounting assembly is variably adjusted which, in turn, variably adjusts a stroke radius of the mechanism to attach the workpiece with respect to an axis of the housing.   
     
     
         22 . The adjustable stroke mechanism of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the stroke adjustor includes an adjuster ring surrounding the wall of the housing, the adjuster ring having a first set of gear teeth along a first portion of an inner surface of the adjuster ring and a second set of gear teeth along a second portion of the inner surface of the adjuster ring;   the counterweight has a cutout slot and a set of gear teeth along an exterior surface;   a first rotatable part disposed between the counterweight and the adjuster ring and meshing with the first set of gear teeth of the adjuster ring and the set of gear teeth of the counterweight so that rotation of the adjuster ring causes movement of the counterweight;   the mounting assembly including a bearing carriage disposed within the housing, the bearing carriage has an orifice and a set of gear teeth along an exterior surface;   a second rotatable part disposed between the bearing carriage and the adjuster ring within another of the plurality of apertures in the wall of the housing, the second rotatable part meshing with the second set of gear teeth of the adjuster ring and the set of gear teeth of the bearing carriage so that rotation of the adjuster ring causes movement of the bearing cage.   
     
     
         23 . The adjustable stroke mechanism of  claim 21 , the mechanism for attaching the workpiece further comprising a bearing axle, the bearing axle extending through the housing, through the orifice of the bearing carriage, and into a cutout slot of the counterweight. 
     
     
         24 . The adjustable stroke mechanism of  claim 23 , further comprising at least one bearing surrounding the bearing axle and the at least one bearing disposed within the orifice of the bearing carriage. 
     
     
         25 . The adjustable stroke mechanism of  claim 21 , further comprising a locking plate for engaging the mechanism for attaching the workpiece to lock the locking plate in position. 
     
     
         26 . The adjustable stroke mechanism of  claim 25 , wherein the locking plate further comprising an orifice and a tab, the tab engaging a slot in the mechanism for attaching the workpiece for locking the stroke adjuster. 
     
     
         27 . The adjustable stroke mechanism of  claim 25 , wherein the locking plate includes an orifice, with a locking section, and at least one extending arm for coupling the locking plate with the housing. 
     
     
         28 . A method of adjusting a stroke of a random orbital machine comprising:
 coupling an adjustable stroke mechanism to a random orbital machine, the adjustable stroke mechanism comprising:   a housing having a wall enclosing a cavity;   at least one counterweight movably disposed within the housing;   a backing plate mount assembly disposed within the housing; the backing plate mount assembly including a mechanism for attaching to a workpiece;   a stroke adjustor linking the at least one counterweight with the mounting assembly, the stroke adjustor enabling the counterweight and mounting assembly to move with respect to one another such that a distance between the counterweight and the mounting assembly is variably adjusted which, in turn, variably adjusts a stroke radius of the mechanism to attach the workpiece with respect to an axis of the housing.