Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for producing and blasting sublimable granules on demand

US5520572A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
21References
51Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 1, 1994
Grant dateMay 28, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 1, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB24C1/003
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A granulator and delivery system for sublimable CO.sub.2 granules has working edges rotatably supported for defining a cutting surface; a driver for powering the working edges; a feeder for advancing solid CO.sub.2 into contact with the working edges, the working edges removing the granules from the solid CO.sub.2 ; a duct having an outlet, the granules being directed from the block to flow from the outlet; an eductor having a material inlet, a gas inlet and an eductor outlet, the material inlet being connected to the outlet; a delivery control valve fluid connected between the gas inlet and a source of high pressure gas; a controller responsive to an external signal for: activating the driver, the feeder and the delivery control valve for delivery of granules from the duct in response to activation of the demand signal; deactivating at least one of the driver and the feeder in response to either deactivation of the demand signal for halting production of the granules or for preventing consumption of all but a predetermined portion of the solid CO.sub.2 ; and reversing the feeder for permitting loading of a fresh quantity of solid CO.sub.2 into the granulator in response to a prede…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.