Monitor method and apparatus for particle blasting equipment
AssigneeProgressive Blasting Systems, Inc.
InventorJoseph H. Weber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved particle blasting apparatus for continuously monitoring media flow, nozzle wear, and nozzle blockage. The apparatus includes a source of compressed air, a nozzle, structure for conveying the compressed air from the source to the nozzle in an airstream, structure for introducing the media into the airstream to be carried by the airstream, and an air flow rate meter in the air conveying structure to indicate the air flow rate therein. In a preferred embodiment, indicator lights are included which are illuminated if the air flow rate falls outside of an acceptable range. A method of using the particle blasting apparatus is also disclosed.
Claims24
An improved particle blasting apparatus for monitoring media flow, nozzle wear, and nozzle blockage, said equipment having a source of compressed air, a nozzle defining a restricted opening, means conveying said compressed air from said source to said nozzle in an airstream, and means operatively connected to said air conveying means introducing particle blasting media into said airstream, whereby said media is carried through said nozzle by said airstream, wherein the flow rate of said airstream through said air conveying means is affected both by the amount of said media introduced into said airstream and by the effective size of said restricted opening in said nozzle, wherein the improvement comprises air flow metering means operatively connected to said air conveying means indicating said flow rate through said air conveying means, whereby insufficient media introduction and an excessive size of said restricted opening increases said flow rate causing said metering means to indicate an excessive flow rate greater than a predetermined maximum parameter, and whereby excessive media introduction and blockage of said nozzle reduces said flow rate causing said metering means to indicate an insufficient flow rate less than a predetermined minimum parameter.
A particle blasting apparatus comprising:
- a source of compressed air;
- means conveying said compressed air in an airstream from said source;
- a source of particle blasting media;
- means introducing said blasting media into said air conveying means to be carried by said airstream;
- a nozzle operably connected to said air conveying means for directing said airstream carrying said blasting media against an article to be particle blasted, said nozzle defining a restricted opening;
- and
- an air flow rate meter operatively connected to said air conveying means between said compressed air source and said media source to indicate the flow rate of said air moving through said air conveying means, whereby said meter indicates an excessive rate flow greater than a predetermined maximum parameter when insufficient media is introduced into said airstream and when the size of said opening exceeds a predetermined maximum size, and whereby said meter indicates a reduced flow rate less than a predetermined minimum parameter when excessive media is introduced into said airstream and when said nozzle is blocked with said media.
A method for monitoring media flow, nozzle wear, and nozzle blockage in particle blasting equipment having a source of compressed air, a nozzle defining a restricted opening, means conveying said compressed air in an airstream from said source to said nozzle, and means introducing particle blasting media into said airstream to be carried by said airstream through said nozzle, said method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a maximum flow rate of said airstream indicating that insufficient media is being introduced into said airstream or that said restricted opening in said nozzle is excessively large;
- establishing a minimum flow rate of said airstream indicating that excessive media is being introduced into said airsteam or that said nozzle is blocked;
- and
- monitoring the flow rate of said airstream to determine when said flow rate is greater than said maximum flow rate or less than said minimum flow rate indicating that corrective action is necessary.
In a particle blasting system having a source of compressed air, a supply of particles, a nozzle, and means for forcing said particles through said nozzle by means of said compressed air, the improvement comprising:
- air flow metering means operatively connected in said system for monitoring the flow rate of said compressed air forcing said particles through said nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.