Abstract: An improved media blasting system that separates the fluid velocity development, the introduction of media and the acceleration of media from each other. The preferred arrangement has a supersonic nozzle that produces supersonic velocity air discharged into a coupled acceleration chamber. No shot travels within the supersonic nozzle, so no wear of the supersonic nozzle interior occurs, thus making the nozzle shorter, of plain metal alloys, less expensive to manufacture and lasting indefinitely. The shot is separately introduced into the acceleration chamber thus avoiding it's otherwise limitation to the air mass flow rate in the air supply hose or pipe. Thus the average velocity used to transfer momentum to the shot is much higher than the lower average velocity currently available within other blasting nozzles, which occurs from throat to exit.

Abstract: An adjustable grasping handle which may be used, for example with a supersonic air knife having a compressor and a barrel and nozzle, wherein the adjustable grasping handle assembly forms a barrel handle comprising i) a pair of clasping elements, each clasping element having two gripping surfaces configured to engage the barrel at a point of engagement, with one point of engagement on each side of a first centerline of the barrel; ii) a pivot pin coupling the two clasping elements together on one side of the centerline of the barrel; and iii) A handle with a threaded element engaging the pair of clasping elements configured to draw the clasping elements together around the barrel.

Abstract: A hand held supersonic air knife with a supersonic variable flow nozzle yields a continuously variable power mass flow rate (CFM) and pressure over a selectable power range, responsive to rotations of the nozzle exterior sleeve or outer nozzle member. The maximum power position identified as one end position and a second end position as the lowest power. The exterior sleeve can be rotated to any axial or circumferential position between start (low) and end (high). The result will be an intermediate power position. Any intermediate position will also be a supersonic nozzle of varying parameters between the start and end positions. Thus, a variable flow supersonic nozzle is provided by the manual sleeve rotation by an operator or a remotely controlled positioning of the sleeve.

Abstract: An improved media blasting system that separates the fluid velocity development, the introduction of media and the acceleration of media from each other. The preferred arrangement has a supersonic nozzle that produces supersonic velocity air discharged into a coupled acceleration chamber. No shot travels within the supersonic nozzle, so no wear of the supersonic nozzle interior occurs, thus making the nozzle shorter, of plain metal alloys, less expensive to manufacture and lasting indefinitely. The shot is separately introduced into the acceleration chamber thus avoiding it's otherwise limitation to the air mass flow rate in the air supply hose or pipe. Thus the average velocity used to transfer momentum to the shot is much higher than the lower average velocity currently available within other blasting nozzles, which occurs from throat to exit.

Abstract: A supersonic air knife having a compressor and a barrel and nozzle includes an adjustable grasping handle assembly forming barrel handle comprising i) a pair of clasping elements, each clasping element having two gripping surfaces configured to engage the barrel at a point of engagement, with one point of engagement on each side of a first centerline of the barrel; ii) a pivot pin coupling the two clasping elements together on one side of the centerline of the barrel; and iii) A handle with a threaded element engaging the pair of clasping elements configured to draw the clasping elements together around the barrel.

Abstract: A hand held supersonic air knife with a supersonic variable flow nozzle yields a continuously variable power mass flow rate (CFM) and pressure over a selectable power range, responsive to rotations of the nozzle exterior sleeve or outer nozzle member. The maximum power position identified as one end position and a second end position as the lowest power. The exterior sleeve can be rotated to any axial or circumferential position between start (low) and end (high). The result will be an intermediate power position. Any intermediate position will also be a supersonic nozzle of varying parameters between the start and end positions. Thus, a variable flow supersonic nozzle is provided by the manual sleeve rotation by an operator or a remotely controlled positioning of the sleeve.

Abstract: A supersonic air knife having a compressor and a barrel and nozzle includes an adjustable grasping handle assembly forming barrel handle comprising i) a pair of clasping elements, each clasping element having two gripping surfaces configured to engage the barrel at a point of engagement, with one point of engagement on each side of a first centerline of the barrel; ii) a pivot pin coupling the two clasping elements together on one side of the centerline of the barrel; and iii) A handle with a threaded element engaging the pair of clasping elements configured to draw the clasping elements together around the barrel.

Abstract: A tool suitable for soil excavation that can be used in a number of distinct applications is disclosed, wherein the tool includes a sonic or supersonic pneumatic nozzle assembly comprising a converging-diverging cylindrical nozzle body having an internal through passage with inlet on the converging side and an outlet on the diverging side of the nozzle body; and a replaceable cylindrical wear tip removably coupled to the nozzle body and with an internal through passage aligning with the outlet of the nozzle body, and wherein an outside form of the wear tip is configured to direct reverse sand blasting particles away from the external surfaces of the nozzle body.

Abstract: A supersonic air knife having a compressor and a barrel and nozzle includes an adjustable grasping handle assembly forming barrel handle comprising i) a pair of clasping elements, each clasping element having two gripping surfaces configured to engage the barrel at a point of engagement, with one point of engagement on each side of a first centerline of the barrel; ii) a pivot pin coupling the two clasping elements together on one side of the centerline of the barrel; and iii) A handle with a threaded element engaging the pair of clasping elements configured to draw the clasping elements together around the barrel.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method of soil working is provided for performing one or more of soil fracture, soil excavation and soil treatment. The method comprises the steps of: supplying a source of pressurized gas; supplying a source of fluidized material; positioning a nozzle adjacent the soil; directing a stream of the pressurized gas through the nozzle at the soil being worked; and entraining a stream of fluidized material in the gas stream prior to the stream reaching the soil.

Abstract: A nozzle that produces an outlet velocity air, or other fluid jet, is provided with safety passages which achieve the safety requirement of automatically reducing the local exit pressure “dead end” limit to 30 psig or less when the nozzle outlet is partially or completely obstructed. The safety passages do not reduce the effectiveness of the normal function of the air, or other fluid, jet through the provision of a check valve to block undesirable reverse flow in the safety passage(s) thus avoiding ambient fluid flow to the nozzle exit that degrades the nozzle's normal operating air, or other fluid, jet. This is especially useful for supersonic air gun nozzles which have been adapted to digging in the ground, and other purposes, but it is also useful for sonic and subsonic nozzles that are used for other purposes such as cleaning, and other applications.

Abstract: A tool suitable for soil excavation that can be used in a number of distinct applications is disclosed, wherein the tool includes a sonic or supersonic pneumatic nozzle assembly comprising a converging-diverging cylindrical nozzle body having an internal through passage with inlet on the converging side and an outlet on the diverging side of the nozzle body; and a replaceable cylindrical wear tip removably coupled to the nozzle body and with an internal through passage aligning with the outlet of the nozzle body, and wherein an outside form of the wear tip is configured to direct reverse sand blasting particles away from the external surfaces of the nozzle body.

Abstract: Material is pneumatically excavated and removed by discharging air under pressure from an excavation nozzle at supersonic speeds in a forward direction for excavating the material, and simultaneously discharging air under pressure from an evacuation nozzle also at supersonic speeds in a rearward direction at an adjacent position rearward of the point of forward discharge for assisting the removal of the excavated material in a rearward direction. The evacuation nozzle is in the form of a continuous annular air stream that is maintained concentric with the excavation nozzle. The nozzles are sized to provide maximum excavation and removal efficiency in co-relation to the PSI and the CFM output capabilities of the selected air source and the nozzles are positioned sufficiently close to each other whereby dynamic flow coupling is established between the nozzles such that material digging and removal performance and efficiency are maximized.