Ice blast cleaning cabinet

A blast cabinet for cleaning surfaces of an article with an ice blast media, the blast cabinet comprising:

• an enclosure including a lower portion having a drain, a wall portion and a top portion, and an interior support for the article;
• at least one ice particulate blast nozzle disposed in the enclosure, the at least one blast nozzle being fluidly connected to a source of pressurized gas and ice particles, wherein the nozzle is directable towards the article on the support;
• and
• a thermal de-icing system coupled to the enclosure and operable to melt accumulations of ice particles within the enclosure, wherein the thermal de-icing system is disposed near the wall portion of the enclosure;
• further comprising a duct disposed through the enclosure having an air inlet and outlet, and a fan operable to circulate external air through the duct.

An ice blasting cabinet comprising:

• an enclosure including a lower tub-like portion having a drain, a wall peripheral wall portion, a top portion, and an interiorly disposed support structure;
• an ice particle generator for producing ice particles, the ice particle generator including a refrigeration system having a compressor;
• a source of pressurized gas selectively producing a high speed gas stream that entrains at least some of the ice particles produced by the ice particle generator;
• at least one blast nozzle disposed in the enclosure, the at least one blast nozzle receiving the high speed gas stream with entrained ice particles;
• and
• a de-icing system that, in cooperation with the compressor, provides a closed loop for circulating a heat exchanger fluid, the de-icing system comprising a heat exchanger and a piping assembly, the piping assembly having a proximal end fluidly connected to the compressor and receiving relatively warm heat exchanger fluid from the compressor, and a distal end fluidly connected to the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger discharges relatively cold heat exchanger fluid to the compressor.

A method for ice blasting an article comprising:

• placing the article on a support in an enclosure;
• directing a high-speed jet of gas and ice particles at the article;
• providing a heating system within the enclosure that is adapted to facilitate melting of accumulated ice particles from within the enclosure, wherein the heating system is disposed near a periphery of the enclosure;
• and
• draining substantially melted ice particles from the enclosure;
• wherein the heating system comprises a piping assembly disposed substantially within the enclosure, the piping assembly receiving relatively warm heat exchanger fluid from outside the enclosure, circulating the heat exchanger fluid through a portion of the enclosure, and discharging the heat exchanger fluid from the enclosure.