Apparatus for and method of processing an edge of a tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10052736-B2
Application number	US-201715598920-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2017
Priority date	Oct 2, 2013
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A method for processing an edge of a tube using an abrading apparatus is disclosed. The abrading apparatus includes a rotational symmetry axis and a chassis comprising an input side, an output side opposite the input side, and an input coupler on the input side of the chassis. The input coupler is coaxial with the rotational symmetry axis. The abrading apparatus also includes a centering member, coupled to the output side of the chassis and coaxial with the rotational symmetry axis, and abrasive members, coupled to the output side of the chassis. The abrasive members define an abrasive face radially spaced outwardly from and generally symmetric about the rotational symmetry axis and facing in a direction generally parallel to the rotational symmetry axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of processing an edge of a tube, the tube having a symmetry axis and a central cavity, the method comprising:
providing an abrading apparatus, comprising a rotational symmetry axis, a chassis, a centering member, and abrasive members, wherein:
the centering member is coupled to the chassis and is coaxial with the rotational symmetry axis of the abrading apparatus,
the centering member is a non-abrasive disc, having a non-metallic circumferential surface,
each of the abrasive members is rotatably supported by the chassis such that a rotational axis of each of the abrasive members is parallel and non-collinear to the rotational symmetry axis of the abrading apparatus, and
each of the abrasive members comprises an abrasive face; coaxially aligning the chassis with the symmetry axis of the tube,
wherein, after coaxially aligning, the abrasive face of each of the abrasive members is offset from the symmetry axis of the tube and is perpendicular the symmetry axis of the tube; and

urging the abrasive face and the edge of the tube against each other while rotating the chassis and the tube relative to each other.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling the chassis to a hand-held rotary power source.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the hand-held rotary power source is one of a hand drill or a pneumatic driver.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the chassis comprises an input coupler, comprising a shank, and wherein coupling the chassis to the hand-held rotary power source comprises inserting the shank of the input coupler into a drive of the hand-held rotary power source.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the chassis comprises a plurality of bearings, and
wherein each of the abrasive members comprises a stem, coupled to one of the plurality of bearings, thereby rotatably supporting each one of the abrasive members relative to the chassis.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the chassis comprises a plurality of magnets, each of the plurality of magnets magnetically engaging the stem of each of the abrasive members.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the chassis comprises a plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of grooves being engaged by a ball detent of the stem of each of the abrasive members.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive face of each of the abrasive members is perpendicular to the rotational symmetry axis of the abrading apparatus.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotational symmetry axis of the abrading apparatus is non-coincident with the abrasive face of any one of the abrasive members.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the centering member inside the central cavity, thereby coaxially aligning the chassis with the symmetry axis of the tube.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the centering member is a non-abrasive disc, having a non-metallic circumferential surface.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein, after positioning the centering member inside the central cavity, the rotational symmetry axis of the abrading apparatus is coincident with the symmetry axis of the tube.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the centering member is rotatably coupled to the chassis.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the abrading apparatus further comprises an output shaft, rotatably coupling the centering member to the chassis.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the abrading apparatus further comprises a bearing, rotatably coupling the output shaft to the centering member or rotatably coupling the output shaft to the chassis.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the output shaft is fixed relative to the chassis, and
the centering member is rotatably coupled to the output shaft.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein:
the output shaft is fixed relative to centering member, and
the output shaft is rotatably coupled to the chassis.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the centering member comprises a shank, directly coupled to the chassis.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein abrasive elements of abrasive members are filamentary.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the centering member is detachably coupled to the chassis.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Mcgeary Mark E

Classifications

• B24B9/007 Primary

  for end faces of tubes · CPC title

• B24D13/145

  having a brush-like working surface · CPC title

• B24D13/20

  Mountings for the wheels · CPC title

• B24B23/028

  Angle tools · CPC title

• B24B27/0076

  grinding machines comprising two or more grinding tools · CPC title