Improvements in Polishing Wheels.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Polishing Wheels.
1, EDWARD DINSMOORE WOODS, of Granville, in the County of Washington,
State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by the following state-
ment;
My invention relates to polishing wheels. It has for its object to provide a
polishing wheel whose diameter and width can be easily and readily varied, a
wheel which is well suited for a great variety of different kinds of work, which
is adapted for carrying removable polishing bands and bands of different sizes,
for the quick and easy substitution upon its periphery of one polishing band for
another, for the ready adjustment of the tire or polishing surface as to hardness
or softness and for taking out lateral slackness or sponginess in the tire, and
generally to provide a better and more durable polishing wheel. It consists of
the novel devices herein shown and described.
In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming part hereof, in
which corresponding reference characters in the different figures represent corre-
sponding parts, I have shown and will now proceed to describe the preferred form
of my improved device.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the preferred form of my improved device, viewed as
shown by the arrow in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of my improved
wheel, and Fig. 4 is a similar section of half of the wheel showing the sides
closer together, and Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of a removable
band. Figs. 5 and are views of a modified form of my improved device,
Fig. 5 being a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical cross section of the
wheel as mounted in bearings, and Fig. 6 is a side view of the same. Figs. 7,
8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are views of another form of my improved wheel. Fig. 7
is a side view of the same viewed as shown by the arrow in Fig. 8; Fig. 8 is
a vertical cross section on the lines 8-8 of Fig. 7, viewed as shown by the
arrow, showing the tire in the position it assumes when the wheel is at rest;
Fig. 9 is a similar section of the upper part of the wheel, showing the position of
the tire when the wheel is rotating: Fig. 10 is a similar section of a modifica-
tion of this form of wheel; Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively a side elevation and
a central vertical section through the form of wheel shown in Figs. 7 to 9, with
a removable polishing band in position thereon with the parts in the position they
assume in rotation.
In my improved polishing wheel the tire is so constructed and arranged as
to be adapted to move radially toward or away from the centre of the wheel, thus
varying its diameter. This radial movement of the tire is caused by the relative
adjustment of the sides of the wheel, supporting the tire, toward or away from
each other, in which case all of the tire moves radially outward or inward except
the edges where the tire is secured to the sides, as in the form of wheel shown
in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, or it is a bodily movement of the entire tire radially
inward or outward as in the form of wheel shown in Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive, the

page_text: tires in the latter case not being secured to the sides but being free to move out-
ward into operative position, under the action of centrifugal force, as the wheel
rotates, and to drop inward where the wheel comes to rest. This adjustability
in the diameter of the wheel permits of the use upon the same wheel of different
removable polishing bands or endless belts of the same or of different sizes and
of the ready removal of a band from the wheel and the replacing of another band
thereon.
In my improved polishing wheel the two sides of the wheel, which support the
tire, are adjustable relatively to each other upon the shaft of the wheel, so that
the distance between them can be decreased or increased and the width and the
diameter of the wheel be consequently increased or diminished. This relative
adjustment of the two sides of the wheel can be effected either by moving both
of the sides along the shaft, as in the form of my invention shown in Figs. 5
and 6, or by moving one only of the sides, the other side ramaining fast to the
shaft, as illustrated in the form shown in all of the other figures. In practice,
however, I prefer the latter method of adjustment. This relative adjustment of
the sides may also be effected either automatically, by the rotation of the polish-
ing wheel itself, or manually, and may be effected either by motion toward each
other, as shown in normal operation in the form of my device shown in all of the
figures except 5 and 6, or outward and away from each other, as illustrated by
one operation of the form of device shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
In my improved device the tire itself may be used as the polishing surface or
preferably it is used as a support for a removable polishing band. When used
merely as a support for a polishing band it may be made of any suitable flexible
material adapted for the purpose.
I will first proceed to describe the form of my improved device which is illus-
trated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, in which form one side only of the polishing wheel
is movable upon the shaft, in which the adjustment of the sides is preferably
automatically caused by the rotation of the wheel and is normally inward toward
each other, thus reducing the width of the tire and wheel but increasing the
diameter, and making the tire more convex.
AA are the two sides of my improved wheel and are provided respectively
with hubs a a¹ mounted on shaft B. Preferably I make one of these sides fast
to the shaft. In the drawings the side A is made fast to the shaft by means of
screw B³, which passes through hub a and bears against shaft B, as shown in
Fig. 2. The side A¹ is loosely mounted on the shaft and is movable along said
shaft toward or away from the other side. A groove 131 is cut into the surface
of shaft B and a pin B2, preferably screw-threaded, projects from the movable
side A', through its hub a¹ into the said groove. This arrangement permits the
side A¹ to move freely along the shaft but causes the side to rotate with the
shaft. Normally the pin B2 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position
its lower edge does not bear upon the bottom of the groove B¹. If it is desired,
however, at any time to lock the side A to the shaft, it can be done by screwing
the pin B2 against the under side of the groove. In this way the width of the
wheel and consequently its diameter can be varied or adjusted manually.
prefer, however, to have the relative adjustment of the sides A A¹ to each other
to be automatically regulated by the rotation of the wheel. In this case the
pin B2 is left in the position shown in Fig. 2.
I
C is the tire of the wheel. It is secured to and supported by, the sides A. A¹
and is flexible in character. In the drawings I have shown the edges of the tire
secured to the periphery of the sides by means of clamping rings D D', fastened
to the sides by screws ff' passing through the rings and into the sides A A',
so that the tire may be removed by removing the rings DD. By this arrange-
ment an injured tire can be readily replaced by a new one, or tires differing in
thickness, hardness, shape and otherwise may be readily interchanged at will.
The rings DD¹ are preferably provided with grooves dd which receive ribs CC'
formed by the edges of the tire, C, so as to more firmly clamp the tire in place,

page_text: and the outer edges of the sides AA' are preferably provided with beveled
edges a² a³ respectively, to support the inner margins of the tire when it is flat-
tened out, as will be hereinafter explained. The sides of the wheel have open-
ings such as e, so that air may be freely admitted into the interior of the wheel,
thus aiding the centrifugal action of the wheel in throwing out the tire to a
more or less convex form and increasing the rigidity or hardness of the tire when
the wheel is rotated.
The sides AA are adjustable with respect to each other, so that they may be
brought nearer together or spaced further apart, thus varying the diameter of
the wheel and varying the effective width of the tire. For this purpose one or
both of the sides AA may be movable on the shaft, but, as above described, I
prefer and have shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 one of the sides only, viz., Al
movable, the other side A being fast on the shaft. As the wheel is rotated,
centrifugal force will tend to throw out the tire C and bring closer together the
two sides A A. Fig. 2 represents the wheel at rest and Fig. 4 shows the relative
position of the two sides and the tire C during the rotation of the wheel. The
adjustment of the two sides relative to each other is thus performed automatically
by the rotation of the wheel. This adjustment is inward or toward each other,
thus lessening the width of the wheel and the effective width of the tire and
increasing the diameter of the wheel. The extent of this adjustment is depen-
dent of course upon the speed of rotation, the greater the speed the narrower
becomes the width of the wheel and the tire and the greater their diameter.
I preferably use a removable polishing band or endless belt J, which can be
slipped upon the tire C, when the wheel is at rest, and which will be firmly held
upon the tire when the wheel rotates by reason of the increase in diameter of
the tire. In ordinary cases this increase in diameter is alone and of itself suffi-
cient to hold the band upon the tire. Where it is desired to have further means
to prevent the slipping of the band upon the tire either laterally or longitudinally
or in any direction, one or more projections from the endless band can be adapted
to fit into one or more depressions in the surface of the tire. Such depressions
in the tire may, if desired, extend entirely through the tire and form holes
through the tire. For the above purpose I preferably provide stops and
holes. These stops are projections extending from the inner side of the band
and are adapted to extend into holes in the tire. I preferably make the
polishing band J of leather, which is coated on its surface with emery in the
usual manner, and the stops are preferably made of a separate piece of leather
secured to the band J in any suitable manner.
My improved wheel is well adapted for different kinds of work by reason of the
ease with which the diameter and width of the wheel and the shape, effective
width, and the rigidity of the polishing surface can be varied. By reason of the
changes in the diameter of the wheel it is adapted to the use of endless polish-
ing belts or bands of different sizes, and by reason of the easy variation in the
diameter of the wheel one band of the same or a different size can readily be
substituted for another band. Heretofore when the polishing surface of a polish-
ing wheel has worn out through the rubbing off of the emery or for any other
cause, it has been necessary to wholly discontinue the use of the wheel until
the polishing surface has been recoated with emery or has been repaired. In my
improved device, when the polishing surface in use is worn out for any reason,
it can readily be removed from the wheel and a new polishing surface put in its
place, and the wheel thus can be kept continuously employed. In this respect it
is of advantage to use endless belts or bands coated with emery, as they can be
taken off and put on upon the tire of the wheel with great rapidity.. In this way
a wheel may have a set of polishing bands of the same or of different sizes, and
have polishing surfaces of differing widths or character, so as to readily adapt the
wheel for the particular work to be done. I can, however, if desired, use the
tire C itself as a polishing surface. I prefer to make the tire C of rubber, and the
polishing band of leather, although any other suitable material of a flexible

page_text: character may be used for the tire and any suitable polishing material for the
band.
The rigidity or hardness or softness of the polishing surface can be of course
varied by varying the speed of rotation of the wheel.
In the form of wheel shown in Figs. 5 and 6 both sides A A¹ of the wheel, are
movable upon shaft B. In order to increase the power of the inward movement
of the two sides A A' when the wheel rotates in one direction and also to permit
of the outward movement of the two sides against the action of centrifugal force,
when the wheel rotates in the other direction, shaft B is provided with right
and left hand screw threads bb1 respectively, upon which fit correspondingly cut
threads upon the hubs a'. By this construction, when the wheel rotates in one
direction, both sides A A¹ move inward and with increased power, over that
exerted in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, thus increasing the diameter
of the tire and decreasing its width, and when the wheel rotates in the other
direction, the sides separate, decreasing the diameter of the tire and increasing
its width. One advantage resulting from this outward movement of the sides
is to stretch the tire laterally and thus to take out lateral sponginess or slackness
of the tire. Check nuts EE on the outside of the sides of the wheel and check
nuts on the inside serve as stops to prevent excessive movement of the sides
outward or inward. By shifting the position of such stops, the movement of the
sides outward or inward can be checked at any predetermined point.
The relative adjustability of the sides of the wheel in the form. shown in Figs. 5
and 6 is preferably automatic, being caused by the influence of the rotation of the
wheel in one direction or another. It may however, if desired, be manual, in
which case the side A A¹ are shoved outward or inward to the desired position
and are then locked by the check nuts.
In practice my improved wheel is usually rotated at a high rate of speed, and
in Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown bearings which are especially adapted for use
with my wheel, although of course any suitable bearings may be employed. In
the form of bearings shown G is a cup having a conical interior 9 and an inner
cylindrical recess g'. H is a cone fitting the interior g and preferably having
a conical recess to receive the conical end h¹ of the shaft B. K is a screw
for adjusting the cone H in its cup and between the end of the screw and cone is
interposed a steel ball L. Oil is supplied to the interior of the cup G through
pipe M and an oil groove m is cut in the face of the conical interior 9. F is a
driving drum fixed on shaft B. These bearings, however, I do not here claim, as
they are made the subject of another application, No. 1628898.
In the form of wheel shown in Figs. 7 to 12 the tire C is not secured to the
sides of the wheel but is free to move radially outward or inward wholly indepen-
dent of the sides with the exception that its outward movement is restrained at
a certain predetermined point by one or more stops connected with the sides.
When the wheel rotates, the tire is thrown outward against the stop and is then
held in operative position by centrifugal force, but when the wheel comes to rest,
it drops inward. Its diameter is thus automatically increased by the rotation of
the wheel. The outer surface of the tire C, can itself be used as the polishing
surface, or a removable band J can be used for that purpose as shown in Figs. 11
and 12. In the latter case the increase in the diameter of the tire, due to the
rotation of the wheel, serves to hold the removable band firmly in place and the
variation in the diameter enables a band to be easily removed and be readily
replaced by another.
In this form of wheel I preferably make the tire of leather and of the shape
shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12, although any suitable material may be
employed and any suitable form of tire be adopted. The form of tire shown in
said figures consists of an outer portion, ², an inner portion and a connecting
portion, the three portions together constituting the tire C and being fastened
together in any suitable manner as by glue. Preferably a space d is left on
each side of the connecting portion d³, between the outer and inner portions and

page_text: into these spaces project retaining flanges ecl, from the two sides of the
wheel A A¹.
The spaces
dare greater than the thickness of the retaining
flanges, thus permitting the tire a limited radial movement. When the wheel
rotates the tire is thrown outward as shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 12 until the inner
portion 3 presses snugly against the inner faces of the retaining flanges c c¹,
which act as a stop to prevent further radial movement of the tire outward.
this position the tire or a polishing band, supported upon it, furnishes a yielding,
cushioned polishing surface of great efficiency, and one of especial value in polish-
ing flat surfaces.
In
When the wheel is in use the screw-threaded pin E is turned down against the
bottom of groove B¹, so as to lock side A¹ to shaft B. Side A is permanently
locked to shaft B by means of screw f³. When the tire is to be removed, pin E³
is loosened, side A¹ is slipped off from the shaft and the tire is removed and if desired
a new tire put in its place. Thus tires can be easily removed and replaced and
tires of different widths or shapes can be employed to suit the character or the
work in hand.
The form of tire shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 may be widely varied with-
out departing from my invention, as long as the tire is free to move radially
independently of the sides of the wheel, being restrained only by a stop from
excessive outward movement. I have shown by way of illustration in Fig. 10
a modification of this form of tire. As there shown it consists of but one piece C
and is arranged entirely inside of the retaining flanges cc. The operation of
this form of wheel is however the same as that of the form shown in Figs. 7, 8,
9, 11 and 12 as above described, the latter wheel having the advantage over
that of Fig. 10 of enabling the workman to polish into corners, which cannot be
done with the wheel of Fig. 10.
My improved polishing wheel is far more durable than any polishing wheel
known to me, can be continuously employed without being subject to the serious
loss of time, incident to all known polishing wheels, through the enforced idle-
ness of the wheel due to the necessity of renewing the emery or other polishing
material upon it, can be readily adapted for different kinds of work, and gives a
better and more durable polishing surface and one whose hardness can be varied
by the varying speed of rotation of the wheel. The ease with which the effective
polishing surface can be varied in width and shape also fits it in an especial
manner for use upon many different kinds of work."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A polishing wheel characterized by a flexible tire adapted to move radially
outward or inward, whereby the diameter of the tire and wheel may be varied,
with or without a removable polishing band adapted to be slipped over the tire.
when the wheel is at rest, and to be firmly held thereon when the wheel rotates.
3. A polishing wheel characterized by adjustable sides and a flexible tire secured
to the sides, adapted to move radially outward or inward as the sides are rela-
tively nearer together or further apart, whereby the diameter of the tire and
wheel may be varied, with or without a removable polishing band adapted to be
slipped over the tire, when the wheel is at rest, and to be firmly held thereon
when the wheel rotates.
3. A polishing wheel characterized by adjustable sides and a flexible tire secured
to the sides, one side of the wheel being freely movable along the shaft toward
or away from the other wheel, whereby upon the rotation of the wheel the
movable side will approach the other side thus automatically increasing the
diameter of the tire and decreasing its width, with or without a removable polish-
ing band adapted to be slipped over the tire, when the wheel is at rest, and to
be firmly held thereon when the wheel rotates.
4. A polishing wheel characterized by adjustable sides and a flexible tire

page_text: secured to the sides, one side of the wheel being freely movable along the shaft
toward or away from the other wheel, whereby upon the rotation of the wheel
the movable side will approach the other side thus automatically increasing the
diameter of the tire and decreasing its width. and a screw-threaded pin for lock-
ing the movable side to the shaft at any desired point.
5. A polishing wheel characterized by adjustable sides, mounted upon a shaft
having reversed screw-threads, and a flexible tire secured to the sides, whereby
upon the rotation of the wheel in one direction or the other the sides will rela-
tively approach or recede from each other, thus automatically increasing or
decreasing the diameter of the tire and decreasing or increasing the width of the
tire.
6. A polishing wheel characterized by a tire free to move bodily in a radial
direction and adapted to be held in operative position by centrifugal force as
the wheel rotates, and a stop for limiting the outward movement of the tire,
with or without a removable polishing band adapted to be slipped over the tire,
when the wheel is at rest, and to be firmly held thereon when the wheel rotates.
7. A polishing wheel characterized by a tire free to move bodily in a radial
direction composed of an outer portion, an inner portion and a smaller connect-
ing portion, retaining flanges projecting from the sides of the wheel into spaces
between the outer and inner portions and acting as stops to limit the outward
movement of the tire when the wheel rotates, with or without a removable polish-
ing band adapted to be slipped over the tire, when the wheel is at rest, and to be
firmly held thereon when the wheel rotates.
8. A polishing wheel characterized by a removable side, means for locking the
side to the shaft in any desired position, a tire free to move bodily in a radial
direction and adapted to be held in operative position by centrifugal force as the
wheel rotates and a stop for limiting the outward movement of the tire, whereby
tires of different widths may be used in the wheel, with or without a removable
polishing band adapted to be slipped over the tire, when the wheel is at rest, and
to be firmly held thereon when the wheel rotates.
9. A polishing wheel, characterized by a removable side, a groove in the shaft
of the wheel, a screw-threaded pin projecting from the hub of the said removable
side into said groove, whereby the said side may be locked to the shaft in any
desired position along the groove and be caused to rotate with the shaft, and
adapted to be held in operative position by centrifugal force as the wheel rotates
and a stop for limiting the outward movement of the tire.
a
10. A polishing wheel characterized by a tire provided with holes and
removable polishing band mounted upon the tire having projections or stops
extending into said holes to prevent the slipping of the removable band upon the
tire.
11. A polishing wheel characterized by a tire and sides, having bevelled edges,
of the wheel to which the tire is secured, clamping rings for securing the tire to
the sides and means for fastening the clamping rings, grooves in the clamping
rings and ribs upon the edges of the tire adapted to fit into the grooves, whereby
the tire will be held firmly in place upon the wheel.
12. A polishing wheel characterized by adjustable sides, provided with openings
to the atmosphere, and a flexible tire whereby the diameter and hardness of the
ha varied at will
Dated this 9th day of November 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45. Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Date
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45. Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.