Abstract: An improved apparatus and methods for recovering abrasive from an abrasive-laden fluid are shown and described. An abrasive-laden fluid handling device is coupled to a catcher tank to collect abrasive-laden fluid and transport it to a hydro-classifier. Wet recovered abrasive is discharged from the hydro-classifier and transferred to a de-watering device. The de-watering device removes water from the abrasive by decanting fluid and via use of an air eduction system. De-watered abrasive is then ejected from the de-watering device to a dryer unit, to be further dried and processed for reuse.

Abstract: A system for abrasively cleaning small parts, and a container for holding small parts undergoing abrasive cleaning. An abrasive cleaning cabinet has a bottom member and a cover hingedly connected to the bottom member. The cover is pivotable between a closed position in which the cover is closed against the bottom member to define a cleaning chamber therewithin and an open position permitting access into the cleaning chamber. The cover has a viewing window and a pair of arm apertures through it, with a glove attached to each arm aperture and extending into the cleaning chamber to permit insertion of a person's hands through the arm apertures and into the gloves in the cleaning chamber.

Abstract: Before submitting a sample, including a first material layered upon a substrate, to an ion milling process, whereby a second material is sputtered onto the surface of the first material and the sample is then submitted to an etching process, an irregularity is formed on the surface of the first material. The overall process results in the formation of cones, or micro-tip structures, which may then be layered with a layer of low work function material, such as amorphous diamond. The irregularity in the surface of the first material may be formed by polishing, sandblasting, photolithography, or mechanical means such as scratching.

Abstract: An abrasive cleaning device and method are provided in which a rotating, oscillating drum tumbles articles being cleaned while they are subjected to oscillating blast streams of abrasive particles. Variable closure of alternating portions of an upper opening in the drum through which the blast streams are directed is accomplished by means of a flexible belt that moves in concert with the drum and blast head oscillations.

Abstract: A ultra fine particle film forming apparatus is provided which is capable of forming a ultra fine particle film which has ultra fine particles sufficiently bonded together, sufficient density, flat surface and uniform density. A planarized ultra fine particle film forming method for forming a planarized ultra fine particle film from a deposited film of ultra fine particles formed by supplying the ultra fine particles to a substrate, the method comprising one or more of a planarizing step of planarizing a surface of the deposited film of the ultra fine particles supplied to the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning pipes with the aid of a blasting medium in which a deflecting member surrounding a nozzle is blown through a pipe by the blasting medium blowing through the nozzle. The movement of the deflecting member and nozzle can be controlled with either a draw-rope from the upstream end of the pipe or a rod from the downstream end. Dry ice, sugar, or chemical agents may be added to the blasting medium as an blasting means.

Abstract: A method of cutting a body made of a metal or metal alloy which comprises heating the body to or drawing cutting to a temperature at least equal to 200° C. The metal body can be a continuously cast steel slab.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for cutting using a pressurized jet of fluid from a high pressure fluid source includes a hand-held tool, a hose for delivering pressurized fluid to the hand-held tool from the high pressure fluid source, and a nozzle at a distal end of the hand-held tool. The nozzle has a channel capped by a jewel. The jewel has a second channel therethrough restricting the flow of fluid through the channel, thereby creating the pressurized jet of fluid. A trigger switch is located on the hand-held tool. The trigger switch activates the high pressure fluid source when depressed and deactivates the high pressure fluid source when released.

Abstract: A system to smooth and radius a microhole in a workplace to calibrate the mircohole which comprises means for preconditioning a microhole with a liquid abrasive slurry at a first station, means for flowing a calibration fluid through the preconditioned microhole and means for flowing a slurry through the microhole for a predetermined time based on the flow rate of the calibration fluid.

Abstract: An abrasive particle removal device for use with a fluid jet cutting machine includes a tank aligned with a nozzle of the cutting machine, a settling container, and a fluid transport mechanism to transport fluid from the tank to the settling container. The tank includes at least one compartment configured to receive the fluid and the abrasive particles of the fluid-jet along at least a portion of the cutting path. Additionally, the compartment is configured to control fluid flow within the compartment so that the fluid-jet suspends, and maintains the suspension, of at least a substantial portion of the abrasive particles in the one compartment without additional agitation. The fluid transport mechanism can include a conduit with a first end in fluid communication with the compartment and a second end outside of the compartment in fluid communication with the settling container.

Abstract: A method for cleaning ceramic workpieces such as SiC boats used in semiconductor fabrication is disclosed. The method comprises washing a virgin or used ceramic workpiece with a strong acid and then using a pelleted CO2 cleaning process on the acid-washed component. The inventive method has been found to produce a workpiece having a very low level of metallic and particulate contaminants on its surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a high-velocity particle stream at low cost through multi-staged acceleration using different media in each stage, the particles are accelerated to a subsonic velocity (with respect to the velocity of sound in air) using one or more jets of gas at low cost, then further accelerated to a higher velocity using jets of water. Additionally, to enhance particle acceleration, a vortex motion is created, and the particles introduced into the fluid having vortex motion, thereby enhancing the delivery of particles to the target.

Abstract: When the glass pane (3) is cut with a water jet which is pointed against the glass pane (3) from a nozzle (7) with high pressure, a water surge is directed at the glass pane (3) on the side opposite the action site of the cutting water jet to a point which is opposite the nozzle (7). The water jet which is cutting the glass pane (3) is captured damped by the water surge without its atomizing and rebounding onto the back of the glass pane (3).

Abstract: A method of forming a groove on a mother material substrate includes the steps of forming a first layer on a surface of the mother material substrate, the first layer including a chain-polymer material which is soluble in an organic solvent. Then a second layer is formed on the first layer except for a portion where the groove is to be formed. The second layer includes a chain-polymer material having very high resistance to sand blasting. Then a groove is formed by cutting the first layer and the mother material substrate at the portion where the groove is to be formed, by a sand blasting process in which sand is directed from above the second layer downwardly. Then the first and second layers are removed from the mother material by dissolving the first layer using the organic solvent.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a storage vessel (19) for abrasive particles, a source of pressurised carrier fluid and a first conduit (11) to convey at least a major proportion of the incoming carrier fluid to a nozzle (16). A second conduit (9) connects the source of carrier fluid to an inlet of the storage vessel (19) and a third conduit (18) connects its outlet to the nozzle (16). A switching device (6) is selectively operable either to allow a minor proportion of incoming carrier fluid to flow through the second conduit (9) to the storage vessel (19), or to direct all of the carrier fluid through the first conduit (11). When a minor proportion of carrier fluid is directed through the second conduit (9), abrasive particles in carrier fluid are discharged from storage vessel (19) into the third conduit (18). When all of the carrier fluid is directed through the first conduit (11), fluid from the second conduit is entrained, thereby reversing fluid flow in the second (9) and third (18) conduits.

Abstract: A device for removing material from biological organisms by directing an abrasive fluid stream onto a surface of a biological organism. The device operates on a standard household pressure source and includes a converging-diverging nozzle that produces a super-sonic abrasive-laden air stream having a temperature that is harmless to the biological organism. The device operates at such a temperature without the use of external elements, such as additional heaters or coolers. The internal contour of the nozzle bore is variable and determines conditions, such as, for example, velocity, temperature and shape of the particle-laden air stream.

Abstract: The surface of a workpiece is treated by discharging a stream of pliant shot in a carrier fluid at a shallow angle of incidence thereagainst. The shot is then scrubbed laterally along the surface for selectively removing target material therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing coatings and oxides from substrates that includes a conveyor for moving a substrate in a first direction, at least one nozzle positioned away from the conveyor in position to direct the stream of fluid toward the conveyor and a high pressure fluid supply in fluid commination with the nozzle wherein the pressurized fluid supply is arranged to supply a pressurized fluid to exit the nozzle and direct the fluid at a high velocity to a surface of the substrate for removing a liquid or solid film from the substrate. The method includes providing a pressurized fluid to a stationary nozzle, directing the pressurized fluid from the nozzle in a high velocity fluid stream toward a moving object having a coating and contacting the fluid stream with the object whereby a force of the fluid removes the coating.

Abstract: A quartz glass which would not become a source for the contamination even if it contains metallic impurities. This quartz glass includes a region where a concentration of E′ center as measured by means of an electron spin resonance analysis is 3×1019 cm−3 or more. This quartz glass can be manufactured by a method including the steps of forming an initial quartz glass by melting and quenching a raw material for quartz glass, and implanting therein an ion, which is capable of entering into an SiO2 network of the initial quartz glass and substantially incapable of externally diffusing, to increase a concentration of E′ center in at least part of the initial quartz glass. This quartz glass can be manufactured by a method making use of a quartz glass raw material containing 0.01 to 0.1% by weight of silicon, by a method of irradiating ultraviolet ray to the initial quartz glass, or by a method of giving an abrasion damage to the surface of the initial quartz glass by means of sand blast.

Abstract: A surface processing method by blowing submicron particles is disclosed, in which submicron particles are blown against a surface of a work to deposit a layer of the material of the particles on a surface of the work, or etching the surface of the work.

Abstract: In one implementation, a chemical mechanical polishing method includes providing a workpiece having a dielectric region to be polished. A first chemical mechanical polishing of the dielectric region is conducted on the workpiece using a polishing pad and a first slurry. Then, a second chemical mechanical polishing is conducted of the dielectric region on the workpiece using the polishing pad and a second slurry different from the first slurry. In one implementation, a chemical mechanical polishing method includes providing a workpiece having a dielectric region to be polished. The dielectric region has a thickness ultimately desired to removed by polishing prior to moving the workpiece on to a subsequent nonpolishing processing step. A first chemical mechanical polishing of the dielectric region is conducted on the workpiece using a first slurry. Then, a second chemical mechanical polishing of the dielectric region is conducted on the workpiece using a second slurry different from the first slurry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for blasting an inside surface of a cylinder, in which a steady rough surface is always obtained efficiently in the whole region of inside surface of cylinder for an internal combustion engine. For this purpose, a blast gun 1, which is provided so as to be moved vertically by a traverser 11 and capable of rotating around the axis thereof, has a blast nozzle 3 for blowing blast particles 2 in the vicinity of the lower end thereof. The blowing direction of the blast nozzle 3 is slant downward. A cylinder block 4 is placed upright so that the axis of each cylinder is vertical with a cylinder head mating surface 4e on the upper side, and is isolated from the surrounding space by a cabinet 12. The blast gun 1 blows the blast particles 2 while lowering in each cylinder of the cylinder block 4, by which the inside surface 5 of cylinder is blasted. A blast particle recovering reservoir 13 is provided under the apparatus to recover the blast particles 2.

Abstract: A diffuser master is provided which is manufactured mechanically instead of holographically. The master can be made from a suitable substrate including relatively hard materials such as plastic, glass or metal. A substrate having a first side is worked to form a diffuser surface relief structure thereon. The substrate can be buffed using a buffing agent of a selected grit in order to form surface scratches in the first side of the substrate. The substrate can also be blasted with shot particles in order to form indentations and depressions in the first side. The substrate can alternatively be acid or alkali etched in order to form surface irregularities in the first side. The scratches, depressions or irregularities can be formed in order to create a desired surface relief and hence desired diffuser output characteristics.

Abstract: A technique for controlling the abrasive jet machining process to drill an ink feed slot through an ink jet printhead substrate. The approach results in a relatively even slot edge adjacent to channels that supply the ink-droplet firing chambers of the printhead. The evenness of the edge reduces the tolerances required for designing the channels and other printhead components, thus permitting the construction of printheads with increased droplet ejection frequency. The printhead size is correspondingly reduced.

Abstract: The apparatus for cleaning a substrate comprises cleaning chambers each of which is disposed on a respective side with reference to a clearance therebetween. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of chucks which clamp the substrate to be cleaned and move the substrate between the inside the clearance between the cleaning chambers and the outside thereof, a pair of screws each of which is disposed to be rotatable and close to a respective surface of the substrate when the substrate is introduced into the clearance between the cleaning chambers, liquid supplying nozzles which supply the screws with pure water or mixed liquid including pure water and medicinal liquid, and snow ice supplying nozzles which supply the screws with snow ice having a predetermined granular diameter. The opposite surfaces of the substrate are cleaned by rotating pure water or mixed liquid including pure water and medicinal liquid by means of the screws to press it against the opposite surfaces of the substrate.

Abstract: An automated system for preparing weld land areas of panels to be welded to each other is disclosed. Generally, the system of the present invention includes a system for cleaning contaminants from such weld land areas. In one embodiment, the system for cleaning contaminants includes a system for blasting carbon dioxide granules or pellets against the weld land areas. In instances where the panels comprise aluminum, the system may further include a system for removing at least a first layer of aluminum oxide from the weld land areas. In one embodiment, the system for removing includes a system for moving a plurality of sheets of sand paper over the weld land areas. For purposes of moving the panels relative to the system for cleaning contaminants and/or the system for removing at least the first layer of aluminum oxide, the automated system of the present invention may further include a shuttle system for supporting and moving at least the first panel therethrough.

Abstract: An aerosol assisted chemical cleaning method to remove wall deposition from reaction chambers is provided. The method generates cleaning chemicals in an aerosol state, and then feeds them into the reaction chamber by a carrier gas. The cleaning chemicals interact quickly with unwanted deposits on all internal surfaces of the reaction chamber. By controlling the pressure in the closed reaction chamber, the deposits can be stripped off from the wall and fall into a waste acid collector. The acid collector can then process the waste to prevent contamination.

Abstract: A scheme for removing foreign material from the surface of a substrate by directing a high velocity aerosol of at least partially frozen particles against the foreign material to be removed. Different schemes are described for accelerating the frozen particles to very high velocities sufficient for particle removal, removal of organic layers (e.g., hard baked photoresist or ion implanted photoresist) and removal of metallic layers. In one embodiment, liquid droplets are entrained in a high velocity gas flow and the resulting gas/liquid mixture is passed through an expansion nozzle to produce a high velocity aerosol of frozen particles. In another embodiment, frozen aerosol particles are entrained in, e.g., a sonic or supersonic gas jet before impacting a surface to be cleaned. The cleaning aerosols may be applied to substrates inside a vacuum chamber or directly from a hand-held device.

Abstract: A method of sandblasting an article, such as in industrial cleaning and polishing, using recycled waste aluminum oxide ceramic particles is disclosed. In the method, a quantity of recycled ceramic aluminum oxide particles having a size ranging from about ¼ inch to about 400 mesh, depending upon the target and application, is obtained. For abrasive applications, the particle size is preferably from ¼ inch to 60 mesh. For polishing applications, the particle size is preferably from 80 to 400 mesh. The recycled ceramic particles are propelled at an article in a carrier stream, such as compressed gas. Known and novel sandblasting equipment can be used according to the present invention. The ceramic particles are preferably obtained by grinding waste aluminum oxide ceramic material, such as waste spark plugs, ceramic switches, liners, and fire bricks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a strength-enhancing apparatus for a metal part comprising a recovery mechanism for sucking powder flow dust generated from glass beads crushed on a surface of a gear in a chamber to recover it together with drainage, wherein the recovery mechanism includes a liquid-spouting means arranged on a ceiling in the chamber, for effecting showering for the whole interior of the chamber. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably recover the mist containing the powder flow dust floating in the chamber, and it is possible to reliably avoid adhesion and accumulation of the powder flow dust.

Abstract: A method of and device for removing burrs from metal work-pieces processed by a metal processing machine is provided. The method and device both include the burrs being removed by a high pressure stream of liquid that exits a high pressure nozzle and is directed at the work-piece that is to have the burrs removed. An integration of the burr removal step into the manufacturing sequence of the parts on commercial metal processing machines is made possible by the fact that the high pressure stream of liquid that is used has a proportion of oil of greater than 50% and a high pressure of greater than 400 bar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a high-velocity particle stream at low cost through multi-staged acceleration using different media in each stage, the particles are accelerated to a subsonic velocity (with respect to the velocity of sound in air) using one or more jets of gas at low cost, then further accelerated to a higher velocity using jets of water. Additionally, to enhance particle acceleration, a vortex motion is created, and the particles introduced into the fluid having vortex motion, thereby enhancing the delivery of particles to the target.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for conditioning a polishing pad in which slurry is directed under pressure at the polishing pad. Additionally, energy (i.e., ultrasonic energy) may be added to the slurry as it is directed towards the polishing pad, wherein embedded material in the polishing pad is removed or dislodged.

Abstract: A method of producing a semiconductor device includes a device body producing step, electrically coupling leads and a semiconductor chip, and producing a device body by encapsulating the semiconductor chip by a resin package so that portions of the leads are exposed from the resin package, a honing step, carrying out a honing process using a polishing solution at least with respect to a resin flash adhered on the portions of the leads exposed from the resin package, an etching step, removing an unwanted stacked layer structure formed on the leads by carrying out an etching process after the honing step, and a plating step, carrying out a plating process with respect to the leads after the etching step to form a plated layer made of a soft bonding material. The honing step removes a portion of the unwanted stacked layer structure in addition to the resin flash.

Abstract: A fluid jet cutting system structured to make desired quality cuts in a solid material such as stone, granite, steel and/or marble, the system having a positioning assembly which positions the solid material in a cuttable orientation over a fluid reservoir and at least one fluid jet generator which directs a concentrated, high pressure stream of fluid through a nozzle at the solid material such that the solid material is cut by the high pressure stream of fluid. The fluid jet generator further includes a guidance system which passes the nozzle over the solid material in a predetermined cutting path and at a predetermined movement rate such that the high pressure stream of fluid engages and cuts through the solid material in accordance with the cutting path.

Abstract: Abrasive grains are produced by gluing an abrasive powder to an elastic porous carrier. A number of abrasive grains are mixed with an abrasive liquid, and are then sprayed to the surface of a work at an oblique angle thereto to impact it while allowing the abrasive grains to slide on the surface of a work to finish the surface of the work. Over the distance of travel over which the abrasive grains slide, the surface of the work are ground. The elasticity of the carrier allows the abrasive grains to deform matching the contour of the work. By spraying a number of abrasive grains on the work, grinding action is performed in consideration of the contour even if the work is a complicatedly contoured surface such as a dental prosthesis while a polishing effect is obtained at the same time.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that enhances removal of contaminating particles from surfaces of a non-electrostatically sensitive components that are cleaned using a carbon dioxide cleaning spray. The apparatus includes a programmable power supply that is connected to ground and to the non-electrostatically sensitive component. The surface charge of the component is determined by cleaning the surface without adding any voltage or charge bias to the component. Then the surface is reversed-biased with a voltage having the opposite polarity by a large amount using the programmable power supply. The surface is then cleaned a second time, which removes the contaminating particles that were bound to the surface by electrostatic forces generated during the first cleaning. Thus, reversing the polarity of the charge on the surface that is to be cleaned removes the strong attraction between the contaminating particles and the surface and enhances removal of the contaminating particles from the surface.

Abstract: A method of removing the binder phase from the surface of a hard material body consisting of hard constituents in a binder phase based on cobalt and/or nickel and with a binder phase enriched surface zone is disclosed. By carrying out a blasting process using particles with a size of 400-1500 mesh, a favorable combination of even removal of the cobalt layer, essentially no damage to the carbide grains and reasonable blasting time is obtained.

Abstract: Plastic abrasives for sandblasting, in particular, those to be used in sandblast processing for forming barrier ribs and priming ribs; a sandblast processing method with the use of the same; and a method for treating sandblasting waste matters. A plastic abrasive for sandblasting characterized by being soluble in organic solvents or water/organic solvent mixtures and comprising plastic particles having an average particle size of 5 to 100 .mu.m; a method for sandblast processing a plasma display panel substrate by using the plastic abrasive; and a method for treating sandblasting waste matters.

Abstract: A centrifugal blasting apparatus is configured to deliver friable media without destroying a large percentage of the delivered media. The centrifugal blasting apparatus includes a compressed air feed system that intermixes and fluidizes blast media with compressed air and delivers the fluidized blast media to a blast wheel. The control cage is formed with rounded interior surfaces to avoid sharp transitions that may otherwise fracture the media. The blades are curved to maximize accelleration of the blast media with the lowest possible rotational rate. The first edges of the blades, adjacent the axis of rotation, are configured to receive the blast media. Specifically, the first edges are rounded to minimize the amount of blast media that is broken by using a sharp leading edge. The channels on the blades themselves are also polished to minimize the amount of blast media that is broken while traveling along the surface of the blades.

Abstract: A method of bonding together metallic glass laminations to form a stack and thereafter shaping the stack, for example, by cutting, to form a bulk object such as a wound stator or rotor of an electric motor. Metallic glass is an amorphous ferromagnetic material used in the construction of electrical equipment to reduce core losses. The method involves coating individual laminations of metallic glass with a temperature resistant, non-gas producing metal bonding agent, stacking the coated laminations, applying a pressure to the stacked laminations such that the bonding agent does not exude from between the laminations, allowing the bonding agent to cure, and thereafter shaping the stacked laminations as required. In some cases, temperature resistant wiring and insulation are fitted to the shaped laminations and heated to a temperature sufficient to anneal the metallic glass. The laminations are shaped by cutting with a mixture of fluent material and abrasive material emitted from a nozzle at high pressure.

Abstract: A method for mechanical removal of a layer of alien material from a basic material of a disc-shaped optically readable information carrier. The layer of alien materials is removed from the basic material by a jet of deep-frozen particles applied under pressure.

Abstract: A method for removing a coating on a surface by applying a treatment composition layer to the coating to be removed. The treatment composition layer is made up of (Is) a first material selected from the compounds of sodium and potassium silicates, sodium and potassium phosphate, calcium silicate, iron and aluminum sulfates. An abrasive is injected against the coating to be removed so that the treatment composition layer and coat to be removed are removed and any hazardous material in the layer to be removed is contained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for abrasive blasting, in particular for the sand-blasting of relatively small workpieces, for example in the hobby sector (model building). The device comprises a chamber (2), which is closed in an essentially airtight manner on all sides and has at least one, and preferably a plurality of, closable openings (3), it being possible to evacuate the chamber. A blasting pipe unit (5), which can be introduced into the chamber via one of the openings and which has an inlet (12) for the blasting agent, an inlet (13) for air and an outlet opening (14) for the blasting agent, is connected to a blasting-agent container (8) via a feed line (7). Both the method and the device operate using subatmospheric pressure, so that it is possible, for example, to use a commercially available vacuum cleaner for evacuating the chamber.

Abstract: A masking tool (60) for use in combination with a shaped-workpiece (30.sub.S) in the manufacture of a precision gear (10), which shaped workpiece (30.sub.S) defines a plurality of gear teeth (12) and tooth space surfaces (68) defined by and between adjacent gear teeth (12). The masking tool (60) is, furthermore, operative to mask the tooth space surfaces (68) during surface deposition of a masking material (28) while facilitating deposition of the masking material (28) upon the top lands (14) of the gear teeth (12). The masking tool includes a flexible back-plate (64) and a plurality of compliant masking segments (62) bonded to and integrated by the flexible back-plate (64). Each of the compliant masking segments (62) define a surface geometry (66) which is substantially complementary to the respective tooth space surface (68). Furthermore, adjacent compliant masking segments (62) define an open-ended channel (70) therebetween.

Abstract: The surface to be sputtered of a sputtering target is blasted with a blasting material in the form of a finely divided powder having particle diameters falling within the range of 10 to 500 .mu.m to remove impurities staining the surface to be sputtered. This blasting treatment is suitable especially for a sputtering surface having a raised portion thereon. Preferably the blasting treatment is effected in two stages: in the first stage, a blasting material powder with particle diameters of 50 to 500 .mu.m is used and, in the second stage, a blasting material powder with particle diameters of 10 to 110 .mu.m is used. The blast-treated surface has a uniform, isotropic and reduced surface roughness.

Abstract: With a view to increasing the lifespan of metallic dental components as regards fatigue fractures, compressive stresses are introduced into the surface layer of these components, such as by means of shot-peening.

Abstract: A blasting medium composed of a granulated product which comprises a water-soluble inorganic salt as the main component and which has a weight average grain size of from 1 to 10 mm.

Abstract: Blast media for removing coatings from sensitive metal and composite surfaces, and a process useful therewith, the blast media contains water-soluble potassium magnesium sulfate. The media may also contain flow/anti-caking agents and alkali metal salts.

Abstract: A shot-peening assembly for dispelling shot onto a workpiece includes a discharging device for dispelling shot onto the workpiece. The shot-peening assembly also includes a reservoir for collecting the shot dispelled from the discharging device. The assembly further includes a transfer tube defining a fluid passageway between the reservoir and the discharging device for recirculating the shot from the reservoir back to the discharging device. A fluid nozzle of the assembly is interposed between the reservoir and the transfer tube for conveying the shot through the fluid passageway.