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.

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)...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[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).

[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.

Problems solved by technology

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.

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.

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.

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