Back to results
US 11,397,139 B2Granted
Metallographic grinder and components thereof
AssigneeLeco Corporation
InventorJohn Hauck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A platen for a metallographic grinder has an outer peripheral rim with an upper surface having a lower height. Also, fingers engaging a specimen are allowed to move laterally (i.e., wobble) to minimize the tipping forces on the specimen during the grinding process. Either one or both of these structures can be employed and results in a much flatter specimen surface for use in subsequent analysis.
Claims19
A metallographic grinder comprising:
- a base rotatably supporting a platen such that the platen may be rotated about an axis;
- and a head assembly positioned above said base and including a specimen holder for positioning at least one specimen in contact with said platen, said specimen holder having an opening through which the specimen is supported, wherein said opening is larger than the at least one specimen such that the specimen may move laterally within the opening, wherein said head assembly includes at least one flexible finger for selectively engaging said specimen to apply a force to said specimen against said platen, and wherein said at least one flexible finger can move laterally independent of said head assembly which allows the specimen within said specimen holder to move laterally with respect to said specimen holder during a grinding operation.
A metallographic grinder comprising:
- a base rotatably supporting a platen, said platen having a central area and an outer peripheral rim having an upper surface with a height lower than a height of an upper surface of said central area;
- and a head assembly positioned above said base and including a specimen holder for positioning at least one specimen in contact with said platen, said specimen holder having at least one opening through which a corresponding one of the at least one specimen is supported, wherein said opening is larger than the corresponding specimen such that the corresponding specimen may move laterally within the opening, wherein said head assembly includes at least one flexible finger corresponding to the at least one opening for selectively engaging the corresponding specimen to apply a force to the corresponding specimen against said platen, and wherein said at least one flexible finger can move laterally independent of said head assembly which allows the corresponding specimen within said specimen holder to move laterally with respect to said specimen holder during a grinding operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.