INTERCHANGEABLE ABRASIVE FLOW CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

Device for distributing and regulating an abrasive media The present invention relates to a device (1) for distributing and regulating an abrasive media intended to be installed on an aerogommeur, remarkable in that it comprises a distribution block (2) provided with at least: - a first inlet orifice (3) ensuring the supply of compressed air, - a second inlet orifice (4) allowing the entry under pressure of the abrasive media into the distribution block (2) from the reserve, - an adjustment orifice (5) receiving, in a removable and interchangeable manner, a selective adjustment cylinder (6) or a progressive adjustment cylinder each making it possible to constrain the flow of the abrasive media in a respectively selective or progressive manner, and the internal end of which acts as a mixing chamber (8), and - an outlet orifice (9) connected to said mixing chamber (8) to allow the expulsion of the mixture of air and abrasive media obtained. [Fig 2]

Description

Title of the invention: INTERCHANGEABLE ABRASIVE FLOW REGULATION DEVICE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of jet stripping of an abrasive media called aerogommage, it relates more particularly to a device for distributing and regulating abrasive media intended to be installed on abrasive jet stripping equipment, called an aerogommeuse, or equivalent. State of the art

[0002] Airblasting is a stripping process consisting of projecting, at low pressure, a mixture of previously dried compressed air and natural mineral abrasive media (grains from a few microns to 1 millimeter) onto a surface to be treated, using an airblaster, said abrasive media being chosen according to its grain size and its composition so as not to damage said surface.

[0003] Sandblasting is interesting because it has the advantage of preserving the environment (use without chemicals), protecting the operator, and adapting to the treatment of complex and difficult-to-access surfaces. In addition, it can be adapted to the stripping of a plurality of surfaces.

[0004] The sandblaster, which projects the mixture of air and abrasive media, allows the air pressure to be adjusted so as to minimize the alteration of the surface to be treated. In addition, from the sandblaster, an easily adjustable abrasive distribution device allows the action of the abrasive to be adjusted as best as possible according to the surface to be treated while controlling the consumption of abrasive.

[0005] However, known sandblasters are certainly effective but they have the major drawback of not allowing the creation of a homogeneous mixture of air and abrasive media with high precision regulation. Summary of the invention

[0006] The aim of the present invention is therefore to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a device for distributing and regulating abrasive media intended to be installed on an air-blasting machine allowing, on the one hand, the creation of a homogeneous mixture of air and abrasive media with high-precision regulation and, on the other hand, rapid interchangeability of the regulation mode, said distribution and regulation device making it possible to adapt to any type of abrasive media regardless of their calibration or density, so as to regulate the distribution of the latter very precisely.

[0007] In accordance with the invention, there is therefore proposed a device for distributing and regulating an abrasive media intended to be installed on an aerogumming machine under a reserve of abrasive media, remarkable in that it comprises a distribution block provided with at least: - a first inlet port ensuring the supply of compressed air, - a second inlet port allowing the abrasive media to enter the distribution block under pressure from the reserve, - an adjustment orifice receiving, in a removable and interchangeable manner, a selective adjustment cylinder or a progressive adjustment cylinder each making it possible to constrain the flow of the abrasive media in a selective or progressive manner respectively, and the internal end of which acts as a mixing chamber for the air and the abrasive media coming respectively from said first and second inlet orifices, and - an outlet orifice connected to said mixing chamber to allow the expulsion from the distribution block of the mixture of air and abrasive media obtained.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the selective adjustment cylinder is pivotally mounted around its longitudinal axis, in a sealed manner, in the adjustment orifice of the distribution block between a plurality of angular positions comprising a stop position making it possible to stop the flow of abrasive media arriving via the second inlet orifice, and a plurality of regulation positions making it possible to regulate the flow rate of said flow, the end of said selective adjustment cylinder arranged in the mixing chamber being perforated with as many orifices as there are angular regulation positions, and each orifice receiving a calibrated washer provided with an internal perforation whose diameter is adapted to the flow rate of the desired filter media flow.

[0009] Cavities are advantageously provided on the selective adjustment cylinder and cooperate with a spring ball secured to the distribution block, each cavity corresponding to one of said angular positions.

[0010] Advantageously, the selective adjustment cylinder is locked in translation by means of a screw, screwed into a thread of said distribution block.

[0011] The selective adjustment cylinder preferably comprises at least one O-ring to ensure sealing between the adjustment orifice of the distribution block and the selective adjustment cylinder.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the progressive adjustment cylinder is provided with a hollow tubular body provided with at least one orifice allowing the passage of the flow of abrasive media arriving through the second inlet orifice and going into the mixing chamber, and in which a piston moves along its longitudinal axis, the movement of said piston more or less closing said orifice.

[0013] Advantageously, the piston is mounted in the body according to a helical connection so that the rotation of said piston around its longitudinal axis causes it to move along the latter.

[0014] The piston is preferably screwed into the body and comprises a handle at its free end.

[0015] The progressive adjustment cylinder advantageously comprises at least one O-ring to ensure sealing between the adjustment orifice of the distribution block and the progressive adjustment cylinder.

[0016] Preferably, the rotation of the piston of the progressive adjustment cylinder relative to the distribution block is locked using a screw screwed into the thread. Brief description of the figures

[0017] Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the following description of an embodiment of a container according to the invention, with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] is a front view of a device for distributing and regulating abrasive media according to the invention,

[0019] [Fig.2] is a sagittal sectional view of the device of [Fig.l] along the axis 11—11' with a selective cylinder,

[0020] [Fig.3] is a sagittal sectional view of the device of [Fig.l] along the axis 11—11' with a progressive cylinder,

[0021] [Fig.4] is a front view of the selective cylinder of [Fig.2],

[0022] [Fig.5] is a sectional view of the selective cylinder of [Fig.4] along the axis VV,

[0023] [Fig.6] is a front view of the progressive cylinder of [Fig.3].

[0024] [Fig.7] is a sectional view of the progressive cylinder of [Fig.4] along the axis VII-VII'. Description of the embodiments

[0025] Thus, with reference to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a device 1 for distributing and regulating an abrasive media intended to be installed on an aerogommeur, not shown, under a reserve of abrasive media, not shown, and comprising a distribution block 2 provided with at least the following four orifices: - a first inlet orifice 3 ensuring the supply of compressed air, - a second inlet orifice 4 allowing the abrasive media to enter under pressure into the distribution block 2 from the reserve, - an adjustment orifice 5 receiving, in a removable and interchangeable manner, a selective adjustment cylinder 6 or a progressive adjustment cylinder 7 each making it possible to constrain the flow of the abrasive media in a respectively selective or progressive manner, and the internal end of which acts as an air mixing chamber 8 and abrasive media coming respectively from said first and second inlet ports 3, 4, and - an outlet orifice 9 connected to said mixing chamber 8 to allow the expulsion from the distribution block 2 of the mixture of air and abrasive media obtained.

[0026] Here, "constraining the flow of the abrasive media" means creating pressure losses to slow down the flow more or less in order to regulate it. Furthermore, the constraint could be such that the flow will be stopped.

[0027] With reference to figures 2, 4 and 5, the device 1 for distributing and regulating an abrasive media comprises a selective adjustment cylinder 6 pivotally mounted around its longitudinal axis, in a sealed manner, in the adjustment orifice 5 of the distribution block 2 between a plurality of angular positions, advantageously uniformly distributed, said angular positions comprising an angular stop position making it possible to stop the flow of abrasive media arriving via the second inlet orifice 4, and a plurality of angular regulation positions making it possible to regulate the flow rate of said flow according to the abrasive media requirements for treating a surface to be stripped using the sandblaster.

[0028] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the selective adjustment cylinder 6 comprises six angular positions each materialized by an index 10 advantageously affixed to a handle 11 located at the free end of the selective adjustment cylinder 6, the angular positions indexed for example from A to F and define, on the one hand, angular regulation positions indexed from A to E ranging from the smallest flow rate of abrasive media to the largest and, on the other hand, an angular stop position F preventing the flow in the mixing chamber 8 of the abrasive media arriving through the second inlet orifice 4 of the distribution block 2.

[0029] Once inserted into the adjustment orifice 5 of the distribution block 2, the selective adjustment cylinder 6 is locked in translation by means of a screw (not shown), screwed into a thread 12 of said distribution block 2 (Cf. [Fig.l]), said selective adjustment cylinder 6 then being completely free to rotate around its longitudinal axis.

[0030] Furthermore, the seal between the adjustment orifice 5 of the distribution block 2 and the selective adjustment cylinder 6 is ensured by at least one O-ring 13 placed on said selective adjustment cylinder 6.

[0031] Finally, the indexing of the selective adjustment cylinder 6 allowing it to be locked in the selected angular position (and therefore to adjust the flow rate of the corresponding abrasive media flow) is advantageously ensured by cavities 15 arranged on the selective adjustment cylinder 6 and cooperating with a spring ball 14 secured to the distribution block 2, each cavity 15 corresponding to one of said angular positions.

[0032] To regulate the flow rate of the filter medium, the end of the selective adjustment cylinder 6 arranged in the mixing chamber 8 is perforated with as many orifices 16 as there are angular regulation positions, i.e. five in the embodiment shown, allowing the passage of the abrasive medium arriving through the second inlet orifice 4 and going into the mixing chamber 8. To constrain the flow of the abrasive medium, each orifice 16 receives a calibrated washer 17 provided with an internal perforation 18 whose diameter is adapted to the flow rate of the desired filter medium. Thus, the smaller the diameter of the internal perforation 18 of a calibrated washer 17, the greater the constraint, and the lower the flow rate.

[0033] Advantageously, each calibrated washer 17 is made of tungsten carbide in order to guarantee increased longevity of the latter when passing through the very hard abrasive media.

[0034] It is understood that with this configuration the selective adjustment cylinder 6 is perfectly adapted to very fine and regular abrasive media, and that the angular positions of said selective cylinder 6 are ideal in order to simplify the adjustment of the flow rate of the filter media.

[0035] With reference to figures 3, 6 and 7, the device 1 for distributing and regulating an abrasive medium comprises a progressive adjustment cylinder 7 provided with a hollow tubular body 19 provided with at least one orifice 20 allowing the passage of the flow of the abrasive medium arriving through the second inlet orifice 4 and going into the mixing chamber 8, and in which a piston 21 moves along its longitudinal axis, the movement of said piston 21 constraining the flow of said abrasive medium by more or less closing said orifice 20.

[0036] To do this, the piston 21 is advantageously mounted in the body 19 according to a helical connection so that the rotation of said piston 21 around its longitudinal axis causes it to move along the latter, the piston 21 then preferably being screwed into the body 19 and comprising at its free end a handle 22 to facilitate its gripping.

[0037] Once the flow rate has been adjusted, the rotation of the piston 22 of the progressive adjustment cylinder 7 is locked relative to the distribution block 2, advantageously using a screw (not shown) screwed into the thread 12. Furthermore, the seal between the body 19 of the progressive adjustment cylinder 7 and the distribution block 2 is ensured by an O-ring 23.

[0038] Advantageously, the parts of the body 19 and piston 21 of the progressive adjustment cylinder 7 in contact with the abrasive medium are made of tungsten carbide, in order to guarantee increased longevity of the latter when passing the very hard abrasive medium. With reference to [Fig. 7], this therefore concerns the end of the body 19 provided with the orifice 20 and arranged in the mixing chamber 8 and the end of the piston 21 located at the level of said orifice 20, that is to say the end opposite the handle 22. The other parts of the bodies 19 and piston 21 of the progressive adjustment cylinder 7 are metallic and, preferably, made of stainless steel.

[0039] Finally, it is clear that, thanks to the large dimensions of the orifice 20 of the progressive adjustment cylinder 7, this embodiment of the device 1 for distributing and regulating an abrasive medium is perfectly suited to abrasive media of large or irregular calibers.

[0040] Finally, it is understood that with a selective adjustment cylinder 6 or a progressive adjustment cylinder 7 which is easily interchangeable, the device 1 for distributing and regulating an abrasive medium allows simple, rapid and precise adjustment of the flow rate of said abrasive medium in order to adapt said flow to the stripping requirements, regardless of the type of abrasive medium.

[0041] The device 1 for distributing and regulating an abrasive media according to the invention finds a particular application in sandblasting in many fields of activity such as, for example, industry, businesses, craftsmen, communities or even individuals. However, it is obvious that the device 1 can be adapted and used to distribute or regulate other types of media.

[0042] Finally, it goes without saying that the examples of device 1 for distributing and regulating an abrasive media in accordance with the invention which have just been described are only particular illustrations, in no way limiting the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1) for distributing and regulating an abrasive media intended to be installed on an air-blasting machine under a reserve of abrasive media, characterized in that it comprises a distribution block (2) provided with at least: - a first inlet orifice (3) ensuring the supply of compressed air, - a second inlet orifice (4) allowing the entry under pressure of the abrasive media into the distribution block (2) from the reserve, - an adjustment orifice (5) receiving, in a removable and interchangeable manner, a selective adjustment cylinder (6) or a progressive adjustment cylinder (7) each making it possible to constrain the flow of the abrasive media in a respectively selective or progressive manner, and the internal end of which acts as a mixing chamber (8) for the air and the abrasive media coming respectively from said first and second inlet orifices (3, 4),and - an outlet orifice (9) connected to said mixing chamber (8) to allow the expulsion from the distribution block (2) of the mixture of air and abrasive media obtained.,

2. Distribution and regulation device (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that the selective adjustment cylinder (6) is pivotally mounted around its longitudinal axis, in a sealed manner, in the adjustment orifice (5) of the distribution block (2) between a plurality of angular positions comprising a stop position making it possible to stop the flow of abrasive media arriving through the second inlet orifice (4), and a plurality of regulation positions making it possible to regulate the flow rate of said flow, in that the end of said selective adjustment cylinder (6) arranged in the mixing chamber (8) is perforated with as many orifices (16) as there are angular regulation positions, and in that each orifice (16) receives a calibrated washer (17) provided with an internal perforation (18) whose diameter is adapted to the flow rate of the desired filter media flow.

3. Distribution and regulation device (1) according to claim 2 characterized in that cavities (15) are arranged on the selective adjustment cylinder (6) and cooperate with a spring ball (14) secured to the distribution block (2), each cavity (15) corresponding to one of said angular positions.

4. Distribution and regulation device (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the selective adjustment cylinder (6) is locked in translation by means of a screw screwed into a thread (12) of said distribution block (2).

5. Distribution and regulation device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the selective adjustment cylinder (6) comprises at least one O-ring (13) to ensure sealing between the adjustment orifice (5) of the distribution block (2) and the selective adjustment cylinder (6).

6. Device (1) for distribution and regulation according to claim 1 characterized in that the progressive adjustment cylinder (7) is provided with a hollow tubular body (19) provided with at least one orifice (20) allowing the passage of the flow of abrasive media arriving through the second inlet orifice (4) and going into the mixing chamber (8), and in which a piston (21) moves along its longitudinal axis, the movement of said piston (21) more or less closing said orifice (20).

7. Device (1) for distribution and regulation according to claim 6 characterized in that the piston (21) is mounted in the body (19) according to a helical connection so that the rotation of said piston (21) around its longitudinal axis causes its movement along the latter.

8. Device (1) for distribution and regulation according to claim 7 characterized in that the piston (21) is screwed into the body (19) and comprises at its free end a handle (22).

9. Distribution and regulation device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the progressive adjustment cylinder (7) comprises at least one O-ring (23) to ensure sealing between the adjustment orifice (5) of the distribution block (2) and the progressive adjustment cylinder (7).

10. Distribution and regulation device (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the rotation of the piston (22) of the progressive adjustment cylinder (7) relative to the distribution block (2) is locked using a screw screwed into the thread (12).

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