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US 6,439,966 B2Granted
Hand-holdable gas/abrasion apparatus
AssigneeDanville Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsCraig R. Bruns, Mark S. Fernwood, Thomas S. Blake
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hand-holdable apparatus useful for abrading a surface is provided. The invention is particularly useful for dental applications using a stream of abrasive particles suspended in a gas stream to abrade the surface of a tooth. The apparatus of the invention may be modified to easily minimize “bleed down” of the gas/abrasive stream using a pinch valve and to remove worn flexible conduits for routine maintenance and autoclaving of the apparatus. The apparatus of the invention also provides a novel pick-up assembly for delivery of abrasive particles.
Claims51
A process for abrading a surface by delivering a stream of a mixture of a pressurized gas and a powdered abrasive material to the surface, which process comprises
- (A) connecting a source of pressurized gas to a hand-holdable apparatus that comprises
- (a) a container-receiving member detachably attached to a container containing a powdered abrasive material;
- (b) a discharge nozzle for directing the stream of the mixture of the gas/abrasive material against the surface;
- (c) a first flexible conduit having one end in fluid communication with the discharge nozzle and the other end in fluid communication with the attached container through the container-receiving member, wherein the flexible conduit is removable, is releasably connected at each end of the conduit, and each end of the first flexible conduit has a collar that is snugly, releasably retained to align one end of the flexible conduit with the discharge nozzle and the other end of the flexible conduit with a line communicating with the container for the powdered abrasive material attached to the container-receiving member;
- (d) a second optionally flexible conduit for connecting one end to an external gas source and the other end to the container-receiving member for the abrasive material container;
- (e) a manually-operated pinch valve located between the discharge nozzle and the container-receiving member for pinching the first flexible conduit to regulate the flow of the mixture of the gas/abrasive material to the discharge nozzle;
- and
- (f) a housing for parts (a)-(e),
- (B) directing the discharge nozzle against a surface to be abraded, and
- (C) actuating the pinch valve to allow a stream of pressurized gas/abrasive material to impinge upon the surface for a time sufficient to abrade the surface.
7 more elements
A process for abrading a surface by delivering a stream of a mixture of a pressurized gas and a powdered abrasive material to the surface, which process comprises
- (A) connecting a source of pressurized gas to a hand-holdable apparatus that comprises
- (a) a container-receiving member detachably attached to a container containing a powdered abrasive material;
- (b) a discharge nozzle for directing the stream of the mixture of the gas/abrasive material against the surface;
- (c) a first optionally flexible conduit having one end in fluid communication with the discharge nozzle and the other end in fluid communication with the attached container through the container-receiving member;
- (d) a second flexible conduit for connecting one end to an external gas source and the other end to the container-receiving member for the abrasive material container;
- (e) a manually-operated pinch valve for pinching the second flexible conduit to regulate the flow of the mixture of the gas/abrasive material to the discharge nozzle;
- and
- (f) a housing for parts (a)-(e),
- (B) directing the discharge nozzle against a surface to be abraded, and
- (C) actuating the pinch valve to allow a stream of pressurized gas/abrasive material to impinge upon the surface for a time sufficient to abrade the surface.
7 more elements
A process for abrading a surface by delivering a stream of a mixture of a pressurized gas and a powdered abrasive material, which process comprises
- (A) connecting a source of pressurized gas to a hand-holdable apparatus that comprises
- (a) an abrasive material pick-up assembly comprising (i) a container-receiving member for detachably receiving a container for the powdered abrasive material, (ii) two conduits, an inner conduit defined by a surrounding wall having a distal end away from the container-receiving member and proximal connected to the container-receiving member and an outer conduit defined by an outer wall, having analogous distal and proximal ends, wherein an intermediate passage is defined by the inner conduit wall and the outer-conduit wall, (iii) a container for holding the powdered abrasive material, the container having an open end and a closed end, which container is detachably connected to the container-receiving member through its open end and encloses the two conduits such that distal ends of the conduits are near the closed end of the container, (iv) a passageway through the wall of the inner conduit near its distal end, and (v) an optional passageway through the wall of the outer conduit near its distal end;
- (b) a discharge nozzle for directing a stream of a pressurized gas/abrasive mixture from the container against a surface to abrade the surface;
- (c) a pressurized gas delivery entry line for delivering a pressurized gas to the interior of the container through one of the conduits;
- (d) an exit line communicating with the interior of the container and leading to the discharge nozzle;
- (e) a pressure-actuated member that interrupts the flow of the gas/abrasive mixture from the container to the discharge nozzle, wherein when a pressurized gas is directed through the entry line into the inner conduit or intermediate passage, a pressure differential is created to force the powdered abrasive material from the container out the exit line and to the nozzle;
- (B) directing a stream of gas/abrasive material from the discharge nozzle against a surface to be abraded, and
- (C) allowing the pressurized gas to flow into the container to force the pressurized gas/abrasive material to impinge upon the surface for a time sufficient to abrade the surface.
5 more elements
An apparatus for delivering a stream of a mixture of a gas and a powdered abrasive material to a surface, which apparatus comprises:
- (a) a container-receiving member for detachably receiving a container for the powdered abrasive material;
- (b) a discharge nozzle for directing the stream of the mixture of the gas/abrasive material against a surface;
- (c) a first flexible conduit having one end in fluid communication with the discharge nozzle and the other end in fluid communication with the container, when attached, through the container-receiving member, wherein the first conduit is removable and is releasably connected at each end of the conduit, and each end of the first flexible conduit has a collar that is snugly, releasably retained to align one end of the flexible conduit with the discharge nozzle and the other end of the flexible conduit with a line communicating with the container for the powdered abrasive material attached to the container-receiving member;
- (d) a second optionally flexible conduit for connecting one end to an external gas source and the other end to the containing-receiving member for the abrasive material container;
- (e) a manually-operated pinch valve located between the discharge nozzle and the container-receiving member for pinching the first flexible conduit to regulate the flow of the mixture of the gas/abrasive material to the discharge nozzle;
- and
- (f) a housing for parts (a)-(e).
4 more elements
An apparatus for delivering a stream of a mixture of a gas and a powdered abrasive material to a surface, which apparatus comprises:
- (a) a container-receiving member for detachably receiving a container for the powdered abrasive material;
- (b) a discharge nozzle for directing the stream of the mixture of the gas/abrasive material against a surface;
- (c) a first optionally flexible conduit having one end in fluid communication with the discharge nozzle and the other end in fluid communication with the container, when attached, through the container-receiving member;
- (d) a second flexible conduit for connecting one end to an external gas source and the other end to the container-receiving member for the abrasive material container;
- (e) a manually-operated pinch valve for pinching the second flexible conduit to regulate the flow of the mixture of the gas/abrasive material to the discharge nozzle;
- and
- (f) a housing for parts (a)-(e).
4 more elements
A hand-holdable apparatus for delivering a stream of a gas and a powdered abrasive material to a surface, which apparatus comprises:
- (a) an abrasive material pick-up assembly comprising (i) a container-receiving member for detachably receiving a container for the powdered abrasive material, (ii) two conduits, an inner conduit defined by a surrounding wall having a distal end away from the container-receiving member and proximal end connected to the container-receiving member and an outer conduit defined by an outer wall, having analogous distal and proximal ends, wherein an intermediate passage is defined by the inner conduit wall and the outer-conduit wall, (iii) a container for holding the powdered abrasive material, the container having an open end and a closed end, which container is detachably connected to the container-receiving member through its open end and encloses the two conduits such that distal ends of the conduits are near the closed end of the container, (iv) a passageway through the wall of the inner conduit near its distal end, and (v) an optional passageway through the wall of the outer conduit near its distal end;
- (b) a discharge nozzle for directing a stream of a pressurized gas/abrasive mixture from the container against a surface to abrade the surface;
- (c) a gas delivery entry line for delivering a pressurized gas to the interior of the container through one of the conduits;
- (d) an exit line communicating with the interior of the container and leading to the discharge nozzle;
- (e) a pressure-actuated member that interrupts the flow of the gas/abrasive mixture from the container to the discharge nozzle, wherein when a pressurized gas is directed through the entry line into the inner conduit or intermediate passage, a pressure differential is created to draw the powdered abrasive material from the container out the exit line and to the nozzle.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.