US4734964A — Apparatus for refurbishing acoustic members

Claim 1

Independent Claim 120 words

A device for simultaneously refurbishing the adjacent planar surfaces of a pair of coupled axially-extending members comprising: a housing structurally adapted to be axially disposed intermediate the opposed planar surfaces of the adjacent axially-extending members; a first abrasive film member secured to said housing in a position to contact one of said pair of opposed planar surfaces; a second abrasive film member secured to said housing at a position axially remote from said first abrasive film member to contact the other of said pair of opposed planar surfaces; and resilient means located intermediate said first and said second abrasive film members to bias said film members outwardly to contact the planar surfaces of said pair of coupled axially extending members.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 120 words

A device for simultaneously refurbishing the adjacent planar surfaces of a pair of coupled axially-extending members comprising: a housing structurally adapted to be axially disposed intermediate the opposed planar surfaces of the adjacent axially-extending members; a first abrasive film member secured to said housing in a position to contact one of said pair of opposed planar surfaces; a second abrasive film member secured to said housing at a position axially remote from said first abrasive film member to contact the other of said pair of opposed planar surfaces; and resilient means located intermediate said first and said second abrasive film members to bias said film members outwardly to contact the planar surfaces of said pair of coupled axially extending members.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 61 words

The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient means provides sufficient pressure on said first and said second abrasive film members to clean and refurbish the adjacent planar surfaces of said pair of coupled axially-extending members while permitting rotation of the device about its axis so that said film members clean said surfaces while said device is rotating.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises a disc of polyethylene.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient member comprises a spring.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a carrier plate to which said first abrasive film member is mounted.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 55 words

The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and said second film members and said resilient means, and at least a portion of said housing, are disc-shaped respectively defining axially-aligned annuli having an opening therein to receive therethrough a male threaded member on one of said pair of said coupled axially-extending members.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 47 words

The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises an axially-extending wall portion merging into an annular base portion, said wall portion being defined at a diameter larger than the diameter of said first and said second abrasive film members and said resilient member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 38 words

The device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the outer surface of said axially-extending wall portion is knurled to act as a gripping location for rotation of the tool intermediate said pair of coupled axially extending members.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 78 words

The device as set forth in claim 1 in further combination with a kit, said device comprising a component of said kit, said kit further comprising at least one of the following items: means structurally adapted for cleaning a threaded joint between said members; means structurally adapted for removing debris from either threads of a threaded joint between said members or an acoustic interface between said members; and means structurally adapted for cleaning a bore in said members.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said means structurally adapted for cleaning a threaded joint between said members comprises a U-shaped wire brush.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 36 words

The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said means structurally adapted for removing debris from either threads of a thread joint between said members or an acoustic interface between said members comprises non-shredding swabs.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said means structurally adapted for cleaning a bore in said members comprises an elongated brush.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 159 words

In combination: a first acoustic member defining a first planar acoustic surface; a second acoustic member defining a second planar acoustic surface, one of said first and said second acoustic members having a male threaded member for threadedly engaging a mating female threaded opening in the other acoustic member, said first acoustic member and said second acoustic member defining an acoustic interface therebetween when threadedly engaged; and a refurbishing tool located intermediate said first acoustic member and said second acoustic member for simultaneously cleaning the adjacent first and second planar surfaces thereof, said tool comprising means for supporting a spaced pair of outwardly-biased abrasive members, said tool further defining a bore therethrough receiving therethrough the male threaded member of said pair of acoustically coupled members, so that rotation of said tool about an axis while said abrasive film members are in contact with the opposed planar surfaces of said members causes said planar surface to be cleaned and refurbished.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 159 words

In combination: a first acoustic member defining a first planar acoustic surface; a second acoustic member defining a second planar acoustic surface, one of said first and said second acoustic members having a male threaded member for threadedly engaging a mating female threaded opening in the other acoustic member, said first acoustic member and said second acoustic member defining an acoustic interface therebetween when threadedly engaged; and a refurbishing tool located intermediate said first acoustic member and said second acoustic member for simultaneously cleaning the adjacent first and second planar surfaces thereof, said tool comprising means for supporting a spaced pair of outwardly-biased abrasive members, said tool further defining a bore therethrough receiving therethrough the male threaded member of said pair of acoustically coupled members, so that rotation of said tool about an axis while said abrasive film members are in contact with the opposed planar surfaces of said members causes said planar surface to be cleaned and refurbished.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

The combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein said tool further comprises resilient means located intermediate each of said spaced pair of abrasive members, for outwardly-biasing said abrasive members.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 73 words

The combination as set forth in claim 14, wherein said resilient means provides sufficient pressure on said first and said second abrasive film members to clean and refurbish the adjacent first and second planar surfaces of the coupled first and second acoustic members while permitting rotation of the tool about its axis so that said film members clean said first and second planar surfaces while said tool and said surfaces are relatively rotated.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The combination as set forth in claim 15, wherein said resilient means comprises a disc of polyethylene.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

The combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein said tool further comprises a carrier plate to which said first abrasive film member is mounted.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 62 words

The combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein said tool further comprises resilient means, and wherein said first and said second film members, said resilient means, and at least a portion of said housing are disc-shaped respectively defining axially-aligned annuli having an opening therein to receive therethrough a male threaded member on one of said coupled first and second acoustic members.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 53 words

The combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein said tool comprises a housing which includes an axially-extending wall portion merging into an annular base portion, said wall portion being defined at a diameter larger than the diameter of said first and said second abrasive film members and a resilient member interposed therebetween.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

The combination as set forth in claim 19, wherein the outer surface of said axially extending wall portion is knurled to act as a gripping location for rotation of the tool intermediate said pair of coupled axially extending members.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 30 words

The combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein said reburshing tool prior to use comprises a component of a maintenance kit for said first and said second acoustic members.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 65 words

The combination as set forth in claim 21 wherein said kit further comprises at least one of the following items: means structurally adapted for cleaning a threaded joint between said members; means structurally adapted for removing debris from either threads of a threaded joint between said members or an acoustic interface between said members; and means structurally adapted for cleaning a bore in said members.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

The combination as set forth in claim 22, wherein said means structurally adapted for cleaning a threaded joint between said members comprises a U-shaped wire brush.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 36 words

The combination as set forth in claim 22, wherein said means structurally adapted for removing debris from either threads of a thread joint between said members or an acoustic interface between said members comprises non-shredding swabs.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 24 words

The combination as set forth in claim 22, wherein said means structurally adapted for cleaning a bore in said members comprises an elongated brush.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-04-05	1991-10-05	1992-04-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-04-05	1995-10-05	1996-04-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-04-05	1999-10-05	2000-04-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for refurbishing acoustic members

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