PARTICLE BLAST APPARATUS

• US 20190321942A1
• Filed: 04/24/2018
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2018
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Cold Jet LLC
• Original Assignee: Cold Jet LLC
• Inventors: Mallaley, Daniel, Broecker, Richard Joseph
• Application Number:
  US15/961,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20190321942A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 4/02 with two or more rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 4/32 Adjusting, applying pressure to, or controlling the distance between, milling members
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 1/003 using material which dissolves or changes phase after the treatment, e.g. ice, CO2
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 3/06 movable; portable
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 5/04 Nozzles therefor nozzles in general B05B
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 7/0053 with control of feed parameters, e.g. feed rate of abrasive material or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 7/0061 of feed pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 23/001 Pumps adapted for conveying materials or for handling specific elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/065 the motor being of the rack-and-pinion type
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1221 one side of the piston being spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1225 with a plurality of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/535 for rotating valves F16K31/54 takes precedence

Abstract

A particle blast apparatus includes a metering portion, a comminutor and a feeding portion. The metering portion and comminutor may each be configured to provide uniformity in the discharge of particles. The metering portion controls the particle feed rate, and may include a rotor, which may have V or chevron shaped pockets. The comminutor includes at least one roller which may be moved between and including a position at which the gap of the comminutor is at maximum and a position at which the gap is at minimum. The metering portion may discharge direction into the feeding portion without a comminutor being present. The comminutor may receive particles directly from a source of blast media without a metering portion being present.

Claims

1. 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. a metering element configured to;

i. receive from a first region the blast media from the source of blast media; and

ii. discharge the blast media to a second region; and

b. a feeding rotor, configured to;

i. receive, at a third region, blast media discharged by the metering rotor; and

ii. discharge the blast media into the flow of transport gas.

2. The feeder assembly of claim 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.

3. The feeder assembly of claim 1, wherein the metering element comprises a rotor which is rotatable about an axis, the rotor comprising a plurality of pockets opening radially outwardly.

4. The feeder assembly of claim 3, wherein the plurality of pockets extend longitudinally in the direction of the axis.

5. The feeder assembly of claim 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.

6. The feeder assembly of claim 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.

7. The feeder assembly of claim 6, wherein the chevron shape points opposite the direction of rotation.

8. 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.

9. The comminutor of claim 8, comprising:

a. an inlet adapted to be disposed to receive cryogenic particles from the metering portion; and

b. an outlet adapted to be disposed to discharge cryogenic particles to the feeding portion.

10. The comminutor of claim 9, comprising a gap disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the gap being variable between a minimum gap and a maximum gap.

11. The comminutor of claim 10, comprising:

a. at least one first roller rotatable about a first axis;

b. 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;

c. 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.

12. 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:

a. 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;

b. 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;

c. a gap defined between each respective first peripheral surface and each respective second peripheral surface; and

d. 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.

13. The comminutor of claim 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.

14. The comminutor of claim 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.

15. The comminutor of claim 13, wherein the A peripheral surface is a mirror image of the B peripheral surface.

16. The comminutor of claim 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.

17. The comminutor of claim 12, wherein the diamond pattern is a double diamond pattern.

18. A particle blast system comprising:

a. a source of blast media, the blast media comprising a plurality of cryogenic particles;

b. a discharge nozzle for expelling the cryogenic particles from said particle blast system;

c. 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;

i. 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;

ii. 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;

iii. a gap defined between each respective first peripheral surface and each respective second peripheral surface; and

iv. 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.

19. The particle blast system of claim 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.

20. The comminutor of claim 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.

21. The comminutor of claim 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.

22. The comminutor of claim 18, wherein the diamond pattern is a double diamond pattern.

23. 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:

a. a particle flow path comprising a low pressure portion and a high pressure portion disposed downstream of the low pressure portion; and

b. 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;

i. 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;

ii. 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;

iii. a gap defined between each respective first peripheral surface and each respective second peripheral surface; and

iv. 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.

24. The comminutor of claim 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.

25. The comminutor of claim 23, wherein the diamond pattern is a double diamond pattern.

26. 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. 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;

i. at least one first roller rotatable about a first axis, each said at least one first roller comprising a respective first peripheral surface;

ii. at least one second roller rotatable about a second axis, each said at least one second roller comprising a respective second peripheral surface; and

iii. 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;

b. a feeding rotor rotatable about a third axis, the feeding rotor comprising;

i. a circumferential surface;

ii. a plurality of pockets disposed in the circumferential surface, each of the plurality of pockets having a respective circumferential pocket width;

c. 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;

i. a wiping edge disposed adjacent the circumferential surface, the wiping edge oriented generally parallel to the third axis;

ii. a wiping region extending circumferentially away from the wiping edge, the wiping region disposed in alignment with the first edge.

27. The feeder assembly of claim 26, wherein the wiping region extends circumferentially away from the wiping edges a distance approximately equal to one of the respective circumferential pocket widths.

28. 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. a metering element comprising;

i. a first surface; and

ii. 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

b. 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;

i. 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.

29. The feeder assembly of claim 28, wherein the wiping angle is at least about 90°

.

30. 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. a first end;

b. a second end spaced apart from the first end along an axis;

c. a plurality of pockets extending from the first end to the second end and opening radially outward.

31. The feeder assembly of claim 30, wherein a plurality of the plurality of pockets have a chevron shape.

32. 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:

i. the least one first roller;

ii. 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;

iii. a gap defined between the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller;

iv. 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

v. 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.