The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses which entrain blast media particles in a flow, and is particularly directed to methods and apparatuses for controlling the feed rate of blast media as well as for controlling the size of cryogenic blast media.
Carbon dioxide systems, including apparatuses for creating solid carbon dioxide particles, for entraining particles in a transport gas and for directing entrained particles toward objects are well known, as are the various component parts associated therewith, such as nozzles, are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,744,181, 4,843,770, 5,018,667, 5,050,805, 5,071,289, 5,188,151, 5,249,426, 5,288,028, 5,301,509, 5,473,903, 5,520,572, 6,024,304, 6,042,458, 6,346,035, 6,524,172, 6,695,679, 6,695,685, 6,726,549, 6,739,529, 6,824,450, 7,112,120, 7,950,984, 8,187,057, 8,277,288, 8,869,551, 9,095,956, 9,592,586 and 9,931,639 all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
Additionally, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/853,194, filed Sep. 11, 2007, for Particle Blast System With Synchronized Feeder and Particle Generator; U.S. Patent Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/589,551 filed Jan. 23, 2012, for Method And Apparatus For Sizing Carbon Dioxide Particles; U.S. Patent Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/592,313 filed Jan. 30, 2012, for Method And Apparatus For Dispensing Carbon Dioxide Particles; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/475,454, filed May 18, 2012, for Method And Apparatus For Forming Carbon Dioxide Pellets; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/062,118 filed Oct. 24, 2013 for Apparatus Including At Least An Impeller Or Diverter And For Dispensing Carbon Dioxide Particles And Method Of Use; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/516,125, filed Oct. 16, 2014, for Method And Apparatus For Forming Solid Carbon Dioxide; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/062,842 filed Mar. 7, 2015, for Particle Feeder; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/849,819, filed Sep. 10, 2015, for Apparatus And Method For High Flow Particle Blasting Without Particle Storage; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/297,967, filed Oct. 19, 2016, for Blast Media Comminutor; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/961,321, filed Apr. 24, 2018, For Particle Blast Apparatus, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,572 illustrates a particle blast apparatus that includes a particle generator that produces small particles by shaving them from a carbon dioxide block and entrains the carbon dioxide granules in a transport gas flow without storage of the granules. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,520,572, 6,824,450 and US Patent Publication No. 2009-0093196 disclose particle blast apparatuses that include a particle generator that produces small particles by shaving them from a carbon dioxide block, a particle feeder which receives the particles from the particle generator and entrains them which are then delivered to a particle feeder which causes the particles to be entrained in a moving flow of transport gas. The entrained flow of particles flows through a delivery hose to a blast nozzle for an ultimate use, such as being directed against a workpiece or other target.
For some blasting applications, it may be desirable to have a range of small particles, such as in the size range of 3 mm diameter to 0.3 mm diameter. US Patent Publication 2017-0106500 (corresponding to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/297,967) discloses a comminutor which reduces the size of particles of frangible blast media from each particle's respective initial size to a second size which is small than a desired maximum size.
The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments which serve to explain the principles of the present innovation.
In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also, in the following description, it is to be understood that terms such as front, back, inside, outside, and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Terminology used in this patent is not meant to be limiting insofar as devices described herein, or portions thereof, may be attached or utilized in other orientations. Referring in more detail to the drawings, one or more embodiments constructed according to the teachings of the present innovation are described.
It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference.
Although this patent refers specifically to carbon dioxide, the invention is not limited to carbon dioxide but rather may be utilized with any suitable frangible material as well as any suitable cryogenic material or other type of particle such as water ice pellets or abrasive media. References herein to carbon dioxide, at least when describing embodiments which serve to explain the principles of the present innovation are necessarily limited to carbon dioxide but are to be read to include any suitable frangible or cryogenic material.
Referring to
Discharge nozzle 10 may be of any suitable configuration, for example, discharge nozzle 10 may be a supersonic nozzle, a subsonic nozzle, or any other suitable structure configured to advance or deliver the blast media to the desired point of use.
Control 8 may be omitted and the operation of the system controlled through controls on cart 4 or other suitable location. For example, the discharge nozzle 10 may be may mounted to a robotic arm and control of the nozzle orientation and flow accomplished through controls located remote to cart 4.
Referring to
Feeder assembly 20 is configured to transport blast media from a source of blast media into a flow of transport gas, with the blast media particle being entrained in the transport gas as the flow leaves feeder assembly 20 and enters delivery hose 6. In the embodiment depicted, feeder assembly 20 includes metering portion 26, comminutor 28 and feeding portion 30. As discussed below, comminutor 28 may be omitted from feeder assembly 20 (with metering portion 28 discharging directly to feeding portion 30), metering portion 28 may be omitted from feeder assembly 20 (with comminutor receiving particles directly from a source of blast media such as hopper 18), and feeding portion 30 may be of any construction which entrains particles into the transport gas whether a single hose, multiple hose and/or venturi type system. The pressure and flow of transport gas delivered to feeding portion 30 is controlled by pressure regulator assembly 32.
Feeder assembly 20 includes a plurality of motors to drive its different portions. These motors may be of any suitable configuration, such as pneumatic motors and electric motors, including without limited to, DC motors and VFD. Metering portion 26 includes drive 26a, which, in the embodiment depicted, provides rotary power. In the embodiment depicted, comminutor 28 includes three drives, 28a and 28b, which provide rotary power, and 28c, which provides rotary power through right angle drive 28d. In the embodiment depicted, feeding portion 30 includes drive 30a, which provides rotary power through right angle drive 30b. Any suitable quantity, configuration and orientation of drives, with or without the presence of right angle drives, may be used. For example, fewer motors may be used with appropriate mechanisms to transmit power to the components at the appropriate speeds (such as chains, belts, gears, etc.). As can be seen in
Feeder assembly 20 may include one or more actuators 34, each having at least one extendable member (not illustrated), disposed to be selectively extended into the particle flow from hopper 18 to feeder assembly 20 at guide 22, capable of mechanically breaking up clumps of particles, as such is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,524,172.
Referring also to
Comminutor 28 includes roller 44 which is rotatable about an axis, such as axis 44a and roller 46 which is rotatable about an axis, such as axis 46a. In the embodiment depicted, roller 44 is supported by shaft 44b, with a key/keyway arrangement preventing rotation between roller 44 and shaft 44b. Drive 28a is coupled to shaft 44b and may be controlled to rotate shaft 44b about axis 44a, thereby rotating roller 44 about axis 44a. In the embodiment depicted, roller 46 is supported by shaft 46b, with a key/keyway arrangement preventing rotation between roller 46 and shaft 46b. Drive 28b is coupled to shaft 46b and may be controlled to rotate shaft 46b about axis 46a, thereby rotating roller 46 about axis 46a. Rollers 44, 46 may be made of any suitable material, such as aluminum.
Rollers 44 and 46 have respective peripheral surfaces 44c, 46c. Gap 48 is defined between each respective peripheral surface 44c, 46c. Converging region 50 is defined upstream of gap 48 by gap 48 and rollers 44, 46. (Downstream is the direction of flow of blast media through feeder assembly 20, and upstream is the opposite direction.) Converging region 50 is disposed to receive blast media from second region 40 which has been discharged by rotor 26. Diverging region 52 is defined downstream of gap 48 by gap 48 and rollers 44, 46.
Comminutor 28 is configured to receive blast media, which comprises a plurality of particles (carbon dioxide particles in the embodiment depicted) from metering element 26 and to selectively reduce the size of the particles from the particles' respective initial sizes to a second size which is smaller than a predetermined size. In the embodiment depicted, comminutor 28 receives blast media from metering portion 26/metering element 36. In an alternative embodiment, metering portion 26/metering element 36 may be omitted and comminutor 28 may receive blast media from any structure, including directly from a source of blast media. As is known, rollers 44, 46 are rotated to move peripheral surfaces 44c, 46c in the downstream direction at gap 48, the terminus of converging region 50. As blast media particles travel in the downstream direction through gap 48, the sizes of particles which are initially larger than the width of gap 48 between peripheral surfaces 44c, 46c will be reduced to a size based on the gap size.
The size of gap 48 may be varied between a minimum gap and a maximum gap. The maximum gap and minimum gap may be any suitable size. The maximum gap may be large enough that none of the particles traveling through gap 48 undergo a size change. The minimum gap may be small enough that all of the particles traveling through gap 48 undergo a size change. Depending on the maximum gap size, there may be a gap size, which is less than the maximum gap size, at which comminution of particles first begins. At gap sizes at which less than all of the particles traveling through gap 48 are comminuted, comminutor 28 reduces the size of a plurality of the plurality of particles. In the embodiment depicted, the minimum gap is configured to comminute particles to a very fine size, such as 0.012 inches, which may be referred to in the standard industry as microparticles, with the minimum gap being 0.006 inches. In the embodiment depicted, the maximum gap is configured to not comminute any particles, with the maximum gap being 0.7 inches. Any suitable minimum and maximum gap may be used.
Feeding portion 30 may be of any design which is configured to receive blast media particles and introduce the particles into the flow of transport gas, entraining them in the flow. In the embodiment depicted, feeding portion 30 includes feeding rotor 54, guide 56 disposed between gap 48 and feeding rotor 54, and lower seal 58. Feeding rotor 54 is rotatable about an axis, such as axis 54a. In the embodiment depicted, shaft 54b (see
As illustrated, drive 30a is coupled to shaft 54b, through right angle drive 30b, and may be controlled to rotate shaft 54b and, concomitantly, feeding rotor 54 about axis 54a.
Feeding rotor 54 comprises peripheral surface 54c (see
Lower seal 58 seals against peripheral surface 54c. Lower seal 58 may be of any suitable configuration.
Feeding portion 30 defines transport gas flow path 62 indicated by flow lines 62a and 62b through which transport gas flows during operation of particle blast apparatus 2. Transport gas flow path 62 is connectable to a source of transport gas, either directly or through pressure regulator assembly 32 (described below), with the appropriate fittings external to feeding portion 30. Transport gas flow path 62 may be defined by any suitable structure and configured in any suitable way which allows the entrainment of particles discharged from pockets 60 into the transport gas. In the embodiment depicted, lower seal 58 and piston 64 define at least a portion of transport gas flow path 62, with part of flow path 62 being through pockets 60, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/297,967.
Rotation of feeding rotor 54 introduces particles into the flow of transport gas, entraining them in the flow. The entrained flow (particles and transport gas) flow through delivery hose 6 and out discharge nozzle 10. Thus, there is a particle flow path extending between the source of blast media to the discharge nozzle, which, in the embodiment depicted, extends through metering portion 26, comminutor 28 and feeding portion 30.
Referring to
Referring to
Housing 66 includes bores 66a, 66b which receive bearings 78a, 78b. Bearings 78a, 78b rotatably support feeding rotor 54. Bearing 78a is retained in bore 66a by retainer 80 which is secured to housing 66. Bearing 78b is retained in bore 66b by retainer/support 82, which is secured to housing by fasteners 84. Right angle drive 30b may be attached to retainer/support 82. Housing 66 may be made of any suitable material, such as aluminum.
Inlet 86 and outlet 88 (see
Referring to
Housings 94c and 94d are moveable relative to housings 94a and 94b so as to vary the width of gap 48. Housings 94a, 94b, 96c and 96d have corresponding supports 96a, 96b, 96c and 96d. Supports 96a, 96b rotatably support shafts 36b and 44b, and supports 96c, 96d rotatably support shaft 46b. Supports 96a, 96b, 96c and 96d may be made of any suitable material, such as aluminum. Housings 94a, 94b and supports 96a, 96b are depicted as not being moveable relative to feeding portion 30 and hopper 18.
Referring also to
Member 102 is secured to plate 104 by a plurality of fasteners 106. Plate 104 is secured to support 96c by fastener 108a and to support 96d by fastener 108b.
Shaft 100 includes flange 110 which is captured between support 112 and retainer 114, allowing rotational motion about axis 100a with little or no axial motion. A plurality of rods 116 secure support 112 to supports 96a, 96b, with no movement therebetween. Rods 116 support plate 104 so that it can move axially along rods 116. Plate 104 includes a plurality of guides 104a which are disposed in complementarily shaped bores 118c, 118d. Since plate 104 is secured to supports 96c, 96d by fasteners 108a, 108b, there is no relative movement between guides 104a and supports 96c, 96d. Guides 104a are sized to allow rods 116 to slide axially therein.
Supports 96a, 96b include guides 120a, 120b respectively which are disposed in complementarily shaped bores (not seen) in supports 96c, 96d. These bores are sized to allow guides 120a, 120b to slide axially therein. Guides 102a, 102b support and guide supports 96c, 96d at and between the first and second positions of their travel. Rods 116 extend through guides 104a, bores 118c, 118d, and guides 120a, 120b, being fastened to supports 96a, 96b such that support 112 is supported and does not move relative to supports 96a, 96b.
Rotation of shaft 100 moves plate 104 along axis 100a and concomitantly moves supports 96c, 96d and roller 46 relative to supports 96a, 96b and roller 44, thereby varying the width of gap 48.
Rollers 44 and 46 may comprise a plurality of rollers. As seen in
Rollers 44, 46, regardless whether comprised of single rollers or a plurality of rollers, may include a plurality of bores 122 therethrough. If rollers 44, 46 comprise a plurality of rollers, bores 122 within each roller may be aligned axially. Bores 122 reduce the overall mass of rollers 44, 46. Such reduced mass reduces the time required for a temperature change in rollers 44, 46, such as a reduction in the time required for any ice built up on rollers 44, 46 during operation to melt during periods that particle blast apparatus 2 is not being operated. In another embodiment, air or other gas may be directed to flow through bores 122 to promote a faster temperature change.
For additional clarity,
Referring to
First edge 48a is always disposed at a location disposed intermediate axis 54a and wiping edge 56a. Wiping edge 56a defines a boundary of wiping region 56b. Generally wiping region 56b extends about the width of one pocket 60 when the leading edge of such pocket 60 is disposed at wiping edge 56a. Wiping region 56b is in alignment with first edge 48a. When supports 96c, 96d are disposed at the first location at which the size of gap 48 is at a minimum, the entire gap is aligned with wiping region 56b, such that the comminuted particles may fall or be directed into pockets 60 proximal wiping edge 56a.
Peripheral surfaces 44c, 46c may be of any suitable configuration. In the embodiment depicted, peripheral surfaces 44c, 46c have a surface texture, which may be of any configuration. It is noted that for clarity, surface texture has been omitted from the figures except in
The surface texture in the depicted embodiment is configured to provide uniformity across the axial width of rollers 44, 46 of the comminuted particles discharged by comminutor 28 to feeding portion 30. Such uniformity is achieved in the depicted embodiment by the surface texture being configured to move particles entering comminutor 28 at converging region 50 toward the axial middle of rollers 44, 46. As seen in
When viewed from the bottom, the plurality of ridges 124 of roller 44 (rollers A, B) and the plurality of ridges 124 of roller 46 (rollers C, D) form an X pattern in the diverging region.
As seen in
In the depicted embodiment, pockets 42 are configured to promote movement of particles toward the axial center of pockets 42. As metering rotor 36 rotates in the direction of arrow 126, the axial inclination of the chevron shape may cause particles to move toward the axial center, resulting in more even distribution across the axial width of metering rotor 36.
As mentioned above, metering element 36 is configured to control the flow rate of blast media for particle blast apparatus 2. By separating the flow rate control from the feeding rotor, the delivery speed, pulsing at lower flow rates may be avoided. When the feeding rotor also controls the particle flow rate, to deliver lower flow rates, the rotational speed of the feeding rotor must be reduced. At lower speeds, due to the relative alignment of the pockets of the feeding rotor, pulsing occurs. Even with the pockets of the feeding rotor full, at lower rotational speeds of the feeding rotor, the time between the presentation of each opening for discharge is increased resulting in the pulsing.
In embodiments in which metering element 36 is present, feeding rotor 54 may be rotated at a constant, typically high, speed, independent of the feed rate. At a constant high speed, the time between the presentation of each opening for discharge is constant for all feed rates. At low feed rates with feeding rotor 54 rotating at a constant high speed, the percentage fill of each pocket will be smaller than at high feed rates, but pulsing will be reduced.
By separating the flow rate control from the feeding rotor, the feeding rotor may be operated closer to its optimal speed (based, for example, on component designs and characteristics, such as the motor profile, wear rate, etc.).
In the embodiment depicted, feeding rotor 54 may be operated at a constant rotation speed for all feed rates, such as 75 RPM to 80 RPM. In the embodiment depicted, comminutor 28 may be operated at a constant rotation speed for all speed rates, such as 1500 RPM for each roller 44, 46. In the embodiment depicted, metering rotor 36 may be operated at a rotation speed that varies so as to control the flow rate of particles.
For best operation, the flow of transport gas needs to be adequate and consistent providing the desired controllable flow and pressure. Although an outside source of gas, such as air, may be able to provide the desired flow and pressure in a controllable manner, outside sources are generally unreliable in this regard. Thus, for such consistency and control, prior art particle blast systems have included on board pressure regulation connected to an outside source of gas, such as air. Prior art particle blast systems have used a valve, such as a ball valve, as an on-off control of the incoming gas and regulated the pressure downstream thereof. Prior art pressure regulation has been accomplished by use of an inline pressure regulator disposed in the flow line with the desired pressure controlled by a fluid control signal, such as an air pressure signal from a pilot control pressure regulator. At higher transport gas flow rates, the inline pressure regulator produced high pressure losses. In the prior art, to make up for such pressure loss at higher flows, oversized inline pressure regulators or alternate non-regulated transport gas flow paths can be utilized, adding cost, complexity and undesirable increase in overall weight and size of design.
Referring to
Referring to
Piston 230 is disposed in first internal chamber 222, sealingly engaging sidewall 222a. Within first internal chamber 222, piston 230 forms chamber 232 on first side 230a, and chamber 234 on second side 230b. Piston 236 is disposed in first internal chamber 222, sealingly engaging sidewall 222a. Within first internal chamber 222, piston 236 forms chamber 238 on first side 236a, with and second chamber 234 disposed on second side 236b.
Piston 230 is shaped complementarily to sidewall 222a and includes extension 230c with teeth 230d. Piston 236 is shaped complementarily to sidewall 222a and includes extension 236c with teeth 236d. Teeth 230d and teeth 236d engage pinion 240 which is rotatable about axis 240a, which in the embodiment depicted, is aligned with axis 218b of stem 218a. Pinon 240 is coupled, directly or indirectly to stem 218a which in turn is connected to ball 218. Rotation of pinion 240 causes concomitant rotation of stem 281a and ball 218. Pinion 240 may be rotated between and including a first position and a second position, which correspond to the first and second positions of ball 218—when pinion 240 is at its first position, ball 218 is at its first position; when pinion 240 is at its second position, ball 218 is at its second position.
Pistons 230 and 236 also move between and including first and second positions, concomitantly due to their engagement with pinion 240. As pistons 230 and 236 move, they cause pinion 240 to rotate correspondingly. At their respective second positions, pistons 230 and 236 are at their minimum spaced apart distance relative to each other, causing pinion 240 and ball 218 to be at their respective second positions, making ball valve 206 closed. At their respective first positions, pistons 230 and 236 are at their maximum spaced apart distance relative to each, causing pinion 240 and ball 218 to be at their respective first positions. In the embodiment depicted, ball valve 206 is a quarter turn valve and when ball 218 is at its first position, ball valve 206 is completely open. Although two pistons 230, 236 are illustrated, piston 236 could be omitted with piston 230 being appropriately sized.
Ball valve 206 regulates the pressure of the flow of transport gas into inlet 90. With reference to the pneumatic circuit schematic of
Chamber 234 is placed in fluid communication with a pressure control signal, which either is or is proportional to the desired downstream pressure. As shown diagrammatically in
During operation, pressure within chamber 234, controlled by the pressure control signal delivered through line 252, will move pistons 230 and 236 outwardly, causing ball valve 206 to open, increasing the pressure in downstream flow passageway 242. As this pressure increases, the pressure within chamber 232 and 238 will increase and act on pistons 230 and 236 against the pressure in chamber 234, moving pistons 230 and 236 inwardly causing ball valve 206 to close, reducing the flow and the pressure in downstream flow passageway 242, which is the portion of the flow passageway downstream of ball 218, including the portion thereof within ball valve 206. Ball valve 206 will move to an equilibrium position at which the force on pistons 230 and 236 from chambers 232 and 238 equals the force on pistons 230 and 236 from chamber 234. Changes in pressure in chambers 232 and 238, such as due to changes in the upstream source pressure, or in chamber 234, such as due to a change by the operator, will result in ball valve 206 moving to a new equilibrium position.
As seen in
End cap 274 is connected to body 226, and includes annular groove 276, which is shaped complementarily to and aligned with annular groove 278. Piston 266 is moveable between and including a first position at which the internal volume of chamber 228 is at its maximum and a second position at which the internal volume of chamber 228 is at its minimum, whereat extension 266c extends its maximum distance into chamber 232.
The ends of springs 280 and 282 are disposed in annular grooves 276 and 278 and configured to resiliently bias piston 266 toward the second position. In
To hold piston 266 in its first position, chamber 268 may be selectively pressurized with sufficient pressure to overcome the force exerted by springs 280 and 282. Body 226 includes port 284 in fluid communication with chamber 268. Fitting 286 is illustrated disposed in port 284, with line 288 in fluid communication with chamber 228 through fitting 284. Line 288 is connected to a source of pressurized fluid, such as air, so that chamber 268 can be pressurized. As seen in
Referring to
A feeder assembly configured to transport blast media from a source of blast media into a flow of transport gas, the blast media comprising a plurality of particles, the feeder assembly comprising: a metering element configured to: receive from a first region the blast media from the source of blast media; and discharge the blast media to a second region; and a feeding rotor, configured to: receive, at a third region, blast media discharged by the metering rotor; and discharge the blast media into the flow of transport gas.
The feeder assembly of example 1, comprising a comminutor disposed between the metering element and the feeding rotor, the comminutor configured to receive blast media from the metering element and to selectively reduce the size of a plurality of the plurality of particles from each particle's respective initial size to a second size which is smaller than a predetermined size.
The feeder assembly of example 1, wherein the metering element comprises a rotor which is rotatable about an axis, the rotor comprising a plurality of pockets opening radially outwardly.
The feeder assembly of example 3, wherein the plurality of pockets extend longitudinally in the direction of the axis.
The feeder assembly of example 3, wherein the rotor comprises a first end and a second end spaced apart from each other along the axis, and where a plurality of the plurality of pockets extend from the first end to the second end.
The feeder assembly of example 3, wherein the rotor is rotatable about the axis in a direction of rotation, wherein a plurality of the plurality of pockets have a chevron shape.
The feeder assembly of example 6, wherein the chevron shape points opposite the direction of rotation.
A comminutor configured to selectively reduce the size of cryogenic particles from each particle's respective initial size to a second size which is smaller than a predetermined size, the comminutor comprising being adapted to be disposed between a metering portion and a feeding portion of a feeder assembly, the feeder assembly configured to transport the cryogenic particles from a source of cryogenic particles into a flow of transport gas, the metering portion configured to receive cryogenic particles from a source of cryogenic particles and to discharge cryogenic particles to the comminutor, the feeding portion configured to receive cryogenic particles from the comminutor and discharge the cryogenic particles into the flow of transport gas.
The comminutor of example 8, comprising: an inlet adapted to be disposed to receive cryogenic particles from the metering portion; and an outlet adapted to be disposed to discharge cryogenic particles to the feeding portion.
The comminutor of example 9, comprising a gap disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the gap being variable between a minimum gap and a maximum gap.
The comminutor of example 10, comprising: at least one first roller rotatable about a first axis; at least one second roller rotatable about a second axis, the gap being defined by the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller; a support which carries the at least one second roller, the support configured to be disposed at a plurality of positions between and including a first position at which the gap is the minimum gap and a second position at which the gap is the maximum gap.
A comminutor configured to selectively reduce the size of cryogenic particles from each particle's respective initial size to a second size which is smaller than a predetermined size, the comminutor comprising: at least one first roller rotatable about a first axis, each said at least one first roller comprising a respective first peripheral surface, each respective first peripheral surface collectively comprising a plurality of first raised ridges; at least one second roller rotatable about a second axis, each said at least one second roller comprising a respective second peripheral surface, each respective second peripheral surface collectively comprising a plurality of second raised ridges; a gap defined between each respective first peripheral surface and each respective second peripheral surface; and a converging region upstream of the gap defined by the gap, the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller, wherein the plurality of first raised ridges and the plurality of second raised ridges form a diamond pattern in the converging region.
The comminutor of example 12, wherein the at least one first roller comprises an A roller and a B roller, the A roller comprising an A peripheral surface, the B roller comprising a B peripheral surface, the first peripheral surface comprising the A peripheral surface and the B peripheral surface.
The comminutor of example 13, wherein the at least one second roller comprises a C roller and a D roller, the C roller comprising a C peripheral surface, the D roller comprising a D peripheral surface, the second peripheral surface comprising the C peripheral surface and the D peripheral surface.
The comminutor of example 13, wherein the A peripheral surface is a mirror image of the B peripheral surface.
The comminutor of example 12 comprising a support which carries the at least one second roller, the support configured to be disposed at a plurality of positions between and including a first position at which the gap is at its minimum and a second position at which the gap is at is its maximum.
The comminutor of example 12, wherein the diamond pattern is a double diamond pattern.
A particle blast system comprising: a source of blast media, the blast media comprising a plurality of cryogenic particles; a discharge nozzle for expelling the cryogenic particles from said particle blast system; a particle flow path extending between the source of blast media and the discharge nozzle, the particle flow path comprising a comminutor configured to selectively reduce the size of particles from each particle's respective initial size to a second size which is smaller than a predetermined size, the comminutor comprising: at least one first roller, each said at least one first roller comprising a respective first peripheral surface, each respective first peripheral surface collectively comprising a plurality of first raised ridges; at least one second roller, each said at least one second roller comprising a respective second peripheral surface, each respective second peripheral surface collectively comprising a plurality of second raised ridges; a gap defined between each respective first peripheral surface and each respective second peripheral surface; and a converging region upstream of the gap defined by the gap, the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller, wherein the plurality of first raised ridges and the plurality of second raised ridges form a diamond pattern in the converging region.
The particle blast system of example 18, wherein said particle flow path comprises a low pressure portion and a high pressure portion disposed downstream of the low pressure portion, and the lower pressure portion comprises the comminutor.
The particle blast system of example 18, wherein the at least one first roller comprises an A roller and a B roller, the A roller comprising an A peripheral surface, the B roller comprising a B peripheral surface, the first peripheral surface comprising the A peripheral surface and the B peripheral surface.
The particle blast system of example 18 comprising a support which carries the at least one second roller, the support configured to be disposed at a plurality of positions between and including a first position at which the gap is at its minimum and a second position at which the gap is at is its maximum.
The particle blast system of example 18, wherein the diamond pattern is a double diamond pattern.
A feeder assembly configured to transport blast media from a source of blast media into a flow of transport gas, the blast media comprising a plurality of cryogenic particles, the feeder assembly comprising: particle flow path comprising a low pressure portion and a high pressure portion disposed downstream of the low pressure portion; and the low pressure portion comprising a comminutor configured to selectively reduce the size of cryogenic particles from each particle's respective initial size to a second size which is smaller than a predetermined size, the comminutor comprising: at least one first roller, each said at least one first roller comprising a respective first peripheral surface, each respective first peripheral surface collectively comprising a plurality of first raised ridges; at least one second roller, each said at least one second roller comprising a respective second peripheral surface, each respective second peripheral surface collectively comprising a plurality of second raised ridges; a gap defined between each respective first peripheral surface and each respective second peripheral surface; and a converging region upstream of the gap defined by the gap, the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller, wherein the plurality of first raised ridges and the plurality of second raised ridges form a diamond pattern in the converging region.
The feeder assembly of example 23, wherein the at least one first roller comprises an A roller and a B roller, the A roller comprising an A peripheral surface, the B roller comprising a B peripheral surface, the first peripheral surface comprising the A peripheral surface and the B peripheral surface.
The feeder assembly of example 23, wherein the diamond pattern is a double diamond pattern.
A feeder assembly configured to transport blast media from a source of blast media into a flow of transport gas, the blast media comprising a plurality of particles, the feeder assembly comprising: a comminutor configured to selectively reduce the size of cryogenic particles from each particle's respective initial size to a second size which is smaller than a predetermined size, the comminutor comprising: at least one first roller rotatable about a first axis, each said at least one first roller comprising a respective first peripheral surface; at least one second roller rotatable about a second axis, each said at least one second roller comprising a respective second peripheral surface; and a gap defined between each respective first peripheral surface and each respective second peripheral surface, the gap comprising a first edge extending along and adjacent to each respective first at least one first roller; a feeding rotor rotatable about a third axis, the feeding rotor comprising: a circumferential surface; a plurality of pockets disposed in the circumferential surface, each of the plurality of pockets having a respective circumferential pocket width; a guide disposed between the gap and the feeding rotor configured to receive particles from the gap and guide the particles into the plurality of pockets as the feeding rotor rotates, the guide comprising: a wiping edge disposed adjacent the circumferential surface, the wiping edge oriented generally parallel to the third axis; a wiping region extending circumferentially away from the wiping edge, the wiping region disposed in alignment with the first edge.
The feeder assembly of example 26, wherein the wiping region extends circumferentially away from the wiping edges a distance approximately equal to one of the respective circumferential pocket widths.
A feeder assembly configured to transport blast media from a source of blast media into a flow of transport gas, the blast media comprising a plurality of particles, the feeder assembly comprising: a metering element comprising: a first surface; and at least one cavity comprising a respective opening in the first surface, the metering element configured to cyclically dispose each of the at least one cavity at a first position to receive particles into the at least one cavity and at a second to discharge the particles, the respective opening moving in a direction of travel when moving between the first position to the second position; and a guide disposed adjacent the metering element, the guide configured to guide the particles into each respective opening at the first position, the guide comprising: a wiping edge disposed adjacent the first surface, the wiping edge configured to wipe across each respective opening as each of the at least one cavity moves from the first position to the second position, the wiping edge disposed at a wiping angle which is configured to not result in a nip line between the wiping edge and the metering element.
The feeder assembly of example 28, wherein the wiping angle is at least about 90°.
A metering rotor adapted for use with a feeder assembly, the feeder assembly configured to transport blast media from a source of blast media into a flow of transport gas, the metering rotor comprising: a first end; a second end spaced apart from the first end along an axis; a plurality of pockets extending from the first end to the second end and opening radially outward.
The metering rotor of example 30, wherein a plurality of the plurality of pockets have a chevron shape.
A roller adapted for use as one of at least one first roller of a comminutor, the comminutor configured to selectively reduce the size of cryogenic particles from each particle's respective initial size to a second size which is smaller than a predetermined size, the comminutor comprising: the least one first roller; at least one second roller, each said at least one second roller comprising a respective second peripheral surface, each respective second peripheral surface collectively comprising a plurality of second raised ridges; a gap defined between the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller; a converging region upstream of the gap defined by the gap, the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller; and an outlet side downstream of the gap defined by the gap, the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller, the roller comprising a peripheral surface comprising a plurality of first raised ridges which, when the roller is used as the at least one of the at least one first roller, form part of a diamond pattern in the converging region in cooperation with the plurality of second raised ridges, the diamond pattern extending from the gap.
An actuator configured to couple with a controlled member to move the controlled member between and including a first controlled position and a second controlled position, the actuator comprising: a body defining a first internal chamber, the first internal chamber comprising a first sidewall wall; a first piston comprising a first side and a second side, the first piston disposed in the first internal chamber and moveable between and including a first position and a second position, the first piston sealingly engaging the first sidewall thereby forming a first chamber on the first side of the first piston and a second chamber on the second side of the first piston; a second internal chamber, the second internal chamber comprising a second sidewall; a second piston comprising a first side and a second side, the second piston disposed in the second internal chamber and moveable between and including a third position and a fourth position, the second piston sealingly engaging the second sidewall thereby forming a third chamber on the first side of the second piston and a fourth chamber on the second side of the second piston, the second piston configured to not engage the first piston when the second piston is disposed at the third position, the second piston configured to: engage the first piston with a part of the second piston; and move the first piston to the second position as the second piston moves from the third position to the fourth position; and at least one resilient member disposed in the fourth chamber and resiliently urging the second piston toward the fourth position.
The actuator of example 33, comprising a valve, the valve comprising the controlled member, wherein the first piston is connected to the valve.
The actuator of example 34, wherein the valve comprises a rotary member and a stem connected to the rotary member, wherein the first piston is connected to the stem.
The actuator of example 34, comprising a third piston comprising a first side and a second side, the third piston disposed in the first internal chamber and moveable between and including a fifth and a sixth position, the third piston sealingly engaging the first sidewall thereby forming a fifth chamber on the first side of the third piston, the second chamber disposed on the second side of the third piston, wherein the third piston is connected to the valve.
The actuator of example 33, comprising a third piston comprising a first side and a second side, the third piston disposed in the first internal chamber and moveable between and including a fifth and a sixth position, the third piston sealingly engaging the first sidewall thereby forming a fifth chamber on the first side of the third piston, the second chamber disposed on the second side of the third piston.
The actuator of example 33, comprising a first port in fluid communication with the second chamber, the first port configured to be connected to a fluid control signal.
The actuator of example 33, comprising a first port in fluid communication with the second chamber, and a quick exhaust valve in fluid communication with the first port, the quick exhaust valve configured to be connected to a fluid control signal.
A flow control valve comprising: a flow passageway; a rotary member disposed in the flow passageway dividing the flow passageway into an upstream flow passageway and a downstream flow passageway, the rotary member being moveable between and including a first and a second position, the flow passageway being closed when the rotary member is disposed at the first position; a stem connected to the rotary member; an actuator comprising: a body defining a first internal chamber, the first internal chamber comprising a first sidewall wall; a first piston comprising a first side and a second side, the first piston disposed in the first internal chamber and moveable between and including a first position and a second position, the first piston sealingly engaging the first sidewall thereby forming a first chamber on the first side of the first piston and a second chamber on the second side of the first piston, the first piston operably connected to the stem and configured to rotate the stem such that when the first piston is disposed at its first position the rotary member is disposed at its first position and when the first piston is disposed at its second position the rotary member is disposed at its second position; a second internal chamber, the second internal chamber comprising a second sidewall; a second piston comprising a first side and a second side, the second piston disposed in the second internal chamber and moveable between and including a third position and a fourth position, the second piston sealingly engaging the second sidewall thereby forming a third chamber on the first side of the second piston and a fourth chamber on the second side of the second piston, the second piston configured to not engage the first piston when the second piston is disposed at the third position, the second piston configured to engage the first piston with a part of the second piston; and move the first piston to the second position as the second piston moves from the third position to the fourth position; and a resilient member disposed in the fourth chamber and resiliently urging the second piston toward the fourth position.
The flow control valve of example 40, wherein the first chamber is in fluid communication with the downstream flow passageway.
A method of entraining a plurality of particles of blast media in a flow of transport gas comprising the steps of: controlling, at a first location, the flow rate of the particles from a source of particles, optionally using a metering element; and entraining the particles into the flow of transport gas at a second location using a feeding rotor.
A method of entraining a plurality of particles of blast media in a flow of transport gas comprising the steps of: controlling, at a first location, the flow rate of the particles from a source of particles, optionally using a metering element; comminuting, at a second location downstream of the first location, a plurality of the plurality of particles from each particle's respective initial size to a second size smaller than a predetermined size; and entraining, at a third location downstream of the second location, the particles into the flow of transport gas at a third location using a feeding rotor.
The foregoing description of one or more embodiments of the innovation has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the innovation and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the innovation in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although only a limited number of embodiments of the innovation is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the innovation is not limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. The innovation is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also specific terminology was used for the sake of clarity. It is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims submitted herewith.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2699403 | Courts | Jan 1955 | A |
2957361 | Herbenar | Oct 1960 | A |
3037484 | Dixon | Jun 1962 | A |
3650506 | Bruton | Mar 1972 | A |
3672260 | Gachot | Jun 1972 | A |
3862721 | Flair | Jan 1975 | A |
4087074 | Massey | May 1978 | A |
4094470 | Waldhofer | Jun 1978 | A |
4304176 | Redl | Dec 1981 | A |
4333612 | Hayashi | Jun 1982 | A |
4564169 | Nordlund | Jan 1986 | A |
4744181 | Moore et al. | May 1988 | A |
4843770 | Crane et al. | Jul 1989 | A |
4947592 | Lloyd et al. | Aug 1990 | A |
4973001 | Kastingschafer et al. | Nov 1990 | A |
5018667 | Lloyd | May 1991 | A |
5050805 | Lloyd et al. | Sep 1991 | A |
5071289 | Spivak | Dec 1991 | A |
5188151 | Young et al. | Feb 1993 | A |
5249426 | Spivak et al. | Oct 1993 | A |
5288028 | Spivak et al. | Feb 1994 | A |
5301509 | Lloyd et al. | Apr 1994 | A |
5383610 | Longhurst | Jan 1995 | A |
5473903 | Lloyd et al. | Dec 1995 | A |
5520572 | Opel et al. | May 1996 | A |
6024304 | Sawada | Feb 2000 | A |
6042458 | Lehnig et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6155531 | Holborow | Dec 2000 | A |
6325308 | Lofgren et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6346035 | Anderson et al. | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6524172 | Rivir et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6695679 | Anderson et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6695685 | Stratford et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6726549 | Rivir et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6739529 | Linger et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6824450 | Opel | Nov 2004 | B2 |
7112120 | Rivir et al. | Sep 2006 | B2 |
7228784 | Hoch | Jun 2007 | B2 |
7950984 | Rivir et al. | May 2011 | B2 |
7959099 | Cox et al. | Jun 2011 | B1 |
8187057 | Broecker | May 2012 | B2 |
8277288 | Spivak et al. | Oct 2012 | B2 |
8430722 | Raeder et al. | Apr 2013 | B2 |
8567752 | ter Horst | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8869551 | Young et al. | Oct 2014 | B2 |
9095956 | Broecker et al. | Aug 2015 | B2 |
9550843 | Matsumoto et al. | Jan 2017 | B2 |
9592586 | Lehnig et al. | Mar 2017 | B2 |
9810245 | Jaccoby | Nov 2017 | B2 |
9931639 | Lehnig | Apr 2018 | B2 |
11098822 | Götz | Aug 2021 | B2 |
20020074438 | Horigane | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20030199232 | Rivir et al. | Oct 2003 | A1 |
20030224704 | Shank | Dec 2003 | A1 |
20040251445 | Hansen | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20060178092 | Spivak et al. | Aug 2006 | A1 |
20090093196 | Dressman | Apr 2009 | A1 |
20100044479 | Euculano | Feb 2010 | A1 |
20120017634 | Dorman et al. | Jan 2012 | A1 |
20120211681 | Wang | Aug 2012 | A1 |
20120291479 | Moore et al. | Nov 2012 | A1 |
20130200285 | Gent | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20140110510 | Rivir et al. | Apr 2014 | A1 |
20150093273 | Johnson et al. | Apr 2015 | A1 |
20150166350 | Fritz et al. | Jun 2015 | A1 |
20150196921 | Lehnig | Jul 2015 | A1 |
20150375365 | Lehnig et al. | Dec 2015 | A1 |
20160257506 | Mallaley et al. | Sep 2016 | A1 |
20170000031 | Horning, Jr. et al. | Jan 2017 | A1 |
20170106500 | Mallaley et al. | Apr 2017 | A1 |
20170146037 | Curtin | May 2017 | A1 |
20190321942 | Mallaley et al. | Oct 2019 | A1 |
20200096132 | Fassbender | Mar 2020 | A1 |
20200129984 | Kasseckert | Apr 2020 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
101932409 | Dec 2010 | CN |
107820454 | Mar 2018 | CN |
102004045770 | Sep 2005 | DE |
102004057665 | Jun 2006 | DE |
102010004211 | Jul 2011 | DE |
102011008139 | Jul 2012 | DE |
102011106860 | Jan 2013 | DE |
1637282 | Mar 2006 | EP |
2994268 | Mar 2016 | EP |
2457425 | Dec 1980 | FR |
764127 | Dec 1956 | GB |
S59-26811 | Feb 1984 | JP |
H02-233121 | Jan 1990 | JP |
2009-214959 | Sep 2009 | JP |
2478434 | Apr 2013 | RU |
1240412 | Jun 1986 | SU |
1524925 | Nov 1989 | SU |
WO 1994016861 | Aug 1994 | WO |
WO 2002060647 | Aug 2002 | WO |
WO 2014182254 | Nov 2014 | WO |
WO 2015109354 | Jul 2015 | WO |
WO 2017070221 | Apr 2017 | WO |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Feb. 6, 2017, for International Application No. PCT/US2016/057718, 10 pages. |
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Sep. 17, 2019, for International Application No. PCT/US2019/028852, 22 pages. |
U.S. Appl. No. 61/589,551, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Sizing Carbon Dioxide Particles,” filed Jan. 23, 2012. |
U.S. Appl. No. 61/592,313, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Dispensing Carbon Dioxide Particles,” filed Jan. 30, 2012. |
U.S. Appl. No. 62/129,483, entitled “Particle Feeder,” filed Mar. 6, 2015. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20230046920 A1 | Feb 2023 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 15961321 | Apr 2018 | US |
Child | 17977708 | US |