Particle feeder
AssigneeCold Jet, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Mallaley, Richard Joseph Broecker, Robert Mitchell Kocol
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus is described which introduces cryogenic particles received from a source of particles, having a first pressure, into a moving transport fluid, having a second pressure, for ultimate delivery to a workpiece or target as particles entrained in a transport fluid flow which seals between the source of particles and the transport fluid flow.
Claims12
A method of sealing between a peripheral surface of a rotor of a feeder assembly and a sealing surface of a seal, the seal being moveable between and including a first position at which there is a gap between the sealing surface and the peripheral surface, and a second position at which the gap is closed and the sealing surface is in sealing engagement with the peripheral surface, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. starting an initial flow of transport fluid through a transport fluid flow path, the transport fluid flow path partially defined by the seal, which is initially in the first position, the initial flow of transport fluid through the transport fluid flow path increasing pressure in the gap during a period of time;
- b. directing a secondary flow into a pressure chamber, the secondary flow comprising a fraction of the initial flow of transport fluid;
- and
- c. urging the seal toward the second position as a result of pressure, due to the secondary flow, in the pressure chamber, the pressure in the pressure chamber overcoming the pressure in the gap and moving the seal to the second position overcoming the pressure in the gap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.