US3377753A - Polishing wheel - Google Patents

Description

April 16, 1968 c. G. PECK 3,377,753

POLISHING WHEEL Filed Jan. 7. 1965 INVENTOR Garza? 6? Pack ATTORNEYS United States Patent This invention relates generally to polishing or finishing wheels of the type comprising a plurality of radially directed, abrasive-bearing sheets secured together at their radially inner ends to define a generally cylindrical hub, and arranged to be mounted on a driven shaft. More particularly, it relates to a polishing wheel of the type described, designed so that a plurality thereof can be as sembled in side'by-side relationship to provide a polishing wheel assembly which will have a greater number of abrasive-bearing sheets on the periphery thereof than is possible on a single polishing or finishing wheel of like construction and diameter.

Abrasive polishing and finishing devices of many types have been devised for use on metals, wood and other materials to provide finished surfaces free from imperfections. Among the abrasive devices which have been used are abrasive coated cloth or paper, utilized in the form of either a wheel or a moving belt, loose abrasive applied to a set-up wheel, and abrasive-impregnated grinding wheels. These and other like abrasive devices have been used on hand tools, jack stands, back-up stands, swing frame grinders, automatic grinding wheels, fiat polishing machines, and other like apparatus.

Experience has shown that various diiliculties are sometimes connected with the use of many commonly employed abrasive polishing and finishing devices. For example, a set-up wheel frequently is not uniform in the loading of abrasive, and at times will place deep scratches in the surface being finished. The abrasive-coated belt, for another example, suffers the disadvantage that in use the abrasive soon becomes loaded with removed material, and thus loses its cutting ability; further, as the abrasive on the belt becomes loaded with removed material, excessive heating frequently results which, in turn, tends to burnish the work surface.

A polishing wheel formed from a plurality of radially directed, abrasive-bearing sheets of cloth or the like is one of the most desirable and effective abrasive devices for polishing or finishing many materials. The sheets are secured together at their inner ends to define a generally cylindrical hub, and the resultant wheel is mounted upon a driven shaft. Such a polishing wheel when used on steel and other metals, for example, removes a minimum of metal in producing a finished surface and has little or no tendency to scratch the work surface. In addition, the abrasive on such a polishing wheel does not tend to be come loaded with removed metal, and the operating temperature thereof is, consequently, lower than for an abrasive belt.

The effectiveness of a polishing wheel such as that just described is primarily dependent upon the amount of abrasive that comes into contact with the work surface. In the past, the only way in which effectiveness of such a polishing wheel could be improved was to increase either the speed of revolution or the diameter of the wheel, or both, both of which have certain disadvantages.

In a polishing wheel made up of a plurality of radially directed sheets joined together at their inner ends to define a generally cylindrical hub, it is evident that for any given internal hub diameter and any given sheet thickness, only a certain, predetermined number of sheets can be mounted on the wheel. It is because of this inherent limitation on the number of sheets which can be assembled into a polishing Wheel that it has been necessary, until this invention, to increase the speed of rotation and/ or ice the diameter of the wheel to obtain a. desired increase in the amount of abrasive which engages the work surface.

According to the present invention, however, the previous inherent limitation to the number of sheets mounted on the periphery, or work surface engaging portion, of a polishing wheel has been overcome, whereby the number of abrasive-bearing sheets at the periphery of a polishing Wheel assembly can be, at least, doubled. This invention provides a polishing wheel assembly of greatly increased aggressiveness, or cutting ability, over heretofore known polishing wheel assemblies of the same size operated at the same speed of rotation. Further, by greatly increasing the number of sheets at the outer periphery, the polishing wheel assembly provided by the invention is made more dense than heretofore possible, which also enhances aggressiveness, or cutting ability. The polishing wheel assembly of the invention compares in effectiveness with an abrasive belt in removing metal, but avoids the hereinabove described undesirable characteristics of such belts.

In its simplest form, the polishing wheel assembly of the invention comprises a pair of polishing wheels mounted in side by side, abutting relationship. Each wheel is comprised of a plurality of radially directed, abrasive-bearing sheets connected together at their inner ends to define a generally cylindrical hub. The sheets are wider at their outer portions than they are at the hub, usually by a factor of 2, and the radially outer portions of each wheel project toward the other Wheel and are interleaved, preferably alternately, with the sheets on the other wheel. The result is a polishing wheel assembly having twice as many sheets on the radially outer, or work surface engaging, portion thereof than has previously been possible.

The polishing wheel assembly of the invention can be employed on hand tools, swing grinders, and all manner of polishing and finishing devices. Moreover, the assembly need not be limited to two wheels in side-by-side relationship but may be extended to include a greater number of individual polishing wheels.

A polishing wheel assembly made up of a large number of individual polishing wheels, made according to the teachings of the invention, can be readily utilized for a wide, flat polishing operation. At present, such an operation is normally performed by a wide, abrasive-coated cloth or paper belt, which is driven over a rubber covered contact roll that is mounted in a fixed position and is only free to revolve. Directly below the rubber covered roll is a billy roll, usually of steel, which has as its purpose to exert pressure against the underside of the material that is to be polished to cause the top surface of such material to contact the abrasive-coated belt. Abrasive-coated belts for this purpose, like other abrasivecoated belts, tend to load up with removed material and, thus, lose their effectiveness.

It is usually not desirable to assemble a number of ordinary polishing wheels in side-by-side relationship to form an elongated polishing wheel to do wide surface polishing, as the joints between the polishing wheels will result in lines or streaks on the work surface. Further, because of mechanical problems, it is normally not possible to make a single, conventional polishing wheel with an axial length sufficiently long so that :a single polishing wheel can do the job. An elongated polishing Wheel assembly for wide surface polishing can be made up according to the teachings of the present invention, however, and such an assembly is superior both in performance and life expectancy to the conventional abrasive-coated belt.

In this embodiment of the invention, a pair of the novel polishing wheels described above are employed at the ends of the assembly, with their wider, radially outer sheet portions projecting towards each other. Disposed between these end wheels is one, or more, other polishing wheel having outer peripheral sheet portions which project axially of the wheel beyond both end faces of its hub, all of the wheels having the same external diameter. All of the radially outer sheet portions on all of the polishing wheels are interleaved, and the resultant polishing wheel assembly, which is, in effect, an elongated roll of uniform diameter and with an unbroken surface, will effectively remove material without becoming loaded with removed material, and without leaving streaks or lines.

Because the abrasive-coated sheets in polishing wheel assemblies made according to the present invention are interleaved with each other, there are no joints or other discontinuties between the wheels. This feature prevents the formation of streaks or lines when several of the polishing wheels of the invention are assembled for Wide surface polishing. The wheels are usually held in interleaved relationship by clamping the opposite ends of the assembly, although the frictional engagement between the interleaved sheets also holds the wheels assembled. To further insure that the outer sheet portions will not shift relative to each other during use, the inner portions of the interleaved sheets can be secured together by use of a suitable adhesive.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a polishing wheel including a plurality of radially directed, abrasive-bearing sheets secured together at their inner ends, and constructed so that a plurality thereof can be assembled in side-by-side, abutting relationship to provide a polishing wheel assembly having a substantially greater number of abrasive-bearing sheet portions on the periphery thereof than has heretofore been possible for a similar polishing wheel assembly of like size.

Another object is to provide a polishing wheel including a plurality of radially directed, abrasive bearing sheets, and constructed so that a plurality thereof can be assembled in side-by-side relationship to provide an elongated polishing wheel assembly for wide surface polishing which will not streak or line the work surface.

A further object is to provide a polishing wheel assembly which will be more dense and aggressive for a given diameter and speed of rotation than present wheels of like size operated at like speeds, and which is economical to construct and possessed of a relatively long life expectancy.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description, when taken in consideration with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of a polishing wheel assembly constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modified embodiment of the invention, wherein a plurality of polishing wheels are assembled together to form an elongated polishing wheel assembly;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the sheets of one of the wheels of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the sheets from the middle wheel of the polishing wheel assembly of FIG. 3.

The polishing wheels of the invention are made from a suitable cloth, paper or other sheet material, which has been coated on one or both sides with an abrasive of suitable coarseness. The manner in which such abrasivecoated sheets are manufactured is known, and such does not constitute a part of this invention. Preferably, when the material of the sheets is cloth, the invidiual sheets for the polishing wheels of the invention are cut on the bias, to prevent tearing and shredding when in use. The

abrasive-bearing sheets of the wheel can be of the kind which are left dry when engaged with material to be finished, or they can be of the kind to which Water, oil, or other liquids are applied when in use.

Referring now to the drawings, a first embodiment of the polishing Wheel assembly of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and comprises a pair of polishing wheels 2 and 4. The wheels 2 and 4 are constructed in an identical manner, and hence a description of one will sullice for both.

The polishing wheel 2 comprises a plurality of abrasivecoated sheets or leaves 6, all of uniform thicknes throughout, the configurations of all which are identical. Each of the sheets 6 includes a radially inner, or hub, portion 8, and a radially outer portion 10. The radially inner or hub portions 8 of the sheets 6 have aligned bores 12 therein, within which is received an annular core 14, which can be made from steel or some other suitable material. The sheets have slits 15 in their inner edges leading to the bores 12, to facilitate assembly on the ring or core 14. The sheets 6 are first assembled onto the annular core 14, and the radially inner portions 8 thereof are then secured together by a suitable adhesive (indictaed at 16 in FIG. 1 for the polishing wheel 4) to define a generally cylindrical hub 13.

The opposite end faces 20 and 22 of the cylindrical hub 18 of the polishing wheel 2 are radial and extend parallel to each other, and each end face has an annular groove 24 therein. The axially outer side edges 26 of the sheets 6 lie in the same radial plane as the associated hub end face 2i). The inner diameter of the hub 18 is relatively large, and it is apparent that the number of sheets 6 which can be assembled into the polishing wheel 2 is limited by said inner hub diameter and by the thickness of the sheets 5. For any given thickness of the sheets 6, as the inner diameter of the hub 18 is increased the number of sheets 6 in the wheel 2 can be correspondingly increased, and vice versa.

The radial outer portions 10 of the sheets 6 are substantially wider than the axial length of the hub 18. Preferably, the outer sheet portions 10 will have a width equal. to the combined axial length of the hub 18 and the hub of a mating polishing wheel; assuming both such hubs are identical, then the width of the outer sheet portions 16 will be twice the axial length of the hub 18. The axially inner edge 28 of each sheet 6 includes an outer radial portion 30 which extends parallel to the sheet edge 26, and an angled portion 32, which extends to the end face 22 of the cylindrical hub 18 at an angle of about degrees.

Each of the sheets 6, thus, includes a portion 33 which projects outwardly from the hub end face 22 a distance preferably equal to the axial length of the hub of a mating polishing wheel. The projecting portions 33 are configured to be fully received between the sheets on a mating polishing wheel.

The polishing wheel 2 is intended to be mounted upon a driven shaft 34, and for this purpose n'zetal end plates 36 are mounted on the hub end faces fill and 22. The end plates 36 have annular ribs 38 thereon, which ribs are received within the annular grooves 24 in their associated end faces 26 or 22. The annular ribs 33 and the grooves 24 function to retain the end plates 36 concentrically on the hub end faces 20 and 22, and also help to secure the radially extending sheets or leaves 6 against radial displacement.

The shaft 34 includes a reduced diameter portion 4%, terminating at its inner end in a radial shoulder 42. The end plates 36 have centrally positioned bores 44 therethrough of a diameter just slightly larger than that of the reduced shaft portion re, and the wheel 2 can, thus, be mounted with the outer end plate 36 in engagement with the shoulder The outer end of the shaft 3 has threads 46 thereon, and a securing nut 48 and a washer 49 are received thereon.

The polishing wheel 4 is identical to the polishing wheel 2, and includes a plurality of radially extending sheets or leaves 50 secured together at their radially inner ends by adhesive 16 (FIG. 1) to define a cylindrical hub 52. The opposite end faces 54 and 56 of the hub 52 have annular grooves 58 therein, and end plates 60 having annular ribs 62 thereon are mounted on said end faces. The inner ends of the sheets 50 have centrally positioned bores 64 therethrough for receiving an annular core ring 66.

The sheets 50 include radially outer portions 68, which are substantially wider than the axial length of the cylindrical hub 52. The axially outer side edges 70 of the sheets 50 lie in the same radial plane as the end face 54 of the cylindrical hub 52, and the inner side edge of each sheet 50 includes an outer portion 72 that extends parallel to the outer side edge 70, and an angled portion 74. The sheets 50, thus, include axially projecting portions 75 corresponding to the portions 33 on the sheets 6, the portions 75 preferably projecting from the hub end face 56 a distance equal to the axial length of the hub on an adjacent polishing wheel.

It will be noted that the polishing wheels 2 and 4 are, in fact, identical when the sheets thereof are coated on both sides with an identical abrasive. When mounted on the shaft 34 to form a polishing wheel assembly, however, the wheels 2 and 4 are mounted so that the outer side edges 26 and 70 face oppositely and so that the sheet portions 33 and 75 project toward each other.

If the sheets of the wheels 2 and 4 are coated with abrasive on only one side, or with different abrasives on opposite sides, then separate right and left hand wheels must be made.

To make a polishing wheel assembly according to the invention, the polishing wheel 2 is first mounted on the shaft 34-, which shaft is connected to suitable driving apparatus. The polishing wheel 4 is then moved onto the shaft 34, and the projecting sheet portions 33 and 75 are then interleaved, preferably in an alternate manner, with the sheets on the opposite polishing wheel. The two polishing wheels 2 and 4 are then moved axially together until the confronting end plates 36 and 60 are in abutting engagement. Referring in particular to FIG. 2, it will be noted that when the polishing wheels 2 and 4 are thus assembled, the interleaved radially outer sheet portions on the two wheels will be coextensive, so that there will be twice the number of individual sheet portions, or leaves, on the periphery of the polishing wheel assembly than at either of the cylindrical hubs 18 and 52. said outer sheet portions extending axially for the combined lengths of said hubs.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that whereas the inner ends of adjacent radially directed sheets 50 on the wheel 4 (the same being true for the sheets 6 on the wheel 2) are in direct contact, said adjacent sheets are separated at the periphery of the polishing wheel 4. The gap or space between adjacent sheets 50 or 6 is tapered from the cylindrical hubs 18 or 52 on the wheels toward the outer periphery of said wheels. It is because this tapered space is inherently present between the outer portions of the radially directed sheets 6 and 50, which are of uniform thickness throughout, that it is possible to construct a polishing wheel assembly according to the invention. The projecting portions 33 and 75 on the radially outer portions of the sheets 6 and 50 in the invention are readily receivable in the spaces between adjacent sheets on the opposite wheel, and the resultant polishing wheel assembly is substantially more dense and less flexible than is true of either the wheel 2 or the wheel 4 individually. The result is that the aggressiveness or cutting ability of the polishing wheel assembly shown in FIG. 2 is substantially greater than that of the individual polishing wheels 2 and 4.

In FIG. 2, the inner edge outer portions 30 on the sheets 6 are not shown to extend completely to the outer edges on the sheets 50, nor are the .inner edge outer portions 72 on the sheets 50 shown to extend completely to the outer edges 26 on the sheets 6. It is to be understood that this has been done in the drawings only for purposes of clarity, and that in an actual embodiment it is preferable that the outer portions of the sheets 6 and 50 be completely coextensive when the polishing wheels 2 and 4 are in assembled relationship.

The polishing wheel assembly of FIG. 2 is suitable for use on small or individual workpieces, and because the number of abrasive-bearing sheets on the periphery thereof is substantially twice that which has been previously obtainable in polishing wheels, the agressiveness or cutting ability thereof is greatly increased. However, the polishing wheel assembly of FIG. 2 still retains the desirable characteristics of polishing wheels of this type, in that the abrasive on the sheets will not become unduly loaded with removed material, and operating tempera tures will not exceed acceptable limits.

The concept of the invention also includes the making of an elongated polishing wheel assembly having an unbroken external surface, for use in finishing wide surfaces. Such an elongated polishing wheel assembly is shown in FIG. 3, wherein is illustrated a shaft 76 including a reduced diameter portion 78 that terminates at its outer end in a threaded portion 80. Mounted on the reduced diameter shaft portion 78, in axially spaced relationship, are a pair of polishing wheels 2 and 4. Positioned between the polishing wheels 2 and 4 on the shaft portion 78 is a third polishing wheel 82, comprising a plurality of radially directed sheets 84 secured together at their inner ends by suitable adhesive (not shown) to define a cylindrical hub 86. The inner ends of the sheets 84 have bores 88 therethrough for the reception of an annular core ring 90, and the axial end faces 92 and 94 of said hub 86 extend radially and have annular grooves 96 therein. End plates 5 8, having annular ribs 100 there on, are mounted on the end faces 92 and 94, and are employed to mount the polishing wheel 82 on the shaft portion 78. All of the wheels 2, 4 and 82 are identical in external diameter.

The axial length of the cylindrical hub 86 is equal to the combined axial lengths of the cylindrical hubs 18 and 52. The radially outer portions 102 of the sheets 84 have a width equal to about twice the axial length of the hub 86, and the opposite, radially outer side edge portions 104 and 106 thereof are parallel, and are spaced equal distances axially outwardly from their associated hub end faces 92 and 94 to define axially projezting sheet portions 105 and 107. The radially outer edge portions 104 and 106 are connected to their associated end faces 92 and 94 by angled edge portions 108 and 110, respeetiiely, which extend at an angle of about 45 degrees.

The polishing wheel assembly of FIG. 3 is made up by first putting the polishing wheel 2 on the shaft port on 78. The polishing wheel 82 is then placed on said shaft portion, and the projecting sheet portions 107 on the polishing wheel 82 are then interleaved, preferably in an alternate manner, with the sheets 6 on the polishing wheel 2. The polishing wheels 82 and 2 are then moved axially together until the confronting end plates 36 and 98 are in abutting engagement. The polishing wheel 4 is then placed on the shaft portion 76, and the projecting sheet portions thereof are then interleaved, preferably in an alternate manner, with the sheets 84 on the pol'sh ng whecl 82. The polishing wheel 4 is then moved axially toward the polishing wheel 82 until the confronting end plates 60 and 98 are in abutting engagement. A Washer 112 and nut 114 are then placed on the threaded outer end portion of the shaft 76, to secure the polishing wheels of the assembly in place.

In the polishing wheel assembly of FIG. 3, like in the polishing wheel assembly of FIG. 2, the radially outer portions of the sheets 6, 50 and 84 are not shown to be coextensive for purposes of clarity, although in an actual embodiment said sheets would be coextensive and the edge portions 30 and 72 of the sheets 6 and 50, respectively, on the polishing wheels 2 and 4 would be in engagement. While only one polishing wheel 82 is shown in H6. 3, it is understood that any number thereof could be placed between the polishing wheels 2 and 4 to provide a polishing wheel assembly of substantially any desired axial length, assuming a shaft 76 of the necessary length ani with a diameter sutficient to provide the necessary strength and rigidity.

An elongated polishing wheel assembly such as that shown in FIG. 3 will not form streaks or lines on a workpiece, for the reason that there are no joints or discontinuities between adjacent polishing wheels. The wheels are held in assembled relationship by the nut 114 and washer 112, and in addition the abrasive-bcaring, interleaved sheets 6, 5t) and 84 frictionally engage each other, which thus tends to prohibit any substantial radial or lateral slippage which might cause unevenness in the outer surface of the polishing wheel assembly. To further ensure the interleaved sheets will remain properly assembled, a spot of suitable adhesive can be placed between the interleaved sheets on adjacent wheels near their associated cylindrical hubs to secure them together. It should be noted also that because the sheets 6, 5t and 84 are coextensive with each other in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly will have the same density and firmness at all points along its length; this feature of the invention also contributes to the production of a smooth and even finished surface.

The sheets comprising the polishing wheels 2, 4 and 82 of the invention can be interleaved with each other by any desirable apparatus, or this can be done manually if desired. While the individual, radially directed sheets comprising each of the polishing wheels in the invention are shown to be secured together at their inner ends both by adhesive and an annular core ring, it is to be understood that other methods for securing said inner ends could be substituted without departing from the teachings of the invention. Further, it is to be understood that the sheets of the polishing wheels might vary somewhat from the configurations shown, without departing from the inventive concept herein described.

The polishing wheels of the invention, depending upon the abrasive used, can be utilized to finish metals, plastic, 4

wood, and any other like materials. The elongated assembly of FIG. 3 is especially suitable for finishing Wide surfaces, in that it avoids the disadvantages of abrasive belts, While the even and unbroken surface thereof ensures that there will be no streaks in the finished surface.

Thus, the assembly of FIG. 3 can be used to great advantage on flat metallic surfaces, or on plywood sheets or other wood materials, to provide a very smooth and even finished surface.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A polishing wheel assembly, comprising: at least two polishing wheels arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of said wheels including a plurality of radially extending sheets secured together at their inner ends to define a hub, the radially outer portions of said sheets being substantially wider than the inner portions thereof, and the radially outer portions of the sheets on one wheel being interleaved with the radially outer portions of the sheets on the other wheel.

2. A polishing wheel assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the radially outer portions of the sheets on one wheel are substantially coextensive with the radially outer portions of the sheets on the other wheel.

3. A polishing wheel assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the radially outer portions of the sheets on one 8 wheel are substantially wider than the radially outer portions of the sheets on the other wheel.

4. A polishing wheel assembly, comprising: a pair of polishing wheels arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of said wheels including a plurality of radially extending sheets secured together at their inner ends to define a hub, the radially outer portions of the sheets on at least one of said wheels being substantially wider than the portions of said sheets disposed adjacent the hub of said one wheel and projecting axially beyond the hub of said one wheel toward the other of said wheels, said radially outer sheet portions on said one wheel being interleaved with the radially outer portions of the sheets on the other of said wheels.

5. A polishing wheel assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the radially outer portions of the sheets on both of said wheels are wider than the portions of said sheets disposed adjacent the hubs associated therewith, and wherein the radially outer portions on said wheels project toward and are interleaved with each other.

6. A polishing wheel assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the radially outer sheet portions on one wheel are substantially coextensive with the radially outer sheet portions on the other wheel with which they are interleaved.

7. A polishing wheel assembly as recited in claim 5, including at least one additional polishing wheel disposed between the wheels of said pair in side-by-side relationship, said additional wheel including a plurality of radially extending sheets secured together at their inner ends to define a hub, the radially outer portions of the sheets on said additional wheel projecting axially beyond the hub of said additional wheel on both sides thereof and toward the sheets on the wheels of said pair, the radially outer portions of the sheets on said additional wheel being interleaved with the radially outer portions of the sheets on both wheels of said pair of wheels.

8. A polishing wheel structure for mounting in sidebyside relationship with a second similar polishing wheel structure, comprising: a plurality of radially extending sheets secured together at their radially inner ends to define a hub, the radially outer portions of said sheets having a width substantially greater than the width of the radially inner ends of said sheets, and projecting axially of said wheel beyond at least one end face of said hub a distance at least equal to about one-half the width of the radially inner ends of said sheets, said axially projecting sheet portions being of a size for interleaving in substantial overlapping relationship with the axially oppositely directed outer portions of the sheets of a second similar polishing wheel mounted in side-by-side relationship.

9. A polishing wheel structure as recited in claim 8, wherein the radially outer portions of said sheets project beyond said one hub end face a distance about equal to the width of the radially inner ends of said sheets at said hub.

10. A polishing wheel structure as recited in claim 8, wherein the radially outer portions of said sheets project axially of said wheel a distance at least equal to about one-half the width of the radially inner ends of said sheets beyond both end faces of said hub for interleaving in substantial overlapping relationship with the sheets of similar polishing wheels abutted against the opposite ends of said hub.

11. A polishing wheel structure as recited in claim 8, wherein the opposite end edges of said radially outer sheet portions lie in radial planes that are parallel to each other.

12. A polishing wheel assembly, comprising: a pair of polishing wheels arranged in side-by-side relationship, each of said wheels including a plurality of radially extending sheets secured together at their inner ends to define a hollow cylindrical hub, the axial lengths of said hubs being about equal and the confronting end faces on said hubs being disposed immediately adjacent each other, the radially outer portions of said sheets on both of said wheels having a width equal to about twice the axial length of their associated hubs, the opposite, axially outer end edges of said outer portions lying in generally the same radial planes as their associated axially outermost hub end faces, and the radially outer portions of the sheets on one wheel being interleaved with the radially outer portions of the sheets on the other wheel.

13. A polishing wheel assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the inner ends of said sheets on each wheel are received on an annular core ring which passes through bores provided in said sheets.

14. A polishing wheel assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the end faces on each of said hubs have annular grooves therein, and including additionally an annular end plate mounted on each said end face, said end plates each having an annular rib thereon received within its associated annular groove.

15. A polishing wheel assembly, comprising: a pair of polishing wheels arranged in side-by-side, spaced apart relationship, each of said pair of wheels including a plurality of radially extending sheets secured together at their inner ends to define a hollow cylindrical hub, the

radially outer portions of the sheets on said pair of wheels being wider than their associated hubs and projecting toward each other beyond the confronting end faces of said hubs; at least one additional polishing wheel disposed between the polishing wheels of said pair in side-by-side relationship, said additional wheel including a plurality of radially directed sheets secured together at their inner ends to define a hub, the opposite end faces of said hub on said additional wheel being disposed immediately adjacent the confronting end faces of the hub on said polishing wheels of said pair, the radially outer portions of the sheets on said additional Wheel projecting toward said pair of wheels beyond the and faces of the hub of said additional wheel a distance about equal to the axial length of the hub of the wheel toward which they project, the combined lengths of the confronting projecting outer portions of the sheets on the wheels of said pair being about equal to the axial length of the hub of said additional wheel, and the sheets on all three of said wheels being interleaved.

16. A polishing wheel assembly, comprising: a shaft;

a pair of polishing wheels arranged in side-by-side, spaced apart relationship on said shaft, each of said pair of wheels including a plurality of radially extending sheets secured together at their inner ends to define a hollow cylindrical hub, the radially outer portions of the sheets on said pair of wheels being wider than their associated hubs and projecting toward each other beyond the confronting end faces of said hubs; at least one additional polishing wheel on said shaft disposed between the polishing Wheels of said pair in side-by-side relationship, the external diameters of all of said polishing wheels being the same, said additional wheel including a plurality of radially directed sheets secured together at their inner ends to define a hollow cylindrical hub, the opposite end faces of said hub on said additional wheel being disposed immediately adjacent the confronting end faces of the hubs on said polishing wheels of said pair, the radially outer portions of the sheets on said additional Wheel projecting axially toward said pair of wheels beyond the end faces of the hub of said additional wheel a distance about equal to the axial length of the hub of the wheel toward which they project, the combined lengths of the confronting projecting outer portions of the sheets on the Wheels of said pair being about equal to the axial length of the hub of said additional wheel, and the sheets on all three of said wheels being interleaved.

17. A polishing wheel assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein the end faces of the hubs on all of said wheels have annular grooves therein, and including additionally an end plate mounted on each hub end face, said end plates having openings therethrough to receive said shaft, and having annular ribs thereon which are received with the annular grooves on their associated. hub end faces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,651,894 9/1953 Leggett 5l337 2,802,315 8/1957 Block 51-337 2,907,145 10/1959 Hall 51-337 2,948,090 8/ 1960 Klingspor 5 1-337 3,206,786 8/1965 Sax 5l-337 X ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

D. G. KELLY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A POLISHING WHEEL ASSEMBLY, COMPRISING: AT LEAST TWO POLISHING WHEELS ARRANGED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP, EACH OF SAID WHEELS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING SHEETS SECURED TOGETHER AT THEIR INNER ENDS TO DEFINE A HUB, THE RADIALLY OUTER PORTIONS OF SAID SHEETS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY WIDER THAN THE INNER PORTIONS THEREOF, AND THE RADIALLY OUTER PORTIONS OF THE SHEETS ON ONE WHEEL BEING INTERLEAVED WITH THE RADIALLY OUTER PORTIONS OF THE SHEETS ON THE OTHER WHEEL.

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