Apparatus and method for separating reusable abrasive media from non-reusable media

A method for separating reusable abrasive media from non-reusable media comprising:

• separating previously sorted and discarded abrasive media using a shot peening device having a housing, the housing having an angled opening configured to receive an abrasive media inlet valve;
• vibrating a separator assembly configured to rest in the housing, the separator assembly comprising at least one wire mesh screen, at least one vibratory motor, and one or more mounting hardware components;
• separating the abrasive media via a main channel that includes a first channel for reusable abrasive media and a second channel for non-reusable abrasive media;
• wherein the separator assembly is further configured to separate reusable abrasive media from non-reusable abrasive media by passing the separated reusable abrasive media via the first channel and by passing the separated non-reusable abrasive media via the second channel;
• wherein the first channel terminates at a reusable abrasive media outlet valve connected to at least one first abrasive media hopper;
• and
• wherein the second channel terminates at a discards abrasive media outlet valve connected to at least one second abrasive media hopper;
• and
• monitoring one or more of:
• a flow of abrasive media through the abrasive media inlet valve,
• a flow of reusable abrasive media through the reusable abrasive media outlet valve, or
• a flow of non-reusable abrasive media through the abrasive media discard outlet valve.

An apparatus comprising:

• an abrasive media container having an abrasive media outlet;
• a separator assembly including one or more valve components defining an abrasive media inlet port, a non-reusable media discards outlet port, and a reusable abrasive media outlet port;
• and
• at least one monitoring device configured to measure one or more of:
• a flow of abrasive media through the abrasive media inlet port,
• a flow of reusable abrasive media through the reusable abrasive media outlet port, or
• a flow of non-reusable abrasive media through the non-reusable media discards outlet port;
• wherein the abrasive media inlet port receives abrasive media from a prior abrasive media separator;
• wherein the separator assembly further comprises a vibratory screen having a size configured to separate reusable abrasive media from non-reusable media;
• and
• wherein the reusable abrasive media outlet port sends the reusable abrasive media to the prior abrasive media separator.