Abrading – Machine – Sandblast
Patent
1997-05-28
1999-05-11
Rose, Robert A.
Abrading
Machine
Sandblast
451 38, 451 39, B24B3/06
Patent
active
059021748
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a self-drive blast apparatus which is capable of moving along wall surfaces while retaining suction-adhered condition onto the wall surfaces.
BACKGROUND ART
As is widely known, a considerable difficulty is involved in conducting by manual works, such kind of works as the cleaning and the conditioning of the substrate surface prior to painting of the inner and outer wall surfaces, in a ship, high-rise building, huge tank, or the like. For this reason, automating those works without relying on manual works has been studied, and various apparatus for the automation have been proposed.
For example, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. Sho 60-28715 discloses an apparatus which adheres onto a wall surface and moves along the wall surface, wherein the apparatus basically comprising a pressure-receiving body, wheels for driving an apparatus body, seal for defining a depressurized space in cooperation with the pressure-receiving body and with the outer wall surface, and a depressurization source for discharging fluid from the depressurized space. Also, Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. Sho 60-26752 discloses an apparatus comprising, in addition to that basic arrangement, a mechanism for blast cleaning by projecting blast material onto a wall surface which the apparatus suction-adheres onto and moves along.
In these conventional apparatus, for the purpose of moving the apparatus along a wall surface, a space defined by a casing as the pressure-receiving body and the wall surface is depressurized, while to the casing is attached a seal member which is made of a substantially unbreathable and pliable material, and through the seal member the casing closely adheres to the wall surface. The apparatus adheres by suction onto the wall surface by reducing the pressure within the substantially sealed space between the apparatus and the wall surface lower than the pressure outside the apparatus. While maintaining the suction-adhered condition, the apparatus moves along the wall surface with driving wheels coupled to the apparatus. The apparatus is capable of conducting blast cleaning, for example, by projecting blast material onto the wall surface along which the apparatus moves.
By the way, in conducting such works as the cleaning and the conditioning of the substrate surface prior to painting of the inner and outer wall surfaces, in a ship, high-rise building, huge tank, or the like, it is known that a difficulty is involved in the works in a corner where two wall surfaces intersect at a specified angle. The conventional apparatus, however, have not been capable of dealing with a corner where two wall surfaces intersect each other at a specified angle, though the apparatus are capable of dealing with one wall surface (which is typically a flat one).
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a self-drive blast apparatus which is capable of moving along two wall surfaces which intersect at a specified angle while keeping suction-adhered onto the wall surfaces, and capable of conducting and blast cleaning by injecting blast material onto an portion wherein the two wall surfaces intersect and the vicinity thereof.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a self-drive blast apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention is characterized in comprising a casing which defines a space between the casing and two wall surfaces intersecting each other at a specified angle, a seal member which is attached to the circumferential portion of the casing to seal airtightly between the circumferential portion of the casing and the two wall surfaces, a depressurization path in which one end opens into the space and in which the other end side communicates with a depressurizing apparatus, an blast material nozzle which is mounted to the casing and in which one end faces the wall surfaces in the space and the other end side is connected to an apparatus for supplying blast material, and moving means which is capable of m
REFERENCES:
patent: 4029164 (1977-06-01), Urakami
patent: 4934475 (1990-06-01), Urakami
patent: 5588900 (1996-12-01), Urakami
Nguyen George
Rose Robert A.
U-Technology Co., Ltd.
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