Masking tool system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12179307-B2
Application number	US-202017063989-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2020
Priority date	Apr 13, 2018
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

A masking tool system includes a first masking body and a second masking body. The first masking body includes a bore passing through a portion of the first masking body and a first sealing element disposed on a first end of the first masking body. The second masking body includes a bore passing through the second masking body and a second sealing element disposed on a first end of the second masking body. The system may also include a rod configured to pass through the bores of the first and second masking bodies and to secure the first and second masking bodies to a metallic article placed therebetween. A diagonal length of the masking tool system induces a wobbling rotation during processing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of applying an isotropic superfinish to a portion of a metallic article, the method comprising:
masking a portion of the metallic article with a masking tool system, the masking tool system comprising a diagonal length;
placing the masking tool system into a pocket defined by adjacent baffles within a bowl of an isotropic superfinish system, each of the adjacent baffles comprising a midpoint along a radial length thereof, a distance between the midpoints defining a midpoint distance between the adjacent baffles; and
wherein the diagonal length is greater than the midpoint distance between the adjacent baffles.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the masking tool system moves within the pocket with a wobbling rotational movement during processing of the metallic article by the isotropic superfinish system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the masking tool system comprises:
a first masking body comprising:
a bore passing through a portion of the first masking body; and
a first sealing element disposed on a first end of the first masking body;

a second masking body comprising:
a bore passing through the second masking body; and
a second sealing element disposed on a first end of the second masking body; and

a rod passing through the bores of the first and second masking bodies and to secure the first and second masking bodies to a metallic article placed therebetween.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the masking tool system comprises:
a first end body comprising:
a bore passing through the first end body; and
a first sealing element disposed on a first end of the first end body;

a second end body comprising:
a bore passing through the second end body; and
a second sealing element disposed on a first end of the second end body;

a first endcap coupling to the first end body and comprising a third sealing element providing a seal between the first endcap and the first end body;
a second endcap coupling to the second end body and comprising a fourth sealing element providing a seal between the second endcap the second end body; and
a rod passing through the bores of the first and second end bodies and to secure the first and second end bodies to a metallic article placed therebetween.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first masking body further comprises:
a main body on which the first sealing element is disposed;
an endcap coupling to the main body that threadably attaches to the rod; and
the bore passing through the portion of the first masking body passing completely through the main body and not passing completely through the endcap.

6. The method of claim 3 , the second masking body comprising a recessed bore housing a nut such that the nut is recessed from an end of the second masking body when the nut is secured to the rod.

7. The method of claim 6 , comprising securing, by a wedge-lock washer and a nut disposed on the rod, of the rod to the second masking body.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein each of the first sealing element and the second sealing element each comprise o-ring glands with o-rings.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a width of each o-ring gland is between about 87% to about 101% of a cross-section of each o-ring gland's corresponding o-ring.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein diameters of ends of the first masking body and the second masking body are larger than a diameter of a hole in a baffle used in an isotropic superfinish system with which the masking tool system is used.

11. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
a spacer body configured to be position between the first end body and the second end body; and
wherein the masking tool system is configured to secure a first metallic article between the first end body and a first side of the spacer body and a second metallic article between the second end body and a second side of the spacer body.

12. The method of claim 4 , wherein each of the first sealing element, the second sealing element, the third sealing element, and the fourth sealing element comprises an o-ring gland and an o-ring.

13. The method of claim 4 , wherein each of the first sealing element, the second sealing element, the third sealing element, and the fourth sealing element seals off a masked portion of the metallic article to prevent the masked portion from coming into contact with a chemical solution.

14. The method of claim 3 , wherein a width of each o-ring gland is between about 87% to about 101% of a cross-section of each o-ring gland's corresponding o-ring.

15. The method of claim 4 , further comprising a pin that extends from the first endcap into the first end body to prevent rotation of the first endcap relative to the first end body.

16. The method of claim 4 , wherein diameters of ends of the first and second endcaps are larger than a diameter of a hole in a baffle used in an isotropic superfinish system with which the masking tool system is used.

Assignees

• Bell Textron Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Larson Michael Scott Lee
• Walker Jr Roland L
• Vance Mark Philip
• Meyer James Joseph
• Michaels Jr Edward P

Classifications

• B24B31/0224

  the workpieces being fitted on a support · CPC title

• B24B31/003

  whereby the workpieces are mounted on a holder and are immersed in the abrasive material · CPC title

• B24B31/108

  involving a sectioned bowl, one part of which, e.g. its wall, is stationary and the other part of which is moved, e.g. rotated · CPC title

• B24B1/04

  subjecting the grinding or polishing tools, the abrading or polishing medium or work to vibration, e.g. grinding with ultrasonic frequency (involving oscillating or vibrating containers B24B31/06; superfinishing surfaces on work, e.g. by means of abrading blocks reciprocating with high frequency, B24B35/00) · CPC title

• B24B31/12

  Accessories; Protective equipment or safety devices; Installations for exhaustion of dust or for sound absorption specially adapted for machines covered by group B24B31/00 {(in general B24B55/00)} · CPC title