Venturi action media blaster

Abstract

An abrasive media blaster assembly includes a container to hold at least one abrasive media, an external air source to provide a compressed air supply, a reservoir to hold water and rust inhibitor solution and a venturi blaster gun. The venturi blaster gun comprises an exterior nozzle, a media blaster block and a trigger with a handle. The fittings in the media blaster block create a venturi effect and draw the water and rust inhibitor solution so as for it to mix with the abrasive media where the dustless blaster sprays the mix to remove surface finishes from a metal surface and simultaneously provides a rust inhibitor to the surface, thereby allowing the device to be capable of performing any one, two or all of dry media blasting, slurry blasting, and water blasting.

Claims

1. A media blaster assembly comprising: a container adapted to hold at least one abrasive media, the container including an outlet connected to a first valve member adapted to allow ambient air to pass therethrough from the atmosphere; a reservoir adapted to hold water, the reservoir having a reservoir tube including a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the reservoir; a blaster gun comprising: a nozzle having a proximal end and a distal end; a media blaster assembly attached to the proximal end of the nozzle, the media blaster assembly comprising: a top wall; an external air source having an air supply tube connected to an air inlet on a bottom wall of the media blaster, a second inlet on the bottom wall to receive the at least one abrasive media from the container via a second valve member, a third inlet on the bottom wall connected to the second end of the reservoir tube to receive water from the reservoir via a third valve member; a pair of left and right sidewalls having apertures regulating the flow of media and water received from the second and third inlets utilizing the second and third valve members; whereby a fourth valve member is located on a right end wall and when opened, pressurized air flows from the air inlet on the bottom wall of the media blaster, and through the nozzle, thereby propelling the media and the water discharged from the second and third orifice to the nozzle thereby mixing of the media and water for the removal of unwanted finishes or oxidation.

2. The media blaster of claim 1 wherein the spray of media and water allows spraying and removal of rough surface finishes and oxidation.

3. The media blaster of claim 1, wherein a base of the container comprises a flow system which allows an inlet for the media, the first valve member being adapted to allow ambient air to pass therethrough from the atmosphere, and a connection to the blaster gun.

4. The venturi media blaster of claim 1, wherein the external air source is provided to the blaster gun, and wherein water and media are siphoned and mixed within the nozzle to create a spray of media and water.

5. The media blaster of claim 1, wherein the blaster gun further comprises a left end wall having a left aperture, an interior wall having a first orifice connected to an interior nozzle that extends through the left aperture of the left end wall to allow the flow of air from the air inlet, a second orifice adapted to allow the flow of media from the second inlet and a third orifice adapted to allow the flow of water from the third inlet.

6. The media blaster of claim 1 further comprising an external air source having an air supply tube having an air in communication with the air inlet.

7. The media blaster of claim 1 wherein the blaster gun causes the abrasive media to be pulled into the blaster gun and mixed with the water.

8. The media blaster of claim 1 wherein the media blaster comprises no pressurized tanks.

9. A media blaster assembly comprising: a container adapted to hold at least one abrasive media, the container including an outlet connected to a first valve member adapted to allow ambient air to pass therethrough from the atmosphere; a reservoir connected to a reservoir tube adaptable to hold water; a blaster gun comprising: a nozzle having a proximal end and a distal end; a media blaster assembly attached to the proximal end of the nozzle, the media blaster assembly comprising: a top wall; an external air source having an air supply tube connected to a first inlet on a bottom wall of the media blaster, a second inlet on the bottom wall of the media blaster to receive the at least one abrasive media from the container via a second valve member, a third inlet on the bottom wall of the media blaster connected to the reservoir tube to receive water from the reservoir via a third valve member; a pair of left and right sidewalls having apertures regulating the flow of media and water received from the second and third inlets utilizing the second and third valve members; a right end wall adapted to receive a fourth valve member that is engaged to a spring plunger such that when the spring plunger is actuated, the fourth valve member is opened and pressurized air flows from the air inlet through the nozzle thereby propelling the media and the water discharged from the second and third orifice to the nozzle thereby mixing of the media and water to provide a spray of media and water.

10. The media blaster of claim 9 wherein the spray of media and water allows spraying and removal of rough surface finishes and oxidation.

11. The media blaster of claim 9, wherein a base of the container comprises a flow system which allows an inlet for the media, the first valve member being adapted to allow ambient air to pass therethrough from the atmosphere, and a connection to the blaster gun.

12. The media blaster of claim 9, wherein the external air source is provided to the blaster gun, and wherein water and media are siphoned and mixed within the nozzle to create a spray of media and water.

13. The media blaster of claim 9, wherein the blaster gun further comprises a left end wall having a left aperture, an interior wall having a first orifice connected to an interior nozzle that extends through the left aperture of the left end wall to allow the flow of air from the air inlet, a second orifice adapted to allow the flow of media from the second inlet and a third orifice adapted to allow the flow of water from the third inlet.

14. The media blaster of claim 9 further comprising an external air source having an air supply tube having an air in communication with the air inlet.

15. The media blaster of claim 9 wherein the blaster gun causes the abrasive media to be pulled into the blaster gun and mixed with the water.

16. The media blaster of claim 9 wherein the media blaster comprises no pressurized tanks.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention, elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention, thus the drawings are generalized in form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary view of various elements of a venturi media blaster assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a media blaster block connected to an exterior nozzle of the venturi media blaster assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates an interior view of the media blaster block in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the media blaster block connected to the exterior nozzle of the venturi media blaster assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a venturi blaster gun of the venturi media blaster assembly;

(7) FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of venturi blaster gun shown in FIG. 5A;

(8) FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of venturi blaster gun of the venturi media blaster assembly in accordance with the present invention; and

(9) FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the venturi blaster gun of the venturi media blaster assembly in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(10) In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(11) Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below. Finally, many of the steps are presented below an order intended only as an exemplary embodiment. Unless logically required, no step should be assumed to be required earlier in the process than a later step simply because it is written first in this document.

(12) Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary view of various elements of a venturi media blaster assembly 100 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The venturi media blaster assembly 100 comprises a container 102, an external air source 120, a reservoir 128 and a venturi blaster gun 136. The container 102 is adapted to hold at least one abrasive media. The container 102 includes an outlet 104 connected to a first valve member 106 and a first tube member 108. The first tube member 108 comprises a first end 110 and a second end 112. The first end 110 of the first tube member 108 is connected to the first valve member 106 and the second end 112 of the first tube member 108 is adapted to allow ambient air to pass therethrough from the atmosphere. In this way, it acts as a carburetor. Then, the ambient air passed through the first tube member 108 pushes the at least one abrasive media released from the container 102 at the valve member 106. The container 102 comprises a second tube member 114 having a first end 116 and a second end 118. The first end 116 of the second tube member 114 is attached to the first valve member 106.

(13) The reservoir 128 is adapted to hold water and rust inhibitor solution. The reservoir 128 comprises a reservoir tube 130 including a first end 132 and a second end 134. The first end 132 of the reservoir tube 130 is connected to the reservoir 128. The venturi blaster gun 136 has an exterior nozzle 138, a media blaster block 144 and a trigger 188 with a handle 194. The external air source 120 connected to the venturi blaster gun 136 uses an air supply tube 122. The air supply tube 122 comprises an air outlet 124 and an air inlet 126. The air outlet 124 is connected to the external air source 120. The venturi blaster gun 136 is designed to utilize the venturi effect to bring the water and rust inhibitor solution and to mix with the abrasive media to provide the dustless blaster the capability to spray preferably metal so as to remove all surface finishes and oxidation therefrom.

(14) FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the media blaster block 144 connected to the exterior nozzle 138 used in the venturi media blaster assembly 100 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The exterior nozzle 138 has a proximal end 140 and a distal end 142. The media blaster block 144 is attached to the proximal end 140 of the exterior nozzle 138. The media blaster block 144 has a top wall 146, a bottom wall 148 (See FIG. 3), a pair of left and right side walls (160, 164), a left end wall 168, an interior wall 172 (See FIG. 3) and a right end wall 182. The bottom wall 148 (See FIG. 3) of the media blaster block 144 comprises a first inlet 150 connected to the air inlet 126 of the air supply tube 122 to receive air from the external air source 120, a second inlet 152 connected to the second end 118 of the second tube member 114 to receive the at least one abrasive media from the container 104 via a second valve member 154 (See FIG. 4), and a third inlet 156 is connected to the second end 134 of the reservoir tube 130 to receive water and rust inhibitor solution from the reservoir 128 via a third valve member 158 (See FIG. 4). The left sidewall 160 of the media blaster block 144 comprises an aperture 190 to receive a left pinch knob 162 and the right side wall 164 comprises an aperture 192 (not shown) to receive the right pinch knob 166. The left end wall 168 of the media blaster block 144 includes a left aperture 170 to receive the exterior nozzle 138. The right end wall 182 receives a fourth valve member 184 (See FIG. 4) that is engaged to a spring plunger 186.

(15) FIG. 3 illustrates an interior view of the media blaster block 144 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The interior wall 172 comprises a first orifice 174, a second orifice 178 and a third orifice 180. The first orifice 174 is connected to an interior nozzle 176 that extends through the left aperture 170 of the left end wall 168 and the proximal end 140 of the exterior nozzle 138 to allow the flow of air from the first inlet 150 of the bottom wall 148 to the exterior nozzle 138. The special ornamental design of the interior nozzle 176 creates the venturi effect and helps to prevent the premixing of air with water and rust inhibitor solution and the abrasive media. When the media blaster block 144 is assembled to the exterior nozzle 138, the fitting is appropriately placed within exterior nozzle to create the siphon effect. The venturi media blaster assembly 100 uses venturi effect to siphon water and media and mix them automatically within media blaster block 144 thereby providing a dustless blast.

(16) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the media blaster block 144 connected to the exterior nozzle 138 of the venturi media blaster assembly 100 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The first orifice 174 is connected to the interior nozzle 176 extended through the left aperture 170 of the left end wall 168 and the proximal end 140 of the exterior nozzle 138 to allow the flow of air from the first inlet 150 of the bottom wall 148 to the exterior nozzle 138. The second orifice 178 is adapted to allow the flow of media from the second inlet 152 of the bottom wall to the exterior nozzle 138 and the third orifice 180 is adapted to allow the flow of water and rust inhibitor solution from the third inlet of the bottom wall 148 to the exterior nozzle 138. The third orifice is adapted to allow the flow of water and rust inhibitor solution from the third inlet 156 of the bottom wall 148 to the exterior nozzle 138. The right and left pinch knobs (166, 162) allow the regulation of the flow of the media and water received from the second inlet 152 and third inlet 156 of the bottom wall 148 utilizing the second valve member 154 and the third valve member 158, respectively. When the trigger 188 is pulled, the spring plunger 186 is actuated, the fourth valve member 184 opens and the pressurized air enters from the first inlet 150 of the bottom wall 148 through the interior nozzle 176, thereby creating the venturi effect for propelling the media and the water and the rust inhibitor solution discharged from the second orifice 178 and the third orifice 180 to the exterior nozzle 138 which is turn causes the mixing of the media and water and the rust inhibitor solution to provide a dustless blast. The venturi blaster gun 136 is designed to utilize the venturi effect to bring the water and rust inhibitor solution and mix with the abrasive media to provide the dustless blaster to spray metal and remove all surface finishes and oxidation. The unique design of the venturi media blaster gun 136 eliminates the need of any pressurized tanks and can be set up in any location with the air supply.

(17) FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate different views of an alternative embodiment of a venturi blaster gun 196 of the venturi media blaster assembly. In this embodiment, a venturi blaster gun 196 includes an exterior nozzle 198, a diffuser 200, a line to media 202, a line to water and rust inhibitor solution 204, and a pipeline 206 attached to a trigger 208. The exterior nozzle 198 comprises a proximal end 210 and a distal end 212. The proximal end 210 of the exterior nozzle 198 is connected to a first end 214 of the diffuser of the venturi blaster gun 196. A second end 216 of the diffuser is connected to a convergent area 218 of the line to media 202, the line to water and the pipeline 206 respectively. The line to media 202 is connected to the container 102 having the abrasive media. The line to water and rust inhibitor solution 204 is connected to a reservoir 128 having the water and rust inhibitor solution. The pipeline 206 is attached to the air supply tube 122 which is connected to an external air source 120. The air passes through the pipeline 206 to the diffuser 200 from the external air source 120. A venturi effect created by the air causes the media to be pulled into the venturi blaster gun 196 and mix with the water and rust inhibitor solution to provide a dustless blast.

(18) FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a venturi blaster gun 220 of the venturi media blaster assembly in accordance with the present invention. The venturi blaster gun 220 includes an exterior nozzle 222, a media blaster block 224, and a pipeline 226 that is attached to a trigger 228. The exterior nozzle 222 has a proximal end 230 and a distal end 232. The media blaster block 224 includes a first end 234 and a second end 236. The first end 234 of the media blaster block 224 is connected to the proximal end 230 of the exterior nozzle 222. The pipeline 226 is attached to the air supply tube 122 which is connected to an external air source 120. The air is passed through the pipeline 226 to the media blaster block 224 from the external air source 120. A venturi effect created by the air causes the media to be pulled into the venturi blaster gun 220 and mix with the water and rust inhibitor solution to provide a dustless blast. The media blaster block 224 eliminates the need for external fittings and plumbs with a water and rust inhibitor solution and a media.

(19) FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a venturi blaster gun 238 of the venturi media blaster assembly in accordance with the present invention. The venturi blaster gun 238 includes an exterior nozzle 240, a chamber 242 and a handle 244. The exterior nozzle 240 has a proximal end 248 and a distal end 250. The chamber 242 includes a first end 252, a second end 254, a media inlet 256 and a water inlet 266 (not shown). The media inlet 256 is connected to a container 102 and a water inlet 266 is connected to a reservoir 128. The flow of media and water is regulated by utilizing a left pinch knob 258 and a right pinch knob 268 (not shown) respectively. The first end 252 of the chamber 242 is connected to the proximal end 248 of the exterior nozzle 240 and the second end 254 is connected to the handle 244. The handle 244 includes an air inlet 264, a fourth valve member 262 and a trigger 246. The air is passed through the air inlet 264 to the chamber 242 from the external air source 120. A venturi effect created by the air causes the media to be pulled into the chamber 242 where it is mixed with a water and rust inhibitor solution to provide a dustless blast. Prior to that point, the water and media are kept separated until their arrival, at which time they are immediately mixed to create the dustless slurry. If it critical for the mixing to occur only in this area and not elsewhere in the system. The chamber 242 is also optimized to allow better mixture of the water and media to create the slurry. The handle 244 eliminates the need for a complex manifold block.

(20) It is noted that the invention described herein is capable of performing dry media blasting, dustless slurry blasting and solely water blasting (such as when the air is not being pushed through). It is understood that no conventional blasting gun exhibits these capabilities prior to the present invention. Hence, dry media blasting, slurry blasting, and water blasting are all regulated by the venturi blaster gun disclosed herein and without a pressurized tank the invention can execute one, any two, or all three of dry media blasting, slurry blasting, and water blasting.

(21) With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that material disclosed in the applicant's drawings and description may be modified in certain ways while still producing the same result claimed by the applicant. Such variations are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and equations and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

(22) Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact disclosure shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.