Optical grade surfacing device
View Patent ↗A surface device includes a rigid holder ( 11 ), an elastically compressible interface ( 12 ) connected to the rigid holder, a flexible pad ( 13 ) adapted to be applied onto the surface to be machined ( 30 ) and a flexible belt ( 14 ) applied against and partially covering the side surface ( 18 ) of the interface ( 12 ), an annular portion ( 21 ) of the side surface ( 18 ) of the interface ( 12 ) being free between the belt ( 14 ) and the holder ( 11 ).
1. Optical grade surfacing tool, including:
a rigid support ( 11 ; 111 ) having a transverse end surface ( 15 ; 115 );
an elastically compressible interface ( 12 ; 112 ) attached to the rigid support ( 11 ; 111 ) and having a first transverse end surface ( 16 ; 116 ), a second transverse end surface ( 17 ; 117 ) and a lateral surface ( 18 ; 118 ) extending from the periphery of the first end surface ( 16 ; 116 ) to the periphery of the second end surface ( 17 ; 117 ), said first end surface ( 16 ; 116 ) of the interface ( 12 ; 112 ) being pressed against and covering said end surface ( 15 ; 115 ) of the rigid support ( 11 ; 111 ); and
a flexible pad ( 13 ; 113 ) adapted to be pressed against a surface ( 30 ) to be worked and that is pressed against and covers at least in part the second end surface ( 17 ; 117 ) of the interface ( 12 ; 112 ) on the opposite side to and in line with said end surface ( 15 ; 115 ) of the rigid support ( 11 ; 111 );
wherein a flexible rim ( 14 ; 114 ) is pressed against and partly covers the lateral surface ( 18 ; 118 ) of the interface, said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) extending from the periphery of said pad ( 13 ; 113 ) to a free edge ( 20 ; 120 ), an annular portion ( 21 ; 121 ) of said lateral surface ( 18 ; 118 ) of the interface ( 12 ; 112 ) being free between said free edge ( 20 ; 120 ) of said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) and the first end surface ( 16 ; 116 ) of the interface ( 12 ; 112 );
wherein said first transverse end surface ( 16 ; 116 ) and said second transverse end surface ( 17 ; 117 ) of said interface are in an absence of loads generally parallel to one another, and wherein said lateral surface ( 18 ; 118 ) has an extent less than that of each of first transverse end surface ( 16 ; 116 ) and said second transverse end surface ( 17 ; 117 ); and
wherein said flexible rim opposes lateral expansion of said interface.
2. Tool according to claim 1 , characterized in that said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) is made in one piece with the pad ( 13 ; 113 ).
3. Tool according to claim 1 , characterized in that said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) is formed by a bent raised edge at the periphery of the pad ( 13 ; 113 ).
4. Tool according to claim 1 , characterized in that said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) has V-contour notches ( 22 ) pointing toward said pad ( 13 ; 113 ).
5. Tool according to claim 1 , characterized in that it includes a cup-shaped shell ( 60 ) the bottom wall of which forms said pad ( 13 ; 113 ) and the lateral wall of which forms said rim ( 14 ; 114 ).
6. Tool according to claim 5 , characterized in that said interface ( 12 ; 112 ) is of a material molded onto said shell ( 60 ).
7. Tool according to claim 1 , characterized in that said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) is stuck to said interface ( 12 ; 112 ).
8. Tool according to claim 1 , characterized in that said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) is of a material molded onto said interface ( 12 ; 112 ).
9. Tool according to claim 1 , characterized in that said interface ( 112 ) includes an elastically compressible material plate ( 55 ) that is more rigid than the body ( 56 ) that forms the remainder of said interface ( 112 ), said plate ( 55 ) being disposed between said pad ( 113 ) and said body ( 56 ).
10. Tool according to claim 9 , characterized in that said body ( 56 ) has a peripheral portion ( 57 ) that surrounds said plate ( 55 ).
11. Tool according to claim 10 , characterized in that said peripheral portion ( 57 ) of the interface ( 112 ) has a blunted edge ( 58 ) between said second end face ( 117 ) and said lateral surface ( 118 ).
12. Tool according to claim 1 , characterized in that the distance between said free edge ( 20 ; 120 ) of said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) and said first end surface ( 16 ; 116 ) is between 30% and 70% of the distance between said first end surface ( 16 ; 116 ) and said second end surface ( 17 ; 117 ) of the interface ( 12 ; 112 ).
13. Tool according to claim 1 , characterized in that said support ( 11 ), said interface ( 12 ) and said pad ( 13 ) have similar diameters.
14. Tool according to claim 1 , characterized in that said interface ( 112 ) and said pad ( 113 ) have a similar diameter greater than the diameter of said support ( 111 ), said tool further including a spring return element ( 50 ) disposed between said rigid support ( 111 ) and the periphery of said interface ( 112 ).
15. Tool according to claim 2 , characterized in that said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) is formed by a bent raised edge at the periphery of the pad ( 13 ; 113 ).
16. Tool according to claim 2 , characterized in that said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) has V-contour notches ( 22 ) pointing toward said pad ( 13 ; 113 ).
17. Tool according to claim 3 , characterized in that said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) has V-contour notches ( 22 ) pointing toward said pad ( 13 ; 113 ).
18. Tool according to claim 2 , characterized in that it includes a cup-shaped shell ( 60 ) the bottom wall of which forms said pad ( 13 ; 113 ) and the lateral wall of which forms said rim ( 14 ; 114 ).
19. Tool according to claim 2 , characterized in that said rim ( 14 ; 114 ) is of a material molded onto said interface ( 12 ; 112 ).
20. Tool according to claim 8 , characterized in that said interface ( 112 ) includes an elastically compressible material plate ( 55 ) that is more rigid than the body ( 56 ) that forms the remainder of said interface ( 112 ), said plate ( 55 ) being disposed between said pad ( 113 ) and said body ( 56 ).