Cleaning method and apparatus
US5525093A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 27, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jun 11, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 27, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB24C1/003
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the blast cleaning of the surface of an object using solid carbon dioxide pellets as the abrasive projected by a gaseous carbon dioxide propellent. The method and apparatus of this invention subjects a portion of a quantity of liquified carbon dioxide contained within a storage vessel to adiabatic expansion to provide a solid phase carbon dioxide and then compressing or extruding the solid phase carbon dioxide to form a plurality of pellets. Another portion of the liquified carbon dioxide is vaporized to provide a volume of gaseous carbon dioxide at above atmospheric pressure which is then used as a carrier and propellent to project the carbon dioxide pellets against the surface of the object to be cleaned. This invention eliminates the need to use a separate compressed air or nitrogen propellent system for a blast cleaning operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.