Multi-port sandblasting manifold and method

• US 7,044,831 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gabriel, Mark F., Larsen, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, David B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grant, Alvin J.
• Application Number:
  US10/796,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20050202755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 451/5, 451/102, 451/99, 451/89, 222/630
• US Class Current: 451/5
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 7/0046 the abrasive material being fed in a gaseous carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 9/00 Appurtenances of abrasive blasting machines or devices, e.g. working chambers, arrangements for handling used abrasive material

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided to simplify sandblasting processes while increasing applied coverage areas in sandblasting operations. The method and apparatus provide a manifold assembly having a plurality of nozzles and that is rigidly attached to an air supply. The manifold is supplied with abrasive material via a plurality of angularly attached sand supply hoses which are coupled to an abrasive material supply. The manifold assembly is pressurized with the supply of air. An article is sandblasted by drawing sand through the hoses and out of the plurality of nozzles using the pressurized air through the manifold assembly.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a block;

a longitudinal passage in the block;

a plurality of outlet passages serially connected to the longitudinal passage, wherein each of the plurality of outlet passages are oriented in a different direction relative to a remainder of the outlet passages; and

a plurality of material passages, each material passage of the plurality of material passages being in fluid connection with a corresponding outlet passage of the plurality of outlet passages, wherein each material passage intersects the corresponding outlet passage at an angle to generate a venturi effect.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the manifold assembly further comprises:

a plenum cap attached to the block.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein threaded connectors are used to connect the plenum cap to the block through a top surface of the plenum cap into a surface of the block.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the block further comprises:

a plurality of cross chambers intersecting the longitudinal passage, each cross chamber of the plurality of cross chambers having a first end and a second end, wherein each respective cross chamber comprises a respective outlet passage of the plurality of outlet passages disposed at the first end and is closed off at the second end; and

the plurality of material passages each angularly intersecting a respective cross chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an air supply line rigidly connected to the longitudinal passage.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the further comprising:

a plurality of material supply lines connected to a respective one of the plurality of material passages.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the block further comprises:

a second block connected to the first block; and

a plenum cap connected to the first block and the second block.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein threaded connectors are used to connect the plenum cap to the first block and the second block through a top surface of the plenum cap into a surface of the first block and the second block.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the first block is connected to the second block by threaded connectors.

10. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a single air inlet;

a plurality of outlet nozzles in fluid connection with the single air inlet, wherein each outlet nozzle is in fluid connection with a respective one of the plurality of outlet passages; and

a plurality of material inlets, each material inlet of the plurality of material inlets being in fluid connection with a corresponding outlet nozzle of the plurality of outlet nozzles.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the block further comprises:

a plurality of cross chambers intersecting the single air inlet, each cross chamber of the plurality of cross chambers having a first end and a second end, wherein each respective cross chamber comprises a respective outlet nozzle of the plurality of outlet nozzles disposed at the first end and is closed off at the second end; and

the plurality of material inlets each angularly intersecting a respective cross chamber.

12. The device of claim 10, further comprising an air supply line rigidly connected to the single air inlet.