GB2370525A - Blast cleaning system - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand-held blast cleaning device includes a chamber (4 fig 1) with an abrasive material inlet 7, a compressed air inlet 5, a discharge nozzle 3 and a curved surface 21 within the chamber whereby the incoming compressed air creates a depression at said surface so as to draw the abrasive material into the nozzle. The system further includes a trigger operated valve (6 fig 1) to control compressed air inlet, an associated handle (8 fig 1), air flow regulators (11 and 15 fig 1). A safety helmet (19 fig 1) may also receive an air supply via a pipe, inline filter and pressure regulator (16, 17 and 18 fig 1). A water injector (26 fig 3) may feed pressurized water from a pipe (24 fig 3) into a receiver (27 fig 3), the water then being emitted from a nozzle (28 fig 3) so as to suppress dust from the blasting process.

Description

BLAST CLEANING SYSTEM.

By present conventional methods cleaning by way of air-blasting using various mediums suspended within a certain volume and pressure of air, for cleaning various items and components such as steel sections, stonework, concrete and all surfaces requiring a surface treatment. This is normally carried out using equipment commonly known as the"Pressure Pot" system.

This relies mainly upon a high air volume with a working capacity of approximately 0. 15 cubic metres per second (M3/s\. This in conjunction with the relatively high volume of blasting medium such as'beads'or'sand'that is required, constitutes a large piece of equipment, whose gross weight would be in excess of 0. 5 tonnes.

The consumption of the blasting medium used is in the region of 500 kilograms per hour (500kg/hr), which constitutes a relatively high running cost.

The equipment being that of a pressure vessel category and therefore will require the relevant registration requirements and certification.

The invention by way of the following description and drawings seeks to overcome the mass weight of the equipment, also the relatively high capital and operational costs.

Fig 1 shows a diagrammatic layout of the system.

Fig 2 shows a front elevation of the vacuum amplifier.

Fig 3 shows a front elevation of a water injector.

Item 3 Fig 1 is the'spray'or'blast'nozzle from which is emitted the requisite volume of air carrying the blasting medium and is represented by arrow'A'.

Item 4 Fig 1 is the vacuum amplifier and is shown in greater detail in Fig 2.

Item 5 is a pipe manufactured to a defined material specification with a specified bore size and length.

Item 6 is a'trigger'type valve which acts as an air flow regulator, actuated within easy reach from the handle Item 8.

Item 9 Fig 1 is a typical'tee'section pipe or fitting of a specified size, to which is coupled by a suitable method to a'pneumatic air coupling'Item 10, which permits quick and easy connection to a suitable hose or pipe (not shown), connected to a specified size of compressor, working on a volume output between 0.02-0. 03 cubic metres per second (M3/s). Item 5 Fig 1 opposite end is secured to the housing of the vacuum amplifier Item 4 by welding or other suitable manner, such that Item 5 becomes an integral part of Item 4. Item 7 Fig I manufactured to a specified size both in bore and length from a defined and suitable material (to that of Item 5). Item 7 is spaced at a specified distance from Item 5 and is represented by the dimensions'x'and'y'. One end of Item 7 is secured to the housing of Item 4 by'welding'or other suitable method, such that Item 7 is an integral part of Item 4.

Item 8 Fig 1 is a'spacer'/'handle' (referred to earlier), manufactured from a suitable material such as steel or the like and is attached by welding or other similar method to Items 5 and 7.

This spacer covered on its outer surface with a plyable material will act as a'handle'for supporting the equipment during operation.

Item 11 Fig 1 is a specified'ball-valve'or'air flow regulator'and is fitted to the opposite end of Item 7. The ball valve/regulator is coupled by a suitable method to a'quick'release fitting of a specified size.

Item 12 Fig 1 is a flexible hose of a specified size, of which one end is coupled by a suitable method to Item 11. The opposite end is attached by a suitable method to the'vacuum inlet' Item 13 Fig 1. This'u'shaped pipe is manufactured from a specified material of a defined bore size, whose external dimensions are represented by the dimensions'C'and'D'.

Item 14 is an'inlet hole'of a specified size within the outer circumference within the lower end of the component 13 to the inner surface only and is not that of a through hole (through one wall only of the pipe 13).

To the upper end of the component 13 Fig 1 is attached by a suitable method a'ball-valve'/'air flow regulator'Item 15 of a specified size.

Item 16 Fig 1 is a flexible hose of a specified size (smaller in diameter than that of Item 12 Fig 1). To which one end of Item 16 is attached by suitable means to Item 9 Fig 1 with the opposite end suitably coupled to an'in-line'air filter Item 17 Fig 1.

The flexible hose Item 16 is attached by a suitable method to Item 17 and the'rear'or'back'of a specified safety helmet Item 19. 'In-line'between Item 17 and Item 19 is fitted a specified 'pre-set'air pressure regulator Item 18, this regulator for safety reasons is not adjustable and is pre-set at between 0.54-0. 68 bar (8-10 P. S. I).

Figure 2 shows the vacuum amplifier Item 4 Fig I in greater detail, as this represents the'nucleus' or'heart'of the invention.

Item 20 is the outer case of the amplifier and is manufactured from a specified material to a defined size.

The'tubes'or'pipes'Items 5 and 7 Fig 1 enter the case Item 20 and are secured in position to the dimensions represented by'F'and'E'Fig 2.

Item 21 Fig 2 is a'concave'shaped deflector attached by a suitable method to the inner face of Item 20. Item 22 Fig 2 is a tube manufactured to a specified size from a suitable material with a bore size smaller than that of Item 7, and is secured in position by a suitable method such as'weld'or the like to dimension'G'.

Item 23 is an integral part of the case Item 20 Fig 2 and has an internal thread size to suit the external thread at one end of the nozzle Item 3, such that Item 3 can be screwed in position ready for use. An alternative method such as a'nut'and'olive'type fitting could also be used.

It is important to state that all the equipment is of a low'mass'or'weight', such that very little effort is required to convey the system to any required area. The vacuum inlet tube Item 13 Fig 1 can be easily inserted into a suitable'drum'or container (not shown), and is the reservoir to which is added the'blasting'or'cleaning'medium.

With the spray nozzle assembly Items 3-11 Fig I correctly coupled to a suitable compressor the system is now ready for use.

Air at varying volumes (determined by the setting of Item 6 and 15 Fig 1) will pass through into the vacuum amplifier Item 4 Fig's 1 and 2 creating a vacuum resulted from the'venturi'. This will allow the cleaning medium from the vacuum inlet tube Item 13 via the hole 14 to be drawn-up and pass into the nozzle Item 3 at varying'volumes', dependent on the'setting'or 'control'of the valve Item 6 Fig 1.

The whole of the'Blast Cleaning System'Item's 3 to 11 Fig 1 can be proportionally manufactured to a much smaller size and operated in a static manner, for example, the Blast Cleaning System could be attached to an enclosed box section static duct and the Items such as steel sections and the like could be passed through, for relevant cleaning to their surfaces.

A further embodiment of the invention is represented in FIG 3.

FIG 3 shows a front elevation of the water injector on a blast cleaning system as aforesaid described.

The water injector Item 26 FIG 3 delivers water (not shown) into the system, and is operated from vacuum pressure.

Item 24 FIG 3 the water feed pipe manufactured from a suitable material to satisfy the design criteria, to a defined size.

The volume of the water feed can be controlled by a simple valve Item 25 to a defined specification and size.

The water flows under pressure via the injector 26 FIG 3 into the receiver Item 27, and is emitted under pressure from the blast nozzle/barrel Item 28 FIG 3.

The main function of the water injector Item 26, is to suppress the dust (not shown) generated from the blasting of'stone brickwork'and all similar masonry surfaces to be cleaned which tend to expel large volumes of dust particles.

By reason of positioning the injector Item 26 FIG 3 in a specified position, will allow encapsulation of each abrasive particle (not shown), and will therefore eliminate delivering of the cleansing abrasive as a'slurry'.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS (1) The vacuum amplifier containing two inlet pipes and a concave deflector plate each set within an outer casing with a discharge nozzle at the front end.

   One inlet pipe via a control valve is coupled to a vacuum inlet, this allows the cleaning medium to feed the second inlet pipe, with a fitted Shut-off valve, is coupled to a suitable compressor.

   Compressed air passing through this inlet pipe creates a vacuum from the "Venturi"at the concave deflector; causing the cleaning medium to be drawn-up the other inlet pipe, and finally emitting with pressure through the front nozzle.

   (2) The vacuum amplifier containing a third flexible pipe coupled via a

   "Tee"section to the compressed air pipe feed as claimed 13 clahn I such r~. rl that this third pipe via an inline filter and air flow reguatorto a Safety Helmet.

   (3) The vacuum amplifier as claimed in any preceding claim has fitted a water injector delivering water from vacuum pressure controlled by a valve into the receiver.

   (4) The vacuum amplifier as claimed in claim I has the cleaning medium fed by the inlet pipe from the vacuum inlet, such that the cleaning medium has a controlled flow.