Particle blasting using crystalline ice

• US 5,367,838 A
• Filed: 03/21/1994
• Issued: 11/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ice Blast International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ice Blast International Incorporated
• Inventors: Visaisouk, Somyong, Vixaysouk, Somnuk
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US08/210,724
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 51/317, 51/319, 51/320, 51/321, 51/322, 51/427, 51/428, 51/429, 51/436, 51/438, 51/410, 134/5, 134/7
• US Class Current: 451/39
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 1/003 using material which dissolves or changes phase after the treatment, e.g. ice, CO2
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 1/086 Descaling; Removing coating films

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for particle blasting utilizing crystalline ice. A theory of impact erosion is presented, as opposed to conventional abrasive techniques, which allows for the development of ice blast conditions to achieve a maximum efficiency for surface cleaning and coating removal applications. By impacting a surface with ice particles which have been treated to bring their temperature near the melting point of ice, erosion is effected by a rupture process caused by the well known reaction-force. It has been found that warming of the ice particles can be realized by simply utilizing unconditioned blast air taken directly form a high pressure compressor.

Claims

1. A blasting process for cleaning or decoating a surface comprising:

fluidizing frozen ice particles with compressed fluidizing air;

transporting the fluidized ice particles to a blast nozzle; and

propelling the fluidized ice particles from the blast nozzle toward the surface by compressed blasting air that is sufficiently warm such that the blasted ice particles have a temperature sufficiently near the melting point so as to melt immediately upon impacting the surface.

2. A blasting process as in claim 1 wherein the ice particles are propelled toward the surface in a perpendicularly directed relationship.

3. A blasting process as in claim 1 wherein the fluidized ice particles are passed through a sizer prior to being propelled at the blast nozzle so as to have maximum dimensions that are no larger than 2 mm.