Grinding vacuum shroud

Abstract

An improved vacuum shroud is provided for a grinding tool. The vacuum shroud employs a resilient bonnet with a central, axial opening therein for receiving a rotary grinder shaft therethrough. The bonnet is formed of a resilient, flexible, plastic material having a roof with a skirt at the periphery of the roof that laterally surrounds the grinder disk. A reinforcement plate at the undersurface of the roof protects the roof of the vacuum shroud when the grinder body is tilted at an incline toward a work surface so as to exert a greater pressure on one portion of the grinding face of the grinding disk than another. The peripheral region of the roof of the bonnet is flexible enough to permit orientation of the grinder tool body at various angles of inclination relative to the work surface while still maintaining contact between the work surface and the lower edge of the bonnet skirt throughout its entire length. The improved vacuum shroud thereby maintains substantially complete contact between the skirt of the vacuum shroud bonnet and the work surface regardless of the angle of orientation of the grinder tool body relative to the work surface. This aids in confining airborne particles within the plenum located beneath the vacuum shroud and above the work surface, while at the same time preserving a high degree of suction within the plenum.