US 12,168,280 B2Granted

System and method for conditioning abrasive media

AssigneeIntense Grit Systems, LLC

InventorsRonald Benson, Matthew Michel

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Abstract

A conditioner for filtering and drying recyclable abrasive media, such as steel grit, garnet, or other abrasive media used for abrasive blasting operations for steel structures, such as bridges, tanks, and marine vessels that are being repainted. The conditioner may include a pre-classifier (e.g., a trommel) to separate or filter the abrasive media from larger debris that may be vacuumed with the abrasive media during resurfacing operations. A dryer may use radiation elements (e.g., infrared (IR) lamps) positioned above a conveyor (e.g., vibration tray) that moves the abrasive media beneath the radiation elements. Vacuum airflow may bypass the dryer except for a portion of the vacuum airflow used to remove moisture from the dryer while drying the abrasive media. The conditioner may have a drying portion or the entirety under negative pressures.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A conditioner for processing abrasive media, comprising:

an inlet port through which the abrasive media and debris intermixed with the abrasive media is received by the conditioner;
a pre-classifier in fluid communication with the inlet port and configured to filter the abrasive media from the debris;
a conveyor in fluid communication with the pre-classifier and configured to move the pre-classified abrasive media from a first end to a second end of the conveyor;
a conveyor housing surrounding the conveyor, and configured to maintain the conveyor under a negative pressure;
at least one radiation source disposed within the conveyor housing and positioned above the conveyor so as to dry the pre-classified abrasive media while the conveyor is moving the pre-classified abrasive media, the at least one radiation source, conveyor, and the conveyor housing defining a dryer that dries the pre-classified abrasive media under the negative pressure;
and
an outlet port in fluid communication with the conveyor and configured to output the dry abrasive media from the conditioner.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/156,968Filed 19 Jan 2023
Published: US 2024/0246196 A125 Jul 2024
Granted: 17 Dec 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

B24B 57/00
Devices for feeding, applying, grading or recovering grinding, polishing or lapping agents
B07B 1/005
Sieving, screening, sifting, or sorting solid materials using networks, gratings, grids, or the like: transportable screening plants
B07B 1/22
Drum screens: revolving drums
F26B 3/30
By radiation, e.g. from the sun: from infrared-emitting elements