SLIDING WHEEL GUARDS FOR BENCH GRINDERS

Abstract

An assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder and a method for manufacturing an assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder are provided. The assembly includes a fixed guard, a sliding guard, and a locking device. The fixed guard is mounted around the grinding wheel and has an opening that provides access to the grinding wheel. The sliding guard is disposed over the fixed guard and designed to slide over the fixed guard to cover or uncover the opening. The locking device is designed to fix a position of the sliding guard relative to the fixed guard. The position of the sliding guard spans from a first position, which corresponds to complete covering of the opening of the fixed guard by the sliding guard, to a second position, which corresponds to complete uncovering of the opening of the fixed guard by the sliding guard.

Claims

1. An assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder, the assembly comprising: a fixed guard mounted around the grinding wheel and having an opening, the opening providing access to the grinding wheel; a sliding guard disposed over the fixed guard and designed to slide over the fixed guard to cover or uncover the opening; and a locking device designed to fix a position of the sliding guard relative to the fixed guard.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: the sliding guard includes a groove; and the fixed guard includes a rib designed to receive the groove.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the position spans from a first position to a second position, the first position corresponding to complete covering of the opening of the fixed guard by the sliding guard and the second position corresponding to complete uncovering of the opening of the fixed guard.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: the sliding guard has a slot; and the locking device is partially disposed in the slot.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spark plate mounted at an end of the sliding guard, the spark plate being positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the sliding guard.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein a distance between an edge of the spark plate and an edge of the opening is adjustable.

7. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising an eye shield pivotally mounted onto the spark plate.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein an angle between the spark plate and the eye shield is adjustable.

9. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising a locking mechanism to fix the angle between the spark plate and the eye shield.

10. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the eye shield is made of a transparent material.

11. A method for manufacturing an assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder, the method comprising: providing a fixed guard mounted around the grinding wheel and having an opening, the opening providing access to the grinding wheel; providing a sliding guard disposed over the fixed guard and designed to slide over the fixed guard to cover or uncover the opening; and providing a locking device designed to fix a position of the sliding guard relative to the fixed guard.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein: the sliding guard includes a groove; and the fixed guard includes a rib designed to receive the groove.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the position spans from a first position to a second position, the first position corresponding to complete covering of the opening of the fixed guard by the sliding guard and the second position corresponding to complete uncovering of the opening of the fixed guard.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein: the sliding guard has a slot; and the locking device is partially disposed in the slot.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a spark plate mounted at an end of the sliding guard, the spark plate being positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the sliding guard.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a distance between an edge of the spark plate and an edge of the opening is adjustable.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing an eye shield pivotally mounted onto the spark plate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein an angle between the spark plate and the eye shield is adjustable.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a locking mechanism to fix the angle between the spark plate and the eye shield.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the eye shield is made of a transparent material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder, according to an example embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder, according to an example embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing an assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder, according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] The following detailed description of embodiments includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. Approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section. The drawings show illustrations in accordance with example embodiments. These example embodiments, which are also referred to herein as examples, are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. The embodiments can be combined, other embodiments can be utilized, or structural, logical, and operational changes can be made without departing from the scope of what is claimed. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0014] Generally, the embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder. The assembly may include a fixed guard, a sliding guard disposed over the fixed guard, and a locking device for the sliding guard. The fixed guard may be mounted around the grinding wheel. The fixed guard may have an opening that provides access to the grinding wheel. The sliding guard may be designed to slide over the fixed guard to cover and uncover the opening. The locking device may be configured to fix a position of the sliding guard relative to the fixed guard.

[0015] The assembly for guarding the grinding wheel of the bench grinder may enclose the unused grinding wheel for safety purposes. Moreover, the assembly may enable controlling the size of the opening near the active grinding wheel, thereby offering better adjustability for the active grinding wheel. Accordingly, the assembly may enhance safety by reducing exposure to rotating components and provide improved control over spark reflection during grinding operations.

[0016] The assembly may be used both in bench grinders equipped with two grinding wheels and dual-function machines having a grinding wheel on one side and a sanding belt on the opposite side of the machine. In both types of machines, the assembly may act as a wheel guard system that can safely enclose the unused grinding wheel or regulate the opening size of the working grinding wheel, thereby enhancing operator safety and ensuring more efficient operation.

[0017] Referring now to the drawings, various embodiments are described in which like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. It should be noted that the reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples outlined in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder, shown as an assembly 102, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the assembly 102, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a bench grinder 104 equipped with two grinding wheels 106 positioned on opposite ends of the bench grinder 104. The assembly 102 may be installed on each of the grinding wheels 106 of the bench grinder 104.

[0019] The assembly 102 may include a fixed guard 108 mounted around the grinding wheel 106. The fixed guard 108 may have an opening 110 that may provide access to the grinding wheel 106. In an example embodiment, the opening 110 may have a curvilinear shape.

[0020] In an example embodiment, the fixed guard 108 may include one or more fixed guard portions 112 connected to each other and forming the U-shaped fixed guard 108. The U-shape of the fixed guard 108 may enable the fixed guard 108 to accommodate the grinding wheel 106 in a space created between the fixed guard portions 112. In an example embodiment, the assembly 102 may have one or more fixing members 130 for coupling the fixed guard portions 112 to each other.

[0021] The assembly 102 may further include a sliding guard 114 disposed over the fixed guard 108. The sliding guard 114 may be configured to slide over the fixed guard 108 to cover or uncover the opening 110. The assembly 102 may further include a locking device 116 configured to fix a position of the sliding guard 114 relative to the fixed guard 108.

[0022] In an example embodiment, the sliding guard 114 may have a U-shape corresponding to the U-shape of the fixed guard 108. Accordingly, the inner U-shape of the sliding guard 114 may match the outer U-shape of the fixed guard 108. The sliding guard 114 may be placed over the fixed guard 108 so that two side surfaces 202 of the fixed guard 108 act as sliding surfaces for the sliding guard 114, thereby enabling the sliding guard 114 to slide over the fixed guard 108.

[0023] In an example embodiment, the sliding guard 114 and the upper portion of the fixed guard 108 onto which the sliding guard 114 is placed may have a substantially arc shape to correspond to the circular shape of the grinding wheel 106 located inside the fixed guard 108.

[0024] The position of the sliding guard 114 may span from a first position to a second position. The first position corresponds to complete covering of the opening 110 of the fixed guard 108 by the sliding guard 114. The second position corresponds to complete uncovering of the opening 110 of the fixed guard 108 by the sliding guard 114. FIG. 1 shows the sliding guard 114 in the first position (with complete covering of the opening 110 by the sliding guard 114) on the right side of the bench grinder 104 and shows the sliding guard 114 in the second position (with complete uncovering of the opening 110 by the sliding guard 114) on the left side of the bench grinder 104.

[0025] In an example embodiment, the sliding guard 114 may include a groove 118. As shown in FIG. 2, the fixed guard 108 may include a rib 204 designed to receive the groove 118. In an example embodiment, the rib 204 may be stamped on the side surface 202 of the fixed guard 108 to provide a sliding track for the sliding guard 114.

[0026] In an example embodiment, the rib 204 may be stamped along a portion of length of the fixed guard 108. The rib 204 may have a rib end 206 at least at one end of the rib 204.

[0027] The groove 118 may be stamped along a portion of length of the sliding guard 114. The groove 118 may have a groove end 120 at one end of the groove 118. The groove end 120 may act as a stop for sliding movement of the sliding guard 114. Specifically, upon moving the sliding guard 114 to the second position, in which the opening 110 of the fixed guard 108 is completely uncovered by the sliding guard 114, the groove end 120 may rest upon the rib end 206, thereby preventing further sliding of the sliding guard 114 along the rib 204.

[0028] In an example embodiment, the rib 204 and the groove 118 may have a substantially arc shape to correspond to the substantially arc shape of the fixed guard 108 and the sliding guard 114.

[0029] In an example embodiment, the sliding guard 114 may have a slot 122. The slot 122 may be arranged along a side 124 of the sliding guard 114. The slot 122 may be arranged along a portion of length of the sliding guard 114. In an example embodiment, the slot 122 may have a substantially arc shape to correspond to the substantially arc shape of the sliding guard 114.

[0030] The locking device 116 may be partially disposed in the slot 122 to fix the sliding guard 114 in any position relative to the fixed guard 108. In an example embodiment, the locking device 116 may include a threaded rod 126 with a knob 128 and a nut (obscured in FIGS. 1 and 2). The nut can be welded to the internal side of the fixed guard 108, with the internal side facing the grinding wheel 106. An opening can be positioned in the fixed guard 108 to allow access to the nut from the external side of the fixed guard 108, the external side facing the sliding guard 114. The threaded rod 126 can be inserted through slot 122 of the sliding guard 114 and into the opening in the fixed guard 108 to connect with the nut. The threaded rod 126 may be threaded into the nut until the knob 128 reaches a position in which the knob 128 contacts the edges of the slot 122. Accordingly, tightening of the locking device 116 may press the knob 128 towards the edges of the slot 122, i.e., towards the sliding guard 114, and loosening of the locking device 116 may result in moving the knob 128 away from the edges of the slot 122, i.e., away from the sliding guard 114.

[0031] The sliding guard 114 may be in the first position with the locking device 116 being tightened to keep the sliding guard 114 immovable. To slide the sliding guard 114 into the second position (or any intermediate position between the first position and the second position), the locking device 116 may be loosened, and the sliding guard 114 may be pushed along the rib 204 of the fixed guard 108 until the sliding guard 114 reaches the desired position. Upon reaching, by the sliding guard 114, the desired position, the locking device 116 may be tightened to keep the sliding guard 114 in place.

[0032] In an example embodiment, the assembly 102 may further include a spark plate 132. The spark plate 132 may be used to direct the sparks away and shield the operator from sparks generated during the grinding process. The spark plate 132 may minimize the risk of accidental contact and reduce the chance of burns or eye injuries.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the sliding guard 114 may have a flange 208 extending from the end 134 of the sliding guard 114. The spark plate 132 may be mounted at an end 134 of the sliding guard 114. Specifically, the spark plate 132 may be connected to the flange 208 of the sliding guard 114. The spark plate 132 may be positioned at a predetermined angle 136 with respect to the sliding guard 114. The predetermined angle 136 may correspond to an angle connecting the flange 208 to the end 134 of the sliding guard 114.

[0034] A distance 138 between an edge 140 of the spark plate 132 and an edge of the opening 110 may be adjustable. When the diameter of the grinding wheel 106 is worn and becomes smaller, the mount of the spark plate 132 can be adjusted to always keep a proper clearance between the spark plate 132 and the outer surface of the grinding wheel 106.

[0035] To configure the spark plate 132 to be adjustable with respect to the opening 110, one or more mounting slots 142 may be provided along the length of the spark plate 132. The mounting slots 142 may extend along a predetermined portion of length of the spark plate 132. One or more fastening elements 144 may be inserted into the mounting slot 142 and used to fix the spark plate 132 to the flange 208 of the sliding guard 114. Upon loosening or unscrewing the fastening elements 144, the spark plate 132 may be moved along the mounting slot 142 in a direction towards an edge 146 if the grinding wheel 106 is worn out or in a direction outwards from edge 146 if a new full-size grinding wheel 106 is installed.

[0036] In an example embodiment, the assembly 102 may further include an eye shield 148. The eye shield 148 may be pivotally mounted onto the spark plate 132. For example, the eye shield 148 may be pivoted to a top edge of the spark plate 132. An angle 150 between the spark plate 132 and the eye shield 148 may be adjustable.

[0037] The assembly 102 may further include a locking mechanism 152 to fix the angle 150 between the spark plate 132 and the eye shield 148. In an example embodiment, the locking mechanism 152 may include a thumb screw, a locking bolt, or other similar locking element. By using a threaded bolt or screw (often with a wing nut or knob), the eye shield 148 can pivot freely with respect to the spark plate 132 when the threaded bolt or screw is loose. Once in position, tightening the threaded bolt or screw locks the eye shield 148 in place.

[0038] In an example embodiment, the eye shield 148 may be made of a transparent material to allow the operator a clear view of the grinding process while providing protection from sparks and debris. The materials used for the transparent eye shield 148 may be both impact-resistant and heat-resistant. Example materials used for the transparent eye shield 148 may include tempered glass, polycarbonate, and other materials.

[0039] In an example embodiment, the eye shield 148 may have a magnification lens 154 positioned in the center of the eye shield 148 where the view of the operator is focused. The magnification lens 154 may allow the operator to see finer details without needing additional magnification tools.

[0040] In an example embodiment, the assembly 102 may further include an illumination unit 156 for illumination of a working area. The illumination unit 156 may be connected to the bench grinder 104.

[0041] In an example embodiment, the assembly 102 may further include a tool rest table 158. The tool rest table 158 may be used to support a workpiece, allowing the operator to hold the workpiece steadily against the grinding wheel 106. This stability minimizes vibration and reduces the risk of the workpiece slipping, which can lead to inaccuracies or even injuries.

[0042] The tool rest table 158 may be adjustable to move towards or outwards from the axis of the grinding wheel 106. Specifically, the tool rest table 158 may have a side surface 160 with a slot 162 made in the side surface 160. The tool rest table 158 may further have a locking element 164 connected to the fixed guard 108 and inserted into the slot 162. Loosening the locking element 164 may permit the tool rest table 158 to slide along the slot 162. When the diameter of the grinding wheel 106 is worn and becomes smaller, the mount of the tool rest table 158 can be adjusted to always keep a proper distance between the tool rest table 158 and the outer surface of the grinding wheel 106. In some example embodiments, loosening the locking element 164 may permit the tool rest table 158 to rotate around the locking element 164 to change the angle of the tool rest table 158 with respect to the grinding wheel 106.

[0043] Though FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a bench grinder equipped with two grinding wheels positioned on opposite ends of the bench grinder, the assembly 102 may be used in a dual-function machine having a grinding wheel on one side and a sanding belt on the opposite side of the machine.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method 300 for manufacturing an assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder, according to an example embodiment. In some embodiments, the operations of the method 300 may be combined, performed in parallel, or performed in a different order. The method 300 may also include additional or fewer operations than those illustrated.

[0045] The method 300 may commence in block 302 with providing a fixed guard. The fixed guard may be mounted around the grinding wheel. The fixed guard may have an opening that provides access to the grinding wheel.

[0046] The method 300 may proceed in block 304 with providing a sliding guard. The sliding guard may be disposed over the fixed guard. The sliding guard may be configured to slide over the fixed guard to cover or uncover the opening. The sliding guard may include a groove. The fixed guard may include a rib configured to receive the groove.

[0047] The method 300 may further include providing, in block 306, a locking device. The locking device may be configured to fix a position of the sliding guard relative to the fixed guard. In an example embodiment, the sliding guard may have a slot. The locking device may be partially disposed in the slot. The position of the sliding guard may span from a first position to a second position. The first position may correspond to complete covering of the opening of the fixed guard by the sliding guard. The second position may correspond to complete uncovering of the opening of the fixed guard by the sliding guard.

[0048] The method 300 may further optionally include providing a spark plate. The spark plate may be mounted at an end of the sliding guard. The spark plate may be positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the sliding guard. A distance between an edge of the spark plate and an edge of the opening may be adjustable.

[0049] The method 300 may further optionally include providing an eye shield. The eye shield may be pivotally mounted onto the spark plate. An angle between the spark plate and the eye shield may be adjustable. The eye shield may be made of a transparent material.

[0050] The method 300 may further optionally include providing a locking mechanism to fix the angle between the spark plate and the eye shield.

[0051] Thus, an assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder and a method for manufacturing an assembly for guarding a grinding wheel of a bench grinder have been described. Although embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes can be made to these example embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.