Burr removal apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for removing a burr from an aperture in a workpiece, using a rotating deburring tool having a flexible of partly flexible shaft, an abrasive mechanism that rotates on the shaft and a collar that protects the workpiece from abrasion when the abrasive mechanism is being positioned for deburring. Optionally, the shaft and abrasive mechanism move laterally as they rotate. Optionally, a shaft holder includes a protective surrounding sleeve to catch or deflect any fragment of the shaft holder that might fly off. Optionally, the shaft and the workpiece rotate independently of each other. Two or more different abrasive mechanisms can be simultaneously attached to the shaft. The cross-sectional shape of the abrasive mechanism may be curvilinear and/or polygonal, depending upon shape of the workpiece surface. Optionally, a shaft restrictor receives the shaft and limits lateral motion of the rotating shaft. The shaft optionally includes a rotatable mass that provides additional rotational inertia after the shaft is initially spun up.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for removing a burr from an aperture in a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
 a flexible shaft that can be rotated about a shaft axis, having a shaft first end, at a selected angular velocity;   an approximately cylindrically symmetric abrasive mechanism, connected to a location near a first end of the shaft and including an abrasive material that can abrade a selected section of a workpiece that is contacted by the mechanism;   a collar of a selected material that will not substantially abrade the workpiece when the workpiece is contacted by the collar, the collar being connected to the abrasive mechanism; and   whereby, when the abrasive mechanism, the collar and at least a portion of the shaft are inserted into an aperture in the workpiece and the shaft is rotated, at least one workpiece burr in the aperture can be removed by contact of the abrasive mechanism with the at least one burr.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said abrasive mechanism has substantially a cross-sectional shape drawn from a group consisting of a portion of an ovaloid, a portion of a triangle a portion of a quadrilateral, and a portion of a polygon. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said collar material is drawn from a group of non-abrasive materials consisting of wood, plastic rubber and soft metal. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said collar is located at a first end of said abrasive mechanism that is spaced apart from said first end of said shaft. 
     
     
         5 . A method for removing a burr from an aperture in a workpiece, the method comprising:
 providing a flexible shaft that can be rotated about a shaft axis;   providing at least one abrasive mechanism connected to the shaft, wherein the abrasive mechanism has a curvilinear surface of revolution and a cross-sectional profile greater than or equal to the shaft;   providing at least one non-abrasive member connected to the shaft or the abrasive mechanism or both, wherein the non-abrasive member has a cross-sectional profile greater than or equal to the abrasive mechanism;   rotating the shaft;   applying a lateral force to the shaft such that the non-abrasive member contacts a wall of the aperture and creates a bend in the shaft;   advancing the shaft axially in a path along the wall of the aperture until the abrasive mechanism advances passed an edge of the aperture;   withdrawing the shaft axially in a path along the wall of the aperture until the abrasive mechanism withdraws behind the edge of the aperture;   whereby even when the lateral force applied to the shaft during the advancing and withdrawing is not adjusted, and even when the advancing and withdrawing is along the same path along the wall, a burr located on a curvilinear edge of the aperture can be removed by the abrasive mechanism without damaging the wall of the aperture.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the non-abrasive member is located distal to the abrasive mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the non-abrasive member is a collar. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the abrasive mechanism is substantially hemi-spherically shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the non-abrasive member is a disk. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the non-abrasive member is connected to the abrasive mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the non-abrasive member and abrasive mechanism comprise a one-piece integral component. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the advancing and withdrawing is along the same path on the wall. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the force applied to the wall by the non-abrasive member is not adjusted. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the advancing and withdrawing comprises helical interpolation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the workpiece is rotated about an axis of the aperture and the advancing and withdrawing comprises advancing and withdrawing the shaft along a relatively straight path. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the workpiece is stationary and the advancing and withdrawing comprises advancing and withdrawing the shaft along a helical path. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the advancing comprises advancing the shaft in a relatively straight path along a portion of the wall and moving the shaft in a circular path around an axis of the aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the abrasive mechanism comprises a series of flutes. 
     
     
         19 . A method for removing a burr from an aperture in a workpiece, the method comprising:
 providing a flexible shaft;   providing at least one abrasive mechanism connected to the shaft, wherein the abrasive mechanism has a cross-sectional profile greater than or equal to the shaft;   providing at least one non-abrasive member connected to the shaft or the abrasive mechanism or both, wherein the non-abrasive member has a cross-sectional profile greater than or equal to the abrasive mechanism;   positioning the shaft laterally towards the wall of the aperture in the workpiece in such a way that the non-abrasive member contacts and applies a force to the wall;   advancing the shaft axially in a path along the wall of the aperture until the abrasive mechanism advances passed an edge of the aperture;   withdrawing the shaft axially in a path along the wall of the aperture until the abrasive mechanism withdraws behind the edge of the aperture, wherein the force applied to the wall by the non-abrasive member is not adjusted;   whereby a burr located on a curvilinear edge of the aperture can be removed by the abrasive mechanism without damaging the wall of the aperture.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the non-abrasive member has a circular cross-section and is located distal to the abrasive mechanism.