Apparatus for shot blasting work members

Claim 2

In an apparatus for cleaning the insides of hollow work members by a blasting medium, especialLy to remove residual core sand from cast work members; an enclosure, means for supporting a work member open end down in said enclosure substantially coaxial with a predetermined work axis, a probe on said work axis moveable upwardly from beneath a work member into the inside of a work member in the enclosure and having nozzle means on the upper end directed toward the internal surface of the work member, means for supplying solid blasting medium and compressed air to said nozzle means, work member conveying means moveable into and out of said enclosure, means for actuating said work member conveying means, and means for permitting movement of said work member conveying means only when said probe is in a lowered position.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes means for rotating said probe and work member relatively on said work axis.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes means for advancing said probe along said work axis step by step and for rotating said probe and work member relatively at each said step.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes conveyor means leading laterally from said enclosure and adapted to receive spent solid blasting medium in said enclosure and to convey it from said enclosure.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 4 which includes means to separate the sand from the solid blasting medium after leaving said enclosure, and separate receiving stations for said sand and solid blasting medium.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes door means for said enclosure for the entrance and exit of work members, means connected to the top of said enclosure for withdrawing air and dust therefrom, and conveyor means leading laterally from the enclosure at the bottom for conveying spent solid blasting medium and sand therefrom.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for cleaning the insides of hollow work members by a blasting medium, especially to remove residual core sand from cast work members; an enclosure, means for supporting a work member open end down in said enclosure substantially coaxial with a predetermined work axis, a probe on said work axis moveable upwardly from beneath a work member into the inside of a work member in the enclosure and having nozzle means on the upper end directed toward the internal surface of the work member, means for supplying solid blasting medium and compressed air to said nozzle means, door means for said enclosure for the entrance and exit of work members, means connected to the top of said enclosure for withdrawing air and dust therefrom, conveyor means leading laterally from the enclosure at the bottom for conveying spent solid blasting medium and sand therefrom, means permitting operation of said door means only when said probe is in a lowered position, work member conveying means moveable into and out of said enclosure via the openings pertaining to said door means, and means permitting movement of said conveying means only when said door means are open.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for cleaning the insides of hollow work members by a blasting medium, especially to remove residual core sand from cast work members; an enclosure, means for supporting a work member open end down in said enclosure substantially coaxial with a predetermined work axis, a probe on said work axis moveable upwardly from beneath a work member into the inside of a work member in the enclosure and having nozzle means on the upper end directed toward the internal surface of the work member, means for supplying solid blasting medium and compressed air to said nozzle means, door means for said enclosure for the entrance and exit of work members, means connected to the top of said enclosure for withdrawing air and dust therefrom, conveyor means leading laterally from the enclosure at the bottom for conveying spent solid blasting medium and sand therefrom, means permitting operation of said door means only when said probe is in a lowered position, work member conveying means moveable into and out of said enclosure via the openings pertaining to said door means, and means permitting movement of said conveying means only when said door means are open.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 7 which includes work member conveying means moveable into and out of said enclosure, and means for actuating said work member conveying means.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said work member conveying means comprises an indexable table having one side extending into said enclosure.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 9 in which said table has circumferentially spaced ring members rotatable thereon and each adapted to support a work member open end down.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said work member conveying means comprises wheeled carriage means, and track means leading into said enclosure and supporting said carriage means.

Claim 14

An apparatus according to claim 11 in which said carriage means comprises a pair of rigidly interconnected carriages spaced so that when either is in working position in said enclosure the other is outside said enclsoure.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said nozzle means includes first nozzles inClined upwardly from the horizontal and second nozzles which are horizontal.

Claim 16

An apparatus according to claim 13 in which said second nozzles supply jets at higher velocity than said first nozzles.

Claim 17

An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes openings in said enclosure for the introduction and removal of work members, door means for closing said openings, work member conveying means to convey work members to and from said enclosure via said openings, a supply of compressed air and solid blasting mediums and valve means controlling the connection of said supply to said nozzle means, first fluid motor means for actuating said door means, second fluid motor means for actuating said valve means, third fluid motor means for actuating said conveying means, fourth fluid motor means for actuating said probe, fifth fluid motor means for rotating a work member in said enclosure and said probe relatively, and means for reversible supplying pressure fluid selectively to said aforementioned fluid motor means comprising pump means and control valves interposed between said pump means and said respectively fluid motor means.

Claim 18

An apparatus according to claim 15 which includes means to control the speed of said fifth fluid motor means.

Claim 19

An apparatus according to claim 15 which includes means to vary the speed of said fifth fluid motor means during rotation thereof.

Claim 20

An apparatus according to claim 5 which includes means for air washing said solid blasting medium at the time of separation thereof from said sand to remove dust and sand therefrom.