Abstract: A portable, self-contained beverage apparatus includes a container assembly having a known storage capacity for storing a consumable liquid, and a dispensing assembly disposed within the container assembly that dispenses variable, non-zero quantities of additives into the consumable liquid. The dispensing assembly includes multiple apertures structured and arranged to retain vessels containing the additives to be dispensed into the consumable liquid. The beverage apparatus also includes a level sensor disposed within the container assembly that determines a consumable liquid level of the consumable liquid stored in the container assembly. In certain embodiments, one or more positive displacement pumping mechanisms are configured to pump additive liquid from additive containers into a beverage chamber.

Abstract: A blast nozzle assembly for wet blasting is provided comprising a blast nozzle for accelerating a blast stream of abrasive particles in compressed air toward a targeted surface and in combination therewith, a water atomizer means which is releasibly secured to the exterior of the blast nozzle. The water atomizer means is formed of two parts, a manifold body which includes a water supply means and an outlet assembly which includes a mixing chamber for receiving the blast stream leaving the blast nozzle, a plurality of spaced water nozzles for directing a stream of water into the mixing chamber and an outlet for directing the mixture of blast stream and water to the targeted surface.

Abstract: A novel supply pot for holding a particulate abrasive is provided which greatly reduces the amount of moisture which is contained therein during pressurization. The supply pot includes a compressed air piping which directs compressed air from a source of compressed air to an inlet piping to the supply pot and to a downstream inlet to a blast hose, the compressed air piping comprising a moisture diverter which directs the compressed air from the piping to the blast hose initially bypassing the inlet to the supply pot, the diverter allowing backflow of compressed air from the outlet thereof to the inlet to the supply pot.

Abstract: An abrasive blast cabinet includes a housing defining a blast chamber, a blast nozzle disposed in the blast chamber and connected to a source of an abrasive blast media for directing a flow of the blast media against a surface of an article to be cleaned, an elongated chute supported in the interior of the housing and having a first open end in fluid communication with a gas supply, a rotatable second open end in the vicinity of a work place for the article and an opening placed adjacent a window in the housing so that an operator located outside the blast chamber can direct his or her line of sight through the window and second rotatable open end and observe the article in the work place.

Abstract: A media control valve used to meter and dispense an amount of abrasive media from a supply pot to a compressed airline for blast cleaning comprises; a media passage communicating with the supply pot and an airflow tube, a bore disposed in the valve and communicating with the media passage, a media control sleeve placed within the bore disposed between the media passage and the airflow tube and containing a plurality of spaced restricting orifices, a valve stem slidable within the media control sleeve and capable of opening and closing the orifices, the valve stem being secured to an activating means to move the valve stem in a manner such that the valve stem will self-align itself within the interior of the media control sleeve. The self-alignment feature is provided by dividing the valve stem into a lower valve stem portion and an upper valve stem portion which is secured to the activating means.

Abstract: A blast nozzle for directing a stream of abrasive particles against a surface to remove surface contaminants therefrom further includes multiple water atomization nozzles which are spaced externally on the blast nozzle and which direct a stream of atomized water droplets which surround the abrasive particle stream directed to the surface so as to suppress dust formation.

Abstract: A blast nozzle for directing a stream of abrasive particles against a surface to remove surface contaminants therefrom further includes an externally attached atomized water nozzle which directs a stream of atomized water particles to the surface to suppress dust formation. Blast nozzles of preferred dimensions to improve productivity of blast cleaning with a sodium bicarbonate blast media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A media supply pot for holding an amount of a particulate abrasive includes a vertically disposed valve tube communicating with a source of compressed air and a slidable pop-up valve therein which seals off the media inlet of the supply pot when compressed air is passed through the valve tube. To prevent moisture from entering the supply pot, the valve tube includes an insert in the form of a downwardly sloping cone, the base of which contacts the sidewalls of the valve tube to prevent moisture from passing upwardly along the sidewall of the valve tube and into the supply pot, the insert including a centrally disposed narrow passage which allows the compressed air to flow through the valve tube and out into the supply pot. The narrow passage slows down the supply of compressed air to the pot, and prevents the rapid cooling of the expanding gas and consequent precipitation of entrapped moisture onto the media.

Abstract: A blast nozzle for accelerating a stream of abrasive particles to a surface for the cleaning thereof has a nozzle body formed of a non-electrically conductive material and is provided with an encapsulating coat to prevent breakage of the nozzle body. To prevent the accumulation of static electric charge during the blast cleaning operation, the exterior surface of the blast nozzle core is covered with an electrically conductive layer disposed between the nozzle body and the encapsulating coat, the nozzle further including an electrically conductive grounding pathway contacting the electrically conductive layer and passing through the encapsulating coat so that the electrically conductive layer can be bonded to ground to provide a pathway for removing the accumulated static charge and prevent periodic sparking.

Abstract: A media control valve used to dispense and meter an amount of abrasive media from a supply pot to a compressed air line for blast cleaning comprises a vertical discharge passage and an air flow tube communicating with the vertical discharge passage, a media control sleeve placed in an inclined bore in the valve body and disposed between the vertical discharge passage and air flow tube, the media control sleeve comprising a plurality of spaced orifices which allow communication between the vertical discharge passage and the air flow tube, the media control sleeve being rotatable in place within the valve body bore so as to present a different orifice in communication with the discharge passage.

Abstract: Wet blasting utilizing a high pressure liquid stream to clean, cut or drill a targeted surface is provided with improved efficiency by degassing the liquid stream. Deaeration of the liquid stream reduces atomization of the high pressure stream as it exits the blast nozzle and is directed against the targeted surface so as to improve the efficiency of the stripping action and improve pump efficiency.

Abstract: Improvements to blast cleaning apparatus, and particularly to a media control device which contains a fixed orifice placed between the abrasive supply pot and a media outlet to the compressed air line to meter the media flow into the air line and means to maintain a positive pressure differential between the supply pot and the air line further includes a means to equalize the pressure between the air line and a media passage immediately below the orifice. An additional improvement comprises adding a flow straightening device upstream of a bend in the air line so as to reduce back-mixing in the bend and consequently the turbulence of air downstream of the bend and across the media outlet into the air line.

Abstract: A blast nozzle holder for securing a blast nozzle and a supply hose thereto comprises a hollow holder body which includes a converging bore therethrough, a hollow securing nut which can be threaded into the bore of the holder body and a compression member which is pushed through the converging bore of the holder body by the securing nut and which is compressed around the exterior of the blast hose during passage through the converging bore so as to squeeze the exterior of the blast hose and hold same firmly in place in the holder body.

Abstract: A blast nozzle for directing a stream of abrasive particles against a surface to remove surface contaminants therefrom further includes an externally attached atomized water nozzle which directs a stream of atomized water particles to the surface to suppress dust formation.

Abstract: A media control valve used to meter and dispense an amount of abrasive media from a supply pot to a compressed air line for blast cleaning comprises a vertical media passage communicating with the supply pot and an air flow tube and a restricting orifice in the media passage to meter the amount of abrasive media flowing therethrough the vertical passage into the air flow tube, the media passage downstream of the orifice converging into a slot-shaped outlet into the air flow tube wherein the length of the outlet is directed along the direction of air flow through the air flow tube so as to reduce the perimeter of the outlet placed perpendicular to air flow and consequently reduce turbulence as the air passes across the outlet. The media valve is particularly useful in metering and dispensing sodium bicarbonate media from a supply pot to the air conveying line by means of differential pressure across the orifice.

Abstract: A process for blast cleaning a surface with a blast media which is softer and more friable than sand such as sodium bicarbonate is provided and which comprises passing the blast media in pressurized air through a blast nozzle including an inlet section which contains a passageway which converges substantially along only one direction to a rectangular venturi orifice and a fan-shaped outlet section which contains a passageway which diverges along substantially only one direction perpendicular to the direction of convergence of the converging passageway, the inlet passageway being greater than twice the diameter of the inlet of the nozzle so as to provide streamlined flow and reduce turbulent flow of the friable blast media in the blast nozzle.

Abstract: A blast nozzle for directing a stream of abrasive particles against a surface to remove surface contaminants therefrom further includes an externally attached atomized water nozzle which directs a stream of atomized water particles to the surface to suppress dust formation.

Abstract: A dust containment system for removing dust from the environment of a workpiece which is being blast cleaned comprises a water screen including a downwardly flowing curtain of water placed in the path of deflected blast media from the workpiece, a rearward wall spaced from the water screen and also in the path of the deflected stream of blast media and means to remove the blast media from the space between the water screen and the rearward wall.

Abstract: A blast nozzle apparatus for directing abrasive particles against a surface to remove therefrom adherent materials includes a flow straightener intermediate the blast nozzle and flexible supply hose so as to rehomogenize the abrasive particles throughout the total area of the blast nozzle inlet and counteract the nonuniform concentrating effect on the blast media as the abrasive particles are being carried through the bends and turns of the flexible supply hose. The flow straightener includes a rigid longitudinal bore between the supply hose and blast nozzle inlet.

Abstract: A blast nozzle is provided for cleaning a surface with a blast media which is softer and more friable than sand such as sodium bicarbonate and which comprises an inlet section which contains a passageway which converges substantially along only one .[.planar axis.]. .Iadd.direction .Iaddend.to a rectangular venturi orifice and a fan-shaped outlet section which contains a passageway which diverges along substantially only one .[.planar axis.]. .Iadd.direction .Iaddend.perpendicular to the .[.planar axis.]. .Iadd.direction .Iaddend.of convergence of the converging passageway, the inlet passageway being .[.greater.]. .Iadd.longer .Iaddend.than twice the diameter of the inlet of the nozzle so as to provide streamlined flow and reduce turbulent flow of the friable blast media in the blast nozzle. The passageways in the blast nozzle are formed by opposed modular structures which are releasably secured to the nozzle and can be changed to change the length and angle of convergence and expansion ratio of the nozzle.