Abrading – Machine – Sandblast
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-28
2004-09-21
Rachuba, M. (Department: 3723)
Abrading
Machine
Sandblast
C451S099000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06793563
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to sandblasters, and more particularly, relates to highly portable particulate blaster devices.
2. Description of Related Art
Sandblasters entrain a hard particulate material, typically fine sand, in a stream of air which can be directed against a target site to be ablated or abrasively eroded by the sand. Thus, the rapidly moving sand will hit the target site with considerable force and thereby remove surface material, for example, mold, rust, paint, and similar abradable substances. Unfortunately, conventional sandblasters are usually quite massive and require bulky air compressors and expensive equipment dedicated specifically to sandblasting.
One wide spread use of sandblasting equipment is the removal of graffiti, particularly from concrete structures. Private property owners and municipalities have a substantial continuing graffiti problem and it is often periodically addressed by sandblasting. The “portable” sandblasting equipment used, however, is usually a large compressor/sand carrying truck fitted with long high pressure bases that can extend from the truck to the structure having graffiti which is to be removed. Such sandblasting equipment is expensive to own or lease, and as a result, graffiti removal is often a long deferred maintenance problem.
What is needed is a particulate or sandblaster assembly which is highly portable, easy to operate and low in cost and yet highly effective for many sandblasting applications.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In summary, one aspect of the present invention is directed to a particulate blaster assembly for use as an attachment to an air blower which includes a tube, a vacuum assembly, and a particulate material aspirator. The air directing tube has an inlet end formed for coupling to the air blower, and most preferably a portable leaf blower, to receive air discharged therefrom and has a movable exhaust end formed for discharge of air and particulate material entrained in the air toward a target site. The vacuum assembly is fluid coupled to the air directing tube and formed to produce a vacuum as air passes down the air directing tube. The particulate material aspirator is fluid coupled to the vacuum assembly and responsive to vacuum generated by the vacuum assembly to aspirate a particulate material, such as sand, from a particulate material source and communicate the particulate material to the air directing tube for acceleration of the particulate material in the tube and discharge of air and entrained particulate material from the exhaust end of the tube.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a particulate material aspirator assembly for the blaster which is responsive to a vacuum source to aspirate particulate material from a particulate material source, usually a portable source such as a bucket filled with sand. The aspirator assembly includes a base gravity support on a top surface of the sand in the container. A vacuum conduit, passing through the base, extends below the base and has an open vacuum end for aspirating the particulate material from the container. An opposite end of the vacuum conduit is coupled to the vacuum generating structure. Most preferably, the aspirator assembly also includes a pressure conduit mounted to the base and having an inlet end coupled to a source of pressure and an open pressure end extending below the base to a position proximate the open vacuum of the vacuum conduit. The vacuum conduit and the pressure conduit may be movably mounted to the base to vary the distance between the open vacuum end and the open pressure end so as to enhance the cooperative pressure and vacuum in fluidizing the particulate material and entraining it in the air being communicated to the air directing tube. The open vacuum end and the open pressure end preferably extend below the base by a vertical distance greater than the height of the angle of repose of the particulate material.
The particulate blaster assembly and aspirator of the present invention has other features and advantages which will be apparent from, or are set forth in more detail in, the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, and the following Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention, which together serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
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Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Rachuba M.
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