WO2008033973A1

WO2008033973A1 - Abrading device and system and method of using

Info

Publication number: WO2008033973A1
Application number: PCT/US2007/078350
Authority: WO
Inventors: Krishna G. Kumar
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
Priority date: 2006-09-15
Filing date: 2007-09-13
Publication date: 2008-03-20

Abstract

A device for inducing a particle removal vacuum for an abrading tool is described, the device comprising a housing defining a first air passageway and a second air passageway, an air regulator operable on the second air passageway, and an air splitter with at least three openings. An abrading system and method of removing abraded particles is also described.

Description

ABRADING DEVICE AND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING

FIELD The present invention relates generally to an abrading device and, more particularly, to an abrading device that induces a venturi-effect vacuum to effectively remove the dust and the dust-like particles that result from an abrading process.

BACKGROUND

Surface finishing of a workpiece can include sanding, scraping, buffing, polishing or other finishing processes. These processes may generically be referred to as abrading, because each process involves the removal of material, either on a macroscopic or microscopic scale, due to abrasion between contacting surfaces in relative motion.

A wide variety of materials and abrading tools for such finishing have been used. For example, sandpaper of various grades and nonwoven finishing pads with abrasive coatings or additives are well known. Today, many manufacturers sell orbital or random orbit sanding tools or sanders usable with removable and replaceable abrasive discs that are typically mounted to a backup pad.

In using an abrading tool or the like, the abrading workpiece inherently tends to produce substantial quantities of undesirable dust and dust-like particles abraded from the workpiece. Attempts have been made in the past to provide means for collecting the produced dust, but often result in a tool assembly which may be unduly complicated and expensive to manufacture, and cumbersome to handle.

Some abrading tools include a chamber in the housing of the tool that is adapted to receive compressed air from an air source. The air flows through the chamber to an air motor which drives the appropriate apparatus in the tool, and excess air flows back through an exhaust port in the tool. Many of these tools include integral or attachable vacuum extraction systems. These extraction or suction systems create a vacuum induced flow of air from a location near the chamber housing and near the workpiece surface being abraded and this helps to remove the dust and particles generated by the abrading process. Such systems may be found in, for example, U.S. Pat. No.

4,145,848, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,785,092. Another known dust-removal system may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,049,941.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to an abrading device and, more particularly, to an abrading device that induces a venturi-effect vacuum to effectively remove the dust and the dust-like particles that result from an abrading process.

One aspect of the present invention presents a device for inducing a particle removal vacuum for an abrading tool comprising a housing defining a first air passageway and a second air passageway. The housing includes a first end, a second end and a third end, and the first air passageway extends from the first end to the second end, and the second air passageway extends from the third end of the housing to the first air passageway. The device further comprises an air regulator operable on the second air passageway and an air splitter with at least three openings. A first air splitter opening is adapted to be coupled to an air source, a second air splitter opening is adapted to be coupled to the air regulator, and a third air splitter opening is adapted to be attached to the abrading tool.

Another aspect of the present invention presents an abrading system comprising an abrading tool, a device coupled to the abrading tool, an air splitter and an abraded particle collection bag coupled to the second end of the device. The abrading tool includes an abrading apparatus, an air-driven motor driving the abrading apparatus, a first abrading tool port and a second abrading tool port. The device coupled to the abrading tool includes a housing having a first end coupled to the second abrading tool port, a second end and a third end, and the housing is configured to induce a vacuum to aid abraded particle collection. The air splitter includes a first air splitter opening adapted to be connected to an air source, a second air splitter opening coupled to the third end of the device housing and a third air splitter opening coupled to the first abrading tool port, and the air splitter diverts a portion of the air from an air source to the device prior to the air from the air source entering the first abrading tool port.

Another aspect of the present invention presents a method of removing abraded particles from a surface comprising the steps of using an abrading tool to abrade a surface, providing pressurized air to drive the abrading tool, diverting a portion of the pressurized air to a device including a housing configured to induce a vacuum prior to the pressurized air entering said abrading tool, creating a vacuum in the housing of the device with the diverted pressurized air; and collecting at least a portion of the abraded particles with the vacuum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be further described by way of example only and without intending to be limiting with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a housing configured to induce a venturi- effect vacuum. FIG. 3A, and 3B show alternate embodiments of an air regulator for use in the present invention.

FIG. 3 C is an end view of a component of the invention taken along line 3C-

3C of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the invention where the abrading tool is a dual action air sander.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the invention where the abrading tool is an orbital sander. FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of the invention where the abrading tool is a dual action air sander.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In using a portable abrading tool or the like, the abrading material or element inherently tends to produce dust or dust-like particles abraded from the workpiece. Henceforth, unless otherwise stated, the reference of dust shall include the dust and the dust-like particles that result from the abrading process. It is desirable to effectively remove this dust.

The present invention provides a solution to effectively remove the dust. The first illustrated embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, is a device that can be used with most existing abrading tools, such as dual-action air sanders, to enhance the collection of produced dust without unduly complicating the operation of the overall tool assembly and without having to purchase new abrading tools.

FIG. 1 shows the top view of a device 10 for inducing a particle removal vacuum. The device includes a housing 20. The housing 20 includes a first end 201, a second end 202 and a third end 203. As seen in more detail in FIG. 2, the housing defines a first air passageway 210 that extends from the first end 201 to the second end 202, a second air passageway 220 that extends from the third end 203 of the housing 20 to the first air passageway 210 at a location between the first end 201 and the second end 202. The device 10 also includes an air regulator 30 coupled to the second air passageway 220 of the housing

20. The device 10 also includes an air splitter 40 coupled to the housing 20 through the air regulator 30. The air splitter 40 includes a first air splitter opening 401, a second air splitter opening 402 and a third air splitter opening 403. The air regulator 30 is coupled between the third end 203 of the housing 20 and the second air splitter opening 402 of the air splitter 40. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of housing 20 of the device 10. Housing 20 includes first fitting 22 and second fitting 24. Second fitting 24 is press fit at sleeve 26 at one end into a mating opening 28 in fitting 22. The housing 20 has a first air passageway 210 which extends from the first end 201 to the second end 202. A first portion 211 of the first air passageway 210 has a cross-section converging inwards towards the central axis 100 as the first air passageway 210 extends from the first end 201 of the housing 20 to the second portion 212 of the housing 20. The second portion 212 of the first air passageway 210 maintains a generally constant cross- sectional area. A third portion 213 of the first air passageway 210 has a cross- section that converges towards the central axis 100 as the third portion 213 extends from the second portion 212 to the fourth portion 214. The fourth portion includes a cross-section that diverges away from the central axis 100 as the fourth portion 214 extends from the third portion 213 to the second end 202. The second air passageway 220 of the housing 20 extends from the third end 203 of the housing 20 to a cylindrical passageway 225 encircled around the sleeve 26 of the second fitting 24 between the first end 201 and the second end 202 of the housing 20. The particular arrangement of the air passageways, including the diameter, angle, cross-section and length of the converging and diverging portions may be selected so as to provide the desired amount of induced vacuum for effective dust collection. The described and illustrated embodiments are not limiting.

For example, the angle of convergence for the first portion of the first air passageway Al may be less than 10 degrees with respect to the central axis 100 of the first air passageway 210. The angle of convergence for the third portion of the first air passageway A3 may be greater than 20 degrees with respect to the central axis 100 of the first air passageway 210. In one preferred embodiment, the angle of convergence for the first portion of the first air passageway Al is less than the angle of convergence for the third portion of the first air passageway A3. The angle of divergence for the fourth portion of the first air passageway A4 may be more than 5 degrees with respect to the central axis 100 of the first air passageway 210.

The air regulator 30 may be any fixture coupled to or integral with the device 10 to regulate the amount of compressed air entering the first air passageway

210 via the second air passageway 220. The air regulator 30 may, but is not required to, be able to fully close to prevent air from entering the first air passageway 210. FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C show some exemplary embodiments of air regulator 30. The air regulator 30 is of course not limited to these particular forms, but rather is applicable broadly to all variations that fall within the scope of the intended purpose.

FIG. 3A illustrates a first embodiment of an air regulator 3OA. The air regulator 3OA comprises a housing 310 with an air passageway 31 IA, a first end 313A, a second end 315A, a valve 320A and a valve handle 322A. The housing 310 defines the air passageway 31 IA that extends from the first end 313A to the second end 315A. The amount of air flowing from the second end 315A to the first end 313A depends on the valve 320A operable on the air passageway 31 IA which is controlled by the valve handle 322 A.

There are many different types of valves used to control the flow of fluids, including air. As is known to those skilled in the art, stop valves are used to shut off or, in some cases, partially shut off the flow of fluid. Any regulator that can partially or fully restrict airflow may be suitable for use in the present embodiment. Some examples of suitable stop valves are controlled by the movement of the valve stem and include ball, gate, globe and butterfly valves.

FIG. 3B illustrates an air regulator 3OB with a ball valve 320B. Ball valves, as the name implies, are stop valves that use a ball to stop or start the flow of fluid. In FIG. 3B, when the valve handle 322B is operated to open the ball valve 320B, the ball 324 rotates to a point where the hole 326 through the ball 324 is in line with the air passageway 311B of the air regulator 3OB. When the ball valve 320B is shut, which requires only a 90-degrees rotation of the valve handle 322B, the ball 324 is rotated so the hole 326 is perpendicular to the airflow through the air passageway 3 HB of the air regulator 3OB, and the airflow is stopped. When the valve handle 322B is turned to any position between 0-degrees to 90-degrees, the hole 326 of the ball 324 is correspondingly rotated to an orientation that is between in line with the airflow and an orientation that is perpendicular to the airflow. The amount of air allowed to flow through the air passageway 3 HB of the air regulator 3OB will then be modified accordingly.

Alternative embodiments to regulator 30 may be selected to regulate the flow area to a desired amount without being able to completely stop the airflow or adjust it to various values. An embodiment of such a way to control airflow is illustrated in FIG. 2. This embodiment regulates airflow by use of an orifice rather than a stop valve. In FIG. 2, there are holes 332 in shoulder 29. Shoulder 29 extends from sleeve 26 to the main body of fitting 24. Holes 332 permit air to flow from cylindrical passageway 225 into the third portion 213 of the first air passageway 210. This arrangement also directs the airflow from the second air passageway 220 to the third portion 213 of the first air passageway 210. FIG. 3C is a cross-section view of the housing 20 at the second portion 212 of the first air passageway 210 taken from line 3C - 3C. Therefore, by varying the size, number and/or layout of holes 332 on the shoulder 29, it is possible to control the amount of air flowing into the first air passageway 210. Any variations of the holes 332 including the sizes, number, shapes and layout, for the above intended purpose, is within the scope of this invention.

Another way to control the amount of airflow is to include a defined cross- sectional area of the second air passageway 220 from the third end 203 leading towards the cylindrical passageway 225. The regulators of FIGS. 3A through C may be used individually or in any suitable combination. In FIG. 1, the air splitter 40 is coupled to the air regulator 30 by means of a flexible tubing 50 and a two-joint connector 60. Other means of coupling such as but not limited to, connection using a rigid pipe or fabricating both parts or all parts of device 10 as one element, may be possible.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the invention which includes an abrading tool 610, which in this exemplary embodiment may be a dual action air sander. Abrading system 600 comprises the abrading tool 610, device 10, and an abraded particle collection bag 650 or other dust filtering means. Compressed air from air source 640 is fed through a flexible supply hose coupled to the first air splitter opening 401 of the air splitter 40. The third air splitter opening 403 is coupled to a first abrading tool port 611 of the abrading tool 610 and the second air splitter opening 402 is coupled to the third end 203 of the housing 20 through regulator 30. The air regulator 30 is operable on the second air passageway 220. The first end 201 of the housing

20 is coupled to a second abrading tool port 612 of the abrading tool 610. The second end 202 of the housing 20 is coupled to an abraded particle collection bag 650 or other dust filtering means. A portion of the compressed air from the air source 640 is channelled into the abrading tool 610 to drive the tool while the other portion of the compressed air from the air source 640 is diverted by the air splitter 40 to the housing 20 where a partial vacuum is created to draw the dust into the abraded particle collection bag 650. An explanation of the Venturi Effect is provided in a later section in this specification. In the illustrated embodiment, abrading tool 610 is a dual action air sander but may be any suitable tool configured for use with a dust collection system.

The abraded particle collection bag 650 is formed of an appropriate porous material, preferably woven material of the type commonly utilized in vacuum cleaners and the like, adapted to pass through the material of the bag to its exterior the air exhausted from abrading tool, while having a close enough weave or pore pattern to prevent the dust from the abraded work surface from leaving the bag with the air. A tie string 655, clamp or other attaching element may be included at the mouth of the abraded particle collection bag 650 so as to form an airtight closure of the bag at that location.

Alternatively, instead of an abraded particle collection bag 650, the embodiment of FIG. 4 may incorporate a filter cartridge. Suitable filter cartridges are known in the art, for example the debris extraction system indicated as '10' in US 2005/0037699, or the dust collection chamber indicates as '50' in US 2006/0107633, or the receptacle indicated as ' 13' in US 2004/0226272 . The enclosed filter may have a flexible rubber mounting to provide an air-tight connection inside the cartridge. Advantageously, the filter is arranged along an axis of the cartridge with the inlet port for the cartridge off axis, so that incoming air circles or spirals around the filter distributing dust around its exterior, thence the air passes through the filter and centrally out of the filter along its axis. Another arrangement would provide incoming air down the axis of a filter, which may be cylindrical while clean air passes from a generally cylindrical region external to the filter but inside the cartridge, thence through an exit port on the cartridge to atmosphere. The filter cartridge could include a depth filter which retains dust through an appreciable depth of filter material for longer filter life. The filter could consist of two materials capable of taking out different size fractions of the dust. Such arrangements provide efficient collection of dust and easy disposal or cleaning of filters, and accordingly would also be suitable for other embodiments of the invention.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. The abrading system 700 comprises an abrading tool 710, device 10, and an abraded particle collection bag 650. The abrading tool 710 comprises an abrading apparatus 720 and an air-driven motor 730 enclosed in a chamber housing 725 to which a portion of the compressed air from the air source 640 is directed via the first abrading tool port 711. The other portion of the compressed air from the air source 640 is diverted by splitter 40 to the housing 20 through the air regulator 30. The air-driven motor 730 drives the abrading apparatus 720 as is well-known to one skilled in the art to perform the intended abrading function on an abraded workpiece. The abrading apparatus 720 may be any material or device that is appropriate for the type of abrading to be performed such as but not limiting to, nonwoven pads available from 3M Company, St Paul Minnesota.

A portion of the compressed air is channelled into the chamber housing 725 enclosing the air-driven motor 730 to drive the air-driven motor 730. The other portion of the compressed air from the air source 640 is diverted by splitter 40 to the housing 20 through the air regulator 30. The ratio of compressed air flowing into the chamber housing 725 against compressed air flowing into housing 20 will depend on the air regulator 30 which will be controlled by the operator of the abrading system 700. When more compressed air is diverted to the housing 20, the suction power will increase.

This provides flexibility for the operator to adjust the air regulator 30 accordingly to obtain the suction power needed to remove different amount and size of dust from the abraded surface of the abraded workpiece. Also, by using the compressed air diverted from the air splitter 40 to generate the suction power instead of using the exhausted compressed air from the chamber housing 725, it is possible to create the suction power for removing dust from the abraded surface of the abraded workpiece without having to activate the air-driven motor 730.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a further embodiment of the invention which includes an abrading tool 610, which in this exemplary embodiment may be a dual action sander. Abrading system 800 comprises the abrading tool 610, and device 810. Here the device 810 includes all of the components shown between supply hoses 861,862 and abrading tool ports 611,612. Compressed air from air source 640 is fed through a flexible supply hose 861 coupled to port 801 of through-pipe 804, suitably by means of clamp 863, such as a jubilee clip. Through-pipe 804 is joined through filter box 820 to air splitter 40 at first air splitter opening 401 of the air splitter 40. The connections between the air splitter 40, the air regulator 30, the housing 20 and the abrading tool ports 611 and 612 are as described for FIG. 4, albeit via shorter couplings. Significantly, housing 20 includes structure as shown in FIG. 2 for providing a venturi effect. The second end 202 of the housing 20 is joined to filter box 820 at port 802. Filter box 820 has an air-tight lid 825, which is shown removed to reveal conical filter 830. Filter 830 is positioned centrally in filter box 820 by mountings 826. The filter 830 could alternatively by mounted to the lid 825. Filter 830 is removably coupled in air-tight fashion to link-pipe 827 which is joined to port 803 of filter box 820. Port 803 is shown with a connection for a central extraction system, providing additional vacuum suction, through a flexible hose 862 suitably coupled to port 803 by clamp 864 such as a jubilee clip; but port 803 could alternatively vent to the atmosphere in workshops where central extraction systems are unavailable.

As in previous embodiments, the user may adjust the relative flow of compressed air channelled into the abrading tool 610 while the other portion is diverted to the housing 20, by means of tap 822. When sufficient dust has been collected, the user may simply turn off the compressed air, remove the lid and invert the filter box into a suitable container for the dust. The filter may be removed for cleaning or disposal.

Other embodiments of the invention could be contemplated by designers to provide a device 810 with connection to a central extraction system.

The shape of the filter box can be modified specifically to direct suitable aerodynamic airflow inside the filter box or to allow the user to grip it. The filter box may be made of transparent material to allow the user to see when the filter needs changing or the dust tipped out. Instead of inserting the filter by opening a lid of the filter box, the port 803 could be made into a larger opening into which a cylindrical filter assembly is push-fitted and retained by a detent or other suitable retaining means that would withstand tugging on the flexible hose 862. The through-pipe 804 could be joined externally to filter box 820 instead of passing through it, if required for ease of cleaning the box. The filter may be selected from the options following the description of FIG. 4.

The arrangement could be manufactured so that the filter, the filter box, or the whole device is disposable, depending on market preference.

We will now explain the Venturi Effect using the illustration on FIG. 2. The diverted compressed air enters the second air passageway 220 of the housing 20 as it passes through the third end 203 of the housing 20. As explained earlier, the amount of air entering the second air passageway 220 will be regulated by the air regulator 30. As the compressed air enters the cylindrical passageway 225 from the second air passageway 220, the compressed air travels into the first air passageway 210 via the holes 332 in shoulder 29. This increases the velocity of the compressed air and reduces its pressure producing a partial vacuum via the Bernoulli effect. This reduction in pressure in the constriction can be understood by conservation of energy: the fluid gains kinetic energy as it enters the constriction, and that energy is supplied by a pressure gradient force from behind. In order for any fluid (such as gas) flow to occur it is essential that the exit pressure is lower than the entry pressure for the system.

The movement of suction air is produced by the Venturi Effect as a result of the rapid movement of air from the cylindrical passageway 225 through the holes 332, and into the location where the third portion 213 of the first air passageway 210 meets the fourth portion 214 of the first air passageway 210. The dust and suction air are drawn upwards from the abraded surface on the abraded workpiece to the second abrading tool port 712 through some means available in the abrading tool 710 known to one skilled in the art. Due to the converging cross-section of the first portion 211 of the first air passageway 210, the dust and suction air continue to be drawn towards the second end 202 of the first air passageway 210. The rate of discharge of the air from the holes 332 to the third portion 213 of the first air passageway 210 is sufficiently rapid to attain an effective Venturi Effect, and to produce a partial vacuum to effectively withdraw the dust produced from the abraded work surface by suction. The suction flow of air and the dust advances towards the fourth portion 214 of the first air passageway 210 in the housing 20 for ultimate discharge into the abraded particle collection bag 650, in which the dust particles are entrapped while the air escapes through the porous wall of the bag.

Thus, by adjusting the amount of air regulated through either adjusting the air regulator 30 or manipulating the size or number of the holes 332 or a combination of both, it is possible to control the Venturi Effect resulting in different suction power suitable for drawing different types of abraded particles or entrained dust.

The invention is further illustrated by way of an example. This example is intended to illustrate the effectiveness of the invention and the invention is by no way limited to what is disclosed in the example. Three configurations were tested. All configurations were tested with a dual action air sander as the abrading tool 610. Example 1 has the device 10 coupled to the abrading system 600. Comparative example A has a standalone vacuum cleaner coupled to the abrading system 600. Comparative example B does not have the device 10 nor the standalone vacuum cleaner coupled to the abrading system 600.

The equipment used in the experiment includes a conventional vacuum cleaner (Root Multiclean Vacuum Model MEC 503 from Roots Multiclean Ltd.), a dual action air sander (IngersollRand Model RS 25B-PSV-1 from Ingersoll- Rand Company), a weighing scale (Mettler Toledo Model PB 8001 -S from Mettler- Toledo, Inc.), a stop watch, pieces of body filler applied panels, abrading apparatus (3M 255P Hookit(TM) Disc- 150mm x 6 holes gold disc manufactured by 3M Company, St Paul Minnesota) and the device 10 for inducing a particle removal vacuum.

The device 10 comprises a housing 20 with a first fitting 22 and a second fitting 24 press fitted at sleeve 26 into a mating opening 28 in first fitting 22. The housing 20 has a first end 201 of diameter Dl 16.2 mm, a second end 202 of diameter D2 21.6 mm, and a third end 203 of outer diameter D31 11.0mm. The third end has an inner diameter D32 of 4.6mm. The housing 20 defines a first air passageway 210 that extends from the first end 201 to the second end 202 and a second air passageway 220 that extends from the third end 203 of the housing 20 to a cylindrical passageway 225 encircled around the sleeve 26 of the second fitting 24 between the first end 201 and the second end 202 of the housing 20. The first portion 211 of the first air passageway 210 has a length of 32.4 mm and an angle of convergence Al of 4 degrees with respect to the central axis 100. The second portion 212 of the first air passageway 210 has a length of 9.6 mm and an uniform cross-sectional area. The third portion 213 of the first air passageway 210 has a length of 9.0 mm and an angle of convergence A3 of 22 degrees with respect to the central axis 100. The fourth portion 214 of the first air passageway 210 has a length of 38.0 mm and an angle of divergence A4 of 8 degrees with respect to the central axis 100. The cylindrical passageway 225 has a height of 3.0mm measured along the central axis 100.

The third end 203 of the housing 20 is coupled to an air regulator 30 which is connected to the second air splitter opening 402 by means of a flexible tubing 50 and a two-joint connector 60. The air regulator 30 comprises a ball valve. The air is further regulated by means of two holes 332 on the shoulder 29 with a diameter D33 of 1.5 mm. In example 1, the first end 201 of the housing 20 is coupled to second abrading tool port 612, the second end 202 of the housing 20 is coupled to an abraded particle collection bag 650. The first air splitter opening 401 is coupled to an air source 640 and the third air splitter opening 403 is coupled to the first abrading tool port 611.

In comparative example A, the air source 640 is coupled to the first abrading tool port 611 while a stand-alone vacuum cleaner with the abraded particle collection bag 650 is coupled to the second abrading tool port 612. In comparative example B, the air source 640 is coupled to the first abrading tool port 611 while the abraded particle collection bag 650 is coupled to the second abrading tool port 612.

10

The weight of the abraded particle collection bag 650 were taken before and after each sanding process which lasted ten minutes each. The test was repeated four times for each experimental configuration wherein a new abrading apparatus was used each time. The pressure of the compressed air is

15 kept at 90 pounds per square inch (psi). The results are shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1 :

20 While certain embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, the invention is of course not limited to these particular forms, but rather is applicable broadly to all such variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for inducing a particle removal vacuum for an abrading tool comprising: a housing defining a first air passageway and a second air passageway, wherein the housing includes a first end, a second end and a third end, and wherein the first air passageway extends from the first end to the second end, and wherein the second air passageway extends from the third end of the housing to the first air passageway between the first end and the second end of the housing; an air regulator operable on the second air passageway; and an air splitter with at least three openings wherein a first air splitter opening is adapted to be coupled to an air source and a second air splitter opening is adapted to be coupled to the air regulator, and a third air splitter opening is adapted to be attached to the abrading tool.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second air passageway of the housing extends from the third end of the housing to a cylindrical passageway between the first end and the second end of the housing.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the housing further comprises a first fitting and a second fitting wherein the second fitting is press fit at the sleeve at one end into a mating opening in said first fitting.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein a first portion of the first air passageway has a cross-section converging inwards as the first air passageway extends from the first end of the housing to the second portion, and a second portion of the first air passageway maintains a generally constant cross-sectional area, and a third portion of the first air passageway has a cross-section that converges inwards as the third portion extends from the second portion and a fourth portion that has a cross-section that diverges outwards as the fourth portion extends from the third portion to the second end of the housing.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein there is at least one hole leading from the second air passageway to the first air passageway.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the angle of convergence for the first portion of the first air passageway is less than the angle of convergence for the third portion of the first air passageway.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the angle of convergence for the first portion is less than 10 degrees with respect to the central axis of the first air passageway and wherein the angle of convergence for the third portion of the first air passageway is more than 20 degrees with respect to the central axis of the first air passageway.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the angle of divergence is more than 5 degrees with respect to the central axis of the first air passageway.

9. An abrading system comprising: an abrading tool including an abrading apparatus, an air-driven motor driving the abrading apparatus, a first abrading tool port and a second abrading tool port; a device coupled to the abrading tool and including a housing having a first end coupled to the second abrading tool port, a second end and a third end and wherein the housing is configured to induce a vacuum to aid abraded particle collection; an air splitter including a first air splitter opening adapted to be connected to an air source, a second air splitter opening coupled to the third end of the device housing and a third air splitter opening coupled to the first abrading tool port, and wherein the air splitter diverts a portion of the air from an air source to the device prior to the air from the air source entering the first abrading tool port; and an abraded particle collection bag coupled to the second end of the device.

10. An abrading system as claimed in claim 9 further including an air regulator coupled between the air splitter and the device.

11. An abrading system as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the housing in the device has a first air passageway and a second air passageway, and wherein the first air passageway extends from the first end to the second end; and wherein the second air passageway extends from the third end of the housing to a cylindrical passageway encircled around a sleeve in the housing between the first end and the second end of the housing.

12. An abrading system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein there is at least one hole leading from the second air passageway to the first air passageway.

13. An abrading system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the housing in the device has a first portion of the first air passageway with a cross-section that converges inwards as the first air passageway extends from the first end of the housing to the second portion, and a second portion of the first air passageway maintains a generally constant cross-sectional area, and a third portion of the first air passageway has a cross-section that converges inwards as the third portion extends from the second portion and a fourth portion that has a cross-section that diverges outwards as the fourth portion extends from the third portion to the second end of the housing.

14. An abrading system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13 wherein the angle of convergence for the first portion of the first air passageway is less than the angle of convergence for the third portion of the first air passageway.

15. An abrading system as claimed in claims 9 to 13 wherein the angle of convergence for the first portion is less than 10 degrees with respect to the central axis of the first air passageway and wherein the angle of convergence for the third portion of the first air passageway is more than 20 degrees with respect to the central axis of the first air passageway.

16. An abrading system as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 15 wherein the angle of divergence is more than 5 degrees with respect to the central axis of the first air passageway.

17. A method of removing abraded particles from a surface comprising the steps of: using an abrading tool to abrade a surface; providing pressurized air to drive the abrading tool; diverting a portion of the pressurized air to a device including a housing configured to induce a vacuum prior to the pressurized air entering said abrading tool; creating a vacuum in the housing of the device with the diverted pressurized air; and collecting at least a portion of the abraded particles with the vacuum.