Abstract: An ultra high pressure abrasive waterjet cutting apparatus for cutting nuclear reactor structural components is described. The cutting apparatus includes an ultra high pressure abrasive waterjet (UHP) cutting nozzle, movably coupled to a single axis manipulator, and a collection hood. The manipulator and the collection hood are coupled to a support frame and are configured to be positioned inside adjacent openings of a nuclear reactor top guide or core plate so that the cutting nozzle is in alignment with the collection hood. The manipulator includes a linear frame, a nozzle support plate movably coupled to the linear frame, and a motor operatively coupled to the nozzle support plate. The collection hood includes an elongate collection chamber having an elongate opening located so that the opening is in alignment with the cutting nozzle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for abrading the inner surface at the intersection region of a branch outlet with the wall of a body having a passageway. Using abrasive flow machining, it is possible to abrade the intersection region to provide a smooth transition between the wall and the branch outlet.

Abstract: An ultra high pressure abrasive waterjet cutting apparatus for underwater cutting of structural components of a nuclear reactor is described. The cutting apparatus includes a multi-axis manipulator, an ultra high pressure abrasive waterjet (UHP) cutting nozzle coupled to the manipulator, a collection stand assembly, a collection hood movably coupled to the collection stand assembly, and a turntable having a non-movable center portion. The multi-axis manipulator is configured to mount on the non-movable center portion of the turntable or on the floor of the pool of water in which the structural component is positioned for cutting. The collection stand assembly is configured to mount on at least one of the floor and the wall of the pool of water. The cutting nozzle and collection hood are positioned on opposite sides of the structural component to be cut.

Abstract: The invention resides in a method and apparatus for conditioning an inner surface of a tube. A pressurized mixture of air and grit and is supplied to a nozzle having an opening with a given diameter through which diameter the pressurized grit and air pass. An elongated nozzle adapter is connected to said nozzle. The nozzle adapter has a passage having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said nozzle and said nozzle adapter is connected to said nozzle such that the opening in said nozzle and said passage are aligned with one another. The nozzle adapter is inserted into a tube and is axially moved and rotated in order to condition the inner surface thereof with a pressurized mixture of air and grit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning pipes with the aid of a blasting medium in which a deflecting member surrounding a nozzle is blown through a pipe by the blasting medium blowing through the nozzle. The movement of the deflecting member and nozzle can be controlled with either a draw-rope from the upstream end of the pipe or a rod from the downstream end. Dry ice, sugar, or chemical agents may be added to the blasting medium as an blasting means.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for blasting an inside surface of a cylinder, in which a steady rough surface is always obtained efficiently in the whole region of inside surface of cylinder for an internal combustion engine. For this purpose, a blast gun 1, which is provided so as to be moved vertically by a traverser 11 and capable of rotating around the axis thereof, has a blast nozzle 3 for blowing blast particles 2 in the vicinity of the lower end thereof. The blowing direction of the blast nozzle 3 is slant downward. A cylinder block 4 is placed upright so that the axis of each cylinder is vertical with a cylinder head mating surface 4e on the upper side, and is isolated from the surrounding space by a cabinet 12. The blast gun 1 blows the blast particles 2 while lowering in each cylinder of the cylinder block 4, by which the inside surface 5 of cylinder is blasted. A blast particle recovering reservoir 13 is provided under the apparatus to recover the blast particles 2.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a container and an apparatus therefor for cleaning a surface layer of the container by blasting fine particles of sodium bicarbonate with pressurized air into the container. The apparatus provdes a ball joint construction and a nozzle angle control mechanism for swing a nozzle body at an angle within a range of 50 degrees.

Abstract: Abrasive blasting of fine particles is used to remove flash, burrs and dust from a nozzles in a nozzle array plate formed by injection molding. The abrasive blasting is applied from the entry side of the nozzles to remove the flash and roughen the interior of the nozzles. A thin solid flash portion can be formed on the exit side of each nozzle to ensure uniform conditions of all the nozzles before the abrasive blasting is applied.

Abstract: An article is held in a complementally-shaped receptacle of a resilient holder while a process operation is carried out on a surface of the article. After the process operation has been completed, the holder is bent in order to facilitate release of the article from the receptacle. The method is particularly useful for performing a process operation such as sandblasting, etching or otherwise treating an inner surface of a hollow article such as an orthodontic band or dental crown while a portion of the holder masks and thus protects its outer surface.

Abstract: A blasting nozzle assembly is used for blast cleaning internal pipe surfaces. A cylindrical sleeve has a flow channel through which blasting abrasive and a carrier fluid flow in a flow direction. A web member is integrally formed with the sleeve and extends diametrically across the flow channel. The web member has a length inside the flow channel which is about 60% to 90% of the given length of the sleeve. A stem is inserted in an opening formed in the web member such that the stem extends coaxially with the sleeve. A free end of the stem protrudes from the sleeve. A deflection tip is mounted on the free end of the stem. The deflection tip radially deflects the blasting abrasive and the carrier fluid arriving from the flow channel in the given flow direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning a tubular member having an entrance end and an interior wall including a source of pressurized gas/solids mixture, a source of pressurized liquid medium, a conveying tube to introduce the pressurized liquid medium into the tubular member through an acceleration locus interiorly of the tubular member from the particulate solids being entrained and accelerated by the accelerated liquid medium substantially at the point of the acceleration locus whereby in situ mixing of the particulate solids and liquid medium occurs just prior to contacting the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: Cleaning methods for rail cars that haul freight, such as covered hoppers, open hoppers, box cars, tank cars, autoracks, locomotives, flat cars, remove the residue from materials transported by the rail car itself. The rail cars have at least one surface. Freight includes, but is not limited to, agricultural products, industrial products, foodstuffs, living beings, and packaged goods. Methods include the steps of vacuuming excess materials remaining in rail car, removing clinging or otherwise persistent materials with a forced air system, which may be augmented with abrasive materials to a surface of the rail car, and vacuuming up or otherwise removing all remaining dust and debris, and repeating some or all of the steps as necessary. In addition, methods wipe down the surface with a dry rag (e.g., paper or cloth) and/or wipe down the surface with a damp rag. A rag could also be used to apply a sterilizing agent, which would depend upon the application and materials removed and shipped.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for sand-blasting the inner walls of bores, tubes, pipes and the like, comprising a housing with a first tube member for feeding blasting material and a second tube member for feeding pressurized air. The second tube member is provided with a curved end portion, the orifice thereof being located beyond the outlet opening of the first tube member. The second tube member, together with its end portion, is rotatable around the central longitudinal axis of the first tube member. Thus, the stream of blasting material escaping from the outlet of the first tube member is deflected and accelerated under the influence of the stream of pressurized air escaping from the curved end portion of the second tube member. Due to the provision of such a touchless deflection, the wear of the apparatus can be substantially reduced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an abrasive blasting device characterized in that to the first longitudinal inlet end of the injection abrading diffuser 1 there is associated a socket 2 and to the second longitudinal inlet end of the diffuser there is associated a conduit 3. The free end of the conduit 3 is closed by a cage-like collector 4, the mantle wall thereof diverging in the direction towards the diffuser 1. In the area of connection with said bottom of the collector 4 the conduit 3 is formed with a set of radial recesses 5, the interiors of the socket 2 and the conduit 3 being mutually interconnected by means of a connection-injection pipe 6. The latter projects into the conduit 3 essentially through said bottom of the collector 4. On the outer surface of the wall of the socket 2 and in the area of its free end there is diametrally opposed arranged a pair of ribs 10 bearing a guide wheel unit 10' in each case.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for surface treating and putting under compression prestress the inside wall of a cavity, in particular a cylindrical cavity of circular section. The apparatus comprises a bulb-shaped vibrator provided with a tubular portion designed to be engaged in an orifice of a cavity to be treated. It is associated with a vibration exciter designed to excite the vibrator at its resonant frequency. The treatment is obtained by shot in the form of balls being projected against the walls of the cavity and returned into the treatment field by a reflector. The method is particularly applicable to treating holes that are designed to receive the fixing pins of turbine blades.

Abstract: A high-speed abrasive liquid jet is directed at the surface of the component (13) with an angle of incidence between 30.degree. and 90.degree.. The jet is moved so as to sweep over the internal surface of the component (13). At least two successive machining passes are made. The speed of sweeping increases from one machining pass to the next. The device (30), mounted so as to move in translation and in rotation inside the adaptor (13), consists of a tube assembly supplied with pressurized liquid onto which a nozzle (33) is fixed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting metal casings with an ultrahigh-pressure abrasive fluid jet is shown and described. Examples of such casings include piles and conductors of offshore oil production platforms. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated herein, the apparatus is lowered inside the casing to be cut to a desired depth where it is secured to an inner surface of the casing. An ultrahigh-pressure stream of fluid is forced through a nozzle provided in a jet manifold of the apparatus to produce an ultrahigh-pressure fluid jet, into which a volume of abrasives is entrained, thereby generating an abrasive fluid jet. A drive mechanism is provided to rotate the abrasive fluid jet in a substantially horizontal plane to produce a circumferential cut in the casing. The abrasive fluid jet may also be moved in a vertical plane if necessary to complete the cut, for example if the initial cut is in the form of a helix.

Abstract: Surface anomalies on pipe are removed preparatory to corrosion coating. The removal is conducted by brushing with wire brush elements or Comax brush elements which may rotate about axes parallel to the pipe axis or substantially radially off the pipe. Both kinds of brush elements may be used in combination. Before subjecting the pipe to brushing, the surface is particulate blasted to remove ferric oxide and better expose surface anomolies. After wire brushing, the surface is again particulate blasted to provide an anchor pattern of indentations promoting adhesion of the coating.

Abstract: An apparatus for abrading articles. The abrading apparatus includes a number of abrading stations located adjacent to one another so that as an article is abraded at one station, a previously abraded article will be redundantly abraded at the adjacent station. The apparatus further includes fixtures having non-clamping holders which gravitationally retain the articles. The fixtures also allow the articles to be manipulated about an axis so that all surfaces of the articles can be abraded and so that abrasive materials which have collected in surface irregularities of the articles can be emptied therefrom.