Abrasive blasting unit

Claim 2

An abrasive blasting unit comprising a movable transporter, a vertical tower mounted on said transporter, a work platform, elevating means connecting said platform to said tower for movement up and down said tower, a boom pivotally connected to and extending outwardly from said platform, an abrasive blast wheel connected to said boom remote from said platform, and said boom incorporating first conveying means for feeding abrasive particles to said blast wheel.

Claim 3

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said boom incorporates second conveying means for transporting spent abrasive particles and refuse away from said wheel.

Claim 4

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tower is mounted on an auxiliary car, and roller means movably mounting said auxiliary car on said transporter whereby said tower and said platform may traverse said transporter.

Claim 5

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said boom comprises upper and lower hollow structural members interconnected to each other, said blast wheel being mounted in a housing, said housing being mounted by pivot means to one end of said upper structural member, said first conveying means being a screw conveyor in said upper structural member, pivot means connecting the other end of said upper member to said platform for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, one end of said lower structural member being disposed under said blast wheel for receiving the falling spent abrasive and refuse, said second conveying means being a screw conveyor in said lower structural member, and pivot means connecting the other end of said lower structural member to said platform for pivotal movement about a vertical axis.

Claim 6

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tower comprises a plurality of telescopic columns, and said blast wheel being mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis.

Claim 7

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 5 wherein said pivot means for said upper and lower members comprises a hollow rotatable shaft the interior of which communicates with its screw conveyor to permit abrasive particles to pass therethrough.

Claim 8

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 6 wherein said blast wheel housing includes a shroud to confine the abrasive particles, an opening in said shroud to permit abrasive particles to be projected against an object to be cleaned, and sealing lips around said opening for permitting the housing to press against the object to be cleaned.

Claim 9

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 7 wherein said platform includes an operator''s station, said blast wheel being directly mounted to a motor shaft, said lips incorporating sensor means to maintain said lips in contact with the object to be cleaned and to orient said wheel with respect to the contour of the object to be cleaned, an open receiving spout connected to said lower member under an opening in said shroud to permit said shroud and said wheel to pivot while receiving the falling spent abrasive and refuse, said spout communicating with said second screw conveyor, a first elevator on said platform communicating with the second screw conveyor for receiving a mixture of spent abrasive and refuse therefrom, a separator on said platform communicating with said first elevator for sEparating the mixture into its components including substantially pure abrasive particles, and a second elevator on said platform communicating with said separator for feeding the substantially pure abrasive particles to said first screw conveyor.

Claim 10

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 8 wherein a feed hopper is mounted on said platform communicating with said separator for receiving the substantially pure abrasive particles therefrom, said second elevator communicating with said feed hopper, a dust collector being mounted on said platform, said dust collector communicating with said separator, and a flexible duct communicating with the interior of said shroud and with said dust collector to purge the air therefrom.

Claim 11

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 5 including interlocking means for preventing upward movement of said telescopic columns until said platform is at the top of its column.

Claim 12

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein said roller means comprises a plurality of rollers mounted on said auxiliary car, track means on said transporter, said rollers being mounted in said track means, and means on both the top and bottom of said rollers to prevent said platform from tipping.

Claim 13

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 11 including piston-cylinder means connected between the auxiliary car and said transporter to permit said auxiliary car to transverse said transporter.

Claim 14

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein a front wheel and a pair of rear wheels are mounted under said transporter, each of said wheels having self-contained drives and being steerable + or - 90*, and said rear wheels being interlocked to prevent opposed steering thereof.

Claim 15

A blasting unit as set forth in claim 12 including a plurality of outriggers connected to said transporter for stabilizing said transporter and for leveling said platform.