Abstract: A containment system the operator to contain, see, blast, and reclaim the grit or abrasives used to strip external surfaces of a pipe, rod, or substantially cylindrical object. The containment chamber or housing is constructed of sections that can be quickly assembled to encapsulate such objects. The grit reclamation or recovery system of the invention is operable to be used in connection with objects that are positioned in a vertical, horizontal, or angled orientation. The containment housing is assembled from sections to encapsulate pipe to contain the dust and grit while blasting. The containment housing has inflatable seals that seal and grip around the pipe. Nozzle control and access as well as vision access are provided to allow the operator to control where the pipe will be blasted and the intensity of the blast. The containment system has a centrifugal grit reclamation design that will work in vertical, horizontal and angular orientation.

Abstract: A containment system for defining and containing a spot surface to be media blast treated includes a housing having walls, a closed top and an open bottom for defining a chamber. The system is mobile. The top has an opening for housing a movable assembly, typically a rotatable ball. A delivery tube is mounted in the movable assembly for delivering a media into the chamber. A view window is also mounted in the movable assembly for viewing the interior of the chamber. A purge line is provided for delivering a purging fluid into the area of the view window to purge the view window of any media in the chamber for keeping the view window free and clear of view blocking materials.

Abstract: A media control valve includes a body, a plunger assembly of multiple components housed in the body with a plunger control valve cap assembly secured to the body for housing a control knob. The body and the plunger assembly include resilient seals between adjacent multiple components of the body and the plunger assembly, respectively, to permit relative movement therebetween during assembly and use. The media control valve includes a diaphragm which acts as a membrane that physically isolates and seals the chambers above and below. The spool design of the valve has all of the seals and bushings held within the spool. Once the spool is removed, the replacement seals and bushings can be replaced and inspected with relative ease due to the accessibility at both ends of the spool. Since each plunger seal is held within its own rigid cavity, held on three sides and not stacked on top of another seal or loose component, proper alignment is better assured during and after installation.

Abstract: A containment system the operator to contain, see, blast, and reclaim the grit or abrasives used to strip external surfaces of a pipe, rod, or substantially cylindrical object. The containment chamber or housing is constructed of sections that can be quickly assembled to encapsulate such objects. The grit reclamation or recovery system of the invention is operable to be used in connection with objects that are positioned in a vertical, horizontal, or angled orientation. The containment housing is assembled from sections to encapsulate pipe to contain the dust and grit while blasting. The containment housing has inflatable seals that seal and grip around the pipe. Nozzle control and access as well as vision access are provided to allow the operator to control where the pipe will be blasted and the intensity of the blast. The containment system has a centrifugal grit reclamation design that will work in vertical, horizontal and angular orientation.

Abstract: A media control valve includes a body, a plunger assembly of multiple components housed in the body with a plunger control valve cap assembly secured to the body for housing a control knob. The body and the plunger assembly include resilient seals between adjacent multiple components of the body and the plunger assembly, respectively, to permit relative movement therebetween during assembly and use. The media control valve includes a diaphragm which acts as a membrane that physically isolates and seals the chambers above and below. The spool sleeve design of the valve has all of the plunger seals and bushings held within the sleeve. Once the spool sleeve is removed, the replacement seals and bushings can be replaced and inspected with relative ease due to the accessibility at both ends of the sleeve. Since each plunger seal is held within its own rigid cavity, held on three sides and not stacked on top of another seal or loose component, proper alignment is better assured during and after installation.

Abstract: A media control valve has a valve body having a media inlet and a media outlet and a plunger which is positioned within the valve body. The plunger is connected to a metering control assembly in the bore of the valve body and can be removed without disturbing the control assembly. A sleeve is positioned in the valve body between the valve body and the plunger. The sleeve includes an integral seal for sealing the valve to a flow device such as a base. The valve stem or post for housing the control knob may have metering marks for visually indicating the position of the plunger relative to the sleeve. The control knob on the valve is aligned with the metering marks on the valve body, whereby the valve opening may be calibrated by visual indication of the alignment of the metering marks with the lower edge of the control knob.

Abstract: A padeye cleaning system includes a housing having an outlet designed to be positioned in communication with the opening in a padeye cover with a media inlet for introducing a pressurized media flow into the housing and through both the housing and the opening in the padeye cover for releasing a pressurized media flow into the padeye receptacle. A media exhaust port is provided for removing the released media flow from the receptacle.

Abstract: A media control valve includes a body, a plunger assembly of multiple components housed in the body with a plunger control valve cap assembly secured to the body for housing a control knob. The body and the plunger assembly include resilient seals between adjacent multiple components of the body and the plunger assembly, respectively, to permit relative movement therebetween. A diaphragm physically isolates and seals the chambers above and below. All of the plunger seals and bushings held within the sleeve. Replacement seals and bushings can be replaced and inspected with relative ease due to the accessibility at both ends of the sleeve. Component parts are assembled using resilient seals to facilitate assembly and repair.

Abstract: The blowdown silencing system includes an initial restrictor in communication with a blast pot vessel for controlling the flow of pressurized air from the vessel into a first expansion chamber. The outlet of the first expansion chamber is in communication with a reducer. The reducer outlet is in communication with a shut-off valve, which may be manually controlled or automatic. The shut-off valve may be upstream or downstream of the reducer. The outlet of the reducer/shut-off valve is introduced into a muffler system which includes an exhaust path and a deflector for absorbing and/or deflecting abrasive particles which may be evacuated from the blast pot vessel during blowdown.

Abstract: A fan nozzle for cleaning a surface with an abrasive blast media is constructed of a longitudinal body having an axial pathway through which the media is passed under pressure for release from a substantially rectangular cross-sectional outlet to release the media in a substantially flat, wide path. A first transition zone provides a conversion in the axial pathway from the inlet cross-section to the substantially rectangular cross-section of the outlet opening. A second transition or convergence zone first reduces and then expands the cross-section of the axial pathway for providing a Venturii acceleration of the media as it passes through the nozzle. The transition zone and the convergence zone may be coexistent along a portion of the axial pathway.

Abstract: A media control valve includes a body, a plunger assembly of multiple components housed in the body with a plunger control valve cap assembly secured to the body for housing a control knob. The body and the plunger assembly include resilient seals between adjacent multiple components of the body and the plunger assembly, respectively, to permit relative movement therebetween. A diaphragm physically isolates and seals the chambers above and below. All of the plunger seals and bushings held within the sleeve. Replacement seals and bushings can be replaced and inspected with relative ease due to the accessibility at both ends of the sleeve. Component parts are assembled using resilient seals to facilitate assembly and repair.

Abstract: A media control valve has a valve body having a media inlet and a media outlet and a plunger which is positioned within the valve body. The plunger is connected to a metering control assembly in the bore of the valve body and can be removed without disturbing the control assembly. A sleeve is positioned in the valve body between the valve body and the plunger. The sleeve includes an integral seal for sealing the valve to a flow device such as a base. The valve stem or post for housing the control knob may have metering marks for visually indicating the position of the plunger relative to the sleeve. The control knob on the valve is aligned with the metering marks on the valve body, whereby the valve opening may be calibrated by visual indication of the alignment of the metering marks with the lower edge of the control knob.

Abstract: A lever actuated pneumatic deadman valve for use in connection with pneumatic blasting equipment is ergonomically designed to reduce fatigue and strain on the operator. The valve is shaped to fit comfortably in the hand of the operator, with a spring biased lever hinged for action to fit the natural movement of the hand. A detent button is sized and positioned for easily accommodating single-handed operation. Another important feature of the deadman valve is the reconfiguration of the valve cartridge with an offset port to produce a cyclonic flow around the spool for reducing the wear on the spool.

Abstract: A check valve is installed in the pressure flow line of an abrasive blaster of the type having a pop-up valve which opens under pressure and closes when depressurized to a predetermined level. The check valve is upstream of the pop-up valve and includes a having a valve chamber in communication with the pressure system for seating a valve mechanism adapted for opening and closing the valve chamber in response to the pressure level in the pressure system for closing the pressure system to back flow when the pressure in the system reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: An electric deadman switch includes a body having a cavity, with an activation switch adapted to be placed in the cavity, and an electrical cord assembly having conductor wires adapted to be connected to the switch, wherein activation of the switch closes an electrical circuit and deactivation of the switch opens the electrical circuit, the electrical cord assembly having an end adapted to be carried in the cavity. A removable body cover is adapted to be placed over the body cavity for securing the electrical cord assembly and the activation switch in the body. The body cavity includes a seat for receiving a mated member and the electrical cord assembly includes the mated member whereby the mated member is seated in the seat when the electrical cord assembly is carried in the cavity to secure the electrical cord assembly in a non-rotating relationship with the body.

Abstract: A lever actuated pneumatic deadman valve for use in connection with pneumatic blasting equipment is ergonomically designed to reduce fatigue and strain on the operator. The valve is shaped to fit comfortably in the hand of the operator, with a spring biased lever hinged for action to fit the natural movement of the hand. A detent button is sized and positioned for easily accommodating single-handed operation. Another important feature of the deadman valve is the reconfiguration of the valve cartridge with an offset port to produce a cyclonic flow around the spool for reducing the wear on the spool.

Abstract: A check valve is installed in the pressure flow line of an abrasive blaster of the type having a pop-up valve which opens under pressure and closes when depressurized to a predetermined level. The check valve is upstream of the pop-up valve and includes a having a valve chamber in communication with the pressure system for seating a valve mechanism adapted for opening and closing the valve chamber in response to the pressure level in the pressure system for closing the pressure system to back flow when the pressure in the system reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: The blowdown silencing system includes an initial restrictor in communication with a blast pot vessel for controlling the flow of pressurized air from the vessel into a first expansion chamber. The outlet of the first expansion chamber is in communication with a reducer. The reducer outlet is in communication with a shut-off valve, which may be manually controlled or automatic. The shut-off valve may be upstream or downstream of the reducer. The outlet of the reducer/shut-off valve is introduced into a muffler system which includes an exhaust path and a deflector for absorbing and/or deflecting abrasive particles which may be evacuated from the blast pot vessel during blowdown.

Abstract: An abrasive blaster system includes a storage tank for storing dry granular abrasive media, a source of pressurized air and a metering valve for mixing the granular abrasive media with the pressurized air for release through a blast nozzle. A cooling system is in line with the source of pressurized air for cooling the air received from the source before it is introduced to the metering valve, whereby cooled air is introduced into the metering valve. The system also includes a dryer system downstream of the cooling system and adapted for selectively receiving a portion of the cooled air for further drying it. The dryer system is in communication with the storage tank, whereby cooled, dry air is introduced into the storage tank.

Abstract: An electric deadman switch includes a body having a cavity, with an activation switch adapted to be placed in the cavity, and an electrical cord assembly having conductor wires adapted to be connected to the switch, wherein activation of the switch closes an electrical circuit and deactivation of the switch opens the electrical circuit, the electrical cord assembly having an end adapted to be carried in the cavity. A removable body cover is adapted to be placed over the body cavity for securing the electrical cord assembly and the activation switch in the body. The body cavity includes a seat for receiving a mated member and the electrical cord assembly includes the mated member whereby the mated member is seated in the seat when the electrical cord assembly is carried in the cavity to secure the electrical cord assembly in a non-rotating relationship with the body.