Abstract: A particle blast apparatus transport is capable of generating granular sized particles and delivering them without substantial storage to a single hose feeder assembly. The apparatus is configured to be used with solid blocks of cryogenic material, such as carbon dioxide, and with individual pellets of such material.

Abstract: A block former comprises a portable device for compression forming of carbon dioxide particles into a non-homogenous block of carbon dioxide. The formed non-homogenous block can be used with carbon dioxide blasters that shave the formed block, and then eject the carbon dioxide shavings into a pneumatic jet as a blast media for cleaning surfaces. The block former further comprises a control system comprising a logic system of switches, valves, and timers to perform a timed sequence of events to form loose carbon dioxide particles into a non-homogenous block, to release compression on the block, and to eject the formed block from the block former. A single compression surface is provided to compress the carbon dioxide particles block, to release pressure on the block, and to eject the block from the block former device. The carbon dioxide particles used to form the non-homogeneous block can vary in size from snow to chunks or pellets.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a block from carbon dioxide particle is configured to allow changing between precise thicknesses with very little downtime, utilizing both weight based and volumetric dosing. A spacer supports the lower ejection piston during block forming, with a shuttle discharging particles into the forming chamber while simultaneously pushing a previously formed block on to a conveyor. In one embodiment, the shuttle dosing cavity has a volume that is greater than the volume of the forming chamber volume, which allows more pellets, volumetrically, to be dosed into the dosing cavity than the volume of the forming cavity.

Abstract: Carbon dioxide or any suitable material is dispensed by a system into one or more containers. An impeller within a transport produces carbon dioxide particles at one or more desired sizes. Particles sized to be sufficiently small enough to still maintain particle integrity are produced and advance through the transport, while particles of insufficient integrity are directed toward a divert and a diverter prevents the insufficient particles from being misdirected into a separate transport passageway.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming one or more blocks from carbon dioxide particle is configured to allow changing between precise thicknesses with very little downtime, utilizing both weight based and volumetric dosing. A spacer supports the lower ejection piston during block forming, with a shuttle discharging particles into the forming chamber while simultaneously pushing one or more previously formed blocks on to a conveyor. In one embodiment, the shuttle dosing cavity has a volume that is greater than the volume of the forming chamber volume, which allows more pellets, volumetrically, to be dosed into the dosing cavity than the volume of the forming cavity.

Abstract: A particle blast apparatus transport is capable of generating granular sized particles and delivering them without substantial storage to a single hose feeder assembly. The apparatus is configured to be used with solid blocks of cryogenic material, such as carbon dioxide, and with individual pellets of such material.

Abstract: A particle blast cleaning apparatus incorporates a pressurized container which is pressurized by the transport gas upon start up through a feeder which does not comprise an airlock. The feeder introduces the blast media into the transport stream. At start up, the transport gas pressurizes the container, flowing upwardly through the feeder until the container is substantially pressurized and the flow substantially ceases. The feeder rotor may be configured to crush or grind the particles.

Abstract: A media blast nozzle for cleaning a surface with compressed air and ejected particles of a sublimating blast media comprises a media size changer to change a size of the blast media particles. The media blast nozzle has an entrance and an exit and a throat therebetween. A converging passageway extends from the entrance to the throat, and a diverging passageway extends from the throat to the exit. The media size changer is operably located in the diverging passageway and has one or more media size changing members to fragment moving blast media particles by impact therewith. The blast media particles are provided to the media blast nozzle in an initial consistent size, and when a moving blast media particle impacts with one or more media size changing members, two or more fragments of reduced size are created from the initial blast media particle for ejection from the nozzle device. The media size changer can be adjusted by an operator to eject whole particles or fragments of particles.

Abstract: A media blast nozzle for cleaning a surface with compressed air and ejected particles of a sublimating blast media comprises a media size changer to change a size of the blast media particles. The media blast nozzle has an entrance and an exit and a throat therebetween. A converging passageway extends from the entrance to the throat, and a diverging passageway extends from the throat to the exit. The media size changer is operably located in the diverging passageway and has one or more media size changing members to fragment moving blast media particles by impact therewith. The blast media particles are provided to the media blast nozzle in an initial consistent size, and when a moving blast media particle impacts with one or more media size changing members, two or more fragments of reduced size are created from the initial blast media particle for ejection from the nozzle device. The media size changer can be adjusted by an operator to eject whole particles or fragments of particles.

Abstract: A block former comprises a portable device for compression forming of carbon dioxide particles into a non-homogenous block of carbon dioxide. The formed non-homogenous block can be used with carbon dioxide blasters that shave the formed block, and then eject the carbon dioxide shavings into a pneumatic jet as a blast media for cleaning surfaces. The block former further comprises a control system comprising a logic system of switches, valves, and timers to perform a timed sequence of events to form loose carbon dioxide particles into a non-homogenous block, to release compression on the block, and to eject the formed block from the block former. A single compression surface is provided to compress the carbon dioxide particles block, to release pressure on the block, and to eject the block from the block former device. The carbon dioxide particles used to form the non-homogeneous block can vary in size from snow to chunks or pellets.

Abstract: A particle blast system includes a feeder assembly having a rotor with a plurality of pockets formed in the peripheral surface. The transport gas flowpath includes the pockets, such that substantially all transport gas flows through the pockets. The seal adjacent the peripheral surface is actuated by the transport gas pressure to urge its sealing surface against the rotor's peripheral surface. At start up, there is no substantial pressure between the seal and the rotor, reducing start up torque requirements.