Bell-Shaped Abrasive Composite for Extended Service Life

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Solution Overview

Problem

Structured abrasive articles with pyramidal composites experience rapid initial erosion and limited useful life due to changes in load-bearing area, leading to inefficient abrading performance.

Innovation Solution

The structured abrasive article features shaped abrasive composites with a base, walls forming dihedral angles less than 90 degrees, cusps, and facets that define a recessed feature, allowing for a consistent load-bearing area and extended service life while maintaining initial cut efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If pyramidal abrasive composites are used, then manufacturing is simplified and initial cut efficiency is achieved, but load-bearing area changes during erosion leading to limited useful life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiduseful life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from symmetric pyramidal shapes to asymmetric bell-shaped composites with non-uniform wall angles. The bell shape features a rounded top portion and a base portion with different geometric characteristics, creating an asymmetric form that maintains structural integrity during erosion while improving useful life. This asymmetric design allows the composite to erode uniformly without the load-bearing area fluctuations that occur with pyramidal shapes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of manufacture

If pyramidal abrasive composites are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but erosion causes rapid initial breakdown and stops efficient abrading when load-bearing area reaches 50-70%

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidabrasive performance consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the abrasive composite from pyramidal to bell-shaped, specifically modifying wall angles and overall form. The bell shape incorporates a rounded top portion with a maximum diameter greater than the base diameter, creating a profile that maintains consistent load-bearing characteristics during erosion. This parameter change ensures reliable abrasive performance throughout the composite's service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional pyramidal shapes are used, then tooling is easy to fill and separate from the article, but the shaped composites experience rapid erosion and limited service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetooling ease of useVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a dynamic erosion pattern through the bell shape design. As the composite erodes, the rounded top portion and non-uniform wall angles allow for progressive material removal that maintains functional geometry longer than pyramidal shapes. The dynamic interaction between the eroding surface and workpiece ensures consistent abrasive action throughout the service life, extending the duration of effective operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The modified shape of the abrasive composites extends the useful life of structured abrasive articles beyond conventional products while achieving comparable initial cut rates, minimizing erosion and maintaining abrasive performance.

Implementation Method 1

structured abrasive article and method of using the same

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentEP2470331B1Structured abrasive article and method of using the same
Publication Date: 2018.09.19 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
  • EP2470331B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2470331B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4
  • EP2470331B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~6B

AI summary

A structured abrasive article comprises a backing, and an abrasive layer disposed on and secured to the backing. The abrasive layer comprises shaped abrasive composites, each comprising abrasive particles dispersed in a binder. Each the shaped abrasive composites independently comprises: a base disposed on the backing; a plurality of walls extending away from the base, and a grinding surface not contacting the base. Adjacent walls share a common edge. Each wall independently forms a dihedral angle with the base of less than or equal to 90 degrees. The grinding surface has a plurality of: cusps, and facets that contact a recessed feature. At least a portion of the recessed feature is disposed closer to the base than each of the cusps. Each cusp is formed by an intersection of two of the walls and at least one of the facets. Use of the structured abrasive article to abrade a workpiece is also disclosed.