Platen apparatus and turbine contact wheel thereof for belt grinders

A platen apparatus, comprising:

• a housing which includes two plates arranged parallel to each other, each plate having a plurality of vents that provide fluid communication;
• a turbine wheel rotatably attached to a rear section of the housing between the two plates, the turbine wheel having a circular body and a circumferential face without a coating thereon, the circular body includes a plurality of spiral vanes, each vane being a hole which extends through the circular body from one side of the turbine wheel to an opposing side of the turbine wheel;
• a support belt engaged in tension about the circumferential face of the turbine wheel;
• the rear section of the housing is at least partially open so that a portion of the circumferential face of the turbine wheel is exposed outside the housing;
• and
• the plurality of spiral vanes being arranged adjacent to the plurality of vents of each plate and each providing a flow channel through which air is drawn in from a first side of the housing through the circular body of the turbine wheel and released at a second, opposite side of the housing.

A grinding tool system, comprising:

• a platen apparatus, which includes:
• a housing which includes two plates arranged parallel to each other, each plate having a plurality of vents that provide fluid communication;
• a turbine wheel rotatably attached to a rear section of the housing between the two plates, the turbine wheel having a circular body and a circumferential face without a coating thereon, the circular body includes a plurality of spiral vanes, each vane being a hole which extends through the circular body from one side of the turbine wheel to an opposing side of the turbine wheel;
• a support belt engaged in tension about the circumferential face of the turbine wheel;
• a slot positioned on an exterior side of one of the two plates;
• the rear section of the housing is at least partially open so that a portion of the circumferential face of the turbine wheel is exposed outside the housing;
• and
• the plurality of spiral vanes being arranged adjacent to the plurality of vents of each plate and each providing a flow channel through which air is drawn in from a first side of the housing through the circular body of the turbine wheel and released at a second, opposite side of the housing, and
• a worktable having an arm, which is releasably mounted within the slot, the arm being pivotable relative to the worktable to adjust an angle between the worktable and the support belt.