Portable apparatus for working, shaping and polishing stone and other hard materials
OwnerRobert M. Kalbinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheeled trolley carries various tools across an object to be worked. A track attaches directly to the work and simultaneously isolates the tool from the work. A standard connection to the trolley readily accommodates a variety of diverse tools, using a keyway or the like to ensure accurate and repeatable placement of the tools. A preferred contouring guide allows a tool to be moved through an arc, where the focal point of the arc may be set to produce an infinite variety of custom shapes, bevels or angles of cut. An adjustable tool carriage allows control over both position and force, including preloading a work tool with force. Resilience is incorporated into the apparatus to accommodate diverse hardness and abrasion characteristics.
Claims28
In combination, a track, trolley, crescent, and stoneworking tool for treating a stone slab, comprising:
- said track having a base with a first surface which contacts said stone and a second surface upon which at least one roller may travel in a path, and having a ridge extending longitudinally parallel to said path with first and second normal surfaces which extend in a first direction normal to said stone slab and in a second longitudinal direction;
- said trolley supported on said at least one roller which rolls on said second surface and having a second roller which rolls on said ridge first normal surface and a third roller which rolls on said second normal surface and further having a tensioning member which is movable to vary a distance between said second and third rollers from a first position which holds said second and third rollers tightly against said ridge to a second position which allows said second and third rollers to slide normal to said stone slab,
- said crescent supported upon said trolley and having first and second crescent members each forming an arc about an edge of said stone slab having an inside and an outside and a space between said first and second crescent members within which said stoneworking tool operates, said tool having a tool support carriage for traversing said crescent and carrying said tool therewith along said arc.
A portable track and trolley for engaging a material to be worked and subsequently mounting a tool for working said material to said trolley and guiding said tool relative to said material to be worked, comprising:
- a base having a first surface adjacent to a surface of said material and a second surface opposite thereto for supporting said trolley;
- a rail extending in a height from said material surface in a first normal direction and having opposed roller surfaces thereon defining a width between said opposed roller surfaces, and extending longitudinally along a length;
- a trolley undercarriage having a first plurality of wheels maintaining a load a minimum distance normal to said material surface from said material surface and providing rolling contact between said plurality of wheels and said base and further having a second plurality of wheels engaging said rail on said opposed roller surfaces;
- a tool carrier locating member for locating a tool carrier relative to said trolley;
- and
- a tool carrier engaging member that operatively retains said tool carrier to said trolley after engagement therewith having at least one removable fastener for retaining said tool carrier to said trolley.
A motor carriage for supporting a stoneworking tool capable of supporting said stoneworking tool in an operative position and also capable of supporting said stoneworking tool in an inoperative position, said stoneworking tool readily moved between said operative position and said inoperative position, comprising:
- a sliding holder to retain said stoneworking tool within said motor carriage;
- a guide along which said sliding holder travels during said ready movement;
- a link between said sliding holder and an anchor member of said motor carriage;
- a release pivoting about a first axis moving said link relative to said anchor member and thereby moving said sliding holder relative to said anchor member at a first distance change per degree of rotation and pivoting about a second axis moving said link relative to said anchor member and thereby moving said sliding holder relative to said anchor member at a second distance change per degree of rotation which is less than said first distance change per degree of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.