US3900968A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile cleaning and polishing device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-10-30
•
Granted: 1975-08-26
•
Expires: 1994-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus is readily movable from work site to work site to effect surface cleaning and polishing of large metallic structures such as ship hulls and storage tanks. The apparatus is suspended from a crane or hoist and comprises a mobile frame assembly having mounted thereon a centrifugal projector for impelling abrasive particles against a surface to be cleaned and a collection system for collecting the abrasive particles scattered off the surface along with the removed paint, scale and other waste matter thereby preventing any contaminants from being introduced into the atmosphere. A set of magnets are resiliently mounted on the frame assembly and magnetically attract the apparatus towards the metallic structure being worked on to effectively position and maintain the apparatus in close proximity to the surface to be cleaned during its operation. A series of rollers are connected to the apparatus to enable same to roll along the surface and the rollers maintain a slight clearance between the magnets and the surface thereby preventing the magnets from physically contacting and adhering to the surface. The rollers may be positively driven by a drive system incorporated in the apparatus to advance it along the surface or the crane or hoist which suspends the apparatus may be used to effect advancement of the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Genshichi Shigyo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:35
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24C; B24C1/00; B24C1/08; B24C1/086; B24C1/04; B24C3/00; B24C3/02; B24C3/06; B24C3/065; B24C9/00; B24C9/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus comprising, a mobile main frame movable into a working position wherein same confronts and is spaced-apart from the surface of a structure to be cleaned, abrasive cleaning means mounted on said main frame including means defining an outlet for impelling abrasive particles through said outlet opening against a section of the surface to be cleaned to effect abrasive cleaning of the surface, collecting means mounted on said frame assembly and including means defining a collecting passage surrounding said outlet opening for collecting the abrasive particles scattered off the surface along with the removed scale and other waste particles, positioning means coacting with said main frame for positioning and maintaining said main frame in said working position during operation of both said abrasive cleaning means and said collecting means, said positioning means comprising magnetic field generating means connected to said main frame for generating during use of the apparatus of magnetic field coacting with the structure to be cleaned when same is composed of magnetic material to develop a magnetic force of attraction therebetween having sufficient strength to maintain said main frame in its working position during operation of said cleaning and collecting means, and a motive power for effecting movement of said main frame along the surface to be cleaned while maintaining same in confronting spaced-apart relationship therefrom by said magnetic field generating means during operation of said abrasive cleaning and collecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus comprising, a mobile main frame movable into a working position wherein same confronts and is spaced-apart from the surface of a structure to be cleaned, abrasive cleaning means mounted on said main frame including means defining an outlet for impelling abrasive particles through said outlet opening against a section of the surface to be cleaned to effect abrasive cleaning of the surface, collecting means mounted on said frame assembly and including means defining a collecting passage surrounding said outlet opening for collecting the abrasive particles scattered off the surface along with the removed scale and other waste particles, positioning means coacting with said main frame for positioning and maintaining said main frame in said working position during operation of both said abrasive cleaning means and said collecting means, said positioning means comprising magnetic field generating means connected to said main frame for generating during use of the apparatus of magnetic field coacting with the structure to be cleaned when same is composed of magnetic material to develop a magnetic force of attraction therebetween having sufficient strength to maintain said main frame in its working position during operation of said cleaning and collecting means, and a motive power for effecting movement of said main frame along the surface to be cleaned while maintaining same in confronting spaced-apart relationship therefrom by said magnetic field generating means during operation of said abrasive cleaning and collecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a needle descaling tool having a plurality of needles arranged to strike and remove scale and rust from the surface to be treated before an abrasive cleaning operation of the abrasive cleaning means is carried out on the particular section of the surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said abrasive cleaning means includes a projector having a opening through which a blast of shot can be ejected to impinge on and clean the surface and blasting means for causing said blast to impinge on the surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising recovery means for recovering shot which has impinged on the surface and returning it to an inlet of said blast means, and defining means defining a recovery passage surrounding said outlet opening, said opening is in the form of two collection passages arranged beneath it.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outlet opening is defined by resilient seals connected to the edges of the passages and the opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said positioning means includes a set of fluid reciprocatory motors mounted on said frame asseMbly and actuatable to extended state in order to make a spaced-apart relationship between the structure to be treated and the frame, and cushioning members affixed to respective ones of said fluid reciprocatory motors and cooperative therewith when in the extended state to engage with the structure to absorb impulsive forces transmitted during operation of the apparatus thereby holding and stabilizing said frame assembly in its working position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said projector comprises a multi-bladed impeller to which shots can be fed and impelled towards said outlet opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said impeller is carried on one end of a shaft journalled in a main bearing, and a motor connected to drive the other end of said shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further including a supply hopper disposed above said impeller and having a bottom discharge outlet through which shot can be fed to said impeller by gravity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said recovery means includes a conveyor system which collects shot and transfers it to said hopper.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said conveyor system comprises an annulus bucket conveyor of U-section, said annulus conveyor has a plurality of baffles arranged thereinside, the annulus being arranged so that it extends below the outlet opening and above said hopper, and the baffles being arranged at such an angle so that as said annulus is rotated, shot resting thereon between said baffles is carried to said hopper and discharged thereinto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said annulus is mounted in a similar shaped casting having gaps therein, and a roller disposed at each gap in driving engagement with said annulus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further including a motor connected to rotationally drive one of said rollers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said conveyor system includes two horizontal screws conveyors respectively situated above said hopper and below the outlet opening, and a bucket conveyor is vertically arranged so that it connects said screw conveyors to each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said recovery means includes a suction system for separating broken shots and removed waste particles from whole shots.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said suction system includes a blower having an input connected by suction lines to a part of said passage to create and upwardly flowing current of air during use of the apparatus allows whole shots to pass down said passages.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said blower has an outlet connected to a filter whereby material entrained by the air is separated therefrom and passed to storage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further including connecting means for connecting said blower inlet to said recovery passage.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning means includes a plurality of magnets mounted on the main frame and enabling the apparatus to be magnetically held in close contact with a steel or other magnetic surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein each magnet is individually mounted resiliently mounted on the frame of the apparatus.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further including carriages having rollers carrying a guide frame slidable relative to the main frame of the apparatus and means mounting each magnet on a backing plate urged resilientlY outwards by spring bearing on said guide frame.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein each backing plate carries a plurality of rollers arranged so that its magnet is always spaced a short distance from the surface to be cleaned.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein each backing plate is attached to the main frame of the apparatus and spring loaded outwardly thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein each spring surrounds a pin which carries a ball caster on its end remote from the main frame, the ball casters being arranged so that the magnet is always supported and maintained a small distance from the surface being cleaned.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including a set of shock absorbers of resilient material mounted on said main frame and movable into contact with the surface to be cleaned.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including a multi-roller means having a plurality of rollers arranged to facilitate movement of the apparatus up and down along the surface to be cleaned.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mobile cleaning and polishing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including means on the main frame for attaching to a suspension cable or the like to suspend the apparatus adjacent the surface to be cleaned.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |