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US 2019/0291975 A1Published application
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.
Claims6
A method of sealing between a peripheral surface of a rotor of a feeder assembly and a sealing surface of a seal, 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, the seal configured such that the sealing surface is not urged into sealing engagement with the peripheral surface as a result of the initial flow of transport fluid within the transport fluid flow path;
- b. directing a fraction of the initial flow of transport fluid into a pressure chamber, the pressure chamber configured such that pressure within the pressure chamber controls how much sealing force with which the sealing surface is urged against the peripheral surface;
- and
- c. pressurizing the pressure chamber as a result of the fraction of the initial flow directed into the pressure chamber to urge the sealing surface against the peripheral surface to form a seal therebetween before pressure of the initial flow of transport fluid that is flowing between the sealing surface and the peripheral surface prevents formation of the seal between the sealing surface and the peripheral surface.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.