Feeder assembly for particle blast system
AssigneeCold Jet, Inc.
InventorsMichael E. Rivir, Daniel Mallaley, Richard J. Broecker, R. Kevin Dressman, Kevin P. Alford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A particle blast system includes a feeder assembly having a rotor with a plurality of pockets formed in the peripheral surface. The transport gas flowpath includes the pockets, such that substantially all transport gas flows through the pockets. The seal adjacent the peripheral surface is actuated by the transport gas pressure to urge its sealing surface against the rotor's peripheral surface. At start up, there is no substantial pressure between the seal and the rotor, reducing start up torque requirements.
Claims32
A feeder configured to transport blast media from a source into a flow of transport gas, said feeder comprising:
- a) a rotor having a circumferential surface, said rotor being rotatable about an axis of rotation;
- b) a plurality of pockets disposed in said circumferential surface, each of said plurality of pockets being cyclically disposed between a first position and a second position when said rotor is rotated about said axis;
- c) a transport gas flowpath, said transport gas flowpath having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being configured to be connected to a source of transport gas;
- d) a seal having a first surface contacting at least a portion of said circumferential surface, said first surface having at least one first opening and at least one second opening spaced apart from each other, said at least one first opening being in fluid communication with said inlet, said at least one second opening being in fluid communication with said outlet;
- and
- e) said transport gas being able to flow from said at least one first opening to said at least one second opening through those of said plurality of pockets disposed between said first and second positions.
A particle blast system comprising:
- a) a source of blast media;
- b) a discharge nozzle for expelling blast media from said system;
- and
- c) a feeder configured to transport blast media from said source into a flow of transport gas, said feeder assembly comprising:
- i) a rotor having a circumferential surface, said rotor being rotatable about an axis of rotation;
- ii) a plurality of pockets disposed in said circumferential surface, each of said plurality of pockets being cyclically disposed between a first position and a second position when said rotor is rotated about said axis;
- iii) a transport gas flowpath, said transport gas flowpath having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being configured to be connected to a source of transport gas;
- iv) a seal having a first surface contacting at least a portion of said circumferential surface, said first surface having at least one first opening and at least one second opening spaced apart from each other, said at least one first opening being in fluid communication with said inlet, said at least one second opening being in fluid communication with said outlet;
- and
- v) said transport gas being able to flow from said at least one first opening to said at least one second opening through those of said plurality of pockets disposed between said first and second positions.
A feeder configured to transport blast media from a source into a flow of transport gas, said feeder comprising:
- a) a rotor having a circumferential surface, said rotor being rotatable about an axis of rotation;
- b) a plurality of pockets disposed in said circumferential surface, each of said plurality of pockets being cyclically disposed between a first position and a second position when said rotor is rotated about said axis;
- c) a transport gas flowpath, said transport gas flowpath having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet being configured to be connected to a source of transport gas;
- d) a seal having a first surface contacting at least a portion of said circumferential surface, said first surface having at least one first opening disposed adjacent said circumferential surface, said seal defining a first passageway which is in fluid communication with said at least one first opening and with said inlet, said seal defining a second passageway which is in fluid communication with said at least one first opening and said outlet, said first passageway being in fluid communication with said second passageway at said at least one first opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.