Cooling Orbital Lapping Device

Abstract

An apparatus for sanding or polishing a surface includes a sanding housing having an inlet and an outlet, where the inlet and the outlet are fluidly connected. The apparatus also includes a sander attached to the sanding housing. The apparatus also includes sanding head removably attached to the outlet of the sanding housing. The sanding head is used to sand or polish the surface. The sander actuates the sanding head. The apparatus also includes a fluid supply line connecting the inlet of the sanding housing to a fluid supply source. The apparatus also includes a handle attached to at least one of the sander and the fluid supply source. The fluid supply source provides a fluid through the fluid supply line and the sanding head to cool the surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for sanding or polishing a surface:
 a sanding housing having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet and the outlet are fluidly connected;   a sander attached to the sanding housing;   a sanding head removably attached to the outlet of the sanding housing configured to sand or polish the surface, wherein the sander is configured to actuate the sanding head;   a fluid supply line connecting the inlet of the sanding housing to a fluid supply source; and   a handle attached to at least one of the sander and the fluid supply source,   wherein the fluid supply source is configured to provide a fluid through the fluid supply line and the sanding head to cool the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply source is a vortex tube. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is compressed air. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sander is an orbital sander. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second handle attached to at least one of the sander, the sanding housing, and the fluid supply source. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sanding head comprises a sanding pad and a sanding pad support structure. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the sanding pad is a porous material suitable for the fluid to pass through the sanding pad to the surface. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the sanding pad support structure has a plurality of apertures configured to allow the fluid to pass through the sanding pad and configured to collect solid particulate. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the solid particulate is ice. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sanding head is at least one of:
 circular in shape;   cylindrical in shape;   spherical in shape; and   convex in shape.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sanding head defines a first axis passing through a center of the sanding head. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid supply line is arranged parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid supply source is arranged parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the sander is arranged orthogonal to the first axis. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for sanding or polishing a surface comprising:
 a sander having a motor and a sanding head, wherein the sanding head defines a fluid flow axis passing through the center of the sanding head, wherein the fluid flow axis is non-parallel with the surface;   at least one cooling fluid device fluidly connected to the sanding head configured to provide a cooling fluid along the fluid flow axis through the sanding head; and   at least one handle configured to structurally support the motor and the at least one cooling fluid device;   wherein the at least one cooling fluid device is fluidly connected to a fluid supply source,   wherein the sanding head comprises a particulate filter to capture solid particulate generated by the cooling fluid.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the cooling fluid is compressed air. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one cooling fluid device is at least one vortex tube. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the sanding head comprises a material that allows fluid to flow through the material. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one handle is configured to be mounted to a robotic arm. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising at least one tube fluidly connects the at least one cooling fluid device to the sanding head.