U.S. patent application number 10/919590 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-23 for abrasive and dust separator.
Invention is credited to Robert A. Robinson.
Application Number | 20060040596 10/919590 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35910225 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060040596 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Robinson; Robert A. |
February 23, 2006 |
ABRASIVE AND DUST SEPARATOR
Abstract
Provided is a centrifuge media separator for separating blast
particulate from fine particulate carried by air flowing from a
blast cabinet and through the media separator. The centrifuge media
separator comprises an upper panel, a lower panel, and an outer
wall. The upper panel has a central opening formed therein. The
outer wall is configured in a generally curvilinear shape and which
extends between the upper and lower panels. The outer wall has at
least one particulate escape aperture formed therein. The upper
panel, lower panel and outer wall collectively define a curvilinear
air passageway having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is
configured to allow a flow of air to enter the air passageway and
circulate therethrough toward the outlet. The escape aperture is
configured to exhaust the blast particulate out of the passageway.
The central opening is configured to exhaust the fine particulate
out of the passageway.
Inventors: |
Robinson; Robert A.;
(Glenwood, NM) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STETINA BRUNDA GARRED & BRUCKER
75 ENTERPRISE, SUITE 250
ALISO VIEJO
CA
92656
US
|
Family ID: |
35910225 |
Appl. No.: |
10/919590 |
Filed: |
August 17, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
451/87 ;
451/88 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B04C 1/00 20130101; Y02P
70/10 20151101; Y02P 70/179 20151101; B24C 9/003 20130101; B24C
9/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
451/087 ;
451/088 |
International
Class: |
B24C 9/00 20060101
B24C009/00 |
Claims
1. A centrifuge media separator for separating blast particulate
from fine particulate carried by air flowing from a blast cabinet
through the media separator, the centrifuge media separator
comprising: an upper panel having a central opening formed therein;
a lower panel; and a curvilinear outer wall extending between the
upper and lower panels and having at least one particulate escape
aperture formed therein; wherein the upper panel, lower panel and
outer wall collectively define a curvilinear air passageway having
an inlet and an outlet, the air passageway being configured such
that a cross sectional area thereof generally decreases along a
direction of the flow from the inlet to the outlet, the inlet being
configured for allowing a flow of air to enter the air passageway
and circulate therethrough toward the outlet, the escape aperture
being configured to exhaust the blast particulate out of the
passageway, the central opening being configured to exhaust the
fine particulate out of the passageway.
2. The centrifuge media separator of claim 1 further comprising: an
inner ring disposed radially inwardly relative to the outer wall
and being sized complementary to and extending downwardly from the
central opening.
3. The centrifuge media separator of claim 2 wherein the inner ring
is cylindrically shaped.
4. (canceled)
5. The centrifuge media separator of claim 1 wherein: the outer
wall has a spiral configuration of generally decreasing radius; the
outlet being disposed within the air passageway radially inwardly
relative to and adjacent the inlet such that the flow of air enters
the inlet, circulates through the air passageway, exits the outlet,
and rejoins the flow of air entering the inlet.
6. A centrifuge media separator for separating blast particulate
from fine particulate carried by air flowing from a blast cabinet
through the media separator, the centrifuge media separator
comprising: an upper panel having a central opening formed therein;
a lower panel; a curvilinear outer wall extending between the upper
and lower panels and having at least one particulate escape
aperture formed therein; and an air foil mounted on the outer wall
adjacent to the escape aperture and extending generally radially
inwardly toward the central opening, the air foil being configured
to facilitate exhaustion of the blast particulate through the
escape aperture; wherein the upper panel, lower panel and outer
wall collectively define a curvilinear air passageway having an
inlet and an outlet, the inlet being configured for allowing a flow
of air to enter the air passageway and circulate therethrough
toward the outlet, the escape aperture being configured to exhaust
the blast particulate out of the passageway, the central opening
being configured to exhaust the fine particulate out of the
passageway.
7. The centrifuge media separator of claim 6 wherein the air foil
is disposed on a downstream side of the escape aperture.
8. The centrifuge media separator of claim 6 wherein the outer wall
and the air foil are integrally formed as a unitary structure.
9. The centrifuge media separator of claim 1 further comprising a
low pressure source fluidly connected to the central opening and
configured to draw air into the inlet and exhaust air through the
central opening.
10. The centrifuge media separator of claim 9 wherein the low
pressure source is a blower mounted on the blast cabinet.
11. The centrifuge media separator of claim 10 wherein the blower
is sized to generate a velocity of between about 2000 to about 6500
feet per minute for air entering the inlet.
12. A centrifuge media separator for separating blast particulate
from fine particulate carried by air flowing from a blast cabinet
through the media separator, the centrifuge media separator
comprising: a substantially planar upper panel having a circularly
shaped opening formed in a central portion thereof; a substantially
planar lower panel; a curvilinear outer wall having a spiral
configuration of generally decreasing radius, the outer wall
extending between the upper and lower panels and having at least
one particulate escape aperture formed therein; an air foil mounted
on the outer wall adjacent to the escape aperture and extending
generally radially inwardly toward the central opening, the air
foil being configured to facilitate exhaustion of the blast
particulate through the escape aperture; an extension extending
between the upper and lower panels and extending from the outer
wall such that the outlet is located downstream of the inlet along
a direction of the flow for preventing a flow reversal at the
inlet; and a cylindrically shaped inner ring disposed radially
inwardly relative to the outer wall and being sized complementary
to and extending partially downwardly from the central opening;
wherein the upper panel, lower panel and outer wall collectively
define a curvilinear air passageway having a rectangularly shaped
inlet and a rectangularly shaped outlet, the inlet being configured
for allowing a flow of air to enter the air passageway and
circulate therethrough toward the outlet, the air passageway being
configured such that a cross sectional area thereof generally
decreases along a direction of the flow from the inlet to the
outlet, the outlet being disposed radially inwardly relative to and
positioned downstream of the inlet such that the flow of air enters
the inlet, circulates through the air passageway, exits the outlet,
and rejoins the flow of air entering the inlet, the escape aperture
being configured to exhaust the blast particulate out of the
passageway, the central opening being configured to exhaust the
fine particulate out of the passageway.
13. The centrifuge media separator of claim 12 wherein the air foil
is disposed on a downstream side of the escape aperture.
14. The centrifuge media separator of claim 13 wherein the outer
wall and the air foil are integrally formed as a unitary
structure.
15. The centrifuge media separator of claim 12 further comprising a
low pressure source fluidly connected to the central opening and
configured to draw air into the inlet and exhaust air through the
central opening.
16. The centrifuge media separator of claim 15 wherein the low
pressure source is a blower mounted on the blast cabinet.
17. A blast cabinet having a centrifuge media separator for
separating blast particulate from fine particulate carried by air
flowing from the blast cabinet and into the media separator, the
blast cabinet having a housing defining an enclosure and being
configured for blasting a workpiece disposed within the enclosure,
the centrifuge media separator being mounted on the housing and
comprising: an upper panel having a central opening formed therein;
a lower panel; and a curvilinear outer wall extending between the
upper and lower panels and having at least one particulate escape
aperture formed therein; wherein the upper panel, lower panel and
outer wall collectively define a curvilinear air passageway having
an inlet and an outlet, the air passageway being configured such
that a cross sectional area thereof generally decreases along a
direction of the flow from the inlet to the outlet, the inlet being
configured for allowing a flow of air to enter the air passageway
and circulate therethrough toward the outlet, the escape aperture
being configured to exhaust the blast particulate out of the
passageway, the central opening being configured to exhaust the
fine particulate out of the passageway.
18. The centrifuge media separator of claim 17 further comprising:
an inner ring disposed radially inwardly relative to the outer wall
and being sized complementary to and extending partially downwardly
from the central opening.
19. The centrifuge media separator of claim 18 wherein the inner
ring is cylindrically shaped.
20. (canceled)
21. The centrifuge media separator of claim 17 wherein: the outer
wall has a spiral configuration of generally decreasing radius; the
outlet being disposed within the air passageway radially inwardly
relative to and adjacent the inlet such that the flow of air enters
the inlet, circulates through the air passageway, exits the outlet,
and rejoins the flow of air entering the inlet.
22. A blast cabinet having a centrifuge media separator for
separating blast particulate from fine particulate carried by air
flowing from the blast cabinet and into the media separator, the
blast cabinet having a housing defining an enclosure and being
configured for blasting a workpiece disposed within the enclosure,
the centrifuge media separator being mounted on the housing and
comprising: an upper panel having a central opening formed therein;
a lower panel; and a curvilinear outer wall extending between the
upper and lower panels and having at least one particulate escape
aperture formed therein; an air foil mounted on the outer wall
adjacent to the escape aperture and extending generally radially
inwardly toward the central opening, the air foil being configured
to facilitate exhaustion of the blast particulate through the
escape aperture; wherein the upper panel, lower panel and outer
wall collectively define a curvilinear air passageway having an
inlet and an outlet, the inlet being configured for allowing a flow
of air to enter the air passageway and circulate therethrough
toward the outlet, the escape aperture being configured to exhaust
the blast particulate out of the passageway the central opening
being configured to exhaust the fine particulate out of the
passageway.
23. The centrifuge media separator of claim 22 wherein the air foil
is disposed on a downstream side of the escape aperture.
24. The centrifuge media separator of claim 22 wherein the outer
wall and the air foil are integrally formed as a unitary
structure.
25. The centrifuge media separator of claim 17 further comprising a
low pressure source fluidly connected to the central opening and
configured to draw air into the inlet and exhaust air through the
central opening.
26. The centrifuge media separator of claim 25 wherein the low
pressure source is a blower mounted on the housing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates generally to blast cabinets
and, more particularly, to a uniquely configured centrifuge media
separator that may be included with the blast cabinet and which is
specifically adapted to separate blast particulate from fine
particulate such that the blast particulate may be recycled through
the blast cabinet while the fine particulate may be removed from
the blast cabinet in order to improve the visibility of a workpiece
being blasted within the blast cabinet.
[0004] Blast cabinets are typically utilized to clean or generally
prepare surfaces of a workpiece by directing high pressure fluid
containing abrasive blast media or blast particulate toward the
workpiece. The abrasive blast particulate is typically a relatively
hard material such as sand, sodium bicarbonate (i.e., baking soda),
metallic shot or glass beads although many other materials may be
selected for use as the blast particulate. FIG. 1 illustrates a
typical blast cabinet such as that which is commercially available
from MEDIA BLAST & ABRASIVES, INC. of Brea, Calif. The blast
cabinet typically includes a housing supported on legs. The housing
defines a generally air tight enclosure having a pair of arm holes
with gloves hermetically sealed thereto such that an operator may
manipulate a blast hose and/or the workpiece for blasting thereof
within the enclosure. The blast hose is configured to direct the
high pressure fluid such as air carrying the blast particulate at
high velocity toward the workpiece surfaces. The blast cabinet
typically includes a transparent window to allow the operator to
manipulate the workpiece and to visually observe the progress of
the blasting.
[0005] During blasting, the blast particulate bounces off of the
workpiece and is generally violently thrown about within the
enclosure such that a portion of the blast particulate normally
breaks down into smaller dust-like particles hereinafter referred
to as fine particulate. In addition, surface coatings, dirt and
scale that are abraded from the workpiece by the blast media
contribute to the formation of fine particulate within the
enclosure. The fine particulate is too small to be effective as a
blast medium and therefore must be eventually removed from the
blast cabinet. In addition, the fine particulate is of such small
size such that it may be suspended in the air within the enclosure
of the blast cabinet. Over time, the gradual buildup of the fine
particulate can create a foggy or clouded environment within the
enclosure which visually impairs or obstructs the operator's view
of the workpiece. Due to health and safety regulations and
environmental restrictions, the particulate-filled air cannot
simply be exhausted to the atmosphere. Rather, the
particulate-filled air must be filtered prior to exhaustion in
order to remove the fine particulate carried therein.
[0006] Accordingly, many prior art blast cabinets are ventilated
and include filters such that at least a portion of the fine
particulate may be purged from the air. The filters may be
configured as a replaceable cartridge filter or as a tube style
filter. Regardless of its specific configuration, the filter traps
the fine particulate during continuous exhaustion of the air from
the enclosure. In this manner, visibility of the enclosure is
enhanced such that the operator may more clearly observe the
workpiece during blasting. Unfortunately, gradual buildup of the
fine particulate on the filter reduces its filtering efficiency
such that the filter must be periodically cleaned and/or replaced.
In addition to filtering the fine particulate, the filter may also
trap some of the blast particulate. The gradual buildup of the
blast particulate increases the frequency of filter replacement.
Furthermore, blast particulate which may otherwise be recycled is
unintentionally discarded during replacement of the filter.
Continuous supplementing of the blast particulate to replace the
discarded blast particulate results in an increase in the operating
cost of the blast cabinet.
[0007] As can be seen, there exists a need in the art for a simple
blast cabinet having the capability to purge fine particulate from
air prior to its exhaustion out of the enclosure in order to
improve the operator's visibility of the workpiece within the
enclosure. In addition, there exists a need in the art for a blast
cabinet wherein blast particulate may be separated from fine
particulate such that the blast particulate may be recycled through
the blast cabinet. Furthermore, there exists a need in the art for
a blast cabinet wherein the frequency of filter replacement is
reduced such that the overall operating cost of the blast cabinet
is reduced. Finally, there exists a need in the art for a blast
cabinet wherein the incorporation of the centrifuge media separator
eliminates the need for a filter.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a centrifuge media separator for a blast cabinet. The centrifuge
media separator separates the blast particulate from the fine
particulate in order to purge the fine particulate from an interior
of the blast cabinet so as to increase the visibility of a
workpiece being blasted. In addition, the centrifuge media
separator allows for reclaiming or recycling of blast particulate
that has not been reduced into particulate of smaller size (i.e.,
fine particulate).
[0009] The blast cabinet may be comprised of a housing of generally
inverted pyramid shape such that spent blast particulate may be
funneled downwardly toward a lower portion of the housing for
recycling. The housing has an enclosure with arm holes to which two
gloves may be attached. The housing may also include a window such
that an operator may reach though the arm holes to grasp and
manipulate the workpiece during blasting. High pressure, high
velocity fluid such as air acts as a carrier medium to carry blast
particulate for high velocity discharge onto surfaces of the
workpiece to remove coatings from or otherwise prepare the
workpiece surfaces.
[0010] Mounted upon an upper portion of -the housing may be the
centrifuge media separator which has an air passageway through
which the blast media may be drawn by a low pressure source such as
a blower. The centrifuge media separator is fluidly connected to
the enclosure of the blast cabinet. The low pressure source is
fluidly connected to the centrifuge media separator and is
configured to draw air into the inlet and exhaust air through the
central opening such that the blast media may be drawn upwardly
from the enclosure and into the air passageway wherein the blast
particulate may be separated from the fine particulate. The blower
is configured to ventilate the enclosure by providing low pressure
in an area surrounding the centrifuge media separator. The low
pressure provided by the blower draws spent portions of the blast
media into the centrifuge media separator for subsequent separation
into blast particulate and fine particulate.
[0011] The centrifuge media separator is comprised of an upper
panel, a lower panel, and an outer wall extending between the upper
panel and the lower panel. The upper panel has a central opening
formed in a central portion thereof through which the fine
particulate may be exhausted. Both the upper panel and the lower
panel may be generally flat while the outer wall may be curvilinear
and may be formed in a generally spiral configuration of generally
decreasing radius. The inlet and the outlet of the air passageway
may be generally located adjacent to one another with the outlet
being disposed within the air passageway.
[0012] The outer wall may include at least one particulate escape
aperture formed therein such that the blast particulate may be
exhausted from the air passageway for subsequent recycling through
the blast cabinet. An air foil may be mounted on the outer wall to
facilitate exhaustion of the blast particulate through the escape
aperture. The air foil may be a separate component that is mounted
on the outer wall or it may be integrally formed with the outer
wall. An extension may be mounted on the outer wall and may extend
between the upper and lower panels in generally alignment with the
outer wall such that the outlet is located downstream of the inlet.
The extension may be included to prevent a reversal of flow through
the air passageway. The air passageway may be configured such that
its cross sectional area generally decreases along a direction of
the flow of the air from the inlet to the outlet.
[0013] In operation, the centrifuge media separator 30 may be
attached to the blower such that the blower creates an area of low
pressure adjacent the central opening in order to draw air into the
inlet. The air contains a combination of blast particulate and fine
particulate. Because the air passageway 32 circles about itself in
the generally spiral configuration, particulate having a density
greater than the air (i.e., the blast particulate) is centrifugally
directed toward the outer wall. Upon reaching the escape aperture,
the blast particulate is exhausted from the air passageway.
[0014] Downstream of the escape aperture, the air circulating
through the air passageway may contain fine particulate that may be
drawn through the central opening formed in the upper panel due to
the area of low pressure formed by the blower. The area of low
pressure created by the blower is preferably such that fine
particulate is drawn through the central opening while the larger
size of the blast particulate prevents its passage through the
central opening. Rather, the blast particulate recirculates through
the air passageway and is redirected back to the inlet such that
the blast particulate might pass through the escape aperture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the
invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blast cabinet having a
centrifuge media separator of the present invention incorporated
therein;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the centrifuge media
separator in one embodiment having a spiral configuration for
centrifugally directing blast particulate to an outer wall of the
media separator;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the centrifuge media separator
taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and illustrating blast particulate
centrifugally directed toward the outer wall and exiting at a
particulate escape aperture; and
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates relative dimensions of the centrifuge
media separator that may facilitate movement of the blast
particulate in the centrifugal direction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for
purposes of illustrating the present invention only and not for
purposes of limiting the same, the invention is directed to a
centrifuge media separator 30 that is specifically configured to
separate blast media. The blast media is generally comprised of
blast particulate 18 and fine particulate 20. The centrifuge media
separator 30 separates the blast particulate 18 from the fine
particulate 20 in order to purge the fine particulate 20 from an
interior of the blast cabinet 10 so as to increase the visibility
of a workpiece 24 being blasted by a pressure hose (not shown)
within the blast cabinet. In addition, the separation of the blast
particulate 18 from the fine particulate 20 allows for reclaiming
or recycling of the blast particulate 18 through the blast cabinet
10 in order to lower operating costs.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, shown is the blast cabinet 10 having
the centrifuge media separator 30 of the present invention
incorporated therein. The blast cabinet 10 may be comprised of a
housing 48 supported on legs 46. The housing 48 may have a
generally inverted pyramid shape such that spent blast particulate
18 may be funneled downwardly toward a lower portion of the housing
48 and subsequently picked up by the high pressure source (not
shown) for recycling through the blast cabinet 10. The housing 48
has a generally air tight enclosure 12 with arm holes 26 to which
two hermetically sealed gloves 14 may be attached. The housing 48
also includes a transparent window 16 such that an operator may
reach though the arm holes 26 to grasp and/or manipulate the
workpiece 24 during blasting thereof with the pressure hose.
[0022] The housing 48 of the blast cabinet 10 may also include at
least one door (not shown) allowing access into the enclosure 12
such that the workpiece 24 may be inserted thereinto and removed
therefrom. The pressure hose is a conduit for a high pressure, high
velocity fluid. The fluid acts as a carrier medium and carries
blast particulate 18 for high velocity discharge onto surfaces of
the workpiece 24 in order to remove coatings from or otherwise
prepare the workpiece 24 surfaces, as will be described in greater
detail below. The fluid may be a gas such as air as may be utilized
in the blast cabinet 10 of FIG. 1. However, the fluid may also be a
liquid such as water. While the specific construction of the blast
cabinet 10 is as shown in FIG. 1, it should be noted that the
centrifuge media separator 30 may be utilized or incorporated into
blast cabinets 10 and other similar devices of differing
configurations.
[0023] The size of the blast particulate 18 and material from which
the blast particulate 18 is fabricated is based upon the workpiece
24 to be blasted. The blast particulate 18 may be sand, sodium
bicarbonate (i.e., baking soda), metallic shot, glass beads, etc.
The blast particulate 18 may have a greater density relative to the
carrier medium. In cleaning applications, the blast particulate 18
may be sand having a size of about sixty microns. When the sand
blast particulate 18 is projected out of the pressure hose and onto
the workpiece 24, a portion of the sand may break down into fine
particulate 20 that is too small to be effective as a blast
particulate 18.
[0024] Mounted upon an upper portion of the housing 48 may be the
centrifuge media separator 30. The centrifuge media separator 30
has an air passageway 32 through which the blast media may be drawn
by a low pressure source 52 such as a blower mounted on the blast
cabinet 10. The centrifuge media separator 30 is fluidly connected
to the enclosure 12 of the blast cabinet 10. The low pressure
source 52 is fluidly connected to the central opening 36 and is
configured to draw air into the inlet 34 and exhaust air through
the central opening 36. In this manner, the blast media may be
drawn upwardly from the enclosure 12 and into the air passageway 32
wherein the blast particulate 18 may be separated from the fine
particulate 20. Optionally, a filter 22 may be provided with the
blast cabinet 10 to filter excess amounts of fine particulate 20
leaving the air passageway 32 prior to exhaustion out of the blast
cabinet 10. The blower may be mounted on the blast cabinet 10 above
the centrifuge media separator 30. The blower is configured to
ventilate the enclosure 12 by providing low pressure in an area
surrounding the centrifuge media separator 30. The low pressure
provided by the blower draws spent portions of the blast media into
the centrifuge media separator 30 for subsequent separation into
blast particulate 18 and fine particulate 20.
[0025] Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 3-4, shown is the
centrifuge media separator 30 of the present invention. The
centrifuge media separator 30 allows for reclaiming or recycling of
blast particulate 18 that has not been reduced into particulate of
smaller size (i.e., fine particulate 20). As was earlier mentioned,
such fine particulate 20 is not useful as blasting particulate 18
due to its relatively small size. The centrifuge media separator 30
allows for reclaiming or recycling of blast particulate 18 from the
air. In this manner, the blast particulate 18 may not prematurely
clog the filter 22, if included. As will be appreciated, such
premature clogging of the filter 22 results in an increase in
filter 22 maintenance or more frequent replacement of the filter
22.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the centrifuge media separator 30 is
comprised of an upper panel 54, a lower panel 56, and an outer wall
40 extending between the upper panel 54 and the lower panel 56. The
upper panel 54 may have a central opening 36 formed in a central
portion thereof and through which the fine particulate 20 may be
exhausted. The central opening 36 may be connected to the filter
22, if included. The central opening 36 may be circular as shown.
Both the upper panel 54 and the lower panel 56 may be generally
flat or substantially planar although alternative configurations of
the upper rand lower panels 54, 56 are contemplated. The outer wall
40 may be curvilinear. As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the outer wall 40 may
preferably have a spiral configuration of generally decreasing
radius such that the air passageway 32 generally assumes a spiral
configuration. The inlet 34 and the outlet 38 of the air passageway
32 may be generally located adjacent to one another with the outlet
38 being disposed within the air passageway 32.
[0027] Importantly, the outer wall 40 may include at least one
particulate escape aperture 44 formed therein such that the blast
particulate 18 may be exhausted from the air passageway 32 for
subsequent recycling through the blast cabinet 10. The outer wall
40 may include an air foil 50 mounted thereon on a downstream side
of the escape aperture 44. The air foil 50 may be configured to
create a local area of low pressure adjacent the escape aperture
44. As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the air foil 50 may extend generally
radially inwardly toward the central opening 36 and may span a
distance between the upper and lower panels 54, 56. More
specifically, the air foil 50 may be angled slightly inwardly in a
direction generally opposite that of a direction of flow from the
inlet 34 to the outlet 38. The direction of flow into the inlet 34
and within the air passageway 32 is indicated in FIG. 2 by the
arrow A. As shown in FIG. 3, the air foil 50 may be oriented at an
angle of about forty-five degrees relative to a tangent of the
outer wall 40 at a location from which the air foil 50 may extend.
However, it is contemplated that the air foil 50 may be provided in
a variety of alternative configurations. Due to its shape and
orientation in the air passageway 32, the air foil 50 may be
configured to facilitate exhaustion of the blast particulate 18
through the escape aperture 44. The air foil 50 may be a separate
component that is mounted on the outer wall 40. Alternatively, the
air foil 50 may be integrally formed with the outer wall 40.
[0028] An extension 43 may optionally be included with the
centrifuge media separator 30. Mounted on the outer wall 40, the
extension 43 may extend between the upper and lower panels 54, 56
and may extend from and be disposed in general alignment with the
outer wall 40 such that the outlet 38 is located downstream of the
inlet 34 along a direction of the flow A. The extension 43 may be a
separate component that extends from the outer wall 40 or the
extension 43 may be integrally formed with the outer wall 40. By
including the extension 43 with the centrifuge media separator 30,
reversal of the flow A through the air passageway 32 may be
minimized or prevented.
[0029] Referring still to FIGS. 2-4, the centrifuge media separator
30 may optionally include an inner ring 42 disposed radially
inwardly relative to the outer wall 40. The inner ring 42 may be
sized complementary to the central opening 36. For example, if the
central opening 36 is circular, then the central opening 36 may
preferably be cylindrically shaped and sized complementary to the
circular shape of the central opening 36. The inner ring 42 may
extend partially downwardly from the central opening 36. In this
regard, the inner ring 42 may extend downwardly about one-quarter
to about one-third of an overall height of the centrifuge media
separator 30 although the inner ring 42 may extend downwardly in
any amount. The overall height of the centrifuge media separator 30
is defined by a distance between the upper and lower panels 54, 56.
By including the inner ring 42 with the centrifuge media separator
30, the operating efficiency thereof may be improved.
[0030] The upper panel 54, lower panel 56 and outer wall 40
collectively define the curvilinear air passageway 32 having an
inlet 34 and an outlet 38. The inlet 34 may be rectangularly shaped
due to the orthogonal relation of the upper and lower panels 54, 56
and the outer wall 40. Similarly, the outlet 38 may also be
partially rectangularly shaped due to the orthogonal relation of
the upper and lower panels 54, 56 and the outer wall 40 and inner
ring 42. However, the inlet 34 may be configured in a variety of
alternative shapes as may be provided by including an inlet 34
extension 43 of, for example, cylindrical shape. Conversely, the
outlet 38 configuration may be generally determined by the shape of
the upper and lower panels 54, 56 and the shape of the outer wall
40 and inner ring 42. The inlet 34 is configured to allow a flow of
air to enter the air passageway 32 and circulate therethrough
toward the outlet 38.
[0031] As can be seen in FIGS. 2-4, the air passageway 32 is
preferably configured such that a cross sectional area thereof
generally decreases along a direction of the flow A from the inlet
34 to the outlet 38. The outlet 38 is disposed radially inwardly
relative to and positioned downstream of the inlet 34 such that the
flow of air enters the inlet 34, circulates through the air
passageway 32, exits the outlet 38, and rejoins the flow of air
entering the inlet 34. The escape aperture 44 is configured to
exhaust the blast particulate 18 out of the passageway. In this
regard, the escape aperture 44 may be preferably configured as a
generally rectangularly shaped slot that extends from the upper
panel 54 to the lower panel 56. The central opening 36 is
configured to exhaust the fine particulate 20 out of the passageway
when the low pressure source 52 is applied to an area surrounding
the central opening 36 in the upper panel 54, as will be described
in greater detail below. The centrifuge media separator 30 may be
manufactured from material selected from the group consisting of
wood, plastic, metal, stainless steel, steel, or other suitable
material and any combination thereof.
[0032] Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 4, the
centrifuge media separator 30 may be configured to produce an air
inlet 34 velocity of between about two thousand to about six
thousand five hundred cubic feet per minute. In order to produce
such an air inlet 34 velocity, the centrifuge media separator 30
may be configured such that the inlet 34 has a square configuration
with a size of about four inches in width indicated by "X" in FIG.
2, and five inches in height indicated by "Y" in FIG. 2. The outlet
38 may also have a square configuration having a size of about five
inches in height and a width smaller than the width of the inlet
34. In this regard, the air passageway 32 may have a gradually
decreasing cross sectional area along the direction of flow within
the air passageway 32. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the centrifuge
media separator 30 may be configured such that the cross sectional
area of the air passageway 32 generally decreases from the inlet 34
to a point about halfway along a length of the air passageway 32. A
remainder of the length of the air passageway 32 may have a
generally constant cross sectional area, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0033] In use, the centrifuge media separator 30 may be attached to
the blower as mentioned above. The blower creates an area of low
pressure adjacent the central opening 36 and in an area adjacent
the inner ring 42, if included with the centrifuge media separator
30. The area of low pressure draws air into the inlet 34. As was
earlier mentioned, the air contains a combination of blast
particulate 18 and fine particulate 20. Because the centrifuge
media separator 3b is configured such that the air passageway 32
circles about itself, particulate having a density greater than the
air (i.e., the blast particulate 18) tends to be centrifugally
directed toward the outer wall 40. The blast particulate 18 may
circulate within the centrifuge media separator 30 in a sliding
manner against the outer wall 40.
[0034] When the blast particulate 18 reaches the escape aperture
44, the blast particulate 18 is exhausted from the air passageway
32. A pressure differential may exist between an inside and outside
of the air passageway 32 at an area adjacent the escape aperture
44. The outside of the air passageway 32 may have a lower pressure
compared to that on the inside of the air passageway 32 such that
the blast particulate 18 is drawn to the outside of the air
passageway 32. Once outside of the air passageway 32, gravity may
draw the blast particulate 18 downwardly into a blast particulate
18 hopper such that the blast particulate 18 can be reused. The
pressure differential between the inside and outside of the air
passageway 32 may be increased with the addition of the air foil 50
such that the separating efficiency of the centrifuge media
separator 30 is enhanced.
[0035] Downstream of the escape aperture 44, the air circulating
through the air passageway 32 may contain fine particulate 20. The
air with fine particulate 20 may be drawn through the central
opening 36 formed in the upper panel 54 due to the application of
low pressure by the blower. If the centrifuge media separator 30
includes an inner ring 42, the air may pass under and around the
inner ring 42 such that it may be drawn upwardly through the
central opening 36. The low pressure may be sufficient to draw air
with fine particulate 20 through the central opening 36 but not
insufficient to draw the blast particulate 18 therethrough. As
such, the blast particulate 18 downstream of the escape aperture 44
may be recirculated through the air passageway 32 and redirected
back to the inlet 34 such that the blast particulate 18 might pass
through the escape aperture 44.
[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates preferred relative dimensions of the
centrifuge media separator 30 wherein X represents a unit of
measurement equivalent to the inlet 34 width. A major diameter of
the outer wall 40 may be about three times the inlet 34 width. The
inner ring 42 may have a diameter which is about two times the
inlet 34 width. The in inner ring 42 may be generally coaxially
aligned with the outer wall 40. Preferably, the inlet 34 air
velocity is preferably about two thousand to about six thousand
five hundred feet per minute. To achieve such a velocity, the
volume of air passing through the air passageway 32 may be
approximately five hundred cubic feet per minute. Under such
geometrical constraints and with the inlet 34 being sized with a
four inch width and a five inch height, the velocity of the air at
the inlet 34 may be approximately thirty-five hundred feet per
minute.
[0037] As stated above, the air passageway 32 may have a generally
decreasing cross sectional area in a direction of flow A from the
inlet 34 to the outlet 38. The decreasing cross sectional area of
the air passageway 32 increases the air velocity as the air
progresses downstream of the inlet 34. Preferably, the air flow is
laminar once the air reaches the escape aperture 44 wherein the
blast particulate 18 may be centrifugally directed to the outer
wall 40 such that the blast particulate 18 may exit the particulate
escape aperture 44.
[0038] Additional modifications and improvements of the present
invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art. Thus, the particular combination of parts described and
illustrated herein is intended to represent only certain
embodiments of the present invention, and is not intended to serve
as limitations of alternative devices within the spirit and scope
of the invention.
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