WO2010118536A2 - Method and device for treating surfaces - Google Patents

Method and device for treating surfaces Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010118536A2
WO2010118536A2 PCT/CH2009/000120 CH2009000120W WO2010118536A2 WO 2010118536 A2 WO2010118536 A2 WO 2010118536A2 CH 2009000120 W CH2009000120 W CH 2009000120W WO 2010118536 A2 WO2010118536 A2 WO 2010118536A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
jets
particles
treated
blasting
range
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CH2009/000120
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2010118536A3 (en
Inventor
Ali Sciaroni
Stefano Del Cadia
Original Assignee
Investex Ag
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Investex Ag filed Critical Investex Ag
Priority to PCT/CH2009/000120 priority Critical patent/WO2010118536A2/en
Publication of WO2010118536A2 publication Critical patent/WO2010118536A2/en
Publication of WO2010118536A3 publication Critical patent/WO2010118536A3/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
    • B24C—ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL
    • B24C3/00—Abrasive blasting machines or devices; Plants
    • B24C3/02—Abrasive blasting machines or devices; Plants characterised by the arrangement of the component assemblies with respect to each other
    • B24C3/06—Abrasive blasting machines or devices; Plants characterised by the arrangement of the component assemblies with respect to each other movable; portable
    • B24C3/065—Abrasive blasting machines or devices; Plants characterised by the arrangement of the component assemblies with respect to each other movable; portable with suction means for the abrasive and the waste material
    • B24C3/067—Self-contained units for floorings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
    • B24C—ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL
    • B24C3/00—Abrasive blasting machines or devices; Plants
    • B24C3/08—Abrasive blasting machines or devices; Plants essentially adapted for abrasive blasting of travelling stock or travelling workpieces
    • B24C3/10—Abrasive blasting machines or devices; Plants essentially adapted for abrasive blasting of travelling stock or travelling workpieces for treating external surfaces
    • B24C3/14—Apparatus using impellers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
    • B24C—ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL
    • B24C9/00—Appurtenances of abrasive blasting machines or devices, e.g. working chambers, arrangements for handling used abrasive material
    • B24C9/006—Treatment of used abrasive material
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H1/00—Removing undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces, with or without moistening of the surface
    • E01H1/08—Pneumatically dislodging or taking-up undesirable matter or small objects; Drying by heat only or by streams of gas; Cleaning by projecting abrasive particles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P70/00—Climate change mitigation technologies in the production process for final industrial or consumer products
    • Y02P70/10—Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for treating surfaces according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a device for treating surfaces according to the preamble of claim 26.
  • Known methods and devices for restoring a road surface structure allowing a required grip for vehicle tires and a sufficient drainage include longitudinal and/or transverse scoring, e.g. by means of a multiple saw device and providing thin layers of special bituminous mixtures. Yet, these known methods and devices allow to restore a sufficient macro-roughness of the road coating only.
  • the invention is based on the objective of providing a method and a device for treating surfaces with jets of particles exerting opposing impact forces onto the surface such permitting to reestablish micro- and macro-roughness of the road coating and to improve restoration of grip and traction for vehicle tires and a sufficient surface drainage.
  • the invention solves the posed problem with a method for treating surfaces by means of bombardment with particles or microballs that displays the features of claim 1 and with a device for treating surfaces by means of bombardment with particles or microballs that displays the features of claim 26.
  • a special embodiment is specified by simultaneously moving said two particle blasting devices in a direction transverse to a joining line defined by the centers of impingement of said areas of impingement. Thereby, the projection of said transverse direction on said surface is preferably perpendicular to said joining line.
  • a further embodiment is specified by simultaneously moving said two particle blasting devices in a direction parallel to a joining line defined by the centers of impingement of said areas of impingement.
  • Another embodiment is specified by generating said two jets in such manner that each of said two jets has an elongated cross-sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow and having a minor axis and a major axis such that the area of impingement of each jet on said surface to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis and a length "b” measured parallel to said major axis.
  • said two major axes of said cross-sectional areas in the plane of said surface are essentially co-linear on a common straight line.
  • Yet a further embodiment is specified by moving said two particle blasting devices transverse to said straight line over said surface whereby the projection of said transverse direction on said surface is preferably perpendicular to said straight line.
  • Yet another embodiment is specified by moving said two particle blasting devices parallel to said straight line over said surface.
  • said two particle blasting devices are coupled to each other in a fixed relationship.
  • each of said particle blasting devices comprises an impeller- type blasting wheel and that the blasting wheel of one of said particle blasting device rotates anticlockwise and the blasting wheel of the other of said particle blasting devices rotates clockwise.
  • Another embodiment is specified by rotating the blasting wheels of said two particle blasting devices such that the two tangential forces at the nearest points between the two blasting wheels are directed away from said surface to be treated.
  • the centers of said two blasting wheels are at a distance A to said surface to be treated which is in the range between 500 mm and 800 mm when measured orthogonal to said surface.
  • the location and the size of the area of impingement of the microballs on the surface to be treated relative to the vehicle and the force of impact of the microballs on the surface to be treated may be specified by a respective selection of said distance A.
  • said cross-sections of said two jets widen in the direction of flow of said particles such that the lengths of the major axes of subsequent cross- sectional areas increase.
  • the major axes of the cross-sectional areas of said two jets have facing inner ends which approach to each other in the direction of the flow such that each inner connecting line defined by the inner ends of the major axes in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle gamma in the range of 35° to 65°, respectively in the range of -35° to -65° with a mid-perpendicular on the connecting line defined by the centers of the two blasting wheels and measured in the plane defined by the inner connecting lines.
  • the major axes of the two jets have outer ends which spread from each other in the direction of the flow such that each outer connecting line defined by the outer ends of the major axes in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle delta in the range of -20° to -40°, respectively in the range of 20° to 40° with a mid-perpendicular on the connecting line defined by the centers of the two blasting wheels and measured in the plane defined by the outer connecting lines.
  • each of said areas of impingement has an area in the range of 0.06 m 2 to 0.5 m 2 , preferably of 0.1 m 2 to 0.2 m 2 .
  • the two particle blasting devices are spaced apart such that the centers of said two blasting wheels are separated by a distance B amounting between 1.3 m and 2.5 m.
  • a typical measure for the distance B is 2 m such allowing the particle blasting devices to be mounted on a road vehicle.
  • said particles of each of said jets are microballs having mean diameters in a range of 0.4 - 2 mm, preferably of 0.7 - 1.5 mm.
  • the velocity of said particles is in the range of 90 - 120 m/s, preferably in the range of 100 - 110 m/s.
  • the particles rebounding from said surface to be treated together with the material removed from said surface are sucked into at least one duct and led to at least one separating means, preferably a cyclone.
  • said inner connecting lines define a first plane which is inclined with an angle alpha in the range of 20° to 50° with regard to a normal plane on the surface. This configuration allows the particles to be rebounded from the surface in a direction away from the direction of flow of the jet such preventing interference of the particles in the jet and the rebounded particles.
  • a further embodiment is specified by directing a second pair of two jets of particles to said surface to be treated.
  • the first and second pair of jets are arranged symmetrically with said normal plane on the surface.
  • Another embodiment is specified by simultaneously moving said two pairs of two particle blasting devices in a direction transverse to the joining line defined by the centers of impingement of said areas of impingement of the first pair of two particle blasting devices.
  • the projection of said transverse direction on said surface is preferably perpendicular to said joining line.
  • said second pair of two jets of particles defines a second plane which is inclined with an angle beta in the range of - 20° to - 50° with regard to the normal plane on the surface such that the two pairs of jets converge relative to each other.
  • the two pairs of two particle blasting devices are oriented in such a manner that the centers of impingement of the first pair of jets and the centers of impingement of the second pair of jets on the surface to be treated are separated by a distance y amounting between 350 mm and 450 mm.
  • a typical value for said distance y is 400 mm so that the two jets do not interfere with each other and a aspiration cap can be installed between the two particle blasting devices in such manner that the microballs can be sucked off through the aspiration cap when they rebound off the surface to be treated.
  • the device further comprises: f) a cyclone arranged at the rear end of the duct(s); and g) a separator, preferably in the form of a screen.
  • said distance x is adjustable, preferably in a range of 25 to 35 mm.
  • each of said two particle blasting devices comprises a rotating impeller-type blasting wheel allowing to emit a jet of particles with a velocity of 80 - 200 m/s to said surface to be treated.
  • said two particle blasting devices are configured to generate two jets of particles wherein: i) each of said two jets has an elongated cross-sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow having a minor axis and a major axis such that the area of impingement of each jet on the surface to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis and a length "b” measured parallel to said major axis; ii) said areas of impingement of said two jets overlap each other.
  • the configuration of the jets can e.g. be achieved by an appropriate form of a housing which partially encloses the blasting wheel such guiding the jet of particles ejected from the blasting wheel as known from commercially available particle blasting devices.
  • said blasting wheels of said two particle blasting devices have parallel rotation axes and centers located such that said two major axes of said cross- sectional areas of said two jets are essentially co-linear on a common straight line.
  • said two particle blasting devices can be mounted on a vehicle in such manner that the direction of motion of the vehicle is perpendicular to the projection of said rotation axes on the surface to be treated or in such manner that the direction of motion of the vehicle is parallel to the projection of said rotation axes on the surface to be treated.
  • said impeller-type blasting wheel of one of said particle blasting devices rotates anticlockwise and said impeller-type blasting wheel of the other of said particle blasting devices rotates clockwise.
  • the centers of said two blasting wheels are at a distance A to said surface to be treated which is in the range between 500 mm and 800 mm when measured orthogonal to said surface.
  • the two particle blasting devices are spaced apart such that the centers of said two blasting wheels are separated by a distance B amounting between 1.3 m and 2.5 m.
  • said two particle blasting devices are configured such that the major axes of the cross-sectional areas said two jets have facing inner ends which approach to each other in the direction of the flow of particles such that each inner connecting line defined by the inner ends of the major axes in subsequent cross- sectional areas encloses an angle gamma in the range of 35° to 65°, respectively in the range of -35° to -65° with the mid-perpendicular on the connecting line defined by the centers of said two blasting wheels and measured in the plane defined by the inner connecting lines.
  • said two particle blasting devices are configured such that the major axes of the two jets have outer ends which spread from each other in the direction of the flow such that each outer connecting line defined by the outer ends of the major axes in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle delta in the range of -20° to -40°, respectively in the range of 20° to 40° with a mid-perpendicular on the connecting line defined by the centers of the two blasting wheels and measured in the plane defined by the outer connecting lines.
  • said particles of each of said jets are microballs having mean diameters in a range of 0.4 - 2 mm.
  • said inner connecting lines define a first plane which is inclined with an angle alpha in the range of 20° to 50° with regard to a normal plane on the surface.
  • said device comprises two pairs of two particle blasting devices wherein each of said two pairs can be configured according to one of the above embodiments.
  • the first and second pair of particle blasting devices are arranged symmetrically with said normal plane on the surface.
  • said two pairs of two particle blasting devices can be mounted on a vehicle in such manner that the direction of motion of the vehicle is perpendicular to the projection of said rotation axes on the surface to be treated or in such manner that the direction of motion of the vehicle is parallel to the projection of said rotation axes on the surface to be treated.
  • said second pair of two particle blasting devices emits two jets of particles defining a second plane which is inclined with an angle beta in the range of - 20° to - 50° with regard to the normal plane on the surface such that the two pairs of jets converge relative to each other.
  • said two pairs of two particle blasting devices are oriented in such a manner that the centers of impingement of the first pair of jets and the centers of impingement of the second pair of jets on the surface to be treated are separated by a distance "y" amounting between 350 mm and 450 mm.
  • said aspirator for aspiring fresh air has a capacity of 15'0OO to 25'0OO m 3 /hour.
  • said one or more ducts have a diameter of at least 200 mm, preferably at least 220mm, typically at least 250 mm.
  • Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the projection portion of the device according to the invention for a first embodiment as a front view and for a second embodiment as a lateral view;
  • Fig. 2 illustrates a top view on the areas of impingement of the jets of particles on the surface of the embodiments of fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a view in the direction indicated by arrow E of the projection portion of the embodiments of fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the projection unit of the embodiment of fig. 1 ;
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a lateral view of the complete device of the embodiment of fig. 1.
  • the device 1 essentially comprises two particle blasting devices 12,12a for projecting two jets 13,13a of particles to a surface 4 to be treated.
  • Each of said two particle blasting devices 12,12a comprises a rotating impeller-type blasting wheel 48 allowing to emit a jet 13,13a of particles to said surface 4 to be treated.
  • Said two particle blasting devices 12,12a of said first pair are configured to generate two jets 13,13a of particles wherein: i) each of said two jets 13,13a has an elongated cross-sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow having a minor axis 14,14a and a major axis 15,15a such that the area of impingement 18,18a of each jet 13,13a on the surface 4 to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis 14,14a and a length "b” measured parallel to said major axis 15,15a; ii) said areas of impingement 18,18a of said two jets 13,13a overlap each other.
  • a configuration of the device 1 (shown in continuous lines) which comprises two particle blasting devices 12,12a arranged transverse to the direction of motion of the device 1 such that the connecting line 74 defined by the centers 17,17a of the two blasting wheels 48 extends perpendicular to the direction of motion of the device 1.
  • a method of treatment of the surface 4 is effected by simultaneously moving said two particle blasting devices 12,12a in a direction perpendicular to a joining line 78 defined by the centers of impingement 19,19a of said areas of impingement 18,18a.
  • a configuration of the device 1 (shown in continous lines) which comprises two particle blasting devices 12,12a arranged parallel to the direction of motion of the device 1 such that the connecting line 74 defined by the centers 17,17a of the two blasting wheels 48 extends parallel to the direction of motion of the device 1.
  • a method of treatment of the surface 4 is effected by simultaneously moving said two particle blasting devices 12,12a in a direction parallel to a joining line 78 defined by the centers of impingement 19,19a of said areas of impingement 18,18a.
  • a configuration of the device 1 (shown in continuous and dotted lines) which comprises four particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a for projecting four jets 13,13a,23,23a of particles to a surface 4 to be treated.
  • Each of said four particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a comprises a rotating impeller-type blasting wheel 48 allowing to emit a jet 13,13a,23,23a of particles to said surface 4 to be treated.
  • Said four particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a are configured in two pairs of two particle blasting devices 12, 12a, 22, 22a.
  • Said two particle blasting devices 12,12a of said first pair are configured to generate two jets 13,13a of particles wherein: i) each of said two jets 13,13a has an elongated cross-sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow having a minor axis 14,14a and a major axis 15,15a such that the area of impingement 18,18a of each jet 13,13a on the surface 4 to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis 14,14a and a length "b” measured parallel to said major axis 15,15a; ii) said areas of impingement 18,18a of said two jets 13,13a overlap each other.
  • Said two particle blasting devices 22,22a of said second pair are configured to generate two jets 23,23a of particles wherein: i) each of said two jets 23,23a has an elongated cross-sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow having a minor axis 24,24a and a major axis 25,25a such that the area of impingement 28,28a of each jet 23,23a on the surface 4 to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis 24,24a and a length "b” measured parallel to said major axis 25,25a; ii) said areas of impingement 28,28a of said two jets 23,23a overlap each other.
  • Said blasting wheels 48 of each pair of said two particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a have parallel rotation axes 16, 16a, 26,26a and centers 17,17a,27,27a located such that said two major axes 15, 15a, 25, 25a of said cross-sectional areas of each of said pairs of two jets 13,13a are essentially co-linear on a common straight line 8,8a.
  • the centers 17,17a,27,27a of said blasting wheels 48 are at a distance A to said surface 4 to be treated and the two particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a of each pair are spaced apart such that the centers 17, 17a, 27,27a of the two respective blasting wheels 48 are separated by a distance B.
  • Said two particle blasting devices 12, 12a, 22, 22a of each pair are configured such that the major axes 15, 15a, 25,25a of the cross-sectional areas said two jets 13, 13a, 23,23a have facing inner ends 70,70a which approach to each other in the direction of the flow of particles such that each inner connecting line 72,72a defined by the inner ends 70,70a of the major axes 15, 15a, 25,25a in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle gamma of 50°, respectively of -50° with the mid-perpendicular 75 on the connecting line 74 defined by the centers 17,17a,27,27a of the respective blasting wheels 48.
  • said two particle blasting devices 12, 12a, 22, 22a of each pair are configured such that the major axes 15,15a,25,25a of the two jets 13, 13a, 23, 23a have outer ends 71 ,71a which spread from each other in the direction of the flow such that each outer connecting line 73,73a defined by the outer ends 71 ,71a of the major axes 15,15a,25,25a in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle delta of -30°, respectively in of 30° with a mid-perpendicular 75 on the connecting line 74 defined by the centers 17, 17a, 27, 27a of the respective two blasting wheels 48.
  • Said inner connecting lines 72,72a define a first plane 6 which is inclined with an angle alpha of 35° with regard to a normal plane 5 on the surface 4.
  • Said second pair of two particle blasting devices 22,22a emits two jets 23,23a of particles defining a second plane 7 which is inclined with an angle beta of - 30° with regard to the normal plane 5 on the surface 4 such that the two pairs of jets 13, 13a, 23, 23a converge relative to each other.
  • said two pairs of two particle blasting devices 12, 12a, 22,22a are oriented in such a manner that the centers of impingement 19,19a of the first pair of jets 13,13a and the centers of impingement 29,29a of the second pair of jets 23,23a on the surface 4 to be treated are separated by a distance "y".
  • the device 1 further comprises: a) a container 53 for particles to be blasted on a surface 4; b) a feeder or cap 33 with an opening 34 directed to the surface 4 to be treated and a periphery 37 being linked to a carriage 35 having means 36, preferably in the form of wheels, so that the periphery 37 of the cap 33 remains at a distance x > 0 from the surface 4 to be treated; c) one or more ducts 10 for the passage of a mixture of rebounded particles, air and removed material having a front end 40 and a rear end 41 ; and d) an aspirator 38 for aspiring fresh air 39 from the outside into the cap 33 and in the duct(s) 10.
  • FIG. 4 and 5 an embodiment of the device 1 for treating surfaces 4 which essentially includes a projection unit 2 and an aspiration unit 3 is illustrated.
  • the treatment of the surface 4 is essentially effected by a projection of microballs with high velocity onto the surface 4 by means of the projection unit 2 and by sucking off the microballs rebound from the surface together with the coating material removed from the surface 4 by means of the aspiration unit 3. Dust, fillers and waste removed by the surface treatment are separated from the microballs and retained in a collecting receiver 60 attached to the device 1 that is then evacuated in a dump in order to avoid any kind of pollution.
  • microballs removes the soft surface parts of the bituminous surface layer of a road such allowing the aggregate to relief and creating a macro roughness on the surface 4.
  • Said macro roughness results from the intergranulary surface roughness of the bituminous surface layer.
  • micro-hammering of the surface of the aggregate which is bound in the bituminous surface layer the micro roughness of the aggregate is increased.
  • Such the micro roughness results from the surface roughness of the individual particles in the aggregate.
  • the obtained micro roughness allows a high surface drainage in addition to a significant reduction of sound emission.
  • Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an embodiment of the complete device 1 for treatment of surfaces 4, e.g. a bituminous surface layer, asphalt, concrete or iron.
  • the device 1 essentially comprises a projection unit 2 and an aspiration unit 3 joined to each other and mounted on a vehicle 47 with a direction of motion 80, wherein:
  • the projection unit 2 includes:
  • first ducts 10,10a having a front end 40,40a each and a rear end 41 ,41a each and being configured for the passage of a mixture of microballs, air, dust and coarse particles of coating material removed from the surface 4.
  • the front ends 40,40a of said first ducts 10,10a being connected to said cap 33.
  • Said first ducts 10,10a having a diameter and length suitably shaped to allow to reduce the flow rate;
  • said microballs and said coarse particles in said flow of heavy parts are separated such allowing to clean and recycle the microballs in a container 53 and to receive the coarse particles in a container 32 for further conveying the heavy parts, e.g. the charge of aggregate, debris and impurities in the collecting receiver 60 attached to the aspiration unit 3 of the device 1 ;
  • the aspiration unit 3 includes:
  • filter cleaning means 58 including a washing tube 59;
  • a collecting receiver 60 for collecting coarse particles coming from the separator 42 and for collecting the lighter parts coming from cyclone 44 and being filtered by means of the filters 57 for their subsequent evacuation and ecological treatment in a dump;
  • the particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a are impeller-type projectors each including a rotating blasting wheel 48. Said two pairs of particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a are mounted on the vehicle 47 at a height above the surface 4 to be treated which is dimensioned such that the centers of said blasting wheels 48 are at a distance A to said surface 4 to be treated.
  • the blasting wheels 48 of the particle blasting devices 12,22 arranged on the left side of the vehicle 47 rotate about the respective rotation axes 16,26 of said blasting wheels 48 counter-clockwise when viewed from the rear of the vehicle 47 (fig. 5) and the blasting wheels 48 of the particle blasting devices 12a, 22a arranged on the right side of the vehicle 47 rotate about the respective rotation axes 16a,26a clockwise when viewed from the rear of the vehicle 47 (fig. 2).
  • said blasting wheels 48 comprise curved blades (not shown).
  • the jets 13,13a, 23, 23a include a mixture of microballs having diameters in a range between 0.5 and 2 mm.
  • the microballs are projected towards the surface 4 to be treated with a high velocity of 140 m/s.
  • microballs bounce off said surface 4 due to force of impact and are sucked off by means of the aspiration unit 3. Subsequently, the microballs are separated from the dust and waste of the surface treatment and recycled.

Abstract

Method and device for treating surfaces (4) by means of bombardment with particles, characterized by A) directing two jets (13,13a) of particles with a velocity of 80 - 200 m/s to said surface (4) to be treated; by B) generating said two jets (13,13a) by means of two particle blasting devices (12,12a) in such manner that: i) said two jets (13,13a) converge in the direction of flow of said particles; ii) the areas of impingement (18,18a) of said two jets (13,13a) on the surface (4) to be treated overlap each other; and C) moving said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) parallel to said surface (4) to be treated at a velocity of 2 to 12 m/minute relative to said surface (4).

Description

Method and device for treating surfaces
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for treating surfaces according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a device for treating surfaces according to the preamble of claim 26.
Slippery road coatings due to surface impurities such as e.g. dust or tire rubber often cause serious traffic problems. Particularly, when such roads are wet these impurities cause a low grip of the vehicle tires and lead to skidding of the vehicles especially in bends. In order to reestablish a sufficient grip for vehicle tires the road coating can be treated to restore the macro- and micro-roughness of the road surface and improving the drainage of the water.
Road coatings which have been subject to long periods of heavy traffic often show surface wear, aggregate grains which have become too smooth or strips or even a complete coating of tire rubber and consequently a reduced grip for vehicle tires.
Known methods and devices for restoring a road surface structure allowing a required grip for vehicle tires and a sufficient drainage include longitudinal and/or transverse scoring, e.g. by means of a multiple saw device and providing thin layers of special bituminous mixtures. Yet, these known methods and devices allow to restore a sufficient macro-roughness of the road coating only.
The invention is based on the objective of providing a method and a device for treating surfaces with jets of particles exerting opposing impact forces onto the surface such permitting to reestablish micro- and macro-roughness of the road coating and to improve restoration of grip and traction for vehicle tires and a sufficient surface drainage.
The invention solves the posed problem with a method for treating surfaces by means of bombardment with particles or microballs that displays the features of claim 1 and with a device for treating surfaces by means of bombardment with particles or microballs that displays the features of claim 26.
BestStigungskopie The general advantages achieved by the invention are essentially to be seen in the fact that:
- opposing impact forces of the jets of particles are possible without requiring a second passage of the device;
- due to the high capacity of the device it is possible to restore an airfield during the night hours (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) when there is no air traffic. This allows to be able to run the airport without interruptions during the day; and
- a surface treatment of a road with two traffic lanes of 2.2 m each in two passages (one passage per traffic lane) is possible.
A special embodiment is specified by simultaneously moving said two particle blasting devices in a direction transverse to a joining line defined by the centers of impingement of said areas of impingement. Thereby, the projection of said transverse direction on said surface is preferably perpendicular to said joining line.
A further embodiment is specified by simultaneously moving said two particle blasting devices in a direction parallel to a joining line defined by the centers of impingement of said areas of impingement.
Another embodiment is specified by generating said two jets in such manner that each of said two jets has an elongated cross-sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow and having a minor axis and a major axis such that the area of impingement of each jet on said surface to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis and a length "b" measured parallel to said major axis.
In a further embodiment said two major axes of said cross-sectional areas in the plane of said surface are essentially co-linear on a common straight line.
Yet a further embodiment is specified by moving said two particle blasting devices transverse to said straight line over said surface whereby the projection of said transverse direction on said surface is preferably perpendicular to said straight line.
Yet another embodiment is specified by moving said two particle blasting devices parallel to said straight line over said surface. In a further embodiment said two particle blasting devices are coupled to each other in a fixed relationship.
In yet another embodiment said areas of impingement are located such that said major axes of said cross-sectional areas in the plane of said surface overlap each other on a length z between 1000 mm and 1600 mm, typically z = 1440 mm.
In a further embodiment each of said particle blasting devices comprises an impeller- type blasting wheel and that the blasting wheel of one of said particle blasting device rotates anticlockwise and the blasting wheel of the other of said particle blasting devices rotates clockwise. This configuration allows the advantage that the location of the area of impingement of the microballs on the surface to be treated relative to the vehicle may be specified by a selection of particle blasting devices having blasting wheels rotating clockwise or anticlockwise.
Another embodiment is specified by rotating the blasting wheels of said two particle blasting devices such that the two tangential forces at the nearest points between the two blasting wheels are directed away from said surface to be treated.
In still another embodiment the centers of said two blasting wheels are at a distance A to said surface to be treated which is in the range between 500 mm and 800 mm when measured orthogonal to said surface. Thus, the location and the size of the area of impingement of the microballs on the surface to be treated relative to the vehicle and the force of impact of the microballs on the surface to be treated may be specified by a respective selection of said distance A.
In a further embodiment said cross-sections of said two jets widen in the direction of flow of said particles such that the lengths of the major axes of subsequent cross- sectional areas increase.
In yet another embodiment the major axes of the cross-sectional areas of said two jets have facing inner ends which approach to each other in the direction of the flow such that each inner connecting line defined by the inner ends of the major axes in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle gamma in the range of 35° to 65°, respectively in the range of -35° to -65° with a mid-perpendicular on the connecting line defined by the centers of the two blasting wheels and measured in the plane defined by the inner connecting lines.
In still a further embodiment the major axes of the two jets have outer ends which spread from each other in the direction of the flow such that each outer connecting line defined by the outer ends of the major axes in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle delta in the range of -20° to -40°, respectively in the range of 20° to 40° with a mid-perpendicular on the connecting line defined by the centers of the two blasting wheels and measured in the plane defined by the outer connecting lines.
In another embodiment each of said two jets has an oval area of impingement with a length "a" between 110 and 150 mm measured parallel to said minor axis and a length "b" between 1200 mm and 1400 mm measured parallel to the major axis, typically a = 130 mm and b = 1280 mm.
In a further embodiment each of said areas of impingement has an area in the range of 0.06 m2 to 0.5 m2, preferably of 0.1 m2 to 0.2 m2.
In yet a further embodiment the two particle blasting devices are spaced apart such that the centers of said two blasting wheels are separated by a distance B amounting between 1.3 m and 2.5 m. A typical measure for the distance B is 2 m such allowing the particle blasting devices to be mounted on a road vehicle.
In another embodiment said particles of each of said jets are microballs having mean diameters in a range of 0.4 - 2 mm, preferably of 0.7 - 1.5 mm.
In still another embodiment the velocity of said particles is in the range of 90 - 120 m/s, preferably in the range of 100 - 110 m/s.
In a further embodiment the particles rebounding from said surface to be treated together with the material removed from said surface are sucked into at least one duct and led to at least one separating means, preferably a cyclone. In another embodiment said inner connecting lines define a first plane which is inclined with an angle alpha in the range of 20° to 50° with regard to a normal plane on the surface. This configuration allows the particles to be rebounded from the surface in a direction away from the direction of flow of the jet such preventing interference of the particles in the jet and the rebounded particles.
A further embodiment is specified by directing a second pair of two jets of particles to said surface to be treated. Preferably, the first and second pair of jets are arranged symmetrically with said normal plane on the surface.
Another embodiment is specified by simultaneously moving said two pairs of two particle blasting devices in a direction transverse to the joining line defined by the centers of impingement of said areas of impingement of the first pair of two particle blasting devices. Thereby, the projection of said transverse direction on said surface is preferably perpendicular to said joining line.
Again another embodiment is specified by simultaneously moving said two particle blasting devices in a direction parallel to the joining line defined by the centers of impingement of said areas of impingement of the first pair of two particle blasting devices.
In a further embodiment said second pair of two jets of particles defines a second plane which is inclined with an angle beta in the range of - 20° to - 50° with regard to the normal plane on the surface such that the two pairs of jets converge relative to each other.
In still a further embodiment the two pairs of two particle blasting devices are oriented in such a manner that the centers of impingement of the first pair of jets and the centers of impingement of the second pair of jets on the surface to be treated are separated by a distance y amounting between 350 mm and 450 mm. A typical value for said distance y is 400 mm so that the two jets do not interfere with each other and a aspiration cap can be installed between the two particle blasting devices in such manner that the microballs can be sucked off through the aspiration cap when they rebound off the surface to be treated. In a special embodiment the device further comprises: f) a cyclone arranged at the rear end of the duct(s); and g) a separator, preferably in the form of a screen.
In another embodiment said distance x is adjustable, preferably in a range of 25 to 35 mm.
In a further embodiment each of said two particle blasting devices comprises a rotating impeller-type blasting wheel allowing to emit a jet of particles with a velocity of 80 - 200 m/s to said surface to be treated.
In yet another embodiment said two particle blasting devices are configured to generate two jets of particles wherein: i) each of said two jets has an elongated cross-sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow having a minor axis and a major axis such that the area of impingement of each jet on the surface to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis and a length "b" measured parallel to said major axis; ii) said areas of impingement of said two jets overlap each other. The configuration of the jets can e.g. be achieved by an appropriate form of a housing which partially encloses the blasting wheel such guiding the jet of particles ejected from the blasting wheel as known from commercially available particle blasting devices.
In a further embodiment said blasting wheels of said two particle blasting devices have parallel rotation axes and centers located such that said two major axes of said cross- sectional areas of said two jets are essentially co-linear on a common straight line. Thereby, said two particle blasting devices can be mounted on a vehicle in such manner that the direction of motion of the vehicle is perpendicular to the projection of said rotation axes on the surface to be treated or in such manner that the direction of motion of the vehicle is parallel to the projection of said rotation axes on the surface to be treated.
In again a further embodiment said impeller-type blasting wheel of one of said particle blasting devices rotates anticlockwise and said impeller-type blasting wheel of the other of said particle blasting devices rotates clockwise. In another embodiment the centers of said two blasting wheels are at a distance A to said surface to be treated which is in the range between 500 mm and 800 mm when measured orthogonal to said surface.
In yet another embodiment the two particle blasting devices are spaced apart such that the centers of said two blasting wheels are separated by a distance B amounting between 1.3 m and 2.5 m.
In a further embodiment said two particle blasting devices are configured such that the major axes of the cross-sectional areas said two jets have facing inner ends which approach to each other in the direction of the flow of particles such that each inner connecting line defined by the inner ends of the major axes in subsequent cross- sectional areas encloses an angle gamma in the range of 35° to 65°, respectively in the range of -35° to -65° with the mid-perpendicular on the connecting line defined by the centers of said two blasting wheels and measured in the plane defined by the inner connecting lines.
In another embodiment said two particle blasting devices are configured such that the major axes of the two jets have outer ends which spread from each other in the direction of the flow such that each outer connecting line defined by the outer ends of the major axes in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle delta in the range of -20° to -40°, respectively in the range of 20° to 40° with a mid-perpendicular on the connecting line defined by the centers of the two blasting wheels and measured in the plane defined by the outer connecting lines.
In yet a further embodiment said particles of each of said jets are microballs having mean diameters in a range of 0.4 - 2 mm.
In another embodiment said inner connecting lines define a first plane which is inclined with an angle alpha in the range of 20° to 50° with regard to a normal plane on the surface.
In a further embodiment said device comprises two pairs of two particle blasting devices wherein each of said two pairs can be configured according to one of the above embodiments. Preferably, the first and second pair of particle blasting devices are arranged symmetrically with said normal plane on the surface. Thereby, said two pairs of two particle blasting devices can be mounted on a vehicle in such manner that the direction of motion of the vehicle is perpendicular to the projection of said rotation axes on the surface to be treated or in such manner that the direction of motion of the vehicle is parallel to the projection of said rotation axes on the surface to be treated.
In still a further embodiment said second pair of two particle blasting devices emits two jets of particles defining a second plane which is inclined with an angle beta in the range of - 20° to - 50° with regard to the normal plane on the surface such that the two pairs of jets converge relative to each other.
In another embodiment said two pairs of two particle blasting devices are oriented in such a manner that the centers of impingement of the first pair of jets and the centers of impingement of the second pair of jets on the surface to be treated are separated by a distance "y" amounting between 350 mm and 450 mm.
In another embodiment said aspirator for aspiring fresh air has a capacity of 15'0OO to 25'0OO m3/hour.
In again another embodiment said one or more ducts have a diameter of at least 200 mm, preferably at least 220mm, typically at least 250 mm.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in the following by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the projection portion of the device according to the invention for a first embodiment as a front view and for a second embodiment as a lateral view;
Fig. 2 illustrates a top view on the areas of impingement of the jets of particles on the surface of the embodiments of fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a view in the direction indicated by arrow E of the projection portion of the embodiments of fig. 1 ;
Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the projection unit of the embodiment of fig. 1 ; and
Fig. 5 illustrates a lateral view of the complete device of the embodiment of fig. 1.
On the basis of the schematic illustrations of figs. 1 to 3 the projection portion of different embodiments of the device 1 for treating surfaces 4 by means of bombardment with particles are elucidated. The device 1 essentially comprises two particle blasting devices 12,12a for projecting two jets 13,13a of particles to a surface 4 to be treated. Each of said two particle blasting devices 12,12a comprises a rotating impeller-type blasting wheel 48 allowing to emit a jet 13,13a of particles to said surface 4 to be treated.
Said two particle blasting devices 12,12a of said first pair are configured to generate two jets 13,13a of particles wherein: i) each of said two jets 13,13a has an elongated cross-sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow having a minor axis 14,14a and a major axis 15,15a such that the area of impingement 18,18a of each jet 13,13a on the surface 4 to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis 14,14a and a length "b" measured parallel to said major axis 15,15a; ii) said areas of impingement 18,18a of said two jets 13,13a overlap each other.
I) in a first embodiment a configuration of the device 1 (shown in continuous lines) is used which comprises two particle blasting devices 12,12a arranged transverse to the direction of motion of the device 1 such that the connecting line 74 defined by the centers 17,17a of the two blasting wheels 48 extends perpendicular to the direction of motion of the device 1. By means of this first embodiment a method of treatment of the surface 4 is effected by simultaneously moving said two particle blasting devices 12,12a in a direction perpendicular to a joining line 78 defined by the centers of impingement 19,19a of said areas of impingement 18,18a. II) in a second embodiment a configuration of the device 1 (shown in continous lines) is used which comprises two particle blasting devices 12,12a arranged parallel to the direction of motion of the device 1 such that the connecting line 74 defined by the centers 17,17a of the two blasting wheels 48 extends parallel to the direction of motion of the device 1. By means of this second embodiment a method of treatment of the surface 4 is effected by simultaneously moving said two particle blasting devices 12,12a in a direction parallel to a joining line 78 defined by the centers of impingement 19,19a of said areas of impingement 18,18a.
III) in a third embodiment a configuration of the device 1 (shown in continuous and dotted lines) is used which comprises four particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a for projecting four jets 13,13a,23,23a of particles to a surface 4 to be treated. Each of said four particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a comprises a rotating impeller-type blasting wheel 48 allowing to emit a jet 13,13a,23,23a of particles to said surface 4 to be treated.
Said four particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a are configured in two pairs of two particle blasting devices 12, 12a, 22, 22a.
The following description refers to two pairs of particle blasting devices 12, 12a, 22, 22a whereby for the above first and second embodiment the description of the first pair of two particle blasting devices 12,12a applies accordingly.
Said two particle blasting devices 12,12a of said first pair are configured to generate two jets 13,13a of particles wherein: i) each of said two jets 13,13a has an elongated cross-sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow having a minor axis 14,14a and a major axis 15,15a such that the area of impingement 18,18a of each jet 13,13a on the surface 4 to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis 14,14a and a length "b" measured parallel to said major axis 15,15a; ii) said areas of impingement 18,18a of said two jets 13,13a overlap each other.
Said two particle blasting devices 22,22a of said second pair are configured to generate two jets 23,23a of particles wherein: i) each of said two jets 23,23a has an elongated cross-sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow having a minor axis 24,24a and a major axis 25,25a such that the area of impingement 28,28a of each jet 23,23a on the surface 4 to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis 24,24a and a length "b" measured parallel to said major axis 25,25a; ii) said areas of impingement 28,28a of said two jets 23,23a overlap each other.
Said blasting wheels 48 of each pair of said two particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a have parallel rotation axes 16, 16a, 26,26a and centers 17,17a,27,27a located such that said two major axes 15, 15a, 25, 25a of said cross-sectional areas of each of said pairs of two jets 13,13a are essentially co-linear on a common straight line 8,8a.
The centers 17,17a,27,27a of said blasting wheels 48 are at a distance A to said surface 4 to be treated and the two particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a of each pair are spaced apart such that the centers 17, 17a, 27,27a of the two respective blasting wheels 48 are separated by a distance B.
Said two particle blasting devices 12, 12a, 22, 22a of each pair are configured such that the major axes 15, 15a, 25,25a of the cross-sectional areas said two jets 13, 13a, 23,23a have facing inner ends 70,70a which approach to each other in the direction of the flow of particles such that each inner connecting line 72,72a defined by the inner ends 70,70a of the major axes 15, 15a, 25,25a in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle gamma of 50°, respectively of -50° with the mid-perpendicular 75 on the connecting line 74 defined by the centers 17,17a,27,27a of the respective blasting wheels 48.
Further, said two particle blasting devices 12, 12a, 22, 22a of each pair are configured such that the major axes 15,15a,25,25a of the two jets 13, 13a, 23, 23a have outer ends 71 ,71a which spread from each other in the direction of the flow such that each outer connecting line 73,73a defined by the outer ends 71 ,71a of the major axes 15,15a,25,25a in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle delta of -30°, respectively in of 30° with a mid-perpendicular 75 on the connecting line 74 defined by the centers 17, 17a, 27, 27a of the respective two blasting wheels 48. Said inner connecting lines 72,72a define a first plane 6 which is inclined with an angle alpha of 35° with regard to a normal plane 5 on the surface 4. Said second pair of two particle blasting devices 22,22a emits two jets 23,23a of particles defining a second plane 7 which is inclined with an angle beta of - 30° with regard to the normal plane 5 on the surface 4 such that the two pairs of jets 13, 13a, 23, 23a converge relative to each other.
Further, said two pairs of two particle blasting devices 12, 12a, 22,22a are oriented in such a manner that the centers of impingement 19,19a of the first pair of jets 13,13a and the centers of impingement 29,29a of the second pair of jets 23,23a on the surface 4 to be treated are separated by a distance "y".
The device 1 further comprises: a) a container 53 for particles to be blasted on a surface 4; b) a feeder or cap 33 with an opening 34 directed to the surface 4 to be treated and a periphery 37 being linked to a carriage 35 having means 36, preferably in the form of wheels, so that the periphery 37 of the cap 33 remains at a distance x > 0 from the surface 4 to be treated; c) one or more ducts 10 for the passage of a mixture of rebounded particles, air and removed material having a front end 40 and a rear end 41 ; and d) an aspirator 38 for aspiring fresh air 39 from the outside into the cap 33 and in the duct(s) 10.
In figs. 4 and 5 an embodiment of the device 1 for treating surfaces 4 which essentially includes a projection unit 2 and an aspiration unit 3 is illustrated. The treatment of the surface 4 is essentially effected by a projection of microballs with high velocity onto the surface 4 by means of the projection unit 2 and by sucking off the microballs rebound from the surface together with the coating material removed from the surface 4 by means of the aspiration unit 3. Dust, fillers and waste removed by the surface treatment are separated from the microballs and retained in a collecting receiver 60 attached to the device 1 that is then evacuated in a dump in order to avoid any kind of pollution.
The impact of these microballs removes the soft surface parts of the bituminous surface layer of a road such allowing the aggregate to relief and creating a macro roughness on the surface 4. Said macro roughness results from the intergranulary surface roughness of the bituminous surface layer. Simultaneously, due to micro-hammering of the surface of the aggregate which is bound in the bituminous surface layer the micro roughness of the aggregate is increased. Such the micro roughness results from the surface roughness of the individual particles in the aggregate. The obtained micro roughness allows a high surface drainage in addition to a significant reduction of sound emission.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an embodiment of the complete device 1 for treatment of surfaces 4, e.g. a bituminous surface layer, asphalt, concrete or iron. The device 1 essentially comprises a projection unit 2 and an aspiration unit 3 joined to each other and mounted on a vehicle 47 with a direction of motion 80, wherein:
the projection unit 2 includes:
A) a set of four particle blasting devices 12,22,12a,22a as described above with reference to figs. 1 to 3 for projecting microballs at very high velocity towards the surface 4 to be treated;
B) a cap 33 as described above with reference to figs. 1 to 3 configured to intake and direct the flow of fresh air 39 from the environment;
C) a set of firs ducts 10,10a having a front end 40,40a each and a rear end 41 ,41a each and being configured for the passage of a mixture of microballs, air, dust and coarse particles of coating material removed from the surface 4. The front ends 40,40a of said first ducts 10,10a being connected to said cap 33. Said first ducts 10,10a having a diameter and length suitably shaped to allow to reduce the flow rate;
D) a cyclone 44,44a each arranged at the rear end 41 ,41a of said first ducts 10,10a for separating the mixture in a first portion including the heavier parts such as microballs and coarse coating particles and a second portion including the lighter parts such as air and dust;
E) a set of second ducts 51 ,51a connected to said cyclones 44,44a for the passage of the first portion including the heavier parts; F) a set of third ducts 52,52a connected to said cyclones 44,44a for the passage of the second portion including the lighter parts;
G) a separator 42 including two sieve drums (not shown), wherein said set of second ducts 51 ,51a are connected to said separator 42 in order to receive the flow of the heavy parts. In said separator 42 said microballs and said coarse particles in said flow of heavy parts are separated such allowing to clean and recycle the microballs in a container 53 and to receive the coarse particles in a container 32 for further conveying the heavy parts, e.g. the charge of aggregate, debris and impurities in the collecting receiver 60 attached to the aspiration unit 3 of the device 1 ;
H) a first set of internal combustion engines 55 for driving generators to produce electricity;
The aspiration unit 3 includes:
I) a housing 54 where the following members are arranged:
J) two ventilators 56', 56" arranged in said housing 54;
K) 48 filters 57 made of an inflammable material and having a porosity of minimum 80 micrometer for separating dust from air;
L) filter cleaning means 58 including a washing tube 59;
M) a collecting receiver 60 for collecting coarse particles coming from the separator 42 and for collecting the lighter parts coming from cyclone 44 and being filtered by means of the filters 57 for their subsequent evacuation and ecological treatment in a dump;
N) a second set of internal combustion engines 55 driving an auxiliary and autonomous high power generator (not shown) producing electricity for driving the various units of the device 1 ; and O) an electronic unit (not shown) for controlling and regulating the various units or parts of the device 1 which are provided with respective measuring and control detecting sensors.
The particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a are impeller-type projectors each including a rotating blasting wheel 48. Said two pairs of particle blasting devices 12,12a,22,22a are mounted on the vehicle 47 at a height above the surface 4 to be treated which is dimensioned such that the centers of said blasting wheels 48 are at a distance A to said surface 4 to be treated.
In the device 1 the blasting wheels 48 of the particle blasting devices 12,22 arranged on the left side of the vehicle 47 rotate about the respective rotation axes 16,26 of said blasting wheels 48 counter-clockwise when viewed from the rear of the vehicle 47 (fig. 5) and the blasting wheels 48 of the particle blasting devices 12a, 22a arranged on the right side of the vehicle 47 rotate about the respective rotation axes 16a,26a clockwise when viewed from the rear of the vehicle 47 (fig. 2). Further, said blasting wheels 48 comprise curved blades (not shown).
The jets 13,13a, 23, 23a include a mixture of microballs having diameters in a range between 0.5 and 2 mm. The microballs are projected towards the surface 4 to be treated with a high velocity of 140 m/s.
The microballs bounce off said surface 4 due to force of impact and are sucked off by means of the aspiration unit 3. Subsequently, the microballs are separated from the dust and waste of the surface treatment and recycled.
While various descriptions of the present invention are described above, it should be understood that the various features can be used singly or in any combination thereof. The scope of the present invention is accordingly defined as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. Method for treating surfaces (4) by means of bombardment with particles, characterized by
A) directing two jets (13,13a) of particles with a velocity of 80 - 200 m/s to said surface (4) to be treated; by
B) generating said two jets (13,13a) by means of two particle blasting devices (12,12a) in such manner that: i) said two jets (13,13a) converge in the direction of flow of said particles; ii) the areas of impingement (18,18a) of said two jets (13,13a) on the surface (4) to be treated overlap each other; and
C) moving said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) parallel to said surface (4) to be treated at a velocity of 2 to 12 m/minute relative to said surface (4).
2. Method according to claim 1 , characterized by simultaneously moving said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) in a direction transverse to a joining line (78) defined by the centers of impingement (19,19a) of said areas of impingement (18,18a).
3. Method according to claim 1 , characterized by simultaneously moving said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) in a direction parallel to a joining line (78) defined by the centers of impingement (19,19a) of said areas of impingement (18,18a).
4. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized by generating said two jets (13,13a) in such manner that each of said two jets (13,13a) has an elongated cross- sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow and having a minor axis (14,14a) and a major axis (15,15a) such that the area of impingement (18,18a) of each jet (13,13a) on said surface (4) to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis (14,14a) and a length "b" measured parallel to said major axis (15,15a).
5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said two major axes (15,15a) of said cross-sectional areas in the plane of said surface (4) are essentially co-linear on a common straight line (8).
6. Method according to claim 5, characterized by moving said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) transverse to said straight line (8) over said surface (4).
7. Method according to claim 5, characterized by moving said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) parallel to said straight line (8) over said surface (4).
8. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) are coupled to each other in a fixed relationship.
9. Method according to one of the claims 4 to 8, characterized in that said areas of impingement (18,18a) are located such that said major axes (15,15a) of said cross- sectional areas in the plane of said surface (4) overlap each other on a length z between 1000 mm and 1600 mm.
10. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each of said particle blasting devices (12,12a) comprises an impeller-type blasting wheel (48) and that the blasting wheel (48) of one of said particle blasting device (12,12a) rotates anticlockwise and the blasting wheel (48) of the other of said particle blasting devices (12a) rotates clockwise.
11. Method according to claim 10, characterized by rotating the blasting wheels (48) of said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) such that the two tangential forces at the nearest points between the two blasting wheels (48) are directed away from said surface (4) to be treated.
12. Method according to claim 10 or 11 , characterized in that the centers (17,17a) of said two blasting wheels (48) are at a distance A to said surface (4) to be treated which is in the range between 500 mm and 800 mm when measured orthogonal to said surface (4).
13. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said cross- sections of said two jets (13,13a) widen in the direction of flow of said particles such that the lengths of the major axes (15,15a) of subsequent cross-sectional areas increase.
14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the major axes (15,15a) of the cross-sectional areas of said two jets (13,13a) have facing inner ends (70,70a) which approach to each other in the direction of the flow such that each inner connecting line (72,72a) defined by the inner ends (70,70a) of the major axes (15,15a) in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle gamma in the range of 35° to 65°, respectively in the range of -35° to -65° with a mid-perpendicular (75) on the connecting line (74) defined by the centers (17,17a) of the two blasting wheels (48).
15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the major axes (15,15a) of the two jets (13,13a) have outer ends (71 ,71a) which spread from each other in the direction of the flow such that each outer connecting line (73,73a) defined by the outer ends (71 ,71a) of the major axes (15,15a) in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle delta in the range of -20° to -40°, respectively in the range of 20° to 40° with a mid-perpendicular (75) on the connecting line (74) defined by the centers (17,17a) of the two blasting wheels (48).
16. Method according to claim 4 to 15, characterized in that each of said two jets (13,13a) has an oval area of impingement (18,18a) with a length "a" between 110 and 150 mm measured parallel to said minor axis (14,14a) and a length "b" between 1200 mm and 1400 mm, measured parallel to the major axis (15,15a).
17. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 16, characterized in that each of said areas of impingement (18,18a) has an area in the range of 0.06 m2 to 0.5 m2, preferably of 0.1 m2 to 0.2 m2.
18. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the two particle blasting devices (12, 12a, 22, 22a) are spaced apart such that the centers (17,17a) of said two blasting wheels (48) are separated by a distance B amounting between 1.3 m and 2.5 m.
19. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 18, characterized in that said particles of each of said jets (13,23) are microballs having mean diameters in a range of 0.4 - 2 mm, preferably of 0.7 - 1.5 mm.
20. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 19, characterized that the velocity of said particles is in the range of 90 - 120 m/s, preferably in the range of 100 - 110 m/s.
21. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the particles rebounding from said surface (4) to be treated together with the material removed from said surface (4) are sucked into at least one duct (10) and led to at least one separating means, preferably a cyclone (44).
22. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 21 , characterized in that said inner connecting lines (72,72a) define a first plane (6) which is inclined with an angle alpha in the range of 20° to 50° with regard to a normal plane (5) on the surface (4).
23. Method according to one of the claims 1 to 22, characterized by directing a second pair of two jets (23,23a) of particles to said surface (4) to be treated.
24. Method according to claim 23, characterized in that said second pair of two jets (23,23a) of particles defines a second plane (7) which is inclined with an angle beta in the range of - 20° to - 50° with regard to the normal plane (5) on the surface (4) such that the two pairs of jets (13,13a,23,23a) converge relative to each other.
25. Method according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the two pairs of two particle blasting devices (12, 12a, 22, 22a) are oriented in such a manner that the centers of impingement (19,19a) of the first pair of jets (13,13a) and the centers of impingement (29,29a) of the second pair of jets (23,23a) on the surface (4) to be treated are separated by a distance y amounting between 350 mm and 450 mm.
26. A device for treating surfaces (4) by means of bombardment with particles comprising: a) a container (53) for particles to be blasted on a surface (4); b) a feeder or cap (33) with an opening (34) directed to the surface (4) to be treated and a periphery (37) being linked to a carriage (35) having means (36), preferably in the form of wheels, so that the periphery (37) of the cap (33) remains at a distance x > 0 from the surface (4) to be treated; c) one or more ducts (10) for the passage of a mixture of rebounded particles, air and removed material having a front end (40) and a rear end (41); d) an aspirator (38) for aspiring fresh air (39) from the outside into the cap (33) and in the duct(s) (10), characterized in that the device further comprises e) two or more particle blasting devices (12,12a) for projecting a jet (13,13a) of particles to a surface (4) to be treated;
27. The device according to claim 26, wherein the device (1) further comprises: f) a cyclone (44) arranged at the rear end (41) of the duct(s) (10); and g) a separator (42), preferably in the form of a screen.
28. The device according to claim 26 or 27, wherein said distance x is adjustable, preferably in a range of 25 to 35 mm.
29. The device according to one of the claims 26 to 28, wherein each of said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) comprises a rotating impeller-type blasting wheel (48) allowing to emit a jet (13,13a) of particles with a velocity of 80 - 200 m/s to said surface (4) to be treated.
30. The device according to one of the claims 26 to 29, wherein said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) are configured to generate two jets (13,13a) of particles wherein: i) each of said two jets (13,13a) has an elongated cross-sectional area orthogonal to said direction of flow having a minor axis (14,14a) and a major axis
(15,15a) such that the area of impingement (18,18a) of each jet (13,13a) on the surface (4) to be treated has a length "a" measured parallel to said minor axis
(14,14a) and a length "b" measured parallel to said major axis (15,15a); ii) said areas of impingement (18,18a) of said two jets (13,13a) overlap each other.
31. The device according to one of the claims 26 to 30, wherein said blasting wheels (48) of said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) have parallel rotation axes (16,16a) and centers (17,17a) located such that said two major axes (15,15a) of said cross- sectional areas of said two jets (13,13a) are essentially co-linear on a common straight line (8).
32. The device according to one of the claims 26 to 31 , wherein said impeller-type blasting wheel (48) of one of said particle blasting devices (12) rotates anticlockwise and said impeller-type blasting wheel (48) of the other of said particle blasting devices (12a) rotates clockwise.
33. The device according to one of the claims 26 to 32, wherein the centers (17,17a) of said two blasting wheels (48) are at a distance A to said surface (4) to be treated which is in the range between 500 mm and 800 mm when measured orthogonal to said surface (4).
34. The device according to one of the claims 26 to 33, wherein the two particle blasting devices (12,12a) are spaced apart such that the centers (17,17a) of said two blasting wheels (48) are separated by a distance B amounting between 1.3 m and 2.5 m.
35. The device according to one of the claims 30 to 34, wherein said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) are configured such that the major axes (15,15a) of the cross- sectional areas said two jets (13,13a) have facing inner ends (70,70a) which approach to each other in the direction of the flow of particles such that each inner connecting line (72,72a) defined by the inner ends (70,70a) of the major axes (15,15a) in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle gamma in the range of 35° to 65°, respectively in the range of -35° to -65° with a mid-perpendicular (75) on the connecting line (74) defined by the centers (17,17a) of said two blasting wheels (48).
36. The device according to one of the claims 30 to 35, wherein said two particle blasting devices (12,12a) are configured such that the major axes (15,15a) of the two jets (13,13a) have outer ends (71 ,71a) which spread from each other in the direction of the flow such that each outer connecting line (73,73a) defined by the outer ends (71 ,71a) of the major axes (15,15a) in subsequent cross-sectional areas encloses an angle delta in the range of -20° to -40°, respectively in the range of 20° to 40° with a mid-perpendicular (75) on the connecting line (74) defined by the centers (17,17a) of the two blasting wheels (48).
37. The device according to one of the claims 26 to 36, wherein said particles of each of said jets (13,23) are microballs having mean diameters in a range of 0.4 - 2 mm.
38. The device according to one of the claim 35 to 37, wherein said inner connecting lines (72,72a) define a first plane (6) which is inclined with an angle alpha in the range of 20° to 50° with regard to a normal plane (5) on the surface (4).
39. The device according to one of the claim 26 to 38, wherein said device comprises two pairs of two particle blasting devices (12, 12a, 22, 22a).
40. The device according to claim 39, wherein said second pair of two particle blasting devices (22,22a) emits two jets (23,23a) of particles defining a second plane (7) which is inclined with an angle beta in the range of - 20° to - 50° with regard to the normal plane (5) on the surface (4) such that the two pairs of jets (13,13a,23,23a) converge relative to each other.
41. The device according to claim 26 or 40, wherein said two pairs of two particle blasting devices (12, 12a, 22,22a) are oriented in such a manner that the centers of impingement (19,19a) of the first pair of jets (13,13a) and the centers of impingement (29,29a) of the second pair of jets (23,23a) on the surface (4) to be treated are separated by a distance "y" amounting between 350 mm and 450 mm.
42. The device according to one of the claims 26 to 41 , wherein said aspirator (38) for aspiring fresh air has a capacity of 15'0OO to 25'00O m3/hour.
43. The device according to one of the claims 26 to 42, wherein said one or more ducts (10) have a diameter of at least 200 mm, preferably at least 220mm.
44. Device for performing the method according to one of the claims 1 to 25.
45. Use of a device according to one of the claims 26 to 44 for cleaning roads, motorways, tracks, airports runways, bridges and iron or concrete structures.
PCT/CH2009/000120 2009-04-17 2009-04-17 Method and device for treating surfaces WO2010118536A2 (en)

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