Method for removing coatings from the hulls of vessels using ultra-high pressure water
OwnerDennis McGuireinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for removing surface coatings from the hull of a ship by focusing annular streams of ultra-high pressure water from a rotating nozzle having one or more orifices. The nozzle orifices have oblique angles from the central axis of the rotating nozzle whereby the force of the water leaving the nozzle through the orifice imparts an opposite rotational force to the rotating nozzle. The placement of the orifices on the rotating nozzle is done in such a manner that the annular streams of water act in concert when striking the working surface to remove the paint. A waste water recovery system collects waste water and particulates of paint stripped from the working surface, the particulates are removed for later disposal and the water is recycled.
Claims9
A method for removing surface coatings from a metal vessel hull, which comprises:
- directing a water jet of sufficient pressure to remove the surface coatings from the vessel hull to fully expose the metal hull substrate, said water jet issuing from a symmetrical nozzle housing having a central axis, proximate and distal ends, and a plurality of orifices, each of said orifices having a central axis laying on a line oblique to said central axis of said housing;
- and
- directing a stream of air at the vessel hull to blow the vessel hull dry to remove said surface coating and water, wherein a chloride level on said hull is less than about ten micrograms per square centimeter and the hull has a paint adhesion value greater than about 700 pounds per square inch.
A method for removing paint from a metal vessel hull, comprising the steps of:
- providing pressurized water to a rotating nozzle, said nozzle comprising a conduit to conduct said pressurized water to its distal end;
- providing a plurality of orifices in said rotating nozzle wherein the central axis of each individual orifice is oblique to said rotating nozzle central axis;
- selecting said orifices lateral displacement on said rotating nozzle and said orifice oblique angle to converge the individual annular streams of pressurized water at a focal point;
- directing the pressurized water to impact on the surface of a ship hull wherein the rotation of said orifice directs said annular stream of pressurized water in a circular pattern on said surface, said oblique angles of said orifice causing the plurality of annular streams to trace separate circular patterns on said surface wherein the said pressurized water removes paint from said surface through direct and transverse force vectors;
- and
- directing a stream of air at the vessel hull to blow the vessel hull dry to remove said paint and water, wherein a chloride level on said hull is less than about ten micrograms per cubic centimeter and the hull has a paint adhesion value greater than about 700 pounds per square inch.
A method for removing paint from a vessel hull, which comprises:
- directing a water jet of sufficient pressure to remove the paint from said vessel hull to fully expose a metal substrate of said vessel hull by means of a water directing means;
- blowing the vessel hull dry with a stream of air after removing said paint wherein a chloride level on said hull is less than about ten micrograms per square centimeter and wherein the hull has a paint adhesion value greater than 700 pounds per square inch;
- collecting the water containing particles of the paint removed from the vessel hull;
- transferring said water to a particle separating means;
- separating the water from the paint particles by the particle separating means to form recyclable water;
- collecting said paint particles by a collecting means for disposal;
- and
- pumping the recyclable water to a water storage means;
- and
- recycling the water to the water jet to remove additional paint.
A method for removing paint from a metal vessel hull, the method comprising the steps of:
- directing a water jet of sufficient pressure to remove said paint from said vessel hull to fully expose the metal hull substrate, said water jet issuing from a symmetrical rotating nozzle housing having a central axis, proximate and distal ends, and a plurality of orifices, each of said orifices having a central axis laying on a line oblique to said central axis of said housing;
- and then blowing the vessel hull dry with a stream of air to remove said surface coating and water, wherein a chloride level on said hull is less than about 10 micrograms per cubic centimeter and the hull has a paint adhesion value greater than about 700 pounds per square inch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.