Impeller for a blast wheel machine
AssigneeWheelabrator Group, Inc.
InventorsDouglas J. Kim, Jonathan M. Edwards
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An impeller for a centrifugal blast wheel machine includes a hub provided at one end of the impeller, with the hub being configured to be coupled to the motor. The hub further includes a ring provided at an opposite end of the hub, with the ring defining a media inlet to receive blast media. The impeller further includes a plurality of cylindrical vanes positioned between the hub and the ring. The plurality of cylindrical vanes is spaced from one another on peripheries of the hub and the ring. The plurality of cylindrical vanes defines a plurality of impeller media outlets constructed and arranged to allow egress of blast media upon rotation of the impeller.
Claims20
A centrifugal blast wheel machine comprising:
- a wheel assembly having a plurality of blades configured to throw blast media introduced into the wheel assembly against a work piece;
- an impeller positioned about an axis of the wheel assembly, the impeller having a media inlet at one end adapted to receive blast media and a plurality of impeller media outlets constructed and arranged to allow egress of blast media upon rotation of the impeller;
- a motor coupled to the impeller to drive the rotation of the impeller and the wheel assembly;
- and
- a control cage surrounding the impeller and secured to the wheel assembly, the control cage including a cylindrical body defining an interior chamber, the cylindrical body having an opening formed therein to allow the egress of blast media from the interior chamber,
- wherein the impeller includes a hub provided at one end of the impeller, the hub being configured to be coupled to the motor, a ring provided at an opposite end of the hub, the ring defining a media inlet to receive blast media, and a plurality of cylindrical vanes positioned between the hub and the ring, the plurality of cylindrical vanes being spaced from one another on peripheries of the hub and the ring, the plurality of cylindrical vanes defining a plurality of impeller media outlets constructed and arranged to allow egress of blast media upon rotation of the impeller.
An impeller for a centrifugal blast wheel machine, the impeller comprising:
- a hub provided at one end of the impeller, the hub being configured to be coupled to the motor;
- a ring provided at an opposite end of the hub, the ring defining a media inlet to receive blast media;
- and
- a plurality of cylindrical vanes positioned between the hub and the ring, the plurality of cylindrical vanes being spaced from one another on peripheries of the hub and the ring, the plurality of cylindrical vanes defining a plurality of impeller media outlets constructed and arranged to allow egress of blast media upon rotation of the impeller.
A method of operating a centrifugal blast wheel machine, the method comprising:
- feeding blast media from a feed spout into an impeller of the centrifugal blast wheel machine;
- accelerating the blast media by rotating the impeller giving rise to a centrifugal force that moves the blast media in radial direction, away from an axis of the impeller;
- moving the blast media in a generally circular direction into a space between the impeller and a control cage;
- metering an amount of blast media through an opening of the control cage onto blades of a blast wheel;
- and
- moving the blast media along lengths of the blades to accelerate and throw the blast media toward a work piece,
- wherein the impeller includes a hub provided at one end of the impeller, the hub being configured to be coupled to the motor, a ring provided at an opposite end of the hub, the ring defining a media inlet to receive blast media, and a plurality of cylindrical vanes positioned between the hub and the ring, the plurality of cylindrical vanes being spaced from one another on peripheries of the hub and the ring, the plurality of cylindrical vanes defining a plurality of impeller media outlets constructed and arranged to allow egress of blast media upon rotation of the impeller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.