Inventors:
Kenneth Scott Corkill - Lancaster CA
John Charles Firm - Palmdale CA
Ronald Eugene Roche - Phelan CA
Assignee:
Northrop Grumman Corporation - Los Angeles CA
International Classification:
B24B 2300
Abstract:
A floating sanding mechanism is provided including a handle, support arm secured to an extending from the handle and a support arm mounting plate pivotally engaged to the support arm. A counter-weight support plate pivotally engaged to the support arm mounting plate and the plurality of resilient members connect to the support arm mounting plate to the counter-weight support plate, so as to pivotally bias the counter-weight support plate in a predetermined orientation, e. g. generally parallel to the support arm mounting plate. A plurality of counter-weights are secured to the counter-weight support plate, proximate a perimeter thereof. A rotating sanding surface is mechanically coupled to the counter-weight support plate and translatable to infinite orientations therewith. The resilient members and the counter-weights are selected such that the sanding surface generally follows the contours of the surface to be sanded, overcoming the opposition of the resilient members.