Centrifugal finisher with fixed outer vessel and rotatable inner vessel
AssigneeH Technology
InventorSteve E. Hoffman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A centrifugal finisher uses centrifugal and rotational forces for finishing at least one object. A fixed, non-rotatably outer vessel has an inner surface and a central axis. At least one inner vessel is positioned inside the outer vessel and is adapted to hold an object to be finished. The inner vessel has an outer surface. At least one intermediate roller is positioned between the inner surface of the outer vessel and the outer surface of the inner vessel and engages the surfaces of respective outer and inner vessels. A drive mechanism rotates the inner vessel around the central axis of the outer vessel, thereby causing rotation of the inner vessel by engagement of the inner vessel with the intermediate roller which moves by rotation along the inner surface of the outer vessel.
Claims17
A centrifugal finisher for finishing at least one object, comprising
- a fixed, nonrotatable outer vessel having an inner surface and a central axis, at least one inner vessel positioned inside the outer vessel for containing an object to be finished, said inner vessel having an outer surface,
- at least one intermediate roller positioned between the inner surface of the outer vessel and the outer surface of an inner vessel and engaging the surfaces of respective outer and inner vessels, and
- drive means for rotating an inner vessel around the central axis of the outer vessel thereby causing rotation of the inner vessel by engagement with the intermediate roller that moves along the inner surface of the outer vessel.
A centrifugal finisher for finishing at least one object, comprising
- a fixed, nonrotatable outer vessel having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a central axis, said inner surface including guide channels,
- at least one support member mounted for movement about the inner surface of the outer vessel, said support member including at least one vertically oriented spool roller rotatably mounted on the support member and having upper and lower ends and an outer surface on each end with a first diameter and configured for engaging the guide channels, and a medial portion having a diameter that is less than the diameter of upper and lower ends, an inner vessel support mounted on the support member in a position radially inward toward the central axis of the outer vessel for rotatably supporting an inner vessel into which an object is inserted for polishing, and
- means for rotating the inner vessel around the central axis of the outer vessel while engaging the inner vessel against the medial portion of the intermediate roller thereby causing rotation of the inner vessel by engagement of the inner vessel with the intermediate roller as the intermediate roller rotates along the inner surface of the outer vessel.
A method of centrifugal finishing comprising the steps of
- engaging an inner vessel into which an object to be polished is inserted against the outer surface of a respective intermediate roller that is engaged against the inner surface of a fixed, nonrotatable outer vessel having a central axis, and
- rotating the inner vessel around the central axis of the outer vessel and thereby causing rotation of the inner vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.