Apparatus for polishing or abrading the surface of a generally spherical body

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and a method for polishing or removal of an outer portion of generally spherical objects, such as onions, or for shaping of objects into generally spherical shapes. Means are provided to introduce the object of interest into a cylinder where a pressurized fluid is introduced via an orifice such that the stream of pressurized fluid contacts the object of interest thereby rotating or tumbling the object of interest. The rotating or tumbling object of interest contacts the surface of the inside of the cylinder which is abrasive to the outer portion of the generally spherical object thereby removing an outer portion of the spherical object. Means are provided to remove the object of interest from the cylinder following rotations sufficient to accomplish the desired removal of an outer portion of the spherical object. A pressurized fluid may be introduced via an orifice such that the stream of pressurized fluid or jet is oriented in opposition to the jet rotating the generally spherical object causing the object to slow in rotation for ease of removal of the object from the cylinder.

1 . An apparatus to polish or abrade the surface of an object comprising: 
 a. a cylinder ( 10 ) having a first open end ( 13 ) and a second open end ( 15 ), the cylinder having an interior ( 20 ), an interior surface ( 22 ) and an exterior surface ( 24 ) and an elevation L from the first open end ( 13 ) to the second open end ( 15 );    b. at least one orifice means ( 50 ) to introduce a pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior ( 20 );    c. one or a plurality of cutting means ( 25 ) at the interior ( 20 ).    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a. the cylinder ( 10 ) having an interior surface ( 22 ) and an exterior surface ( 24 );    b. the at least one orifice means ( 50 ) to introduce the pressurized fluid stream or jet from the exterior surface ( 24 ) to the interior surface ( 22 ) to the interior ( 20 ).    
   
   
       3 . An apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 a. a cylinder axis ( 150 ) centrally positioned from the first open end ( 13 ) to the second open end ( 15 ); a cylinder plane ( 155 ) orthogonal to the cylinder axis ( 150 ) intermediate the first open end ( 13 ) and the second open end ( 15 ); the cylinder plane ( 155 ) intersecting the interior surface ( 22 ) intermediate the first open end ( 22 ) and the second open end ( 25 );    b. the at least one orifice means ( 50 ) to introduce the pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior surface ( 22 ) at the intersection of the cylinder plane ( 155 ) and the interior surface ( 22 ).    
   
   
       4 . An apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 a. the at least one orifice means ( 50 ) to introduce the pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior surface ( 22 ) oriented such that the stream is directed to the interior ( 20 ) either parallel to the cylinder plane ( 155 ) or at an angle to the cylinder plane ( 155 ) and relative to the interior surface ( 22 ), at an angle in a range of between 0 degrees to the interior surface ( 22 ) and 90 degrees to the interior surface ( 22 ).    
   
   
       5 . An apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 a. the one or a plurality of cutting means ( 25 ) is at the interior surface ( 22 ).    
   
   
       6 . An apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a. vegetable placing means ( 80 ) to place a vegetable ( 180 ) into the cylinder ( 10 ) at the first open end ( 13 ); vegetable removal means ( 81 ) to remove the vegetable ( 180 ) and peel from the cylinder ( 10 ) at the second open end ( 15 ).    
   
   
       7 . An apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a. the at least one orifice means ( 50 ) is an at least one orifice ( 50 ) formed by an aperture from the exterior surface ( 24 ) to the interior surface ( 22 ) intermediate the first open end ( 13 ) and the second open end ( 15 ); pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ) affixed by connection affixing means ( 60 ) at the exterior surface ( 24 ) at the aperture to communicate pressurized fluid through the aperture.    
   
   
       8 . An apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 a. the pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ) is a tubular fitting which will receive a pressurized fluid connection ( 30 ) at the exterior surface ( 24 ) at the at least one orifice ( 50 ) or is a direct connection to a pressurized fluid supply ( 30 ) at the exterior surface ( 24 ) at the at least one orifice ( 50 ); a tubular fitting which will receive a pressurized fluid connection ( 30 ) includes a quick disconnect, a spring pressure connection, a threaded means receiving a pressure nut; connection affixing means ( 60 ) includes welding, mold formation, machining.    
   
   
       9 . An apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 a. cutting means ( 25 ) comprised of a smooth interior surface, a rough interior surface, a grit interior surface or a pipe threaded interior surface.    
   
   
       10 . A method of removing the surface from objects including generally spherical objects including peeling vegetables using the apparatus of  claim 1  comprising: 
 a. placing an object including a vegetable, by vegetable placing means ( 80 ), into the cylinder interior ( 20 );    b. introducing, by the at least one orifice means ( 50 ), a pressurized fluid stream at the interior ( 20 );    c. sizing the vegetable, sizing the cylinder interior ( 20 ) and orientating and directing and setting the pressure of the pressurized fluid stream causing the object or vegetable ( 180 ) to rotate and to contact the interior surface ( 20 );    d. removing the object or peeled vegetable and the peel from the cylinder interior ( 20 ) by vegetable removing means ( 120 ).    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a. the at least one orifice means ( 50 ) to introduce the pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior surface ( 22 ) is oriented such that the stream is directed to the interior ( 20 ) either parallel to the cylinder plane ( 155 ) and or at an angle to the cylinder plane ( 155 );    b. the orifice means ( 50 ) to introduce pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior surface ( 22 ), at the intersection of the plane ( 155 ) and the interior surface ( 22 ), at an angle to the plane ( 155 ) in the range of 0° and 90° and parallel to the plane ( 155 ) at an angle of 0° to 90° to the interior surface ( 22 );    c. where parallel to the cylinder plane ( 155 ) and relative to the interior surface ( 22 ) the orientation will be at an angle Ω in a range of between 0 degrees to the interior surface ( 22 ) and 90 degrees to the interior surface ( 22 ); the orientation of the pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior surface ( 22 ) at an angle relative to the cylinder plane ( 155 ) will be at an angle of θ in a range of between 0 degrees to the plane ( 155 ) and 90 degrees to the plane ( 155 ) toward the first open end ( 13 ) or in a range of between 0 degrees to the plane ( 155 ) and 90 degrees to the plane ( 155 ) toward the second open end ( 15 ).    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a. the least one vegetable placing means ( 80 ) comprises a vegetable receiving tube ( 110 ) having a receiving tube open end ( 130 ) into which a vegetable ( 180 ) or other generally spherical object ( 180 ) is placed by placing means ( 80 ) including, but not limited to, a Singulator;    b. mounting structure intermediate the at least one vegetable placing means ( 80 ) and the apparatus ( 1 ) is comprised of bracket means ( 90 ) which interrelates the at least one vegetable placing means ( 80 ) to the apparatus ( 1 ) at the cylinder first open end ( 13 ) by bracket interconnection means ( 60 ) comprised of welding, glues, epoxies, cements, clamps, bolts and or screw;    c. the vegetable placing means ( 80 ) is placed in cylindrical communication with the first open end ( 13 ) wherein a gate means ( 100 ) may be operated to open and close thereby allowing the vegetable or other object contained therein to drop into the cylinder ( 10 ) at the first open end ( 13 ); thereafter the gate means ( 100 ) may be operated to close and allow the vegetable placing means ( 80 ) to be prepared to receive and hold the next vegetable or spherical object ( 180 ) or object to be positioned to be introduced into the cylinder ( 10 ); gate means ( 100 ) may be a plate which is withdrawn and repositioned, by gear, motor or other gate moving means, to allow the vegetable ( 180 ) to pass;    d. the vegetable ( 180 ), upon being subjected to the pressurized stream or jet and rotated in contact with the interior surface ( 22 ), is then removed from the cylinder ( 10 ) by at least one vegetable removal means ( 81 ) in cylindrical communication with the cylinder ( 10 ) wherein a removal gate means ( 100 ) may be operated to remove the vegetable ( 180 ) and peel from the cylinder ( 10 ) at the second open end ( 15 );    e. the at least one vegetable removal means ( 81 ) to remove a vegetable ( 180 ) from the cylinder ( 10 ) at the second open end ( 15 ) comprises a vegetable receiving tube ( 110 ) having a receiving tube open end ( 140 ) in cylinder communication with cylinder ( 10 ) into which a vegetable or other generally cylindrical object ( 180 ) is placed by placing means including a gate means ( 101 );    f. mounting structure intermediate the at least one vegetable removal means ( 81 ) and the apparatus ( 1 ) is comprised of bracket means ( 91 ) which interrelates the at least one vegetable removal means ( 81 ) to the apparatus ( 1 ) at the cylinder second open end ( 15 ) by bracket interconnection means ( 60 ) comprised of welding, glues, epoxies, cements, clamps, bolts and or screws;    g. the vegetable removal means ( 81 ) is placed in cylindrical communication with the second open end ( 15 ) wherein a gate means ( 101 ) may be operated to open and close thereby allowing the vegetable or other spherical object ( 180 ) contained therein to drop out of the cylinder ( 10 ) at the second open end ( 15 ); thereafter the gate means ( 101 ) may be operated to close and allow the vegetable placing means ( 80 ) to be prepared to introduce the next vegetable ( 180 ) or object to be positioned into the cylinder ( 10 ); gate means ( 101 ) may be a plate which is withdrawn and repositioned, by gear, motor or other gate moving means, to allow the vegetable ( 180 ) to pass into the vegetable receiving cylinder ( 110 ) and then to conveyor or other means of transport or storage for further processing.    
   
   
       13 . An apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a. the at least one orifice means ( 50 ) comprised of a single orifice ( 50 ).    
   
   
       14 . An apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a. the at least one orifice means ( 50 ) is comprised of at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ); each of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) are formed by an aperture from the exterior surface ( 24 ) to the interior surface ( 22 ) intermediate the first open end ( 13 ) and the second open end ( 15 );    b. each of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) are at independently determined elevations within the cylinder ( 10 ) intermediate the first open end ( 13 ) and the second open end ( 15 ) and are oriented to direct pressurized fluid to the interior ( 20 ) to assert the same clockwise or counterclockwise forces on the vegetable ( 180 ) subjected to the pressurized fluid or jet.    
   
   
       15 . An apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 a. the at least one orifice means ( 50 ) is comprised of at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ); each of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) are formed by an aperture from the exterior surface ( 24 ) to the interior surface ( 22 ) intermediate the first open end ( 13 ) and the second open end ( 15 );    b. each of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) are at independently determined elevations within the cylinder ( 10 ) intermediate the first open end ( 13 ) and the second open end ( 15 ) and are independently oriented to direct pressurized fluid to the interior ( 20 ) to assert either clockwise or opposing counterclockwise forces on the vegetable ( 180 ) subjected to the pressurized fluid or jet.    
   
   
       16 . An apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 a. at least one of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) is positioned at elevation L 1  and oriented to direct pressurized fluid or jet to the interior ( 20 ) to assert either clockwise or counterclockwise forces on the vegetable ( 180 ) subjected to the pressurized fluid or jet;    b. At least one of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) is positioned at elevation L 2  and oriented to direct pressurized fluid or jet to the interior ( 20 ) to assert a pressurized fluid or jet in opposition to the orientation of at least one other of the “n” orifice means ( 50 ).    
   
   
       17 . An apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 a. elevation L 1  is less than elevation L 2  from the first open end ( 13 ).    
   
   
       18 . A method of polishing, abrading and or removing the surface from an object, generally spherical including peeling vegetables, using the apparatus of  claim 16  comprising: 
 a. placing a vegetable or generally spherical object ( 180 ), by vegetable placing means ( 80 ), into the cylinder interior ( 20 );    b. introducing, by at least one orifice means ( 50 ) of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ), a pressurized fluid stream at the interior ( 20 ) oriented either clockwise or counterclockwise;    c. sizing the cylinder interior ( 20 ) to receive the vegetable or generally spherical object ( 180 ) and orientating and directing and setting the pressure of the pressurized fluid stream or jet causing the vegetable ( 180 ) to rotate and to contact the interior surface ( 20 );    d. introducing, by at least one orifice means ( 50 ) or the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ), a pressurized fluid or jet in opposition to the orientation of at least one other of the “n” orifice means ( 50 ) causing the slowing or stopping of the rotation of the vegetable ( 180 );    e. removing the peeled vegetable ( 180 ) and the peel from the cylinder interior ( 20 ) by vegetable removing means ( 120 ).