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  Abrasive and dust separatorUSPTO Application #: 20060040596Title: 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. (end of abstract)
Agent: Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker - Aliso Viejo, CA, US Inventor: Robert A. Robinson USPTO Applicaton #: 20060040596 - Class: 451087000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Abrading, Machine, Sandblast, Having Particle Recovery Means The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060040596. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
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), metallic shot or glass beads although many other materials may be selected for use as the blast particulate. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical blast cabinet such as that which is commercially available from MEDIA BLAST & ABRASIVES, INC. of Brea, Calif. The blast cabinet typically includes a housing supported on legs. The housing defines a generally air tight enclosure having a pair of arm holes with gloves hermetically sealed thereto such that an operator may manipulate a blast hose and/or the workpiece for blasting thereof within the enclosure. The blast hose is configured to direct the high pressure fluid such as air carrying the blast particulate at high velocity toward the workpiece surfaces. The blast cabinet typically includes a transparent window to allow the operator to manipulate the workpiece and to visually observe the progress of the blasting. [0005] During blasting, the blast particulate bounces off of the workpiece and is generally violently thrown about within the enclosure such that a portion of the blast particulate normally breaks down into smaller dust-like particles hereinafter referred to as fine particulate. 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. Rather, the particulate-filled air must be filtered prior to exhaustion in order to remove the fine particulate carried therein. [0006] Accordingly, many prior art blast cabinets are ventilated and include filters such that at least a portion of the fine particulate may be purged from the air. The filters may be configured as a replaceable cartridge filter or as a tube style filter. Regardless of its specific configuration, the filter traps the fine particulate during continuous exhaustion of the air from the enclosure. In this manner, visibility of the enclosure is enhanced such that the operator may more clearly observe the workpiece during blasting. 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. In addition to filtering the fine particulate, the filter may also trap some of the blast particulate. The gradual buildup of the blast particulate increases the frequency of filter replacement. 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. [0007] As can be seen, there exists a need in the art for a simple blast cabinet having the capability to purge fine particulate from air prior to its exhaustion out of the enclosure in order to improve the operator's visibility of the workpiece within the enclosure. In addition, there exists a need in the art for a blast cabinet wherein blast particulate may be separated from fine particulate such that the blast particulate may be recycled through the blast cabinet. Furthermore, there exists a need in the art for a blast cabinet wherein the frequency of filter replacement is reduced such that the overall operating cost of the blast cabinet is reduced. Finally, there exists a need in the art for a blast cabinet wherein the incorporation of the centrifuge media separator eliminates the need for a filter. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [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). [0009] The blast cabinet may be comprised of a housing of generally inverted pyramid shape such that spent blast particulate may be funneled downwardly toward a lower portion of the housing for recycling. The housing has an enclosure with arm holes to which two gloves may be attached. The housing may also include a window such that an operator may reach though the arm holes to grasp and manipulate the workpiece during blasting. High pressure, high velocity fluid such as air acts as a carrier medium to carry blast particulate for high velocity discharge onto surfaces of the workpiece to remove coatings from or otherwise prepare the workpiece surfaces. [0010] Mounted upon an upper portion of -the housing may be the centrifuge media separator which has an air passageway through which the blast media may be drawn by a low pressure source such as a blower. The centrifuge media separator is fluidly connected to the enclosure of the blast cabinet. The low pressure source is fluidly connected to the centrifuge media separator and is configured to draw air into the inlet and exhaust air through the central opening such that the blast media may be drawn upwardly from the enclosure and into the air passageway wherein the blast particulate may be separated from the fine particulate. The blower is configured to ventilate the enclosure by providing low pressure in an area surrounding the centrifuge media separator. The low pressure provided by the blower draws spent portions of the blast media into the centrifuge media separator for subsequent separation into blast particulate and fine particulate. [0011] The centrifuge media separator is comprised of an upper panel, a lower panel, and an outer wall extending between the upper panel and the lower panel. The upper panel has a central opening formed in a central portion thereof through which the fine particulate may be exhausted. Both the upper panel and the lower panel may be generally flat while the outer wall may be curvilinear and may be formed in a generally spiral configuration of generally decreasing radius. The inlet and the outlet of the air passageway may be generally located adjacent to one another with the outlet being disposed within the air passageway. [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. [0013] In operation, the centrifuge media separator 30 may be attached to the blower such that the blower creates an area of low pressure adjacent the central opening in order to draw air into the inlet. The air contains a combination of blast particulate and fine particulate. Because the air passageway 32 circles about itself in the generally spiral configuration, particulate having a density greater than the air (i.e., the blast particulate) is centrifugally directed toward the outer wall. Upon reaching the escape aperture, the blast particulate is exhausted from the air passageway. [0014] Downstream of the escape aperture, the air circulating through the air passageway may contain fine particulate that may be drawn through the central opening formed in the upper panel due to the area of low pressure formed by the blower. The area of low pressure created by the blower is preferably such that fine particulate is drawn through the central opening while the larger size of the blast particulate prevents its passage through the central opening. Rather, the blast particulate recirculates through the air passageway and is redirected back to the inlet such that the blast particulate might pass through the escape aperture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: [0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blast cabinet having a centrifuge media separator of the present invention incorporated therein; [0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the centrifuge media separator in one embodiment having a spiral configuration for centrifugally directing blast particulate to an outer wall of the media separator; [0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the centrifuge media separator taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and illustrating blast particulate centrifugally directed toward the outer wall and exiting at a particulate escape aperture; and [0019] FIG. 4 illustrates relative dimensions of the centrifuge media separator that may facilitate movement of the blast particulate in the centrifugal direction. Continue reading... Full patent description for Abrasive and dust separator Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Abrasive and dust separator patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Abrasive and dust separator or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method and system for chemical mechanical polishing pad cleaning Next Patent Application: Grinding or polishing arrangement Industry Class: Abrading ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Abrasive and dust separator patent info. 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