Impeller for a blast wheel machine

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 tapered section provided at an opposite end of the hub, the tapered section defining a media inlet to receive blast media;
• and
• a plurality of drop-shaped vanes positioned between the hub and the tapered section, the plurality of drop-shaped vanes being spaced from one another on peripheries of the hub and the tapered section, the plurality of drop-shaped vanes defining a plurality of impeller media outlets constructed and arranged to allow egress of blast media upon rotation of the impeller,
• wherein each vane is drop-shaped having a leading side directed toward a direction of rotation of the impeller and a trailing side opposite the leading side, and
• wherein each drop-shaped vane has an angle of the leading side between 50° and 70° and a radius of the trailing side between 3 mm and 8 mm.

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 tapered section provided at an opposite end of the hub, the tapered section defining a media inlet to receive blast media, and a plurality of drop-shaped vanes positioned between the hub and the tapered section, the plurality of drop-shaped vanes being spaced from one another on peripheries of the hub and the tapered section, the plurality of drop-shaped vanes defining a plurality of impeller media outlets constructed and arranged to allow egress of blast media upon rotation of the impeller, and
• wherein each vane is drop-shaped having a leading side directed toward a direction of rotation of the impeller and a trailing side opposite the leading side, and
• wherein each drop-shaped vane has an angle of the leading side between 50° and 70° and a radius of the trailing side between 3 mm and 8 mm.