Apparatus for Surface Abrasion

Abstract

There is provided a surface abrasion apparatus featuring overlapping abrasion paths to prevent tooling marks; a spaced housing, aluminum monocoque motor design and vacuum venturi to prevent overheating of the apparatus during operation; positioning of the tool plates to allow abrasion adjacent a vertical wall; O-ring seals to allow operation in wet conditions; magnetic and hook and fastener attachment of tool segments to allow ease of tooling; and articulation of the handle to permit greater operability.

1 . An apparatus for abrading a surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a machine chassis comprising an upper chassis plate and a corresponding lower chassis plate, the upper and lower chassis plates having a common outer perimeter;   a plurality of aligned openings through the upper and lower chassis plates, the openings forming an array;   a motor attached above the machine chassis;   a variable frequency drive attached to the motor;   sealing means for preventing entry of fluid into the motor;   a plurality of tool plate assemblies, each assembly comprising an input shaft extending through a pulley and an opening in the chassis plates to a tool holder connected to the input shaft below the lower chassis plate, a tool plate connectable to the tool holder, and a plurality of tool segments connectable by tool segment attachment means to the lower side of the tool plate, each tool segment having abrasion means on its lower surface and attachment means on its upper surface;   a pair of idler pulleys, each pulley positioned between the upper and lower chassis plates in alignment with a corresponding idler opening passing through the upper and lower chassis plates;   a drive belt wound adjacent each of the pulleys and idler pulleys;   a framework attached to the machine chassis and surrounding the motor;   at least one pair of wheels attached to the framework;   at least one weight post extending from the framework;   an elongated handle extending from the apparatus;   control means for controlling the motor; and   a pair of vacuum venturi disposed on opposing first and second sides of the chassis.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum pipe attachable to each of the vacuum venturi for connection to a vacuum for removal of heated air and debris. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a cooling space is provided between the inside of the framework and the outer sides of the motor. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is constructed as an aluminum monocoque. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one weight post comprises a pair of opposing first and second weight posts extending horizontally from opposing sides of the framework. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a third weight post extending vertically from the top of the framework. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each weight post is adapted to receive a one or more weights of any desired mass. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the array positions the plurality of tool plates in pattern in which the area abraded by each tool plate as the apparatus is moved during abrasion of a surface is partially overlapped by the area abraded by at least one other tool plate. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tool plate assemblies comprises six tool plate assemblies. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the array positions the outside edge of a plurality of tool plates adjacent the outer perimeter of the chassis plates. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of tool plates comprises five of six tool plates. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means comprises a plurality of O-ring seals. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing means comprises only non-liquid sealing means. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tool segment attachment means comprises one or more magnets. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tool segment attachment means comprises hook and loop fastener means. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each weight post is adapted to receive a plurality of weights of varying sizes. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle further comprises one or more articulations. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for abrading a surface, the apparatus comprising:
 a machine chassis comprising an upper chassis plate and a corresponding lower chassis plate, the upper and lower chassis plates having a common outer perimeter;   a plurality of aligned openings through the upper and lower chassis plates, the openings forming an array;   an aluminum monocoque motor attached to the chassis above the chassis plates;   a variable frequency drive attached to the motor;   O-ring sealing means for preventing entry of fluid into the motor;   six tool plate assemblies, each assembly comprising an input shaft extending through a pulley and an opening in the chassis plates to a tool holder connected to the input shaft below the lower chassis plate, a tool plate connectable to the tool holder, and a plurality of tool segments connectable by tool segment attachment means to the lower side of the tool plate, each tool segment having abrasion means on its lower surface and magnetic attachment means on its upper surface wherein the array positions the plurality of tool plates in a pattern in which the area abraded by each tool plate as the apparatus is moved during abrasion of a surface is partially overlapped by the area abraded by at least one other tool plate and the outside edge of five of the six tool plates is adjacent the outer perimeter of the chassis plates;   a pair of idler pulleys, each pulley positioned between the upper and lower chassis plates in alignment with a corresponding idler opening passing through the upper and lower chassis plates;   a drive belt wound adjacent each of the pulleys and idler pulleys;   a framework attached to the machine chassis and surrounding the motor wherein a cooling space is provided between the inside of the framework and the outer sides of the motor;   at least one pair of wheels attached to the chassis;   a pair of opposing first and second weight posts extending horizontally from opposing sides of the framework and a third weight post extending vertically from the top of the framework wherein each weight post is adapted to receive a one or more weights of any desired mass;   an elongated articulated handle;   control means for controlling the motor;   a pair of vacuum venturi disposed on opposing first and second sides of the machine chassis; and   a vacuum pipe attachable to each of the vacuum venturi for connection to a vacuum for removal of heated air and debris.