Apparatus and method for reclaiming abrasive blasting material and screening device for separating abrasive blasting material

An apparatus for reclaiming abrasive blasting material, said apparatus comprising:

• a prime mover;
• a vacuum pump powered by said prime mover;
• and
• a separator unit for receiving said contaminated abrasive blasting material via a vacuum pick-up and separating said abrasive blasting material in said contaminated abrasive blasting material from contaminants larger than said abrasive blasting material;
• said vacuum pick-up fluidly connected to said vacuum pump to draw said contaminated abrasive blasting material into said vacuum pick-up;
• said separator unit including a screening device for separating and reclaiming said abrasive blasting material, said screening device comprising:
• a support member having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis;
• and
• an endless flexible screen belt mounted to said support member so as to be movable along an endless closed loop in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
• said screen belt having a plurality of openings, said screen openings being sized to allow particles of said abrasive blasting material of a desired size to fall therethrough by gravity and to prevent said contaminants larger than said abrasive blasting material from falling therethrough by gravity;
• said screen belt being in the form of an endless flexible wire mesh belt comprising a plurality of interconnected spiral wire members extending in the direction of said transverse axis and arranged parallel to each another;
• said wire mesh belt further comprising a plurality of connecting rod members extending in the direction of said transverse axis and being spaced from one another in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
• each of said connecting rod members extending through two adjacent spiral wire members so as to interconnect said two adjacent spiral wire members;
• open spaces formed in said spiral wire members between said spaced connecting rod members defining said screen openings of said screen belt.