초록 ▼

A glass grinding apparatus includes a base, a support grid mounted on the base to carry a work piece for grinding, a fluid holder disposed below the support grid, a drive shaft for rotating a grinding bit above the support grid, a power source for rotating the drive shaft, a fluid applicator for app

A glass grinding apparatus includes a base, a support grid mounted on the base to carry a work piece for grinding, a fluid holder disposed below the support grid, a drive shaft for rotating a grinding bit above the support grid, a power source for rotating the drive shaft, a fluid applicator for applying irrigation fluid to a grinding bit mounted on the drive shaft, and a splash protector adapted for connection to the grinding apparatus adjacent to the drive shaft to trap irrigation fluid and grinding debris sludge that are spun off from the grinding bit as it is rotated during grinding operations. The fluid applicator is formed as a fluid transfer brush that wicks irrigation fluid from the fluid holder to the grinding bit. The splash protector is formed with a channel member carrying a hanging curtain that contacts or is closely spaced from the support grid. The curtain is formed by one or more drape elements selected from the group consisting of fibers, bristles, strips of defined width, and sheet material. It is flexible enough to allow a work piece to be maneuvered past the splash protector during grinding operations.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A grinding apparatus, comprising:a base; an apertured support grid mounted on said base and adapted to support a work piece for grinding; a fluid holder disposed below said support grid; a drive shaft for rotating a grinding bit working portion above said support grid; a power source for rotating

1. A grinding apparatus, comprising:a base; an apertured support grid mounted on said base and adapted to support a work piece for grinding; a fluid holder disposed below said support grid; a drive shaft for rotating a grinding bit working portion above said support grid; a power source for rotating said drive shaft; a fluid applicator for applying irrigation fluid to a grinding bit mounted on said drive shaft; a splash protector adapted for connection to said grinding apparatus at location which is adjacent to said drive shaft to trap irrigation fluid and grinding debris sludge that are spun off from a grinding bit that is rotated by said drive shaft during grinding operations, and to return said fluid and sludge to said fluid holder; and said splash protector being configured to maintain fluid barrier effectiveness even as a work piece passes rearwardly by said splash protector during grinding operations. 2. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said splash protector comprises a curtain member.3. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said splash protector comprises a curtain member connected to a bendable supporting channel member that allows said splash protector to be bent into varying configurations.4. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said splash protector is configured so that a lower edge thereof is work piece conformable.5. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein splash protector is configured so that an upper edge thereof will be positioned at or above a highest point of a grinding bit working portion when said splash protector is operatively mounted on said grinding apparatus and a grinding bit is operatively mounted on said drive shaft.6. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said splash protector is configured with a lateral dimension that allows it to substantially span said support grid when said splash protector is operatively mounted on said grinding apparatus.7. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said splash protector is configured with a rigid upper edge and a flexible lower edge that conformably deflects when contacted by a work piece undergoing grinding to thereby allow the work piece to pass by when said splash protector is operatively mounted on said grinding apparatus while maintaining fluid barrier effectiveness.8. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said splash protector comprises one or more drape elements selected from the group consisting of fibers, bristles, strips of defined width, and sheet material.9. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including a support column adapted to mount said splash protector to said support grid.10. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said support column includes a clip adapted for removable connection to said splash protector and at least one post for engaging said support grid.11. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said post is provided by one or more detachable mounting adaptors that are selectively mountable to said support column.12. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 9, further including a support column extension piece adapted to mount to said support column, an eye shield holder adapted to mount to said extension piece, and an eye shield adapted to mount to said eye shield holder.13. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 9, further including a secondary support grid adapted to mount on said support grid and receive a work piece for high-detail grinding against a secondary grinding bit, and wherein said support column is configured so that said splash protector may be positioned in contact with or closely spaced from said secondary support grid.14. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fluid applicator comprises a fluid transfer brush comprising plural fibers or bristles adapted to wick irrigation fluid from said fluid holder into contact with a grinding bit mounted on said drive shaft.15. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said fluid applicator further includes a brush holder adapted to secure said brush fibers or bristles and a brush housing adapted to mount said brush to said grinding apparatus.16. A method for using a grinding apparatus having a base, an apertured support grid mounted on the base and adapted to support a work piece for grinding, a fluid holder disposed below the support grid, a rotatable grinding bit having a working portion extending above the support grid, a power source for rotating the grinding bit, and a fluid applicator for applying irrigation fluid to the grinding bit, the method comprising the steps of:connecting a splash protector to the grinding apparatus so that the splash protector is located adjacent to the grinding bit, the splash protector being configured so that it maintains effective splash protection even as a work piece passes rearwardly by the splash protector during grinding operations; rotating the grinding bit at operational speed; placing a work piece on the support grid; grinding the work piece using the grinding bit while irrigation fluid is applied to the grinding bit via the fluid applicator; and using said splash protector to trap irrigation fluid and grinding debris sludge that are spun off from the grinding bit as it rotates, and directing the irrigation fluid via said splash protector to the fluid holder. 17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said splash protector is configured as a curtain member.18. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said splash protector is configured as a curtain member connected to a bendable supporting channel member that allows said splash protector to be bent into varying configurations.19. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said splash protector is connected so that a lower edge thereof will be in contact with a work piece as it passes by said splash protector.20. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said splash protector is connected so that an upper edge thereof will be positioned at or above a highest point of the working portion of the grinding bit.21. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said splash protector is connected so that it substantially spans the support grid.22. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said splash protector is configured with a rigid upper edge and a flexible lower edge that conformably deflects, when contacted by a work piece undergoing grinding to thereby allow the work piece to pass by said splash protector while maintaining fluid barrier effectiveness.23. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said splash protector comprises one or more drape elements selected from the group consisting of fibers, bristles, strips of defined width, aid sheet material.24. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said splash protector is connected using a support column adapted to mount said splash protector to the support grid.25. A method in accordance with claim 24, wherein said support column includes a clip adapted for removable connection to said splash protector and at least one post for engaging the support grid.26. A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein said post is provided by one or more detachable mounting adaptors that are selectively mountable to said support column.27. A method in accordance with claim 24, further including mounting an eye shield to the grinding apparatus using said support column.28. A method in accordance with claim 24, further including mounting a secondary support grid on the support grid and placing a work piece thereon for high-detail grinding against a secondary grinding bit, and wherein said support column is configured so that said splash protector may be positioned in contact with or closely spaced from said secondary support grid.29. A grinding apparatus, comprising:abase; an apertured support grid mounted on said base and adapted to support a work piece for grinding; a fluid holder disposed below said support grid; a drive shaft for rotating a grinding bit working portion above said support grid; a power source for rotating said drive shaft; and a fluid applicator for applying irrigation fluid to a grinding bit mounted on said drive shaft, said fluid applicator comprising a fluid transfer brush comprising plural fibers or bristles adapted to wick irrigation fluid from said fluid holder into contact with a grinding bit mounted on said drive shaft. 30. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 29, wherein said fluid applicator comprises a brush housing adapted to mount said brush to said grinding apparatus.31. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 30, wherein said brush housing surrounds a media position of said brush.32. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 31, wherein said brush housing surrounds a medial portion of said brush.33. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 30, wherein said brush housing supports a lower end portion of said brush.34. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 30, wherein said brush housing is adapted to mount said fluid applicator to said support grid.35. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 34, wherein said grinding apparatus comprises means for adjustably mounting said fluid applicator to said support grid.36. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 30, wherein said brash housing is adapted to mount said fluid applicator to said fluid holder.37. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 36, wherein said brush housing is in said fluid holder.38. A finding apparatus in accordance with claim 29, wherein said brush comprises hollow tubules.39. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 38, wherein said hollow tubules comprise polyester.40. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 29, wherein said fluid applicator comprises a brush holder adapted to secure said brush fibers or bristles in a bundle.41. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 40, wherein said brush holder comprises a ferrule structure.42. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 40, wherein said brush holder comprises a hardened epoxy structure formed around said bundle.43. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 40, wherein said brush holder is located at an end of said brush.44. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 40, wherein said brush holder is situated on a portrait of said brush that is adapted to be placed in contact with said irrigation fluid.45. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 44, wherein said fluid applicator comprises a brush housing in said fluid bolder that supports said brush holder.46. A grinding apparatus, comprising:abase; an apertured support grid mounted on said base and adapted to support a work piece for grinding, a fluid holder disposed below said support grid; a drive shaft for rotating a grinding bit working portion above said support grid; a power source for rotating said drive shaft; a housing for supporting a fluid applicator for applying irrigation fluid to a grinding bit mounted on said drive shaft; said housing being adapted to support a fluid applicator of the comprises a fluid transfer brush comprising plural fibers of bristles adapted to wick irrigation fluid from said fluid holder into contact with a grinding bit mounted on said drive shaft. 47. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 46, wherein said housing is on said support grid.48. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 47, wherein said housing is adapted to carry medial portion of a fluid applicator.49. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 46, wherein said housing is in said fluid holder.50. A grinding apparatus in accordance with claim 46, wherein said housing is adapted to carry a lower portion of a fluid applicator.