Dust shroud for abrading machine

Abstract

A dust shroud for use with a vacuum source and an abrading machine having a rotating abrading wheel includes a dust shroud housing adapted to be connected to the vacuum source and mounted to the abrading machine. The dust shroud housing includes a front wall with a front opening through which the abrading wheel may be accessed. A sliding door is slidably mounted to the front wall of the dust shroud housing for selectively covering the front opening.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A dust shroud for use with a vacuum source and an abrading machine having a rotating abrading wheel, comprising: 
 a dust shroud housing adapted to be connected to the vacuum source and mounted to the abrading machine, said housing including a front wall with a front opening through which the abrading wheel may be accessed; and    a sliding door slidably mounted to said front wall of said dust shroud housing for selectively covering said front opening.    
     
     
         2 . The dust shroud according to  claim 1 , wherein said sliding door is slidably mounted to said front wall of said dust shroud housing for selective vertical height adjustment of said front opening.  
     
     
         3 . The dust shroud according to  claim 1 , wherein said front wall of said housing includes a mounting portion adapted to slidably receive said sliding door.  
     
     
         4 . The dust shroud according to  claim 3 , wherein said mounting portion is integral with said front wall.  
     
     
         5 . The dust shroud according to  claim 3 , wherein said mounting portion includes an adapter bracket adapted to slidably receive said sliding door.  
     
     
         6 . The dust shroud according to  claim 5 , wherein said adapter bracket comprises a curvilinear aluminum bracket having a left leg, a right leg and a top connecting portion.  
     
     
         7 . The dust shroud according to  claim 5 , wherein said adapter bracket and sliding door are adapted to be retrofitted onto an existing dust shroud.  
     
     
         8 . The dust shroud according to  claim 5 , wherein said adapter bracket is adapted to be affixed to the front wall of said housing.  
     
     
         9 . The dust shroud according to  claim 5 , wherein said adapter bracket is adapted to be fixed to the front wall of said housing with one or more fasteners.  
     
     
         10 . The dust shroud according to  claim 2 , wherein said mounting portion includes a sliding door position control mechanism for controlling the position of said sliding door.  
     
     
         11 . The dust shroud according to  claim 10 , wherein said sliding door position control mechanism is an adjustable clamp.  
     
     
         12 . The dust shroud according to  claim 2 , wherein said sliding door is adapted to be removed entirely from said shroud.  
     
     
         13 . The dust shroud according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing is a die cast aluminum construction.  
     
     
         14 . The dust shroud according to  claim 13 , wherein said die cast aluminum construction is a two-piece construction including a front housing and rear housing.  
     
     
         15 . The dust shroud according to  claim 14 , wherein said front housing and rear housing are fastened together to form said housing.  
     
     
         16 . The dust shroud according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket assembly adapted to couple said dust shroud to said abrading machine.  
     
     
         17 . The dust shroud according to  claim 16 , wherein said bracket assembly allows relative angular rotation and radial movement of said dust shroud relative to said abrading wheel.  
     
     
         18 . The dust shroud according to  claim 17 , wherein said bracket assembly includes a first circular clamp section adapted to be mounted to said abrading machine and a second clamp section rotatably mounted to said first circular clamp and adapted to be mounted to said dust shroud.  
     
     
         19 . The dust shroud according to  claim 1 , wherein said front wall further comprises a plurality of indicator mounting holes adapted to receive a workpiece measurement or checking device.  
     
     
         20 . A sliding door assembly for a dust shroud, the dust shroud adapted for use with a vacuum source and an abrading machine having a rotating abrading wheel, the dust shroud including a dust shroud housing having a front wall with a front opening through which the abrading wheel may be accessed, comprising: 
 a sliding door adapted to be slidably mounted to said front wall of said dust shroud housing for selectively covering said front opening.    
     
     
         21 . The sliding door assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein said sliding door is adapted to be slidably mounted to said front wall of said dust shroud housing for selective vertical height adjustment of said front opening.  
     
     
         22 . The sliding door assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein said front wall of said housing includes a mounting portion integral with said front wall, and said sliding door is adapted to be slidably mounted to said mounting portion.  
     
     
         23 . The sliding door assembly according to  claim 20 , further including an adapter bracket adapted to mounted to said front wall and slidably receive said sliding door.  
     
     
         24 . The sliding door assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said adapter bracket comprises a curvilinear aluminum bracket having a left leg, a right leg and a top connecting portion.  
     
     
         25 . The sliding door assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said adapter bracket and sliding door are adapted to be retrofitted onto an existing dust shroud.  
     
     
         26 . The sliding door assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said adapter bracket is adapted to be affixed to the front wall of said housing.  
     
     
         27 . The sliding door assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein said adapter bracket is adapted to be fixed to the front wall of said housing with one or more fasteners.  
     
     
         28 . The sliding door assembly according to  claim 20 , further including a sliding door position control mechanism adapted for controlling the position of said sliding door.  
     
     
         29 . The sliding door assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein said sliding door position control mechanism is an adjustable clamp.  
     
     
         30 . The sliding door assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein said sliding door is adapted to be removed entirely from said shroud.  
     
     
         31 . A method of controlling the size of a front access opening of a front wall of a dust shroud for use with a vacuum source and an abrading machine having a rotating abrading wheel, comprising: 
 providing a sliding door slidably mounted to said front wall of said dust shroud; and    sliding the door to a location that minimizes the interference with a workpiece, but maximizes vacuum suction.    
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein sliding the door includes the step of vertically sliding the door to a desired height.  
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein said dust shroud includes a mounting portion integrated with said front wall, and providing a sliding door includes the step of providing a sliding door slidably mounted to said mounting portion.  
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein said dust shroud includes an adapter bracket mounted to said front wall, and providing a sliding door includes the step of providing a sliding door slidably mounted to said adapter bracket.  
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 31 , further including locking the position of said sliding door to a desired position using a sliding door position control mechanism.  
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein sliding said sliding door includes removing said sliding door entirely from said front wall.  
     
     
         37 . A method of retrofitting a sliding door assembly to a dust shroud for use with a vacuum source and an abrading machine having a rotating abrading wheel, the dust shroud including a dust shroud housing having a front wall with a front opening through which the abrading wheel may be accessed, comprising: 
 removing a hinged door from said front wall of said dust shroud;    mounting a sliding door assembly to said front wall, the sliding door assembly including an adapter bracket and a slidable door adapted to be slidably received by said adapter bracket.    
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein said adapter bracket comprises a curvilinear aluminum bracket having a left leg, a right leg and a top connecting portion.  
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein mounting an adapter bracket to said front wall includes the step of affixing said adapter bracket to the front wall of said housing.  
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein mounting an adapter bracket to said front wall includes the step of fixing said adapter bracket to the front wall of said housing with one or more fasteners.  
     
     
         41 . A method of manufacturing a dust shroud for use with a vacuum source and an abrading machine having a rotating abrading wheel, comprising: 
 die casting a front dust shroud housing portion;    die casting a rear dust shroud housing portion; and    attaching the front and rear dust shroud housing portions together to form a dust shroud housing.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the front and rear dust shroud housing portions are made of aluminum.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein attaching includes the step of attaching said front housing and said rear housing together with one or more threaded fasteners.  
     
     
         44 . A method of manufacturing a dust shroud for use with a vacuum source and an abrading machine having a rotating abrading wheel, comprising: 
 injection molding a front dust shroud housing portion;    injection molding a rear dust shroud housing portion; and    attaching the front and rear dust shroud housing portions together to form a dust shroud housing.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the front and rear dust shroud housing portions are made of plastic.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein attaching includes the step of attaching said front housing and said rear housing together with one or more threaded fasteners.  
     
     
         47 . A bracket assembly for mounting a dust shroud having an alignment bar to an abrading machine having a spindle housing with a circular portion surrounding a spindle adapted to carry an abrading wheel, comprising: 
 a circular clamp section adapted to be rotatably mounted to said circular portion of the spindle housing for rotatable angular adjustability of the dust shroud relative to the abrading wheel; and    a forked portion adapted to receive the alignment bar of the dust shroud for radial adjustability of the dust shroud relative to the abrading wheel.    
     
     
         48 . A method of mounting a dust shroud to an abrading machine, comprising: 
 rotatably mounting a circular clamp section of a bracket assembly to a circular portion of a spindle housing of the abrading machine;    radially mounting an alignment bar of the dust shroud to a forked portion of the bracket assembly.    
     
     
         49 . A bracket assembly for mounting a dust shroud having an alignment bar to an abrading machine having a spindle housing with a spindle adapted to carry an abrading wheel, comprising: 
 a circular adapter adapted to be mounted to the spindle housing around the spindle;    a bracket including a circular clamp section adapted to be rotatably mounted to said circular adapter for rotatable angular adjustability of the dust shroud relative to the abrading wheel, and a forked portion adapted to receive the alignment bar of the dust shroud for radial adjustability of the dust shroud relative to the abrading wheel.    
     
     
         50 . A method of mounting a dust shroud to an abrading machine, comprising: 
 mounting a circular adapter of a bracket assembly to a spindle housing of an abrading machine, around a spindle of the spindle housing;    rotatably mounting a circular clamp section of a bracket to said circular adapter;    radially mounting an alignment bar of a dust shroud to a forked portion of the bracket.