Rotor Assembly Vortex Grit Recirculation for Single-Pass Surface Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional abrasive cleaning methods, such as wheel blasting and pneumatic blasting, fail to achieve a desired surface finish in a single pass, often resulting in dimpled or peened surfaces that trap contaminants, require additional processing, and are inefficient due to wear and size limitations, leading to increased maintenance and operating costs.

Innovation Solution

A rotor assembly with angled deflectors creates a vortex to recycle and project 100% pure grit for abrasive processing, allowing for a single pass hook profile on various material surfaces, reducing wear, and enabling efficient recirculation of particulate media within a closed system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional wheel blasting or pneumatic blasting is used, then abrasive cleaning can be performed, but the desired surface finish cannot be achieved in a single pass and additional processing is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesingle pass processing capabilityVSAvoidsurface finish quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The blast wheel is divided into multiple segments with different blade types (impact blades, projection blades, and recirculation blades) that perform different functions simultaneously, enabling complex surface preparation in a single pass

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges multiple blasting functions into a single apparatus: impact cleaning, surface profiling, and media recirculation are combined in one wheel assembly, eliminating the need for separate processing steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If mixtures of shot and grit are used, then abrasive cleaning can be performed, but a dimpled or peened surface profile is created that traps contaminants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidcontaminant trapping

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the blast wheel are designed with specific blade types optimized for particular functions: impact blades for cleaning, projection blades for creating anchor profile, and recirculation blades for media management, ensuring optimal surface quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using traditional shot-and-grit mixtures that create dimpled surfaces, the invention inverts the approach by using 100% grit with specially designed projection blades that actively create the desired anchor profile rather than passively creating dimples

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If traditional blasting systems are used, then surface cleaning can be achieved, but wear and size limitations increase maintenance and operating costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface cleaning effectivenessVSAvoidmaintenance requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The recirculation blades automatically return spent media to the feed hopper, creating a self-sustaining system that reduces manual intervention and maintenance requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The closed-loop recirculation system keeps media continuously available for blasting, eliminating downtime for media replacement and maintaining consistent cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 a consistent White Metal Blast finish with an anchor profile, reducing maintenance, increasing efficiency, and allowing for all sides of targets to be processed in a single pass, while maintaining media recirculation and reducing waste.

Implementation Method 1

The rotor assembly includes multiple lofting elements and impelling elements. The lofting elements are to create a vortex to loft particulate material to be used to process a target

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVortex: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

The impelling elements are to project the particulate material toward the target

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 3

Abrasive cleaning or blast cleaning involves applying accelerated particulate materials against a surface to be cleaned

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Implementation Method 4

The impact of the abrasive with the target dislodges paint, rust, and other debris from the surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentUS8926406B2Surface applied abrasive cleaning apparatus and method

Publication Date: 2015.01.06 ACCELABRATOR TECH

AI summary

A rotor assembly is provided for blast processing. The rotor assembly includes multiple lofting elements to create a vortex to loft particulate material to be used to process a target, and multiple elements to project the particulate material toward the target. The rotor assembly is enclosed within an operating chamber that has a target area into which the particulate material is projected to strike the target. There may further be angled deflectors at the opening to direct particulate material back toward the rotor assembly to use the material for further processing. Certain components are easily adjustable for different sizes and shapes of target. The action of the rotor assembly enables the use of up to 100% pure grit for entire cleaning processes, and provides single pass hook profile on any common material surface.