Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The following generally relates to abrasive blasting and, more specifically, to a uniquely designed blast nozzle and nozzle assembly that eliminates the need for standard tooling typically required to install and replace blast nozzles.
Abrasive blasting processes are widely used to remove unwanted materials from a substrate surface. In most cases, compressed air or other fluid is applied to propel abrasive particles such as sand, ceramic alumina, tungsten carbide, boron carbide, or silicon nitride through a conduit, against the substrate surface. Through a nozzle, the abrasive materials are accelerated to a high speed and collide with a target surface. The collisions force removes unwanted dirt or other materials away from the target surface.
The blast nozzle itself is a major element determining the effectiveness of a blasting apparatus. Typically, the blasting apparatus includes an air hose, an abrasive hose, a gun, and the nozzle. The air hose and the abrasive hose are connected to the gun and supply compressed air (or fluid) and an amount of abrasive particulate, respectively, to the gun where the air is utilized to accelerate the abrasive particulate to high speeds for blasting. The acceleration of the abrasive particulate occurs principally in the nozzle, and principally due to the configuration of the nozzle. The nozzle used in abrasive blasting includes an entrance bore through which compressed air/fluid carrying abrasive particles passes. The entrance bore of the nozzle typically converges over a relatively short distance into a smaller-diameter exit bore. The quickly decreasing cross-sectional area of the converging section of the nozzle accelerates the abrasive particles. Such acceleration allows the abrasive materials to exit the nozzle and bombard the target surface at elevated speeds for more efficient cleaning.
The pressure within the gun due to the compressed air/fluid, which frequently reaches 100 psi, creates tremendous forces on the nozzle during the blasting process. Consequently, the nozzle must be firmly mounted to the gun. Otherwise, the forces behind the nozzle may cause the nozzle to be ejected from the gun at extremely high speeds, akin to the action of a bullet from a gun. Manufacturers have made certain design changes to the nozzles in order to prevent such mishaps and accidents. For example, as shown in
Although the inclusion of a threaded engagement portion on prior art nozzles has been quite successful in ensuring that the nozzles do not become projectiles during blasting operations, there are certain disadvantages associated with the required installation procedures and the inclusion of threads on the gun. As alluded to above, installation of a threaded nozzle requires several steps, including the tightening and attachment of ferrules. This process is sometimes made difficult due to the residue of abrasive particulate that may be present in the female nozzle attachment threads of the gun. This simple problem is a burden during installation because it creates a cleaning step. As a result, the installation of the nozzle may take several minutes, if not create additional problems due to improper installation technique or handling of the nozzle during installation.
The above-mentioned nozzle installation process has several inherent drawbacks including the requirement of the use of tools, lost time for the worker, and the increased risk of other, albeit less-foreseeable problems during installation. Therefore, although threaded nozzles have been effective in ensuring the safe use of nozzles at high pressures, there is a need to improve the installation procedure of such nozzles. Indeed, there is thus a substantial need to provide an improved nozzle and nozzle assembly that eliminates the requirement of tools, ferrules, and other impediments in safely securing the nozzle to the blasting apparatus. There is a further need in the art for an improved nozzle design that can be easily implemented on all sizes and shapes of nozzles, as well as being compatible with all of the standard sizes and shapes of hoses, connectors, and guns. Finally, there is a substantial need in the art for improving the speed, facility, and cost effectiveness of using blast nozzles for sand blasting and related applications.
As mentioned above, an object of the present invention is to provide a nozzle and a nozzle assembly that substantially reduces time and tooling requirements for blasting operations. In particular, embodiments of the present invention serve to reduce the time and tooling requirements necessary to change or install the nozzle of a blasting gun. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention are operative to improve the manner in which the nozzle is held by a blasting gun. In this regard, the substantial improvements and contributions to the state of the art as disclosed herein, are believed to make the installation and mounting of the nozzle faster and simpler while maintaining a coupling that is as safe and effective as that of prior art threaded blast nozzles.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the nozzle assembly includes a union connector and the nozzle. The union connector includes a connector body having an axial bore and a boss. The boss is centrally disposed within the axial bore. The union connector also includes collet that is at least partially seated within the bore and located at a distal end of the connector. The collet includes a plurality of gripping teeth oriented inwardly toward the boss, and the teeth are positioned at an engagement distance from the boss.
The nozzle is uniquely configured to be mounted within the union connector in order to ensure safe use of the nozzle, i.e., to ensure that the nozzle does not become a projectile upon use. The nozzle includes a cylindrical nozzle body that defines an inlet end. The nozzle also includes an axial bore through which abrasive particulate travel during the blasting operation. Further, the nozzle includes a capture band that is positioned about the nozzle body at approximately the engagement distance from the inlet end. The capture band is sized and configured to substantially engage the gripping teeth of the collet when the nozzle is inserted into the union connector. The engagement of the capture band with the gripping teeth serves to restrict axial movement of the nozzle, thereby maintaining the nozzle secured within the union connector.
As mentioned, the engagement of the capture band to the gripping teeth occurs when the nozzle is inserted into the connector. Preferably, engagement occurs as the inlet end of the nozzle converges upon the boss of the connector so as to ensure a tight fit between the nozzle and the union connector. Engagement of the capture band to the gripping teeth may thus non-removably mount the nozzle to the connector.
The capture band of the nozzle may be variously configured. According to an implementation of the present invention, the capture band may at least in part, define a groove. For example, the capture band may be an annular groove that is position proximate the inlet end on the nozzle body. The groove may also be planar. Further, the annular groove may define a rectangular cross section. However, it is also contemplated that the capture band may also be a raised area along the nozzle body which would similarly cause engagement with the gripping teeth.
These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
a is a perspective view of a prior art blast nozzle including a threaded engagement portion;
b is a cross-sectional view of the prior art blast nozzle showing a threaded engagement portion;
a is a perspective view of a nozzle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
b is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle including a capture band, shown as a groove, in accordance with an implementation of the present invention;
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same,
The nozzle 100 is used in conjunction with the connector 106, and preferably used with a union connector 108, as illustratively shown in
The connector 106 is preferably configured to include a connector body 112 and a collet 114. The connector body 112 includes an axial bore 116 and a boss 118 which is centrally disposed within the axial bore 116. The collet 114 of the connector 106 is at least partially seated within the bore at a distal end 120 of the connector 106. Finally, the collet 114 includes a plurality of gripping teeth 104 oriented inwardly toward the boss 118. The teeth are positioned at an engagement distance 122 from the boss 118. Other configurations and various equivalents for the collet 114 and the gripping teeth 104 may be designed and may be presently available in the art. These, and other features of the connector 106 may be variously modified and adapted to be utilized with embodiments of the present invention. The connector 106 may also be made of various materials as known in the art.
As show in
Referring now to
The capture band 102 of the nozzle 100 is positioned about the nozzle body 128. The band is sized and configured to substantially engage the gripping teeth 104 of the collet 114 to restrict axial movement of the nozzle 100 upon insertion into the connector 106. The engagement of the capture band 102 to the gripping teeth 104 may occur during insertion of the nozzle 100 into the connector 106 as the inlet end 130 of the nozzle 100 converges upon the boss 118 of the connector 106. Additionally, the nozzle 100 may need to be rotated or moved within the connector 106 in order to complete the engagement or to adjust and verify the engagement prior to use.
One of the primary beneficial features of the embodiments of the present invention lies in the fact that the engagement may be accomplished without the use of tools. In addition, the engagement allows the nozzle 100 to remain mounted in the connector 106 during use, instead of being transformed into an unsafe, high-speed projectile once the pressure from the abrasive fluid is applied. In this regard, the nozzle 100 may be non-removably engaged to the connector 106 for axial forces exerted by the fluid that are slightly greater than the maximum pressure of the connector 106. As is known in the art, the connector 106 may be capable of handling a certain maximum pressure. It is contemplated that the engagement of the nozzle 100 may be able to withstand the maximum pressure force that the connector 106 can withstand without being discharged from the inlet end 130 of the connector 106. This will ensure that if the connector 106 is used according to its safety standards and ratings, the nozzle 100 will also be safely engaged by the connector 106. Thus, according to preferred embodiments, the nozzle 100 is non-removably engaged to the connector 106 once proper engagement between the teeth 104 and the capture band 102 has been made.
The nozzle 100 may be sold together with a proper connector 106 as a nozzle assembly 134, although they may also be sold separately. Although pictured with a length of hose 112, it will be understood that the nozzle assembly 134 may simply include the nozzle 100 and the connector 106. Because the nozzle 100 will eventually be disposed of when it reaches its services life, and because the connector 106 is relatively inexpensive, the connector 106 may be disposed of along with the nozzle 100 when the nozzle 100 reaches its service life.
The engagement of the capture band 102 and the gripping teeth 104 is due in part to the orientation of the teeth 104 of the connector 106, which may be oriented inwardly both axially and toward the boss 118, as shown in
Further, although possibly less preferable, the nozzle 100 may alternatively be configured to include a sleeve being made of a material that is soft enough to be properly engaged (dug into) by the gripping teeth 104. However, in such a situation, the nozzle 100 would only be indirectly engaged within the connector 106. Thus, the incorporation of the sleeve may be problematic because it must be fixedly secured to the nozzle 100 utilizing an adhesive or structural component. Nevertheless, it is contemplated that the engagement of the nozzle 100 with the gripping teeth 104 may include such indirect forms of engagement.
Once the teeth 104 are engaged with the capture band 102, an axial force directed to remove the nozzle 100 from the connector 106 causes the teeth 104 of the collet 114 to dig or be thrust further into the capture band 102, thereby impeding removal of the nozzle 100. In a typical use, this axial force may be supplied by the axial force created by fluid being urged through the connector 106 and out through the nozzle 100, and attempting manual removal of the nozzle 100 from the connector 106 may require similar axial forces. The engagement of the capture band 102 with the teeth 104 is strong enough to counterbalance the axial forces on the nozzle 100. As mentioned above, the nozzle 100 may be non-removably engaged by the gripping teeth 104 when the forces of the fluid are applied thereto.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the capture band 102 preferably encircles the entire nozzle body 128 in a circumferential manner, as shown in
The groove 132 may also be variously configured. For example, if the collet 114 includes only three gripping teeth 104, the capture band 102 may be configured to include three notches wherein the three teeth 104 may be seated upon engagement. Further, if the teeth 104 are configured to include a specific pattern or design at their distal end 120, the capture band 102 may be designed to lock the distal ends 120 of the teeth 104 therein in order to complete engagement. The groove 132 may also be planar. In such an embodiment, groove 132 may define a plane and the nozzle 100 may define a central axis. The plane may be perpendicular to the central axis of the nozzle 100, and the groove 132 may be parallel to the plane. This embodiment is illustrated in
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the capture band 102 may also be configured as a raised portion of the nozzle body 128, such as a protrusion or a bump. In such an embodiment, engagement preferably occurs when the capture band 102 is axially forced past the teeth 104 upon insertion of the nozzle 100 into the connector 106. Although not shown, a continuous or discontinuous protrusion about the nozzle body 128 may also serve to provide the engagement with the gripping teeth 104, as similarly described above in relation to the groove 132. In such an embodiment, the protrusion is preferably continuous about the nozzle body 128, such as a continuous raised rib. In use, when the teeth 104 engage the capture band 102, and the axial force directed to remove the nozzle 100 from the connector 106 is exerted, the teeth 104 dig into or are thrust into the raised rib and thus impede removal by tending to limit axial movement of the nozzle 100. The exertion of these forces may result in axial compression of the capture band/raised rib 102 by the teeth 104. Alternatively however, the raised rib may be sufficient to restrict the axial movement of the nozzle 100 because the teeth 104 block passage of the capture band/raised rib 102.
Furthermore, the capture band 102 may be configured to include both the groove 132 and the raised portion. With such a combination, various types of engagements between the nozzle 100 and the gripping teeth 104 are possible. The slidable and twisting engagement may be performed utilizing the groove 132 and the raised portion.
In addition, the capture band 102 is preferably disposed at approximately the engagement distance 122 from the inlet end 130 of the nozzle 100. Due to the forces exerted on the connector 106 by accelerated fluid or abrasive particles, proper seating of the nozzle 100 within the connector 106 is extremely important to ensure proper engagement. The nozzle 100 should preferably be seated within the connector 106 with the inlet end 130 of the nozzle 100 substantially abutting the boss 118 of the connector 106. If a gap remains between the inlet end 130 of the nozzle 100 and the boss 118 of the connector 106, the forces exerted by the fluid may blow the connector 106, which is extremely dangerous. The connector 106 may also be blown if the hose 110 is cut crooked, i.e., not cut perpendicularly aligned to the axis of the hose 110. Thus, in order to ensure proper engagement of the nozzle 100, the capture band 102 is preferably spaced from the inlet end 130 of the nozzle 100 at the same distance from which the teeth 104 are disposed from the boss 118 of the connector 106, referred to herein as the engagement distance 122. The engagement distance 122 may be adjusted to compensate for peculiarities in the engagement of the teeth 104 with the capture band 102, such as for the geometry of the teeth 104 and capture band 102. It is contemplated that various alternative embodiments of the teeth 104 and/or capture band 102 may require specific attention to determine the engagement distance 122 in order to ensure that the nozzle 100 is properly seated in the connector 106.
The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of manufacturing and utilizing the nozzle 100 and nozzle assembly 134. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.