Abrading – Abrading process – Abradant supplying
Patent
1997-05-01
1998-12-08
Scherbel, David A.
Abrading
Abrading process
Abradant supplying
451523, 451526, 451529, B24B 719, B24B 730
Patent
active
058461230
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to compounding elements or pads and in particular to compounding elements used to finish the exposed surface of paint, such as, on automobiles.
Finishing the exposed surface of new paint such as on an automobile, (particularly paint of the type called BC/CC (basecoat/clearcoat) which is a two-part paint system and is commonly used in after market painting of automobiles but also including other types of paint), typically includes (1) initial colour sanding which is done by hand using fine grit abrasive (e.g., 1200 to 1500 grit) that provides substantial smoothing or leveling of the paint surface but results in surface scratches from the abrasive grit; (2) one or more intermediate compounding operations in which a liquid or paste rubbing compound containing a finer abrasive is applied by a machine rotated compounding pad having tufts of all wool or a wool and synthetic fibre blend to remove the scratches that result from the colour sanding operation, which compounding operation leaves swirl marks on the paint; (3) a machine glazing operation in which a glaze including a yet finer abrasive is applied using a glazing or polishing pad to remove the swirl marks, which machine glazing operation leaves wheel marks that are particularly noticeable on dark colour paints; and (4) a final hand glazing operation in which a glaze including an even finer abrasive is applied by hand in an attempt to remove the wheel marks. Often, the hand glazing operation fills some of the wheel marks rather than removing them, so that after a short period of time or when the paint is subsequently washed, the fill in the wheel marks is removed and they can again be seen.
In addition to the use of compounding or polishing pads comprising wool and synthetic fibres, pads comprising a layer of open cell polymeric foam have been used in compounding and polishing operations. Foam pads are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,418,675 and foam pads having a working surface defined by a plurality of spaced projecting portions and recesses therebetween are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,562.
One of the problems associated with many known compounding pads is that they have a tendency to sling the rubbing compound onto an area adjacent the working area. This means an operator has to waste valuable time cleaning rubbing compound off adjacent panels, windows and other unmasked areas and also, as a result of sling, much rubbing compound may be wasted. Chemically thickening the rubbing compound can help reduce sling but in many cases this leads to increased drag of the compounding element due to the stiffness of the rubbing compound spreadability.
The present invention provides a compounding element in which the propensity to sling rubbing compound is substantially reduced.
According to the present invention there is provided a compounding element for use with a rubbing compound in the finishing of a working surface. The compounding element comprises a pad forming a buffing surface and a resiliently deformable skirt around the perimeter of the buffing surface and projecting beyond the buffing surface such that, in use, application of pressure to the compounding element on a working surface causes deformation of the skirt so that the buffing surface contacts the working surface.
The compounding element of the invention possesses a skirt which contacts the working surface during the compounding operation and retains the rubbing compound in the vicinity of the buffing surface by providing a barrier to any sling. The skirt projects beyond the buffing surface and when the element is applied to a working surface the skirt contacts the working surface while the buffing surface remains spaced from the working surface. Application of pressure to the compounding element causes the skirt to deform moving the buffing surface in contact with the working surface.
The compound elements of the invention may be used in any of the compounding and glazing operations, the materials of the pads that form the buffing surfaces and the rubbing compounds being
REFERENCES:
patent: 4689922 (1987-09-01), Blanchard, Jr.
patent: 4715150 (1987-12-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 5141555 (1992-08-01), Elepano
patent: 5172448 (1992-12-01), Kitahata
patent: 5389032 (1995-02-01), Beardsley
Brown Stuart F.
Forbes Stephen
Banks Derris H.
Huebsch William L.
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
Scherbel David A.
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