Equipment and method for delivering an abrasive-laden gas stream

Claim 3

A method as defined in claim 1 in which the liquid is released through an annular orifice surrounding the pressurized jet.

Claim 4

A method as defined in claim 1 or 2 in which the particles have solubility in the liquid.

Claim 5

A method as defined in claim 3 in which the particles are water soluble and the liquid is water.

Claim 6

A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the particles have a predetermined solubility in water, and the rate of releasing the water is at least as great as the predetermined solubility so that all of the particles discharged can dissolve in the water, and further comprising directing the combined stream against the surface to be abraded from a distance providing for impingement of the stream upon the surface before complete solution of the particles in the water.

Claim 11

A method as defined in claim 7; and further comprising shutting off the particle introduction while continuing to deliver the stream of gas.

Claim 12

A method as defined in claim 7 or 8; and further comprising continuing to deliver the gas stream regardless of the control of the stream of liquid.

Claim 13

A method as defined in claim 9; and further comprising controlling the feeding of the liquid stream to shut off the liquid feeding while continuing to deliver the stream of gas.

Claim 14

A method as defined in claim 9; and further comprising controlling the gas stream to reduce the gas flow while continuing to deliver the stream of gas.

Claim 19

A method as defined in claim 13 in which the water is fed in an annular stream surrounding said induction zone.

Claim 20

A method as defined in claim 13 in which the stream of abrasive-laden gas comprises a controllably adjustable jet of the abrasive-laden gas and further including delivering a stream of gas into the position of said jet regardless of the adjustment of the abrasive-laden stream.

Claim 21

Equipment for delivering a stream of particles for abrasive cleaning comprising, for combination with a supply of particles of dry water-soluble material: an enclosure surrounding the particle supply, means delivering pressurized air to the interior of the enclosure for introducing the particles into a pressurized stream of particles and air, a moisture filter upstream of the air delivered to the enclosure for providing a stream comprising water-soluble particles and substantially moisture-free air, the enclosure being sufficiently airtight to prevent appreciable ingress of ambient air and entrained atmospheric moisture, nozzle means for directing the particle-laden air stream toward the surface to be abraded, nozzle menas for delivering a stream of water into the particle-laden air stream, and a handpiece on which both of the nozzle means are mounted.

Claim 22

Equipment for delivering a stream of particles for abrasive cleaning comprising, for combination with a supply of particles of dry water-soluble material: an enclosure surrounding the particle supply, means delivering pressurized air to the interior of the enclosure for introducing the particles into a pressurized stream of particles and air, a moisture filter upstream of the air delivered to the enclosure for providing a stream comprising water-soluble particles and substantially moisture-free air, the enclosure being sufficiently airtight to prevent appreciable ingress of ambient air and entrained atmospheric moisture, nozzle means for directing the particle-laden air stream toward the surface to be abraded, nozzle menas for delivering a stream of water into the particle-laden air stream, and a handpiece on which both of the nozzle means are mounted.

Claim 23

Equipment for delivering a stream for abrasive cleaning comprising: a nozzle body or head; inner and outer tubular elements mounted on the nozzle head in telescoped relation, the cross-sectional dimensions of said elements providing an annular flow space between the inner and outer elements, and the elements each having an upstream inlet opening and a downstream discharge orifice; adjustable means for delivering a stream of particles suspended in a gas into the inlet end of the inner tubular element for discharge through its discharge orifice, the adjustable means providing for shut-off of the particle-entraining stream, means for filling the annular flow space with a liquid to be delivered from the discharge orifice of the outer tubular element, the filling means comprising means for delivering a supply of such liquid into the inlet end of the outer tubular element; and means for delivering a gas through the inner tubular element when the particle-entraining stream is shut off.

Claim 24

Equipment for delivering a stream for abrasive cleaning comprising: a nozzle body or head; inner and outer tubular elements mounted on the nozzle head in telescoped relation, the cross-sectional dimensions of said elements providing an annular flow space between the inner and outer elements, and the elements each having an upstream inlet opening and a downstream discharge orifice; adjustable means for delivering a stream of particles suspended in a gas into the inlet end of the inner tubular element for discharge through its discharge orifice, the adjustable means providing for shut-off of the particle-entraining stream, means for filling the annular flow space with a liquid to be delivered from the discharge orifice of the outer tubular element, the filling means comprising means for delivering a supply of such liquid into the inlet end of the outer tubular element; and means for delivering a gas through the inner tubular element when the particle-entraining stream is shut off.

Claim 25

Equipment as defined in claim 17 wherein the discharge orifice of the inner tubular element is upstream of the discharge orifice of the outer tubular element; the adjustable means for delivering the particle-entraining stream delivers the stream at a velocity high enough to create an ambient induction zone downstream of the discharge orifice of the inner tubular element; and the liquid filling means delivers the liquid from the discharge orifice as a substantially unpressured flow for induction into the particle-entraining stream in the induction zone.

Claim 26

Equipment as defined in claim 17 or 18 wherein the means for delivering a gas when the particle entraining stream is shut off delivers only sufficient gas to keep moisture from entering the inner tubular element.

Claim 27

Equipment for effecting abrasion comprising: nozzle means for delivering a pressurized jet of gas laden with particles, with resultant development of an ambient induction zone, and means for delivering a liquid into said induction zone comprising means for releasing a substantially unpressurized flow of the liquid as a continuous liquid curtain surrounding the pressurized jet of particle-laden gas.

Claim 28

Equipment for effecting abrasion comprising: nozzle means for delivering a pressurized jet of gas laden with particles, with resultant development of an ambient induction zone, and means for delivering a liquid into said induction zone comprising means for releasing a substantially unpressurized flow of the liquid as a continuous liquid curtain surrounding the pressurized jet of particle-laden gas.

Claim 29

Equipment for effecting abrasion comprising: a source for supply of water-soluble particles, means for delivering a pressurized jet of a gas, with resultant development of an ambient induction zone, means for feeding particles from said source into said jet, and means for delivering water into said induction zone in a substantially unpressurized continuous curtain surrounding said pressurized jet.

Claim 30

Equipment for effecting abrasion comprising: a source for supply of water-soluble particles, means for delivering a pressurized jet of a gas, with resultant development of an ambient induction zone, means for feeding particles from said source into said jet, and means for delivering water into said induction zone in a substantially unpressurized continuous curtain surrounding said pressurized jet.

Claim 31

A nozzle for delivering a stream for abrasive cleaning comprising: a first, particle-delivery tubular element defining a flow passage for particles suspended in a gas, the flow passage having an orifice for discharging a stream of the gas-suspended particles, and a second, liquid-delivery tubular element surrounding but spaced from the first tubular element for supplying a liquid, the second tubular element being extended slightly beyond the first tubular element.

Claim 32

A nozzle for delivering a stream for abrasive cleaning comprising: a first, particle-delivery tubular element defining a flow passage for particles suspended in a gas, the flow passage having an orifice for discharging a stream of the gas-suspended particles, and a second, liquid-delivery tubular element surrounding but spaced from the first tubular element for supplying a liquid, the second tubular element being extended slightly beyond the first tubular element.

Claim 33

Equipment for delivering a stream for abrasive cleaning, comprising: a nozzle body or head; inner and outer tubular elements mounted on the nozzle head in telescoped relation, the cross-sectional dimensions of said elements providing an annular flow space between the inner and outer elements, and the elements each having an upstream inlet opening and a downstream discharge orifice; means for delivering a pressurized stream of particles suspended in a high velocity gas stream into the inlet end of the inner tubular element for discharge through its discharge orifice, and means for delivering a low velocity flow of liquid into the inlet end of the outer tubular element for discharge through its discharge orifice.

Claim 34

Equipment for delivering a stream for abrasive cleaning, comprising: a nozzle body or head; inner and outer tubular elements mounted on the nozzle head in telescoped relation, the cross-sectional dimensions of said elements providing an annular flow space between the inner and outer elements, and the elements each having an upstream inlet opening and a downstream discharge orifice; means for delivering a pressurized stream of particles suspended in a high velocity gas stream into the inlet end of the inner tubular element for discharge through its discharge orifice, and means for delivering a low velocity flow of liquid into the inlet end of the outer tubular element for discharge through its discharge orifice.

Claim 35

Equipment as defined in claim 23 in which the discharge orifice of the inner element is located upstream of the discharge orifice of the outer element.