The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 27, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1998
Ronald J Byington, O'Fallon, MO (US);
The Boeing Company, St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
A chip and dust collection apparatus attached to a machine tool having a spindle and a cutter for removing chips and dust near the cutter at the time of cutting is disclosed. The invention comprises a vacuum supply apparatus and a hollow vacuum hood rotatably attached to the machine tool around the spindle so that the cutter projects forwardly through the vacuum hood. A hose connecting, the vacuum supply apparatus to the vacuum hood is also provided. A flexible sleeve is attached the vacuum hood so that the cutter projects through the flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve is more flexible along the longitudinal sleeve axis than normal to the longitudinal sleeve axis. The flexible sleeve is also pivotable at one end to a plurality of orientations not parallel with the longitudinal sleeve axis. Further, a hollow foot is attached to the flexible sleeve. A sealing end of the foot has a flange extending outwardly and back toward the machine tool. This arrangement allows the foot to remain against the workpiece as it is translated across the workpiece even if the cutter is not normal to the surface of the workpiece. The flange causes the foot to pivot if it engages elevations on the workpiece higher than the elevation on the workpiece at the cutter. As the machine tool translates across the workpiece, the chips and dust created by the cutter are pulled through the foot, the flexible sleeve, the vacuum hood and the hose into the vacuum supply apparatus.