Gas-abrasive mixing and feeding device

Claim 2

Equipment for use in mixing abrasive particles with a compressed gas, comprising a reservoir for abrasive particles, a venturi tube in the reservoir, the tube having its inlet end portion apertured to provide communication with the interior of the reservoir, an abrasive delivery connection extended from the discharge end of the venturi tube, the discharge end portion of the venturi tube being apertured to provide communication with the interior of the reservoir, and means for causing abrasive particles to circulate through the venturi tube and the reservoir and to deliver abrasive particles through said delivery connection comprising a compressed gas supply line and a nozzle for delivering a stream of compressed gas from said line into the throat of the venturi tube through the inlet end of the tube.

Claim 3

Equipment as defined in claim 1 and further including a conduit interconnecting the compressed gas supply line and the abrasive delivery connection.

Claim 4

Equipment as defined in claim 2 and further including an adjustable choke valve in said conduit.

Claim 5

Equipment as defined in claim 3 and further including a check valve in said conduit between the choke valve and the abrasive delivery connection.

Claim 6

Equipment as defined in claim 1 and further including a controllable shut-off valve in said delivery connection.

Claim 7

Equipment for use in mixing abrasive particles with a compressed gas, comprising a reservoir for abrasive particles, a venturi tube in the reservoir, the tube having its inlet end positioned in a lower region of the reservoir and having apertures in communication with the interior of the reservoir, the tube having its discharge end positioned in an upper region of the reservoir and having apertures in communication with the interior of the reservoir, an abrasive delivery connection connected with the discharge end of the venturi tube downstream of the apertures in the discharge end, a compressed gas supply line having one branch connected with the inlet end of the venturi tube and a second branch connected with said abrasive delivery connection, a nozzle directed into the inlet end of the venturi tube for delivering a stream of compressed gas from said one branch into the throat of the venturi tube, and a controllable shut-off valve in said abrasive delivery connection.

Claim 8

Equipment for use in mixing abrasive particles with a compressed gas, comprising a reservoir for abrasive particles, a venturi tube in the reservoir, the tube having its inlet end positioned in a lower region of the reservoir and having apertures in communication with the interior of the reservoir, the tube having its discharge end positioned in an upper region of the reservoir and having apertures in communication with the interior of the reservoir, an abrasive delivery connection connected with the discharge end of the venturi tube downstream of the apertures in the discharge end, a compressed gas supply line having one branch connected with the inlet end of the venturi tube and a second branch connected with said abrasive delivery connection, a nozzle directed into the inlet end of the venturi tube for delivering a stream of compressed gas from said one branch into the throat of the venturi tube, and a controllable shut-off valve in said abrasive delivery connection.

Claim 9

Equipment for use in mixing abrasive particles with a compressed gas, comprising a reservoir for abrasive particles, a venturi tube having a throat and inlet and outlet ends extending in opposite directions from the throat and progressively increasing in cross section as compared with the throat, the inlet end of the venturi tube being presented downwardly adjacent the bottom of the reservoir and having abrasive inlet portage below the venturi throat, the oulet end of the venturi tube being presented upwardly in the reservoir and having abrasive outlet portage through the wall of the outlet end above the venturi throat, a valved delivery line connected with the venturi tube above the outlet portage, a compressed gas supply line connected with the inlet end of the venturi tube, and a nozzle in the connection of the gas supply line with the inlet end of the venturi tube, the nozzle being extended into the inlet end of the venturi tube and serving to deliver a compressed gas jet through the throat of the venturi tube, the abrasive inlet portage providing for inlet of the abrasive in a zone surrounding said nozzle.

Claim 10

Equipment for use in mixing abrasive particles with a compressed gas, comprising a reservoir for abrasive particles, a venturi tube having a throat and inlet and outlet ends extending in opposite directions from the throat and progressively increasing in cross section as compared with the throat, the inlet end of the venturi tube being presented downwardly adjacent the bottom of the reservoir and having abrasive inlet portage below the venturi throat, the oulet end of the venturi tube being presented upwardly in the reservoir and having abrasive outlet portage through the wall of the outlet end above the venturi throat, a valved delivery line connected with the venturi tube above the outlet portage, a compressed gas supply line connected with the inlet end of the venturi tube, and a nozzle in the connection of the gas supply line with the inlet end of the venturi tube, the nozzle being extended into the inlet end of the venturi tube and serving to deliver a compressed gas jet through the throat of the venturi tube, the abrasive inlet portage providing for inlet of the abrasive in a zone surrounding said nozzle.

Claim 11

Equipment for use in mixing abrasive particles with a compressed gas, comprising a reservoir for abrasive particles, a venturi tube having a throat and inlet and outlet ends extending in opposite directions from the throat and progressively increasing in cross section as compared with the throat, the inlet end of the venturi tube being presented downwardly adjacent the bottom of the reservoir and having abrasive inlet portage below the venturi throat, the outlet end of the venturi tube being presented upwardly in the reservoir and having abrasive outlet portage through the wall of the outlet end above the venturi throat, a valved delivery line connected with the venturi tube above the outlet portage, a compressed gas supply line connected with the inlet end of the venturi tube, and a nozzle in the connection of the gas supply line with the inlet end of the venturi tube, the nozzle being positioned to direct a stream of compressed gas into the throat of the venturi tube.

Claim 12

Equipment for use in mixing abrasive particles with a compressed gas, comprising a reservoir for abrasive particles, a venturi tube having a throat and inlet and outlet ends extending in opposite directions from the throat and progressively increasing in cross section as compared with the throat, the inlet end of the venturi tube being presented downwardly adjacent the bottom of the reservoir and having abrasive inlet portage below the venturi throat, the outlet end of the venturi tube being presented upwardly in the reservoir and having abrasive outlet portage through the wall of the outlet end above the venturi throat, a valved delivery line connected with the venturi tube above the outlet portage, a compressed gas supply line connected with the inlet end of the venturi tube, and a nozzle in the connection of the gas supply line with the inlet end of the venturi tube, the nozzle being positioned to direct a stream of compressed gas into the throat of the venturi tube.

Claim 13

Equipment as defined in claim 8 in which the abrasive inlet portage comprises a plurality of apertures through the wall of the inlet end of the venturi tube below the venturi throat.