HUB FOR AN ABRASIVE ARTICLE

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates, in general, to the field of tools for abrading material. More particularly, present embodiments relate to a hub for mounting an abrasive article to a tool.

BACKGROUND

“Hubbed” thin wheels for abrasive tools (e.g., floor mounted grinders, handheld portable grinders, buffing machines, etc.) can include a metal formed hub used to attach an abrasive article (e.g., grinder wheels, etc.) to a tool. Currently these hubbed thin wheels occupy a majority of the North American thin wheel market and are particularly popular with the oil and gas, foundry, and metal fabrication industries. Although popular, hubbed thin wheels can be more expensive to manufacture, can have a larger environmental impact, and can reduce performance on current safety metrics. Hubs for the hubbed thin wheels can account for up to 40% of the final product's raw material cost and can require additional manufacturing steps. Therefore, improvements in the hubs for the hubbed thin wheels are continually needed.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify indispensable features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

One general aspect includes a hub configured to mount an abrasive article to a tool a body with a longitudinal center axis and a total axial height (H3), the body including: a proximal end; a distal end; and a flange extending radially from the body between the proximal end and the distal end, where the flange may include a lower surface and an upper surface, where the distal end is at an axial distance (H1) from the upper surface, and where H3 is less than 16.7 mm and H1 is less than 30% of H3.

One general aspect includes a hub configured to mount an abrasive article to a tool a body with a longitudinal center axis, the body including: a proximal end; a distal end; a flange extending radially from the body between the proximal end and the distal end; and a distal protrusion at the distal end extending axially from an upper surface of the flange, the distal protrusion having a non-polygonal shape in a radial cross section from an uppermost surface of the distal protrusion to the upper surface of the flange, where the radial cross section is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of present embodiments will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a representative perspective view of a handheld grinder tool with a hubbed thin wheel attached, in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 2A is a representative top view of a prior art hubbed thin wheel;

FIG. 2B is a representative partial cross-sectional view along line 2B-2B, as indicated in FIG. 2A, of the prior art hubbed thin wheel;

FIG. 2C is a representative top view of a prior art hub;

FIG. 3 is a representative top view of a hub of the current disclosure, in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 4A is a representative partial cross-sectional view along line 4A-4A, as indicated in FIG. 3, of a hub of the current disclosure, in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 4B is a representative perspective view of a volume for receiving adhesive in a prior art hub;

FIG. 4C is a representative perspective view of a volume for receiving adhesive in a hub of the current disclosure, in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIGS. 5A-5F are representative bottom views of a hub of the current disclosure with various protruding ridges formed in the flange, in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are representative partial cross-sectional views along line 4A-4A, as indicated in FIG. 3, of hubs of the current disclosure, in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIGS. 8A-8F are representative top views of hubs of the current disclosure with various flange profiles, in accordance with certain embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a representative perspective view of a removal tool for engaging a hub of the current disclosure, in accordance with certain embodiments; and

FIG. 10 is a representative side view of a vertical stack of hubs, in accordance with certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description in combination with the figures is provided to assist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The following discussion will focus on specific implementations and embodiments of the teachings. This focus is provided to assist in describing the teachings and should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope or applicability of the teachings.

FIG. 1 is a representative perspective view of a handheld grinder tool 10 with a hubbed thin wheel 132 attached, in accordance with certain embodiments. The handheld grinder tool 10 is only one example of the tools that can benefit from using the hubbed thin wheels 132 of this disclosure that use a hub 100 to attach the abrasive article 40 to the tool 10. For example, the hub 100 can be used to attach abrasive articles 40 to commercial floor or bench mounted grinder or buffer tools 10, or various hand operated or handheld tools.

A distal end 122 (see FIGS. 4A, 6, and 7) of the hub 100 can engage an engagement surface 30 of the tool 10. The distal protrusion 120 of the hub 100 and the design of the abrasive article 40 determines the distance H7 between the guard sidewall 13 and the abrasive article 40. It can be desirable to ensure that the abrasive article 40 is positioned within the guard 12, such that the distance H7 plus the thickness H4 of the abrasive article 40 is less than the overall width H8 of the guard 12. It can also be desirable that the abrasive article 40 be positioned more toward a center of the guard 12, such that the center of the abrasive article 40 is positioned at or near the distance (H8/2) from the guard sidewall 13.

Design constraints of prior art hubs 20 appear to prevent significantly reducing the distance H7 between the guard sidewall 13 and the abrasive article 40. This is explained in more detail below. However, the hubs 100 of the current disclosure provide a way to bypass some of these design constraints and provide a design that allows significant reduction in the distance H7. This allows the abrasive article 40, as it is spun (arrows 90) about the longitudinal center axis 80 of the hub 100 by a drive shaft in the motor housing 14, to be positioned closer to the engagement surface 30 of the tool 10 and thereby be positioned more closely to the center (i.e., H8/2) of the guard 12.

Reducing the distance H7 from the guard sidewall 13 yields other benefits for the tool 10. With the abrasive article 40 positioned closer to the engagement surface 30 than is allowed by the prior art hubs 20, this can reduce vibration imparted to an operator for given wheel imbalance, thereby reducing fatigue of the operator as well as the tool 10. Improved safety is achieved by better encapsulating the abrasive article 40 within the guard 12, which provides better management of swarf exiting a grinding zone when the abrasive article 40 is engaging a surface.

FIG. 2A is a representative top view of a prior art hubbed thin wheel 32 that utilizes a prior art hub 20 to mount the abrasive article 40 to the tool 10. The prior art hub 20 comprises a flange 22 that extends radially from the internal bore 26, with internal threads 28 formed therein. A distal protrusion 24 extends axially from the flange 22 to a distal end 25, which can engage the engagement surface 30 when the prior art hubbed thin wheel 32 is installed on the tool 10.

The distal protrusion 24 provides an engagement feature for engaging a removal tool that can be used to tighten or loosen engagement of the internal threads 28 with the drive shaft of the tool 10. The engagement feature is provided by the distal protrusion 24 that is hex-shaped, such that a removal tool (e.g., a box end wrench) can engage the distal protrusion 24 and apply a torque to the prior art hubbed thin wheel 32.

The flange 22 is circular and extends radially from the internal bore 26 and is positioned at a base of the distal protrusion 24. The prior art hub 20 also includes a proximal end (not shown, see FIG. 2B) that extends axially downward from the flange 22. The proximal end is used to capture and hold the prior art hub 20 to the abrasive article 40.

FIG. 2B is a representative partial cross-sectional view along line 2B-2B, as indicated in FIG. 2A, of the prior art hubbed thin wheel 32 that utilizes a prior art hub 20 to mount the abrasive article 40 to the tool 10. A central body of the prior art hub 20 can include a distal end 25 at a top of the central body, a proximal end 35 at a bottom of the central body, and a flange 22 that extends radially from the central body between the distal end 25 and the proximal end 35.

The central body can include an internal bore 26 with internal threads 28 formed thereon. A distal protrusion 24 extends axially from the flange 22 to the distal end 25, with at least a portion of the distal protrusion forming the hex-shaped engagement feature for engaging the removal tool. Because the engagement feature supports engagement of the removal tool with the prior art hub 20, the height H1 of the distal protrusion 24 has a minimal height that is required to provide adequate engagement of the removal tool with the distal protrusion 24 to provide adequate application of torque to the prior art hub 20 to tighten or loosen the engagement of the threads 28 with the drive shaft of the tool 10.

The thickness L1 of the flange 22 has a minimal height that is required to provide adequate structural support for engaging and retaining the abrasive article 40 to the prior art hub 20. The flange 22 also forms an annular cavity 44 between a lower surface of the flange 22 and an upper surface of the abrasive article 40, in which an adhesive 46 (e.g., epoxy) can be injected for securing the abrasive article 40 to the prior art hub 20. The thickness L1 of the flange 22 and a depth of the annular cavity 44 required for receiving the adhesive 46 can impact the overall height requirements for the prior art hub 20.

Additionally, the proximal protrusion 34 adds to the overall height requirements for the prior art hub 20 by having to extend through an aperture 42 of the abrasive article 40 and provide enough material at the proximal end 35 to allow deformation of the proximal end 35 to form around the abrasive article 40 to further retain the prior art hub 20 in the aperture 42 of the abrasive article 40. The height H2 of the proximal protrusion 34 from the lower surface of the flange to the proximal end 35 has a minimal height requirement that includes the thickness H4 of the abrasive article 40 and the length of material needed for the deformation of the proximal end 35.

Therefore, the minimum of the overall height H3 can be determined by the minimum height of H1, the minimum thickness L1, and the minimum height of H2. The inventors of the current hub 100 contend that the design constraints of the prior art hub 20 prevents the prior art hub 20 from further reducing the overall height H3. For example, because the prior art hub 20 requires the distal protrusion 24 to engage with the removal tool, the height H1 must provide a sufficient amount of engagement surface area to impart torque to the prior art hub 20 to tighten or loosen the prior art hub 20 that threadably engages a drive shaft of the tool 10.

However, in a novel improvement over the prior art hub 20, the inventors have removed the design constraint of removal tool engagement for the distal protrusion and moved it to the flange. With the distal protrusion no longer required to engage the removal tool, the height of the distal protrusion can be significantly reduced (e.g., H1 can be “0”), which is not provided or suggested by the prior art hub 20. This is further illustrated by a comparison of the prior art hub 20 shown in FIG. 2C to the hub 100 of the current disclosure shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2C is a representative top view of a prior art hub 20 that can be used to mount the abrasive article 40 to the tool 10. The distal protrusion 24 is hex-shaped for engaging a removal tool. The flange 22, from which the distal protrusion 24 extends, is circular. The internal bore 26 can include internal threads 28 formed thereon. In contrast, the FIG. 3 is a representative top view of a hub 100 of the current disclosure, in accordance with certain embodiments, that can be used to mount the abrasive article 40 to the tool 10. The distal protrusion 120 is circular and is not configured to engage a removal tool. In a non-limiting embodiment, the flange 110, from which the distal protrusion 120 extends, is hex-shaped for engaging a removal tool. It should be understood that other shapes for the flange 110 are also possible. The internal bore 126 can include internal threads 128 formed thereon. The flange 110 can have a reduced diameter from the flange 22 of the prior art hub 20, which can further reduce the weight of the hub 100 as compared to the prior art hub 20.

FIG. 4A is a representative partial cross-sectional view along line 4A-4A, as indicated in FIG. 3, of a hub 100 of the current disclosure, in accordance with certain embodiments, prior to deformation of the proximal protrusion 140 that can be used to secure the abrasive article 40 to the hub 100. The body 102 of the hub 100 can include a proximal end 142, a distal end 122, and a flange 110 that radially extends from the body 102 at an axial position between the proximal end 142 and the distal end 122. The proximal end 142 is shown as a dashed line which can represent where the proximal end 142 would be after the proximal end 142′ is deformed to capture the abrasive article 40 by the hub 100. The body 102 can be a generally cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis 80. However, other shapes of the body 102 are also envisioned. For example, the distal protrusion 120 can be cylindrical, polygonal, or non-polygonal shapes.

A distal protrusion 120 can extend axially along the longitudinal center axis 80 from an upper surface 112 of the flange 110 to the distal end 122. A transition between the upper surface 112 and the distal protrusion 120 can be a radiused corner 118 having a radius R1 referenced from an axis 82. The radiused corner 118 can relieve stresses that may form between the body 102 and the flange 110 and enhance distribution of stresses within the body 102 and the flange 110. However, in some non-limiting embodiments, the distal protrusion 120 does not extend axially above the upper surface 112 of the flange 110 and therefore, there may not be a radiused corner for the transition between the upper surface 112 and the distal protrusion 120 since the distal protrusion 120 may be omitted.

The radius R1 can be 2.54 mm. The radius R1 can be greater than or equal to 1.0 mm, or greater than 1.2 mm, or greater than 1.4 mm, or greater than 1.6 mm, or greater than 1.8 mm, or greater than 2.0 mm. The radius can also be less than or equal to 4.0 mm, or less than 3.8 mm, or less than 3.6 mm, or less than 3.4 mm, or less than 3.2 mm, or less than 3.0 mm, or less than 2.9 mm, or less than 2.8 mm, or less than 2.7 mm, or less than 2.6 mm. Therefore, the radius R1 can be within a range including any of the minimum and maximum values noted above, including, for example, but not limited to within a range of greater than or equal to 2.0 mm and less than or equal to 4.0 mm, or within a range of greater than 2.6 mm and less than 3.4 mm, or greater than or equal to 2.0 mm and less than to 3.4 mm, or greater than 2.6 mm and less than or equal to 4.0 mm.

The body 102 can include an internal bore 126 with internal threads 128 formed therein. A chamfer 134 can be formed at the top of the internal bore 126 and angled inward from the distal end 122 to a counterbore 136. A chamfer 138 can be formed at the bottom of the internal bore 126 and angled inward from the proximal end 142. An annular cavity 144 can be formed by a recess in the lower surface 116, which forms an inner lower surface 114. The annular cavity 144 can be an annular volume bounded by the inner lower surface 114 at the top, a top surface of the abrasive article 40 at the bottom, and a transition from the inner lower surface 114 to the lower surface 116 forming one side and an outer cylindrical wall 104 of the body 102 forming an opposite side.

This annular cavity 144 can be used to receive an adhesive 145 (see FIG. 6) that can be used to adhere the flange 110 to the abrasive article 40 during assembly of the hubbed thin wheel 132. The inner lower surface 114 can be an undulating surface of various patterns to increase a surface area of the inner lower surface 114 that engages the adhesive 145 when the hub 100 is secured in the aperture 42 of the abrasive article 40.

The distal protrusion 120 can extend upward from the flange 110 by a height H1. The flange 110 can have a thickness L2 between the upper surface 112 and the inner lower surface 114. An outer radial portion of the flange 110 can have a thickness L1 between the upper surface 112 and lower surface 116. Therefore, a depth of the annular cavity 144 can be seen as the difference between L1 and L2 (i.e., L1−L2).

The proximal protrusion 140 can extend downward from the lower surface 116 of the flange 110 to the proximal end 142 (after deformation) having a height H2. Therefore, an overall axial height H3 of the hub 100 can be seen as the height H1 plus the thickness L1, plus the height H2 (i.e., H1+L1+H2).

The height H2 is generally determined by the height H4 of the abrasive article 40 and the deformed portion of the proximal protrusion 140. Therefore, in a non-limiting embodiment, if the deformed portion of the proximal protrusion 140 extends below the abrasive article 40 by a distance of approximately 0.5 mm, then the height H2 can be represented by H4+0.5 mm.

Therefore, if the abrasive article 40 is a cutoff wheel, which is approximately 1.2 mm thick, then the height H2 can be seen as being approximately 1.7 mm. If the abrasive article 40 is a combo wheel, which is approximately 4 mm thick, then the height H2 can be seen as being approximately 4.5 mm. If the abrasive article 40 is a grinding wheel, which is approximately 7 mm thick, then the height H2 can be seen as being approximately 7.5 mm.

The height H6 can represent a distance from the distal end 122 to the beginning of the internal threads 128. The height H6 can include the chamfer 134 and the counterbore 136. By reducing this height H6, the abrasive article 40 can be positioned closer to the engagement surface 30 of the tool 10 when compared, for example, to the prior art hubbed thin wheel 32 shown in FIG. 2A.

The annular cavity 144 of the hub 100 of the current disclosure can have a volume that is significantly larger than the prior art hub 20 shown in FIG. 2C while the current hub 100 maintains a smaller overall height H3 and a smaller diameter of the flange 110 compared to a prior art hub 20 that is shown in FIG. 2C. The prior art hub 20 can have an annular cavity 44 that has a volume of approximately 2.7 cm³. However, the current hub 100 can have an annular cavity 144 that has a volume ranging from 4.3 cm³ to 8.7 cm³.

The volume of the annular cavity 144 can be less than 8.7 cm³, or less than 8.6 cm³, or less than 8.5 cm³, or less than 84 cm³, or less than 83 cm³, or less than 8.2 cm³, or less than 8.1 cm³, or less than 8.0 cm³, or less than 7.9 cm³, or less than 7.8 cm³, or less than 7.7 cm³, or less than 7.6 cm³, or less than 7.5 cm³, or less than 7.4 cm³, or less than 7.3 cm³, or less than 7.2 cm³, or less than 7.1 cm³, or less than 7.0 cm³, or less than 6.9 cm³, or less than 6.8 cm³, or less than 6.7 cm³, or less than 6.6 cm³, or less than 6.5 cm³. The volume of the annular cavity 144 can be greater than 4.3 cm³, or greater than 4.4 cm³, or greater than 4.5 cm³, or greater than 4.6 cm³, or greater than 4.7 cm³, or greater than 4.8 cm³, or greater than 4.9 cm³, or greater than 5.0 cm³, or greater than 5.1 cm³, or greater than 5.2 cm³, or greater than 5.3 cm³, or greater than 5.4 cm³, or greater than 5.5 cm³. Therefore, the annular cavity 144 can have a volume that can be within a range including any of the minimum and maximum values noted above, including, for example, but not limited to within a range of greater than 4.3 cm³ and less than 8.6 cm³, or within a range of greater than 4.5 cm³ and less than 7.3 cm³, or within a range of greater than 4.3 cm³ and less than 7.9 cm³, or within a range of greater than 4.4 cm³ and less than 7.8 cm³.

The hub 100 can have a volume that is less than 8.0 cm³, or less than 7.5 cm³, or less than 7.0 cm³, or less than 6.5 cm³, or less than 6.0 cm³, or less than 5.5 cm³, or less than 5.0 cm³.

The hub 100 can have a weight that is less than 52 grams, or less than 50 grams, or less than 48 grams, or less than 46 grams, or less than 44 grams, or less than 42 grams, or less than 41 grams.

FIG. 4B is a representative perspective view of a volume of an annular cavity 44 for receiving adhesive 145 in a prior art hub 20. In comparison, FIG. 4C is a representative perspective view of an annular cavity 144 for receiving adhesive 145 in a hub 100 of the current disclosure, in accordance with certain embodiments. The circular body 102 of the hub 100 can have a diameter D2 (see FIG. 4A), which can establish the inner diameter of the volume of an annular cavity 144. This inner diameter D2 can be the same for the volume of an annular cavity 44 of FIG. 4B, since these hubs can be used for abrasive articles 40 of the same size.

Also, the amount of adhesive 145 needed to sufficiently secure the flange to the abrasive article 40 can be reduced by increasing a surface area of the inner lower surface 114 that engages the adhesive 145.

FIGS. 5A-5F are representative bottom views of a hub 100 of the current disclosure with various protruding ridges 150 formed in the flange 110, in accordance with certain embodiments. The inner lower surface 114 is recessed from the lower surface 116 and can form the annular cavity 144. The inner diameter D3 can be the inner diameter of the internal threads 128. Different ridges 150 can alter the volume of the annular cavity 144 and can alter the amount of surface area of the inner lower surface 114 that engages the adhesive 145. FIGS. 5A-5F are non-limiting embodiments of the hub 100 with various ridges 150, but it should be understood that other ridges 150 are also envisioned.

FIG. 5A shows the ridges 150 to be a plurality of oblong recesses. The annular cavity 144 for FIG. 5A can be represented as volume V1 and the contact surface area for the FIG. 5A can be represented as surface area SA1. The volume V1 and surface area SA1 can be determined by the specific dimensions of the hub 100. For FIGS. 5A-5F, it is assumed that the dimensions of the hub 100 are the same, so the various ridges 150 can be compared as they alter the volumes Vi and surface areas Sai (where “i” ranges from 1 to 6).

FIG. 5B shows the ridges 150 to be a plurality of radially extending grooves. The annular cavity 144 for FIG. 5B can be represented as volume V2 and the contact surface area for FIG. 5B can be represented as surface area SA2. The volume V2 can be approximately 4% less than the volume V1, and the surface area SA2 can be approximately 26% greater than the surface area SA1.

FIG. 5C shows the ridges 150 to be a plurality of annular grooves. The annular cavity 144 for FIG. 5C can be represented as volume V3 and the contact surface area for FIG. 5C can be represented as surface area SA3. The volume V3 can be approximately 10% less than the volume V1, and the surface area SA3 can be approximately 40% greater than the surface area SA1.

FIG. 5D shows the ridges 150 to be a plurality of spherical recesses each with a diameter of approximately 0.43 mm. The annular cavity 144 for FIG. 5D can be represented as volume V4 and the contact surface area for FIG. 5D can be represented as surface area SA4. The volume V4 can be approximately 1% less than the volume V1, and the surface area SA4 can be approximately 44% greater than the surface area SA1.

FIG. 5E shows the ridges 150 to be a plurality of spherical recesses each with a diameter of approximately 0.86 mm. The annular cavity 144 for FIG. 5E can be represented as volume V5 and the contact surface area for FIG. 5E can be represented as surface area SA5. The volume V5 can be approximately 12% less than the volume V1, and the surface area SA5 can be approximately 47% greater than the surface area SA1.

FIG. 5F shows the ridges 150 to be a plurality of spherical recesses each with a diameter of approximately 1.73 mm. The annular cavity 144 for FIG. 5F can be represented as volume V6 and the contact surface area for FIG. 5F can be represented as surface area SA6. The volume V6 can be approximately 22% less than the volume V1, and the surface area SA6 can be approximately 59% greater than the surface area SA1.

FIG. 6 is a representative partial cross-sectional view along line 4A-4A, as indicated in FIG. 3, of a hub 100 of the current disclosure, in accordance with certain embodiments, after deformation of the proximal protrusion 140 to secure the abrasive article 40 to the hub 100. The description above regarding FIG. 4A is also applicable to the items with the same reference numerals in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 differs from FIG. 4A at least in that it shows the proximal end 142 of the proximal protrusion 140 being deformed to capture the abrasive article 40 within the hub 100. Also, the abrasive article 40 is shown in cross-section where it is shown as a representative outline in FIG. 4A. An adhesive 145 is installed in the annular cavity 144 to adhere the flange 110 (via the inner lower surface 114) to the abrasive article 40.

FIG. 7 is a representative partial cross-sectional view along line 4A-4A, as indicated in FIG. 3, of a hub 100 of the current disclosure, in accordance with certain embodiments, prior to deformation of the proximal protrusion 140 to secure the abrasive article 40 to the hub 100. The description above regarding FIG. 4A is also applicable to the items with the same reference numerals in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 differs from FIG. 4A at least in that the distal protrusion 120 is omitted (i.e., height H1=“0”). The abrasive article 40 is shown as a representative outline to represent where it would be positioned when the hub is installed in the aperture 42 of the abrasive article 40. The inner lower surface 114 can bound the annular cavity 144 and can include any of the ridges 150 described above. The flange 110 can be configured to engage a removal tool 170 (see FIG. 9 for representative example of a removal tool 170) that can be used to secure the hub 100 to the handheld grinder tool 10 or release and remove the hub 100 from the handheld grinder tool 10.

FIGS. 8A-8E are representative top views of hubs 100 of the current disclosure with various flange 110 profiles, in accordance with certain embodiments. These figures illustrate that the flange 110 can be one of many shapes and still support engagement with a removal tool 170 to impart torque to the hub 100. Opposing flats (e.g., a left flat 124 and a right flat 125) can be parallel with each other and spaced away from each other by a distance L3. The distance L3 can be configured to allow engagement of the removal tool 170. The left and right flats 124, 125 can be spaced outward in opposite radial directions from the longitudinal center axis 80.

FIG. 8A shows a hub 100 with a hex-shaped flange 110. The flange 110 can have three pairs of opposing flats, due to the hex-shape. An equivalent diameter D1 can be measured from one point of the hex-shape to an opposite point of the hex-shape, as shown in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8B shows a hub 100 with a hex-shaped flange 110 having flattened corners. The flange 110 can have three pairs of opposing flats, due to the hex-shape. An equivalent diameter D1 can be measured from one point of the hex-shape to an opposite point of the hex-shape, as shown in FIG. 8B.

FIG. 8C shows a hub 100 with a circular flange 110 having opposed flat sides. An equivalent diameter D1 can be measured from one point of the circular flange 110 to an opposite point of the circular flange 110, as shown in FIG. 8C.

FIG. 8D shows a hub 100 with an oval flange 110 having opposed flat sides. An equivalent diameter D1 can be measured from one outermost point of the oval-shape to an opposite outermost point of the oval-shape, as shown in FIG. 8D.

FIG. 8E shows a hub 100 with a square flange 110. An equivalent diameter D1 can be measured from one outermost point of the square-shape to an opposite outermost point of the square-shape, as shown in FIG. 8E.

FIG. 8F shows a hub 100 with an octagonal flange 110. An equivalent diameter D1 can be measured from one outermost point of the octagon-shape to an opposite outermost point of the octagon-shape, as shown in FIG. 8F.

The diameter D1 can be less than 45 mm, or less than 44 mm, or less than 43 mm, or less than 42 mm, or less than 41 mm, or less than 40 mm. The diameter D1 can be greater than 30 mm, or greater than 31 mm, or greater than 32 mm, or greater than 33 mm, or greater than 34 mm, or greater than 35 mm, or greater than 36 mm, or greater than 37 mm, or greater than 38 mm, or greater than 39 mm, or greater than 40 mm. The diameter D1 can be within a range including any of the minimum and maximum values noted above, including, for example, but not limited to within a range of greater than 30 mm and less than 45 mm, or greater than 35 mm and less than 45 mm, or greater than 30 mm and less than 41 mm, or greater than 35 mm and less than 41 mm.

FIG. 9 is a representative perspective view of a removal tool 170 for engaging a hub 100 of the current disclosure, in accordance with certain embodiments. In a non-limiting embodiment, the removal tool 170 can include left and right protrusions 176, 178 that can protrude from the handle 172. The left and right protrusions 176, 178 can include left and right flats 174, 175, respectively, which can engage the left and right flats 124, 125 of the flange 110 to impart a torque to the hub 100. The distance L4 between the left and right flats 174, 175 can be slightly larger than the distance L3, such that the left and right flats 174, 175 of the tool 170 can snuggly engage the left and right flats 124, 125 of the flange 110.

Referring back to the previous figures, the height H1 can be less than 5.0 mm, or less than 4.9 mm, or less than 4.8 mm, or less than 4.7 mm, or less than 4.6 mm, or less than 4.5 mm, or less than 4.0 mm, or less than 3.5 mm, or less than 3.0 mm, or less than 2.5 mm, or less than 2.0 mm, or less than 1.5 mm, or less than 1.0 mm. The height H1 can be greater than or equal to “0” zero mm, or greater than 0.5 mm, or greater than 1.0 mm, or greater than 1.5 mm, or greater than 2.0 mm, or greater than 2.5 mm. The height H1 can be within a range including any of the minimum and maximum values noted above, including, for example, but not limited to within a range of greater than “0” zero mm and less than 5.0 mm, or greater than 2.0 mm and less than 5.0 mm, or greater than “0” zero mm and less than 4.6 mm, or greater than 1.5 mm and less than 4.7 mm.

Referring back to the previous figures, the height H2 can be less than 9.0 mm, or less than 8.8 mm, or less than 8.6 mm, or less than 8.4 mm, or less than 8.2 mm, or less than 8.0 mm, or less than 7.8 mm, or less than 7.6 mm, or less than 7.4 mm, or less than 7.2 mm, or less than 7.0 mm, or less than 6.8 mm, or less than 6.6 mm, or less than 6.4 mm, or less than 6.2 mm, or less than 6.1 mm, or less than 6.0 mm, or less than 5.9 mm, or less than 5.8 mm. The height H2 can be greater than 2.0 mm, or greater than 2.2 mm, or greater than 2.4 mm, or greater than 2.6 mm, or greater than 2.8 mm, or greater than 3.0 mm, or greater than 3.5 mm, or greater than 4.0 mm, or greater than 4.5 mm, or greater than 5.0 mm, or greater than 5.1 mm, or greater than 5.2 mm, or greater than 5.3 mm, or greater than 5.4 mm, or greater than 5.5 mm, or greater than 5.6 mm, or greater than 5.7 mm. The height H2 can be within a range including any of the minimum and maximum values noted above, including, for example, but not limited to within a range of greater than 2.0 mm and less than 9.0 mm, or greater than 2.0 mm and less than 8.0 mm, or greater than 5.0 mm and less than 7.0 mm, or greater than 5.5 mm and less than 6.0 mm.

Referring back to the previous figures, the height H3 can be less than 16.7 mm, or less than 16.6 mm, or less than 16.5 mm, or less than 16.3 mm, or less than 16.0 mm, or less than 15.8 mm, or less than 15.5 mm, or less than 15.3 mm, or less than 15.1 mm, or less than 15.0 mm, or less than 14.8 mm, or less than 14.5 mm, or less than 14.0 mm, or less than 13.5 mm, or less than 13.0 mm, or less than 12.5 mm, or less than 12.0 mm, or less than 11.0 mm. The height H3 can be greater than 8.0 mm, or greater than 8.2 mm, or greater than 8.4 mm, or greater than 8.6 mm, or greater than 8.8 mm, or greater than 9.0 mm, or greater than 9.2 mm, or greater than 9.4 mm, or greater than 9.6 mm, or greater than 9.8 mm, or greater than 10.0 mm, or greater than 10.2 mm, or greater than 10.4 mm, or greater than 10.6 mm, or greater than 10.8 mm, or greater than 11.0 mm, or greater than 11.2 mm, or greater than 11.4 mm, or greater than 11.6 mm, or greater than 11.8 mm, or greater than 12.0 mm, or greater than 13.0 mm. The height H3 can be within a range including any of the minimum and maximum values noted above, including, for example, but not limited to within a range of greater than 8.0 mm and less than 16.0 mm, or greater than 11.0 mm and less than 16.0 mm, or greater than 8.0 mm and less than 13.0 mm, or greater than 9.0 mm and less than 12.0 mm.

The height H1 of the distal protrusion 120 can be less than 50%, or less than 40%, or less than 25%, or less than 20%, or less than 17%, or less than 15%, or less than 10%, or less than 5%, or less than 1% of H3.

The height H2 of the proximal protrusion 140 can be greater than or equal to 40%, or greater than 42%, or greater than 44%, or greater than 46%, or greater than 48% of H3, or greater than 50% of H3, or greater than 52% of H3, or greater than 54% of H3, or greater than 56% of H3, or greater than 58% of H3, or greater than 60% of H3, or greater than 62% of H3.

Referring back to the previous figures, the distance H6 can be less than 5.0 mm, or less than 4.8 mm, or less than 4.5 mm, or less than 4.0 mm, or less than 3.5 mm, or less than 3.0 mm, or less than 2.75 mm, or less than 2.5 mm, or less than 2.0 mm, or less than 1.5 mm, or less than 1.0 mm, or less than 0.5 mm, or less than 0.4 mm, or less than 0.3 mm, or less than 0.2 mm, or less than 0.1 mm. The distance H6 can be greater than 1.0 mm, or greater than 1.2 mm, or greater than 1.4 mm, or greater than 1.6 mm, or greater than 1.8 mm. The distance H6 can be within a range including any of the minimum and maximum values noted above, including, for example, but not limited to within a range of greater than 1.0 mm and less than 5.0 mm, or greater than 1.8 mm and less than 4.0 mm, or greater than 1.6 mm and less than 3.0 mm, or greater than 1.0 mm and less than 2.5 mm.

Referring back to the previous figures, the distance L1 can be less than 6.0 mm, or less than 5.8 mm, or less than 5.6 mm, or less than 5.4 mm, or less than 5.2 mm, or less than 5.1 mm, or less than 5.0 mm, or less than 4.8 mm, or less than 4.6 mm, or less than 4.4 mm, or less than 4.2 mm, or less than 4.0 mm, or less than 3.8 mm, or less than 3.6 mm, or less than 3.4 mm, or less than 3.2 mm, or less than 3.0 mm, or less than 2.8 mm, or less than 2.6 mm. The distance L1 can be greater than 1.2 mm, or greater than 1.3 mm, or greater than 1.4 mm. The distance L1 can be within a range including any of the minimum and maximum values noted above, including, for example, but not limited to within a range of greater than 1.2 mm and less than 6.0 mm, or greater than 1.2 mm and less than 5.0 mm, or greater than 1.3 mm and less than 2.6 mm.

Referring back to the previous figures, the distance L2 can be, or less than 4.0 mm, or less than 3.8 mm, or less than 3.6 mm, or less than 3.4 mm, or less than 3.2 mm, or less than 3.0 mm, or less than 2.8 mm, or less than 2.6 mm, or less than 2.4 mm, or less than 2.2 mm, or less than 2.0 mm, or less than 1.8 mm, or less than 1.6 mm, or less than 1.4 mm, or less than 1.3 mm. The distance L2 can be greater than 0.3 mm, or greater than 0.4 mm, or greater than 0.5 mm. The distance L2 can be within a range including any of the minimum and maximum values noted above, including, for example, but not limited to within a range of greater than 0.3 mm and less than 4.0 mm, or greater than 0.4 mm and less than 3.8 mm, or greater than 0.5 mm and less than 2.6 mm.

FIG. 10 is a representative side view of a vertical stack of hubs 100 (e.g., 100a-100j), in accordance with certain embodiments. The reduced size of the hub 100 provides benefits outside of the operation of the hubbed thin wheel 132, that is currently not supported by the hubs 20 in the market today. The smaller hub 100 of the current disclosure provides for reduced volume needed for packing and shipping a plurality of hubs 100, such as shipping ten hubs 100. The hubs 100a-j are stacked together with the top of one hub engaging the bottom of another hub and so on for positioning these ten hubs 100 in a stack with a height H5. Height H5 is generally equal to 10 times the height H3 of an individual hub 100 plus the height H9, if the abrasive article 40 is a raised center wheel (i.e., not a flat wheel). If the abrasive article 40 is a flat wheel of a raised center wheel where height H9 is “0” zero, then the height H5 can be equal to 10 times the height H3. H9 can be less than 4.0 mm, less than 3.5 mm, less than 3.0 mm, less than 2.6 mm, less than 2.0 mm, or substantially equal to zero “0”.

As mentioned above, the height H3 is somewhat dependent upon the thickness H4 of the abrasive article 40. If the abrasive article 40 is a cutoff wheel, which is approximately 1.2 mm thick, then the height H2 can be seen as being approximately 2.2 mm (assuming the deformed portion of the proximal protrusion 140 is 1 mm). If the abrasive article 40 is a combo wheel, which is approximately 4 mm thick, then the height H2 can be seen as being approximately 5.0 mm (assuming the deformed portion of the proximal protrusion 140 is 1 mm). If the abrasive article 40 is a grinding wheel, which is approximately 7 mm thick, then the height H2 can be seen as being approximately 8 mm (assuming the deformed portion of the proximal protrusion 140 is 1 mm). Therefore, depending upon abrasive article 40, the height H2 can vary about 5.8 mm, which can cause the height H3 to vary about 5.8 mm.

Assuming the abrasive article 40 is a combo wheel (height H4 is ˜4 mm) and the deformed portion of the proximal protrusion 140 is 1 mm, the height H5 can be less than 150 mm, or less than 148 mm, or less than 146 mm, or less than 144 mm, or less than 142 mm, or less than 140 mm, or less than 138 mm, or less than 136 mm. The height H5 can be greater than 120 mm, or greater than 122 mm, or greater than 124 mm, or greater than 126 mm, or greater than 128 mm, or greater than 130 mm, or greater than 132 mm, or greater than 134 mm. Assuming the abrasive article 40 is a combo wheel, the height H5 can be within a range including any of the minimum and maximum values noted above, including, for example, but not limited to within a range of greater than 120 mm and less than 150 mm, or greater than 130 mm and less than 150 mm, or greater than 128 mm and less than 138 mm, or greater than 120 mm and less than 140 mm.

The values for the height H5 are adjusted by a known amount to compensate for different abrasive articles 40. Assuming the abrasive article 40 is a cutoff wheel (height H4 is ˜1.2 mm), the values above for H5 can be adjusted to compensate for the change in the abrasive article 40. For example, the delta between the combo wheel and the cutoff wheel is −2.8 mm. With 10 hubs stacked together, this change equates to 28 mm being subtracted from the values for H5 that assume a combo wheel. For example, the height H5 can be within a range of greater than 92 mm and less than 122 mm.

Assuming the abrasive article 40 is a grinding wheel (height H4 is ˜7 mm), the values above for H5 can be adjusted to compensate for the change in the abrasive article 40. For example, the delta between the combo wheel and the grinding wheel is +3 mm. With 10 hubs stacked together, this change equates to 30 mm being added to the values for H5 that assume a combo wheel. For example, the height H5 can be within a range of greater than 150 mm and less than 180 mm.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of features is not necessarily limited only to those features but may include other features not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive-or and not to an exclusive-or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

The use of “a” or “an” is employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural, or vice versa, unless it is clear that it is meant otherwise.

The use of the word “about”, “approximately”, “generally”, or “substantially” is intended to mean that a value of a parameter is close to a stated value or position. However, minor differences may prevent the values or positions from being exactly as stated. Thus, differences of up to ten percent (10%) for the value are reasonable differences from the ideal goal of exactly as described. A significant difference can be when the difference is greater than ten percent (10%).

It should be noted that the X-Y-Z coordinate axes are indicated in FIG. 4, where the X-Y-Z coordinate axes are relative to the flange 110. The flange 110 forms an X-Y plane with the Z axis being substantially perpendicular with the flange 110. As used herein, “horizontal,” “horizontal position,” or “horizontal orientation” refers to a position that is substantially parallel with the X-Y plane. As used herein, “vertical,” “vertical position,” or “vertical orientation” refers to a position that is substantially perpendicular relative to the X-Y plane or substantially parallel with the Z axis. Upper refers to an item that is higher along the Z-axis than another item, with lower indicating that an item is lower along the Z-axis than another item.

VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Embodiment 1. A hub configured to mount an abrasive article to a tool, the hub comprising:

• • a body with a longitudinal center axis and a total axial height (H3), the body including:
  • a proximal end;
  • a distal end;
  • a flange extending radially from the body between the proximal end and the distal end; and
  • a distal protrusion at the distal end extending axially from an upper surface of the flange, the distal protrusion having a height (H1), wherein H3 is less than 16 mm and wherein H1 is less than 40% of H3.

Embodiment 2. The hub of embodiment 1, wherein the height H1 is less than 25%, or less than 20%, or less than 17%, or less than 15%, or less than 10%, or less than 5%, or less than 1% of a total axial height H3 of the body.

Embodiment 3. The hub of embodiment 1, wherein the height H1 is less than 5 mm.

Embodiment 4. The hub of embodiment 1, wherein H3 is less than 15 mm, or less than 14 mm, or less than 13 mm, or less than 12 mm.

Embodiment 5. The hub of embodiment 1, wherein a stack of ten hubs that are stacked with the distal end of one hub proximate the proximal end of an adjacent hub, wherein each of the ten hubs is mounted in an abrasive article, wherein the abrasive article is a grinding wheel, and wherein the stack has a stack height of less than 180 mm, or less than 178 mm, or less than 176 mm, or less than 174 mm, or less than 172 mm, or less than 170 mm, or less than 168 mm, or less than 166 mm.

Embodiment 6. The hub of embodiment 1, wherein a stack of ten hubs that are stacked with the distal end of one hub proximate the proximal end of an adjacent hub, wherein each of the ten hubs is mounted in an abrasive article, wherein the abrasive article is a combination wheel, and wherein the stack has a stack height of less than 150 mm, or less than 148 mm, or less than 146 mm, or less than 144 mm, or less than 142 mm, or less than 140 mm, or less than 138 mm, or less than 136 mm.

Embodiment 7. The hub of embodiment 1, wherein a stack of ten hubs that are stacked with the distal end of one hub proximate the proximal end of an adjacent hub, wherein each of the ten hubs is mounted in an abrasive article, wherein the abrasive article is a cutoff wheel, and wherein the stack has a stack height of less than 120 mm, or less than 118 mm, or less than 116 mm, or less than 114 mm, or less than 112 mm, or less than 110 mm, or less than 109 mm, or less than 108 mm, or less than 106 mm, or less than 104 mm, or less than 102 mm, or less than 100 mm, or less than 98 mm, or less than 96 mm, or less than 94 mm, or less than 92 mm.

Embodiment 8. A hub configured to mount within an aperture of an abrasive article, the hub comprising:

• • a body with a longitudinal center axis and a total axial height (H3), the body including:
  • a proximal end;
  • a distal end;
  • a flange extending radially from the body between the proximal end and the distal end; and
  • a proximal protrusion extending axially from a lower surface of the flange wherein a weight of the hub is less than 52 grams.

Embodiment 9. The hub of embodiment 8, wherein the weight of the hub is less than 50 grams, or less than 48 grams, or less than 46 grams, or less than 44 grams, or less than 42 grams, or less than 40 grams, or less than 38 grams, or less than 36 grams, or less than 34 grams, or less than 32 grams.

Embodiment 10. The hub of embodiment 8, wherein a volume of the hub is less than 8.0 cm³, or less than 7.5 cm³, or less than 7.0 cm³, or less than 6.5 cm³, or less than 6.0 cm³, or less than 5.5 cm³, or less than 5.0 cm³.

Embodiment 11. A hub configured to mount within an aperture of an abrasive article, the hub comprising:

• • a body with a longitudinal center axis, the body including:
  • a proximal end;
  • a distal end; and
  • a flange extending radially from the body between the proximal end and the distal end,
  • wherein the flange comprises an annular cavity in a lower surface of the flange, the annular cavity being configured to receive an adhesive that secures the flange to the abrasive article,
  • wherein a volume of the annular cavity is less than 2.6 cm³.

Embodiment 12. The hub of embodiment 11, wherein the volume of the annular cavity is less than 2.5 cm³, or less than 2.4 cm³, or less than 2.3 cm³, or less than 2.2 cm³, or less than 2.1 cm³, or less than 2.0 cm³, or less than 1.9 cm³, or less than 1.8 cm³, or less than 1.7 cm³, or less than 1.6 cm³, or less than 1.5 cm³, or less than 1.4 cm³, or less than 1.3 cm³, or less than 1.2 cm³, or less than 1.1 cm³, or less than 1.0 cm³, or less than 0.9 cm³, or less than 0.8 cm³, or less than 0.7 cm³, or less than 0.6 cm³.

Embodiment 13. A hub configured to mount an abrasive article to a tool, the hub comprising:

• • a body with a longitudinal center axis, the body including:
  • a proximal end;
  • a distal end;
  • a flange extending radially from the body between the proximal end and the distal end; and
  • a distal protrusion at the distal end extending axially from an upper surface of the flange, the distal protrusion having a non-polygonal shape in a radial cross section from an uppermost surface of the distal protrusion to the upper surface of the flange, wherein the radial cross section is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis.

Embodiment 14. A hub configured to mount an abrasive article to a tool, the hub comprising:

• • a body having a generally cylindrical inner bore with a longitudinal center axis and a total axial height (H3), the body including:
  • a proximal end;
  • a distal end;
  • a flange extending radially from the body between the proximal end and the distal end, the flange having an upper surface that is the distal end; and
  • a proximal protrusion at the proximal end extending axially from a lower surface of the flange, the proximal protrusion having a height (H2), wherein H2 is greater than or equal to 80% of H3.

Embodiment 15. The hub of embodiment 14, wherein H2 is greater than 81%, or greater than 82%, or greater than 83%, or greater than 84% of H3.

Embodiment 16. A hub configured to mount an abrasive article to a tool, the hub comprising:

• • a body having a longitudinal center axis, the body including:
  • a proximal end;
  • a distal end;
  • a flange extending radially from the body between the proximal end and the distal end, the flange having a shape in a radial cross section, wherein the shape comprises a left flat and a right flat that are parallel to each other, wherein the left flat is radially spaced away from the longitudinal center axis in a first radial direction, wherein the right flat is radially spaced away from the longitudinal center axis in a second radial direction that is opposite the first radial direction, wherein the radial cross section is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis, and wherein a lower surface of the flange engages the abrasive article when the hub is mounted in an aperture of the abrasive article; and
  • a distal protrusion at the distal end extending axially from an upper surface of the flange.

Embodiment 17. The hub of embodiment 16, wherein the left flat and the right flat are configured to engage opposing parallel flats of a removal tool.

Embodiment 18. A hub configured to mount an abrasive article to a tool, the hub comprising:

• • a body having a longitudinal center axis, the body including:
  • a proximal end;
  • a distal end; and
  • a flange extending radially from the body between the proximal end and the distal end, the flange having a polygonal shape in a radial cross section, wherein the radial cross section is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis, and wherein a lower surface of the flange engages the abrasive article when the hub is mounted in an aperture of the abrasive article.

Embodiment 19. The hub of embodiment 18, further comprising a distal protrusion at the distal end extending axially from an upper surface of the flange.

Embodiment 20. The hub of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein an outer surface of the distal protrusion is generally circular, in a radial cross section, from an uppermost surface of the distal protrusion to the upper surface of the flange.

Embodiment 21. The hub of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the flange is generally a hexagon shape.

Embodiment 22. The hub of embodiment 21, wherein corners of the hexagon shape are flattened.

Embodiment 23. The hub of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the flange is configured to engage a removal tool.

Embodiment 24. The hub of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein an equivalent outer diameter (D1) of the flange is or less than 50 mm, or less than 45 mm, or less than 40 mm.

Embodiment 25. The hub of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the upper surface of the flange is less than 5.0 mm, or less than 4.8 mm, or less than 4.5 mm, or less than 3.5 mm, or less than 2.75 mm, or less than 2.5 mm, or less than 2.0 mm, or less than 1.5 mm, or less than 1.0 mm, or less than 0.5 mm, or less than 0.4 mm, or less than 0.3 mm, or less than 0.2 mm, or less than 0.1 mm spaced away from an engagement surface of a tool when the hub is removably attached to the tool, and wherein the distal end is configured to engage the engagement surface when the hub is removably attached to the tool.

Embodiment 26. The hub of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the upper surface of the flange is axially aligned with an uppermost surface of the distal end.

Embodiment 27. The hub of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the upper surface of the flange transitions to an outer surface of the distal protrusion, and wherein the transition is a curved corner with a radius (R1), wherein R1 is less than 6 mm and greater than 4 mm.

Embodiment 28. The hub of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the distal end comprises an internal bore with threads formed on an interior surface of the internal bore, and wherein the threads are configured to engage the tool.

Embodiment 29. The hub of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, further comprising a proximal protrusion extending axially from a lower surface of the flange, wherein the proximal protrusion secures the hub in an aperture of an abrasive article, and wherein the proximal end is deformed to hold the abrasive article between the lower surface and the proximal end.

Embodiment 30. The hub of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the body has a generally cylindrical shape.

Embodiment 31. A hub configured to mount an abrasive article to a tool, the hub comprising:

• • a body with a longitudinal center axis and a total axial height (H3), the body including:
  • a proximal end;
  • a distal end; and
  • a flange extending radially from the body between the proximal end and the distal end,
  • wherein the flange comprises a lower surface and an upper surface, wherein the distal end is at an axial distance (H1) from the upper surface, and wherein H3 is less than 16.7 mm and H1 is less than 30% of H3.

Embodiment 32. The hub of embodiment 31, wherein H1 is less than 25%, or less than 20%, or less than 18%, or less than 16%, or less than 10%, or less than 5%, or less than 1% of the total axial height H3 of the body.

Embodiment 33. The hub of embodiment 31, wherein H1 is less than 5 mm, or less than 4 mm, or less than 3 mm, or less than 2 mm, or less than 1 mm.

Embodiment 34. The hub of embodiment 31, wherein H3 is less than 16 mm, or less than 15 mm, or less than 14 mm, or less than 13 mm, or less than 12 mm, or less than 11 mm.

Embodiment 35. The hub of embodiment 31, wherein a stack of ten hubs that are stacked with the distal end of one hub proximate the proximal end of an adjacent hub, wherein each of the ten hubs is mounted in one of a plurality of abrasive articles, wherein the abrasive article is a grinding wheel, a combination wheel, or a cutoff wheel, and wherein the stack has a stack height of less than 180 mm, or less than 178 mm, or less than 176 mm, or less than 174 mm, or less than 172 mm, or less than 170 mm, or less than 168 mm, or less than 166 mm.

Embodiment 36. The hub of embodiment 35, wherein the stack height is less than 164 mm, or less than 162 mm, or less than 160 mm, or less than 158 mm, or less than 156 mm, or less than 154 mm, or less than 152 mm, or less than 150 mm, or less than 148 mm, or less than 146 mm, or less than 144 mm, or less than 142 mm, or less than 140 mm, or less than 132 mm, or less than 130 mm, or less than 128 mm, or less than 126 mm, or less than 124 mm, or less than 120 mm, or less than 118 mm, or less than 116 mm, or less than 114 mm, or less than 112 mm.

Embodiment 37. The hub of embodiment 31, further comprising a proximal protrusion extending axially from the lower surface of the flange, wherein a weight of the hub is less than 52 grams.

Embodiment 38. The hub of embodiment 37, wherein the weight of the hub is less than 50 grams, or less than 48 grams, or less than 46 grams, or less than 44 grams, or less than 42 grams, or less than 40 grams.

Embodiment 39. The hub of embodiment 37, wherein a volume of the hub is less than 8.3 cm³, or less than 8.0 cm³, or less than 7.5 cm³, or less than 7.0 cm³, or less than 6.5 cm³, or less than 6.0 cm³, or less than 5.5 cm³.

Embodiment 40. The hub of embodiment 31, wherein the flange comprises an annular cavity in the lower surface of the flange, the annular cavity being configured to receive an adhesive that secures the flange to the abrasive article, wherein a volume of the annular cavity is less than 8.7 cm³.

Embodiment 41. The hub of embodiment 40, wherein the volume of the annular cavity is less than 8.6 cm³, or less than 8.5 cm³, or less than 8.4 cm³, or less than 8.3 cm³, or less than 8.2 cm³, or less than 8.1 cm³, or less than 8.0 cm³, or less than 7.8 cm³, or less than 7.6 cm³, or less than 7.4 cm³, or less than 7.2 cm³, or less than 7.0 cm³, or less than 6.8 cm³, or less than 6.6 cm³, or less than 6.4 cm³, or less than 6.2 cm³, or less than 6.0 cm³, or less than 5.8 cm³, or less than 5.6 cm³, or less than 5.4 cm³, or less than 5.2 cm³, or less than 5.0 cm³, or less than 4.8 cm³, or less than 4.6 cm³, or less than 4.5 cm³, or less than 4.4 cm³, or less than 4.3 cm³.

Embodiment 42. The hub of embodiment 31, further comprising a distal protrusion at the distal end extending axially from the upper surface of the flange, the distal protrusion having a non-polygonal shape in a radial cross section from an uppermost surface of the distal protrusion to the upper surface of the flange, wherein the radial cross section is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis.

Embodiment 43. The hub of embodiment 31, wherein the flange has a shape in a radial cross section, wherein the shape comprises a first flat and a second flat that are parallel to each other, wherein the first flat is radially spaced away from the longitudinal center axis in a first radial direction, wherein the second flat is radially spaced away from the longitudinal center axis in a second radial direction that is opposite the first radial direction, wherein the radial cross section is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis, and wherein the lower surface of the flange engages the abrasive article when the hub is mounted in an aperture of the abrasive article.

Embodiment 44. The hub of embodiment 43, wherein the first flat and the second flat are configured to engage opposing parallel flats of a removal tool.

Embodiment 45. The hub of embodiment 43, wherein the shape is a polygonal shape.

Embodiment 46. The hub of embodiment 45, further comprising a distal protrusion at the distal end extending axially from the upper surface of the flange.

Embodiment 47. The hub of embodiment 43, wherein the shape of the flange is generally a hexagon shape.

Embodiment 48. The hub of embodiment 47, wherein corners of the hexagon shape are flattened.

Embodiment 49. The hub of embodiment 31, wherein the flange is configured to engage a removal tool.

Embodiment 50. The hub of embodiment 31, wherein an equivalent outer diameter (D1) of the flange is less than 50 mm, or less than 45 mm, or less than 40 mm.

Embodiment 51. The hub of embodiment 31, wherein the upper surface of the flange is less than 2.6 mm, or less than 2.3 mm, or less than 2.0 mm, or less than 1.5 mm, or less than 1.0 mm, or less than 0.5 mm, or less than 0.4 mm, or less than 0.3 mm, or less than 0.2 mm, or less than 0.1 mm spaced away from an engagement surface of the tool when the hub is threadably attached to the tool, and wherein the distal end is configured to engage the engagement surface when the hub is threadably attached to the tool.

Embodiment 52. The hub of embodiment 31, wherein the upper surface of the flange is axially aligned with an uppermost surface of the distal end.

Embodiment 53. The hub of embodiment 31, wherein the distal end comprises an internal bore with threads formed on an interior surface of the internal bore, and wherein the threads are configured to engage the tool.

Embodiment 54. The hub of embodiment 31, further comprising a proximal protrusion extending axially from the lower surface of the flange, wherein the proximal protrusion secures the hub in an aperture of the abrasive article, and wherein the proximal end is deformed to hold the abrasive article between the lower surface and the proximal end.

Embodiment 55. The hub of embodiment 54, wherein the proximal protrusion has a generally cylindrical shape.

Embodiment 56. A hub configured to mount an abrasive article to a tool, the hub comprising:

• • a body with a longitudinal center axis, the body including:
  • a proximal end;
  • a distal end;
  • a flange extending radially from the body between the proximal end and the distal end; and
  • a distal protrusion at the distal end extending axially from an upper surface of the flange, the distal protrusion having a non-polygonal shape in a radial cross section from an uppermost surface of the distal protrusion to the upper surface of the flange, wherein the radial cross section is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis.

Embodiment 57. The hub of embodiment 56, wherein an outer surface of the distal protrusion is generally circular, in the radial cross section, from the uppermost surface of the distal protrusion to the upper surface of the flange.

Embodiment 58. The hub of embodiment 56, wherein the upper surface of the flange transitions to an outer surface of the distal protrusion via a transition, wherein the transition is a curved corner with a radius (R1), and wherein R1 is less than 5 mm and greater than 2 mm.

Embodiment 59. The hub of embodiment 56, wherein the distal protrusion has a generally cylindrical shape.

While the present disclosure may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and tables and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the embodiments are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following appended claims. Further, although individual embodiments are discussed herein, the disclosure is intended to cover all combinations of these embodiments.