Cooling Device For A Rotating Polishing Disk

Abstract

A cooling device for a rotating machine has a fan assembly coupled with a backing plate. A hub, on the backing plate, secures the cooling device with a shaft. The backing plate includes one or more vents to enable air to exit the cooling device. The fan includes an opening to enable air to enter the cooling device. A chamber is formed between the fan assembly and the backing plate. During rotation, air is drawn into the opening. The air is passed into the chamber and exits through the vents to cool a work surface or working pad attached to the backing plate.

Claims

1. A cooling device for a rotating machine comprising: a fan assembly coupled with a backing plate; the backing plate including one or more vents to enable air to exit the cooling device; the fan assembly including an opening to enable air to enter the cooling device, the fan assembly further comprising a housing plate having one or more naca ducts defining the opening for accelerating air that enters the cooling device; a chamber formed between the fan assembly and the backing plate; and during rotation, air is drawn through the one or more naca ducts into the chamber forcing the air into the chamber and raising the air pressure and the air exits out the one or more vents in the backing plate to cool a work surface or working pad attached to the backing plate.

2. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein a backing plate hub projects through an aperture in the fan assembly.

3. The cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising a foam pad attached to the backing plate.

4. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the fan assembly is of a one piece construction.

5. The cooling device according to claim 1 wherein the one or more naca ducts include an angled base with walls extending from the base and an opening at an end of the base.

6. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the housing plate is coupled with the backing plate forming the chamber therebetween.

7. A rotating polishing machine comprising: a housing; a handle on the housing; a motor positioned in the housing; a rotating shaft extending from the motor; and a cooling device comprising: a fan assembly coupled with a backing plate; the backing plate including one or more vents to enable air to exit the cooling device, a hub on the backing plate for securing the cooling device with the shaft; the fan assembly including an opening to enable air to enter the cooling device the fan assembly including an opening to enable air to enter the cooling device, the fan assembly further comprising a housing plate having one or more naca ducts defining the opening for accelerating air that enters the cooling device; a chamber formed between the fan assembly and the backing plate; and during rotation, air is drawn through the one or more naca ducts into the chamber forcing the air into the chamber and raising the air pressure and the air exits out the one or more vents in the backing plate to cool a work surface or working pad attached to the backing plate.

8. The rotating machine according to claim 7, wherein the hub projects through an aperture in the fan assembly.

9. The rotating machine according to claim 7, further comprising a foam pad attached to the backing plate.

10. The rotating machine according to claim 7, further comprising a foam pad attached to the backing plate.

11. The rotating machine according to claim 7, wherein the housing is of a one piece construction.

12. The cooling device according to claim 7 wherein the one or more naca ducts include an angled base with walls extending from the base and an opening at an end of the base.

13. The cooling device according to claim 7, wherein the housing plate is coupled with the backing plate forming the chamber therebetween.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0011] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotating tool with a cooling device.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view partially in perspective of the cooling device.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective partially cross-section view of the cooling device.

[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective of the vanes view of FIG. 3.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rotating tool with a second embodiment of the cooling device.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view partially in perspective of the cooling device.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 along line 7-7 thereof.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 along line 8-8 thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in detail in the following description.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a random orbital machine. The machine 10 is operable by plugging a power delivery device 12, which, in this case, is an electrical cord. A switch may be depressed that energizes a motor 14 that causes a drive shaft 16 to rotate. A cooling device 20 is illustrated attached to a backing plate 22 that are rotatably secured with the shaft 16.

[0022] The backing plate 22 includes a drive hub 24 that attaches the backing plate 22 to the spindle or rotating shaft 16. The backing plate 22 includes a foam pad 26 with a plurality of hook and loop fasteners 28 that enable the foam pad to attach a polishing pad. Also, the foam pad 26 includes a plurality of vents or apertures 30 that enable air to flow through the cooling device 20.

[0023] The backing plate 22 has an overall cylindrical shape with the hub 24 being elevated in this design at the center of the backing plate 22. The backing plate 22 also includes a side flange 32 with a step 34 to receive the fan assembly 40 of the cooling device 20.

[0024] The fan assembly 40 includes a housing or inlet shroud 42. The inlet shroud 42 has an overall circular ring shape with a flange 44 that meshes with the step 32 of the backing plate 22. The shroud 42 includes an opening 46 to enable air to enter into the fan assembly 40. A separating plate 48 is positioned above a surface 54 of the backing plate 22. This forms a chamber 50 between the backing plate 22 and the fan assembly 40.

[0025] A plurality of vanes 52 is positioned between the shroud 42 and the separating plate 48. The vanes 52 direct air entering through the opening 46 through the shroud 42 into the chamber 50 and out through the apertures 30. The shroud 42 includes a circular wall 56 that extends between the flange 44 and the opening 46. Additionally, a flange 58 extends upwardly from the wall 56 to define the opening 46. The vanes 52 are positioned between the wall 56 and the separating plate 48.

[0026] The separating plate 48 is circular and includes an aperture 49 to enable passage of the hub 24. The separating plate 48 extends radially towards the shroud flange 44 to provide a gap 55 between the two to enable passage of air.

[0027] The vanes 52 have an airfoil shape with a rounded end 60 and a terminating sharp edge 62. The rounded end 60 is positioned adjacent the opening 46. Thus, the airfoil shaped vanes 52 draw the air into the opening 46 and direct the air toward the flange 44. The air moves or travels between the separating plate 48 and the underside of wall 56 to the radial end of the separating plate 48. This enables the air to be accelerated and move from the opening 46 between the separating plate 48 and wall 56 through gap 55 into the chamber 50.

[0028] As the air enters into the opening 46, the vanes 52 accelerates the air. As the air moves into the chamber 50, the air pressure rises due to the acceleration of the air and the boundary of the chamber 50. The air in the chamber 50 is then accelerated out through the vents or apertures 30. As the air exits the apertures 30, the air enters into the polishing pad and appears at the work surface. This, in turn, enables the polishing pad as well as the work surface to be cooled by the air.

[0029] The fan assembly 40 may be a multi-piece construction or a one piece injection molded formed part. This enables rapid connection with a backing pad 22.

[0030] Turning to FIGS. 5-8, a second embodiment of the fan assembly of the cooling device 20 is shown. The elements with like features are shown with numerals increased by 100.

[0031] The cooling device 120 is illustrated attached to a backing plate 122 that are rollably secured with the shaft 16. The backing plate 122 includes a drive hub 124 that attaches the backing plate 122 to the spindle or rotating shaft 16.

[0032] The backing plate 122 includes a foam pad 126 with a plurality of hook and loop fasteners 28 that enable the foam pad to attach a polishing pad.

[0033] The foam pad 126 also includes a plurality of vents or apertures 130 that enable air to flow through the cooling device. The backing plate 122 has an overall circular cylindrical ring shape with the hub 24 being elevated in this design at the center of the backing plate 122. The backing plate 122 also includes a side flange 132 with a step 134 to receive the fan assembly 140 of the cooling device 120.

[0034] The fan assembly 140 includes a plate 142 having an overall circular ring design which enables the plate 142 to fit in the step 134 as well as to abut the hub 124. The plate 140 includes one or more naca ducts 144. The naca ducts 144 are formed to the plate 140. The naca ducts 144 may include a base 146, walls 148 and an opening 149. The base 146 is usually angled from the surface of the plate 142 towards the opening or aperture 149. The naca duct 144 acts as a scoop to provide a low drag air inlet design. Thus, as the cooling device 120 is rotated, air is forced into the chamber 50. The chamber 50 is formed between the plate 142 and the backing plate 122. Additionally, tabs 142 hold the plate 140 onto the backing plate 122.

[0035] As the fan assembly 120 is rotated, air is accelerated along the naca duct 144 into the opening 149. As this occurs, the air moves into the chamber 150. The air pressure raises due to the acceleration of the air and the boundary of the chamber 150. The air in the chamber 150 is then accelerated out through the vents or apertures 130. As the air exits the apertures 130, the air enters into the polishing pad and appears at the work surface. This, in turn, enables the polishing pad, as well as the work surface, to be cooled by the air. The fan assembly 140 may be a multi-piece construction or a one piece injection molded form part. This enables rapid connection with the backing pad 122.

[0036] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.