Two-Hose Cryogenic Abrasive Blasting System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface blasting systems face issues such as corrosion, hazardous waste generation, inconsistent mixing of materials, and complex equipment setups, which hinder efficient surface cleaning and preparation for industrial machinery.
Innovation Solution
A two-hose cryogenic/abrasive blasting system that combines a housing with dual hoppers for cryogenic and abrasive materials, an air source, a hose, and a nozzle, featuring a grate to prevent clumping, an auger for mixing, and a venturi suction for efficient material delivery, allowing for consistent blending and reduced equipment footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate hoppers are used for cryogenic and abrasive materials, then material delivery capability is improved, but equipment complexity and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple hoppers (cryogenic material hopper and abrasive material hopper) into a single integrated housing structure. The hoppers are positioned adjacent to each other within the same housing, allowing both materials to be delivered through a single nozzle system. This merging approach maintains the capability to deliver multiple materials while reducing equipment footprint and simplifying the overall system configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it contains both the cryogenic material hopper and abrasive material hopper, provides structural support for the mixing mechanism, and houses the nozzle assembly. This multi-functional design allows a single piece of equipment to perform what previously required multiple separate devices, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining material delivery capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple air source connection lines are used to deliver materials to the nozzle, then material delivery flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the delivery of cryogenic material and abrasive material through a single air source connection line. The compressed air flows through a common line and then divides to propel both materials through their respective hoppers to the mixing chamber and nozzle. This single air source system maintains flexible material delivery while eliminating the complexity of multiple separate air lines and their associated control systems.
3Productivity
If sand is used for surface blasting, then cleaning capability is improved, but hazardous waste generation and substrate life decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and temperature parameters of the blasting material by using cryogenic materials (such as liquid nitrogen or dry ice) instead of conventional sand. The cryogenic material is stored and delivered at extremely low temperatures, fundamentally altering its properties compared to ambient temperature sand. This parameter change enables effective cleaning capability while eliminating the generation of hazardous sand waste and avoiding the conductive properties that reduce substrate life.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves consistent surface preparation standards (SP and NACE standards) with reduced abrasive media usage and waste, enabling efficient cleaning and surface preparation while simplifying the equipment setup.
Implementation Method 1
The system may include a venturi suction for efficient material delivery
Implementation Method 2
An auger may extend along a portion or all of the tubing. The hose may be attached to the tubing.
Implementation Method 3
The system may also include a vibrator to encourage movement of the cryogenic material and the abrasive material
Implementation Method 4
a first hopper configured to receive a cryogenic material and a second hopper configured to receive an abrasive media
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for cleaning and preparing a surface are described. The system includes a housing with a first hopper configured to receive a first material and a second hopper configured to receive a second material. A tube housing an auger may be located where the two hoppers meet. In this way, the materials are mixed in the tube before being pushed through a hose to a nozzle. The mixture can be sprayed out of the nozzle. The mixture only requires a single air source, and the system operates using a combination of gravity, venturi suction, vibration, an auger and the like.