Abstract: A blast cleaning apparatus is provided having a rotatable conveying surface preferably comprising wire mesh. Workpieces are conveyed through the blast cleaning chamber on the rotating conveying surface such that workpieces may be added to and removed from the conveying surface at a single work station by one operator. Also provided is a method for providing a feed tube to a blast cleaning wheel located below the conveyor, wherein the feed tube is passed through a central hole at the axis of rotation of the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved lifter for a blast cleaning apparatus for cleaning coiled wire with abrasive cleaning material. A prior art apparatus for blast cleaning wires comprises an elongated boom provided with annular splitters for longitudinal separation of wire coils and metal lifters for radial separation of wire coils to expose substantially all of the surface of the wires to the abrasive cleaning material. Due to the hardness of the lifters, some abrasive cleaning material becomes embedded in the wire and causes problems with subsequent processing steps. The present invention provides a resilient lifter for a blast cleaning apparatus which overcome this and other difficulties. Preferably, the lifters according to the present invention are made of polyurethane and are used in combination with a conventional boom with or without splitters.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of releasably connecting a blade to a single wheel plate of a centrifugal blasting wheel without using a separate stop-member to prevent outward radial movement of the blade. An alternative method of releasably connecting a blade to a wheel plate, and an alternative blade, wheel plate and blasting wheel are provided. The invention is useful in releasably aligning blades without the use of stop members. The blade can be accurately aligned in the channel of the wheel plate as a result of positive abutment of the sides of a wedge on the blade against the sides of the channel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a blast cleaning apparatus and method which includes a laterally moving conveyor with openings therethrough, and particularly a laterally moving wire mesh conveyor. The conveying surface is moved laterally such that there is lateral movement of the conveyor surface in the blast cleaning chamber. The lateral movement is relative to the workpiece and is substantially horizontal and substantially transverse to the direction of advancement of the conveyor. The conveying surface is moved relative to the workpiece so as to expose to upwardly directed cleaning material areas of the workpiece that would otherwise be protected from the cleaning material by material separating the openings in the conveying surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a blast cleaning apparatus and method which includes a laterally moving conveyor with openings therethrough, and particularly a laterally moving wire mesh conveyor. The conveying surface is moved laterally such that there is lateral movement of the conveyor surface in the blast cleaning chamber. The lateral movement is relative to the workpiece and is substantially horizontal and substantially transverse to the direction of advancement of the conveyor. The conveying surface is moved relative to the workpiece so as to expose to upwardly directed cleaning material areas of the workpiece that would otherwise be protected from the cleaning material by material separating the openings in the conveying surface.