Reciprocating Piston Dry Ice Blasting Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry ice blasting devices are costly and inflexible, requiring rotating discs for mixing dry ice with compressed air, which leads to high energy consumption and limited adaptability for cleaning various objects.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a cylinder and piston system that uses reciprocal movement to mix dry ice with compressed air, allowing for adjustable and efficient dry ice blasting without chemical additives, featuring multiple piston chambers, air feeds, and control mechanisms for flexible operation and low energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If rotating discs are used to mix dry ice with compressed air, then dry ice blasting can be achieved, but the device becomes costly and inflexible with high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The piston is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber, second chamber, etc.) that operate in sequence. Each chamber independently mixes and propels dry ice particles, allowing modular operation and reduced overall system complexity compared to rotating disc mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses reciprocating piston movement instead of continuous rotation. The piston moves back and forth between chambers, dynamically switching between filling, mixing, and propelling phases. This dynamic operation reduces energy consumption while maintaining adaptability through variable stroke control.
2Productivity
If rotating discs are used for dry ice mixing, then mixing function is provided, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston operates in periodic cycles: filling phase (intake stroke), mixing phase (compression), and propelling phase (discharge). This periodic action replaces continuous energy-intensive rotation with intermittent controlled movement, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining productivity through optimized stroke frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing function is extracted from a continuous rotating mechanism and concentrated into discrete piston chambers that mix only during specific phases of the reciprocating cycle. This eliminates energy waste associated with continuous rotation when mixing is not actively occurring.
3Reliability
If conventional dry ice devices are used, then dry ice blasting is achieved, but component wear increases due to high pressure on seals and springs
Solution Approach 1:
Pressure management is segmented across multiple piston chambers rather than concentrated in a single high-pressure zone. Each chamber handles pressure sequentially during the reciprocating cycle, distributing mechanical stress on seals and springs across multiple lower-stress events, thereby extending component lifespan.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cleaning device and method for dry ice blasting of objects. The device comprises: - a frame provided with a cylinder which comprises a piston provided with a number of chambers and arranged movably in the cylinder housing; and a first air feed for feeding air to the cylinder; a dry ice feed for feeding dry ice to the cylinder; a discharge for discharging air with dry ice; and - control means for controlling the movement of the cylinder in the cylinder housing such that in use, during a stroke of the piston, a chamber is filled with dry ice from the dry ice feed and subsequently carried by air from the air feed to the discharge of the cleaning device.