Dry ice container for dry ice cleaning devices

Abstract

Dry ice container for dry ice cleaning devices comprises the container for dry ice closed by the lid (2) on the upper side, and provided by the opening (3) for drawing out dry ice pellets on the lower side. The container (1) has the bottom (4) sloped towards the opening (3) for drawing out the pellets. The linear-movable member (5) is arranged in the chamber (6) at the bottom (4) of the container (1) transversely to the axis of the container (1). The member (5) has the shape of a gutter in which groups of separated openings (5a, 5b, 5c) are provided, to which at least one pellets plowing element (5d) is placed in the member (5). Each group of openings (5a, 5b, 5c) pertains to one opening (3) for drawing out the pellets.

Claims

1. A dry ice container for a cleaning device comprising: a container for dry ice pellets, the container comprising a lid on an upper side and provided with at least two pellet openings for drawing out said dry ice pellets on a lower side of the container to send drawn out pellets to the cleaning device, wherein the container has a bottom sloped towards the at least two pellet openings; a linear-movable member arranged in a chamber at the bottom of the container above the at least two pellet openings and transversely to a central vertical axis of the container, wherein the linear-movable member has the shape of a gutter with an open top for catching ice pellets from the container and a bottom surface in which at least two groups of a plurality of member openings are formed, wherein at least one pellets plowing element is positioned on the linear-movable member between the at least two groups of member openings thereby separating the at least two groups of member openings, wherein each group of separated member openings moves over a respective one of the pellet openings for allowing the ice pellets in the linear-movable member to pass from the member openings into the respective pellet opening, wherein the linear-movable member is connected to a piston of a pneumatic cylinder; and a tubular body for supplying auxiliary air, the tubular body extending through the container transversely to the central vertical axis of the container and having a first end outside the container, a second end outside the container and an intermediate section inside the container, the first end connected to a source of auxiliary air, the intermediate section having at least one opening serving as a first outlet of auxiliary air arranged facing the bottom of the container, and the second end has an opening serving as a second outlet of residual auxiliary air; and wherein the pellet openings are in communication with a collector, the collector having an outlet for transferring the pellets to the cleaning device.

2. The dry ice container according to claim 1, wherein the source of auxiliary air is an outlet of the pneumatic cylinder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) This invention is better explained on accompanying drawings, where

(2) FIG. 1 shows overall outside view of the container according to this invention with schematic connection of the blast gun;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the view of the lower part of the container of FIG. 1 in partial section;

(4) FIG. 3 shows overall view of the linear-movable member; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows the lower part of the container according to this invention in side sectional view.

(6) Arrows or arrows with associated lines shown in drawings represent respective directions and flows of the air, or air with pellets in the entire device and the container.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(7) The device comprising the container 1 according to this invention is schematically shown in FIG. 1. The device is composed of pair of lines leading to the mixing node, which is realized by Venturi tube integrated in the body of blast gun 15. The first line A (positive pressure) represents the inlet system of gaseous medium. The second line B (negative pressure) serves for transport of the pellets to the mixing chamber in the blast gun 15.

(8) Dry ice container for dry ice cleaning devices according to this invention, according to FIGS. 2 to 4 comprises the container 1 for dry ice closed by the lid 2 on the upper side, and provided by the opening 3 for drawing out dry ice pellets on the lower side. The container 1 has the bottom 4 sloped towards the opening 3 for drawing out the pellets. Linear-movable member 5 is arranged transversely to the axis of the container 1, in the chamber 6 at the bottom 4 of the container 1. The member 5 is in the form of a gutter, in which groups of separated openings 5a, 5b, 5c are provided. To each group of the openings 5a, 5b, 5c, the pellets plowing element (5d) is placed in the member 5. Each group of openings 5a, 5b, 5c pertains to one opening 3 for drawing out the pellets, the number of which is in this example two. The openings 3 for drawing out the pellets are connected through the collector 7 to the outlet 8 of the pellets. The member 5 is connected to the piston of pneumatic cylinder 10. The supply of auxiliary air at the bottom 4 of the container 1 is formed by tubular body 12 transversely extending through the container 1 in the direction of the member 5. The body 12 is outside the container 1 at one end connected to the source of auxiliary air. The body 12 is inside the container 1 provided by at least one opening 13 of the outlet of auxiliary air, which is arranged against the bottom 4 of the container 1. The body 12 is on the other end outside the container 1 provided by the opening 14 for outlet of residual auxiliary air.

(9) Pellets are inserted into the container 1. The pellets are supplied to opened chamber 6 by the gravity and sloping of the bottom 4 of the container 1. Movable gutter, i.e. the member 5 performs linear reciprocation motion through the pellets, while pellets plowing element 5d creates above the openings 3 for drawing out the pellets, which are continuously consecutively opened by the openings 5a, 5b, 5c and closed by solid areas between these openings 5a, 5b, 5c, the air gaps that are subsequently filled with incoming pellets. The pellets are passing to suction openings 3 through the member 5 by the openings 5a, 5b, 5c during their transition over the suction openings 3. In this example of embodiment, the number of the openings 5a, 5b, 5c is three. The outer openings 5a, 5c provide for the flow of the pellets to the opening 3 at the end positions of the member 5 and the middle opening 5b provides for the flow of the pellets also during the motion of the member 5 (not only at the end positions), thus ensuring continuity of the flow of the pellets to respective opening 3. The number, shape and spacing of the openings 5a, 5b, 5c, can be adjusted according to the needs, and so can be the number and shape of the plowing elements 5d. In this example of embodiment, the plowing elements 5d are in the form of walls, each of them pertaining to one group of openings 5a, 5b, 5c. Moving member 5 is plowing the pellets, i.e. preventing formation of clusters of pellets, in front of the openings 3, while by continuous consecutive opening and closing of the openings 3 for drawing out the pellets, is preventing their blockage by the pellets drawn in from above and regulates amount of passing pellets.

(10) The flow of pellets is supported by supply of the auxiliary air to the pellets in the lower part of the container 1, i.e. in the area of the bottom 4, where the pellets shortly after enter the opened chamber 6. Preferably, working air dumped from the pneumatic cylinder 10 that serves to drive the member 5, is supplied to the tubular body 12. Part of the volume of passing air supplies feeding system of the device through the opening 13 of the outlet of auxiliary air, the most preferably in the shape of longitudinal groove, aperture. This system supplies the container 1 with sufficient volume of treated air, the system takes from this source adequate amount and the redundant part is dumped through the opening 14 for the outlet of residual auxiliary air. As was mentioned above, the pneumatic system, i.e. pneumatic cylinder 10 is preferably used as the source of auxiliary air, because this air is passing through purification and humidity separation before its use, thus its adverse effect on quality of the pellets decreases.

(11) Above described example of embodiment represents only one particular construction embodiment of the container according to this invention, while this example is introduced only as an illustrative example to explain the principle of the technical solution and it is not in any way limiting also for other constructional variants within the scope of the claims.