Orbital sander with suction ring

Abstract

A rotary orbital sander includes a motor having a rotatable shaft with a radially off-set portion. A suction housing is mounted to the motor around the motor shaft and connectable with a vacuum source. A sanding pad assembly including a backing pad having a plurality of apertures therethrough and an annular frame having a circumferential side wall including first and second circumferential edges is mounted to the radially off-set portion of the shaft. A circular back wall extends from one of the circumferential edges and has an opening therein sealable with the suction housing. The other circumferential edge is attached to the backing pad. The sanding pad assembly resists flapping at high rotational speeds. A sanding disk having a size and shape complimentary to that of the sanding pad, and a plurality of holes aligning with the apertures in the sanding pad is mountable on the sanding pad. A vacuum source draws sanding waste through the aligned apertures and out the suction housing.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sanding pad assembly for use with a rotary orbital sander having a suction housing connectable with a vacuum source for drawing out sanding waste, said sanding pad assembly comprising: 
 a backing pad having a periphery;    a plurality of apertures extending through said backing pad;    an annular frame having a circumferential side wall attached to said backing pad and including a circumferential edge defining in part a back wall having an opening in vacuum pressure flow communication with said suction housing.    
     
     
         2 . The sanding pad assembly of  claim 2 , further including a sanding disk having a plurality of holes disposed in like fashion to said apertures in said backing pad so that the plurality of holes of the disk align with the apertures in the sanding pad assembly.