Abstract: A portable, self-contained sand blaster including a cabinet and accessory end caps. The caps include a solid end wall, an extension box for treating larger parts in the cabinet, a softboot with drawstring closure affixed about parts to be treated, and a softboot with a magnetic opening for attachment to rusted, relatively flat surfaces. The base is wheeled and has controls, a vacuum for dust, a sand supply, and a blast cabinet on top; the base includes connectors for hookup to electric power and a source of compressed air. A media filter screens out rust particles form the media.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for separating target particles from surrounding materials such as separating gold particles from the clays in placer deposits. The enveloping material is converted to a slurry, then pumped into a collision chamber through pairs of opposing nozzles. Sets of slurry collide, dislodging target particles from surrounding material. The outgoing slurry is then further processed to separate the particles dislodged by the collision.

Abstract: A device for cleaning stock material, such as wire, rod, or tubing, comprises two separate blast chambers, each blast chamber adapted for receiving abrasive projected by two blast wheels. Each blast wheel creates a blast zone in the blast chamber through which the stock material passes. The blast zones are oriented to provide a surface treatment on all or a portion of the exterior surface of the stock material.

Abstract: The invention provides a blasting apparatus with a dual structure deflector. The blasting apparatus includes a blasting cabinet for housing a work piece, a nozzle, a propelling device, and a blasting medium holding unit. In use, the propelling device directs air and blasting medium via a blasting path against a work piece. In one aspect, the dual structure deflector is positioned inside the blasting path and includes an interior structure, an exterior structure, and a tubular support. The interior structure may be made from a rigid material such as steel, aluminum, or another metal. The exterior structure may be made from a resilient material such as polyurethane. The dual structure deflector provides a rigid and impact-resistant configuration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the surface treatment of a component (1) having a curved component surface (3). Material is removed from the component surface (3) along a contour line (9) on the component surface (3) by means of a particle jet (7) which is generated from a particle source (5). At least one of the jet parameters is matched to the contour line (9) in such a way that a desired, in particular homogeneous surface roughness is established along the contour line (9). The invention also relates to a blasting installation (47) for the automated surface treatment of a component (1).

Abstract: An constant abrasive feeder of abrasive grains M is formed of a reservoir supply section 20 having a reservoir tank 21 and a buffer tank 31, a stirring hopper 40 for stirring abrasive grains S, and a vibration feeder 60 for supplying the abrasive grains S to an abrasive jet nozzle 5. The abrasive grains S recovered in a cyclone 1 is reserved in the reservoir tank 21 and the buffer tank 31 by a constant quantity, the abrasive grains S is sent from the buffer tank 31 and reserved in a reservoir 43, which is stirred by stirring bars 50, 51 and sent to a supply guide 45. Then, the abrasive grains S is sequentially supplied to a feeder body 61 of the vibration feeder 60 from an opening formed in the supply guide 45.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a tire mold with frozen CO2 cleaning material wherein a portable frame is positioned on a bottom mold of a tire press and has a rotatable frame on which a nozzle support is mounted for swivel action to clean the upper mold half and the lower mold half as the nozzle support is moved radially and circumferentially of the tire mold.

Abstract: A blasting cabinet for use in cleaning a work piece with abrasive intrained in an air stream under pressure. An enclosure having multiple access openings and configured interior surfaces that direct spent abrasive forward to a collection area in spaced relation to the supported work piece on a solid work surface within said cabinet.

Abstract: A granule dishwashing apparatus with easily removable granule collectors and method of use. The dishwashing apparatus consists primarily of a treatment chamber, a tank, one or more granule collectors and one or more pumping devices. Soiled articles are placed in the treatment chamber to be washed with a mixture consisting of liquid and granules that is sprayed at the articles under high pressure. The mixture falls toward the tank after impacting the articles, passing through the granule collector(s). A liquid only portion is separated from the mixture at some point using the granule collector(s) so that the articles can be rinsed. At any point following a cleaning cycle, the granule collector(s) can be removed to add more granules and to simplify the cleaning of the apparatus. In a multiple collector system, the granule collectors are connected to actuators so that the collectors can be placed in a release mode or a collect mode depending on the function desired.

Abstract: A fluid jet-cutting machine with an abrasive particle removal device and method. In one embodiment, the fluid-jet cutting machine has a nozzle and a carrier assembly attached to the nozzle to move the nozzle along a cutting path. A high-pressure fluid source and an abrasive particle source are coupled to the nozzle to generate an abrasive fluid-jet having a fluid and a plurality of abrasive particles for cutting a work-piece. The cutting machine also has a particle removal including, tank aligned with the nozzle, 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.

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: 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 granule dishwashing apparatus with easily removable granule collectors and method of use. The dishwashing apparatus consists primarily of a treatment chamber, a tank, one or more granule collectors and one or more pumping devices. Soiled articles are placed in the treatment chamber to be washed with a mixture consisting of liquid and granules that is sprayed at the articles under high pressure. The mixture falls toward the tank after impacting the articles, passing through the granule collector(s). A liquid only portion is separated from the mixture at some point using the granule collector(s) so that the articles can be rinsed. At any point following a cleaning cycle, the granule collector(s) can be removed to add more granules and to simplify the cleaning of the apparatus. In a multiple collector system, the granule collectors are connected to actuators so that the collectors can be placed in a release mode or a collect mode depending on the function desired.

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: During blasting work, large quantities of blasting material (granules, glass, beads, slag and sand) together with residues of blasted color coating are projected over a large area after impact with the surface being blasted. This results in the pollution of large areas of the surrounding environment. The large quantities of dust produced cause problems for the population over a much wider area. The novel suction device prevents blasting material, dust and liquids from escaping from the blasting site and the area immediately surrounding the blast nozzle into the environment during blasting work. A second suction system which functions separately allows the device, with its integrated blast pressure nozzle, to hold itself steady automatically, even in extreme working positions, such as overhead, hereby relieving the operator of this task, and can still be moved laterally in any direction.

Abstract: In a blasting device, the blasting agent is thrown against the wall to be cleaned. The blasting agent and the dirt removed from the wall are collected in the bottom of the blasting unit in a collection chamber and conveyed by a conveyor to a separation chamber. An extraction device fitted on a suction connection creates air circulation in the blasting device, such that air circulation, the dirt and the blasting agent are separated. The air is supplied through an air supply opening which is placed between the inner seal and the outer seal around the blast opening.

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: A collapsible spray cabinet for containing an abrading device and an article to be abraded includes a flexible cabinet housing having an expanded position for defining an interior blasting chamber and a collapsed position for storage. A folding frame supports the cabinet housing and has an open position in which the cabinet housing is held in the expanded position and a closed position in which the cabinet housing is held in the collapsed position. The frame has a base, vertically disposed support members, horizontal loading members, and spacing members. The spacing members are pivotally connected to the loading members, allowing them to pivot about each other to form a substantially flat unit when in the closed position. Loops suspend the cabinet housing from the loading members of the folding frame. An aperture lets in a current of air into the blasting chamber continuously to clear the area of the blasting chamber between a viewing portal and a member supporting the article to be abraded.

Abstract: A mixture of water and glass beads is ejected to a root of a gear which has been cut to form gear teeth. The glass beads are oriented so as to be ejected to the root, and the glass beads and the water impart compressive stresses to the surface of the root and grind the surface of the root.

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 powder beam working system for working a surface to be worked of an object to be worked by dispersing fine particles in high-pressure gas and projecting a solid-gas two-phase flow thus produced to the surface of the object to be worked which comprises means which temporarily stores the fine particles, a dispersing chamber which forms a portion of a flow path for the high-pressure gas and sending means which sends out the fine particles stored in the storing means into the dispersing chamber at a predetermined rate as the fine particles are in a solid phase state, thereby being capable of adjusting a flow rate of the produced solid-gas two-phase flow and an amount of the fine particles contained in the solid-gas two-phase flow easily and individually.

Abstract: A blast cleaning apparatus is provided having a rotatable conveying surface preferably comprising wire mesh. Workpieces are conveyed through the blast cleaning chamber on the rotating conveying surface such that workpieces may be added to and removed from the conveying surface at a single work station by one operator. Also provided is a method for providing a feed tube to a blast cleaning wheel located below the conveyor, wherein the feed tube is passed through a central hole at the axis of rotation of the conveyor.

Abstract: A casing has a processing chamber and a drying chamber defined therein by a partition mechanism. The processing chamber houses an impelling mechanism for impelling a mixed stream of glass beads and water toward a gear. First and second drying mechanisms are successively brought into the drying chamber by the partition mechanism. While the gear is being processed, i.e., peened, by the impelling mechanism in the processing chamber, a previously processed gear is dried in the drying chamber. Gears can quickly and efficiently be peened, washed, and dried successively in the casing.

Abstract: A cryogenic deflashing apparatus removes residual flash from molded articles. A cryogenic chamber establishes and maintains cryogenic temperatures from an injected cryogenic fluid. A parts basket is removably disposed within the cryogenic chamber for imparting a tumbling action to the molded articles. The basket has an external perforated shell and an open end and a closed end, where the closed end has a conical surface disposed within the perforated shell effective to enhance the tumbling action for the molded articles for exposure to the cryogenic temperature for embrittling the residual flash. A throw wheel directs shot media toward the articles tumbling within the parts basket for impacting and removing the residual flash from the articles that is embrittled by the cryogenic temperature.

Abstract: A method and an associated apparatus for cleaning an inner wall of a mold part includes forming a chamber between displaced mold parts by introducing a casing between the mold parts. The casing enclosures a blasting device for introducing a blasting nozzle which directs a cleaning jet at the inner wall. The chamber encapsulates noise and particles which are produced during the cleaning process.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning, assembling, testing and inspecting contamination sensitive hardware. The apparatus includes an environmental process enclosure having an inner processing chamber, and a carbon dioxide jet spray cleaning system. The enclosure includes a loadlock pass-through having front and rear access doors for providing access to the inner processing chamber. A blower is disposed in the enclosure for circulating purified gas therethrough. A prefilter disposed prior to an inlet of the blower, and a high purity filter and laminar flow screen are disposed in the inner processing chamber. A heater is provided for heating the purified gas and a temperature controller is coupled to the heater for controlling the temperature of the purified gas. A table is disposed in the inner processing chamber upon which contamination sensitive hardware and testing and assembly apparatus may be placed.

Abstract: A blasting cabinet for use in cleaning a workpiece with a dry abrasive has a horizontally arranged cylindrical housing, a hopper affixed to the lower sidewall of the housing, openings provided in the sidewall through which a user can insert his hands and can view the interior of the housing, a door at one end which covers a portion of one end of the housing, and means for establishing a lateral airflow through the housing. The blasting cabinet can also be equipped with a blasting means, such as a nozzle and associated hoses, which draws the abrasive from the hopper under a vacuum and subjects it to elevated pressure, which is then directed to the workpiece. Preferably, a retaining means is provided on the door, such as with a metal strip and external latch. Preferably, a grate for supporting the workpiece is provided inside the housing.

Abstract: A blast head for abrasive blasting has a nozzle for directing a blast media at a surface being treated and a housing for containing the blast media after it passes through the nozzle and for facilitating recirculation of the blast media. An adjustment mechanism facilitates varying of the orientation of the nozzle with respect to the surface being treated, so as to facilitate enhanced blasting thereof.

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 powder sealing device of a powder beam processing machine including a processing chamber for processing a workpiece by jetting powder beams to the workpiece, includes: a thin film cylinder member for sealing a space between an operating shaft passing through an opening portion formed in a peripheral surface of the processing chamber and the opening portion; and a substantially cylindrical mounting bracket having a small chamber communicated to the processing chamber and mounted to the opening portion. The thin film cylinder member is formed of a flexible thin film material into a substantially conical shape, and has one end mounted to one end of the mounting bracket on the opening portion side and the other end mounted to the outer peripheral side of the operating shaft.

Abstract: A blast cleaning apparatus is provided having a rotatable conveying surface preferably comprising wire mesh. Workpieces are conveyed through the blast cleaning chamber on the rotating conveying surface such that workpieces may be added to and removed from the conveying surface at a single work station by one operator. Also provided is a method for providing a feed tube to a blast cleaning wheel located below the conveyor, wherein the feed tube is passed through a central hole at the axis of rotation of the conveyor.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an apparatus and method for cleaning large glass plates each having first and second major surfaces is provided. The apparatus (10) includes an enclosure (14) which maintains a cleaning environment in which a glass plate (42) is decontaminated. An actuated support member (40) vertically translates the glass plate (42) into the enclosure (14) where it is supported with its first (46) and second (48) major surfaces substantially perpendicular to a ground plane defined by the floor space (12) occupied by the apparatus (10). A pair of opposing arrays of jet spray nozzles (62 and 64) coupled to a pressurized supply of liquid carbon dioxide (94) is provided for simultaneously directing carbon dioxide snow particles (96) in directions of the first and second major surfaces (46 and 48) of the glass plate (42), thereby removing contamination therefrom. The carbon dioxide snow particles (96) sublime within the cleaning environment of the enclosure (14).

Abstract: A containment system for containing media and contaminants within an area adjacent a surface to be treated, comprising a barrier located proximate the surface and an elongate flexible member defining a perimeter of the area. An access port is provided in the barrier to allow application of a media to the surface, and an exhaust device is provided to create a negative pressure within the contaminant area and remove the media and/or contaminants from the area.

Abstract: A workpiece cleaning mill that is useful for cleaning castings includes a hollow housing that is established by arranging plural elongated manganese flights side-by-side to establish a cylinder, and attaching the flights to opposed entrance and exit rings. A feed conveyor feeds workpieces into the entrance end, and an exit conveyor conveys the workpieces away from the exit end. Media throwers are disposed at each end to throw high-speed cleansing media, such as shot, into the housing. The housing is rotated as the workpieces move, under the influence of gravity and/or following workpieces being fed into the housing, from the entrance end to the exit end while being bombarded with shot. Steel mesh curtains at each end block the media from passing outside of the mill. Spent media falls through perforations in the flights, and the spent media is conveyed back to a media hopper and thence to the media throwers for reuse. Magnetic valves regulate the amount of media thrown by the throwers.

Abstract: An enclosed abrasive blasting apparatus for a ship hull or other working surface comprises a movable and adjustable boom and an enclosed operator containment mounted on the end of the boom. The containment has a top, sides, back, bottom, and an adjustable angle open front with a peripheral gum rubber seal that is placed against the working surface. The outlet nozzle for the abrasive blasting system is positioned within the containment where the operator directs the abrasive stream against the working surface. A waste collection system creates a negative pressure in the containment that seals the containment against the working surface, while at the same time directing an airflow stream from an inlet in the top of the containment downwardly across the working surface, entraining waste particles proximate to the working surface into the airflow stream, and further directs the waste particles to a sealed collection container below the enclosure.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning a wafer carrying cassette. The cassette is fabricated as open top box having closed sides and a plurality of grooves formed in its interior that each hold a wafer. The apparatus includes an enclosure having an entry and an exit, and a conveyor is provided for transporting the cassette through the enclosure. A first plurality of jet spray nozzles are disposed adjacent to the entry that produce a carbon dioxide jet spray that cleans exterior surfaces of the cassette as it travels through the entry. A blower produces a flow of air through the enclosure and a filter filters the air flowing through the enclosure. A second plurality of moveable jet spray nozzles is controlled to move into the interior of the cassette to generate a carbon dioxide spray that cleans the interior of the cassette. An electrostatic control system is provided that controls buildup of electrostatic charge on the cassette caused by the carbon dioxide spray.

Abstract: A method for polishing radially expandable surgical stents is disclosed where fluid abrasive media M flows over surfaces of the stent 10 causing the surfaces of the stent 10 to be polished and streamlined. The stent 10 is temporarily provided with cylindrical support ends 20, which are not radially expandable to support the stent 10 during the polishing process. An interior polishing fixture 100 is provided which has cylindrical chambers 135 therein adapted to receive a stent 10 therein. Fluid abrasive media M then flows into bores 108 in the fixture 100 leading to the cylindrical chambers 135 and adjacent the inner diameter surfaces of the stent 10. Surfaces of the stent 10 forming the outer diameter are polished by placing the stent 10 within an exterior polishing fixture 200 which has a cylindrical recess 220 therein.

Abstract: A cryogen shot blast system is provided which includes a sealed cryogenic chamber and a barrel which is supported within the cryogenic chamber and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The barrel is pivotally mounted so that the longitudinal axis of the barrel has a variable angle of inclination. The cryogenic chamber includes a drum portion and a generally hemispherically-shaped dome portion which seals an open end of the drum portion. The cryogenic chamber is jointed such that the barrel and a portion of the cryogenic chamber can rotate between a loading position wherein work pieces can be loaded into the barrel and an operating position wherein the barrel is sealed within the cryogenic chamber. A throwing wheel propels particulate media into the barrel to impact work pieces. A nozzle injects the particulate media at different orientations within the throwing wheel to vary the direction of flow of particulate media from the throwing wheel.

Abstract: A shielding device for shot blasting or shot peening chambers comprising a shot retention chamber, preferably with multiple interior compartments formed by divider walls, which retains a protective layer of shot to absorb the high energy impact of high velocity shot particles, the shot layer being retained by magnetic or electrically enhanced magnetic means such that the shot retention chamber can be mounted at any angle up to 90 degrees above or below horizontal.

Abstract: A dishwasher comprises a dishwashing tank (1) with a compartment (10) for receiving articles to be washed (2), and a magazine (3,4) provided below this compartment for receiving washing liquid and blasting agent. The washing liquid and the blasting agent have different densities. Between the magazine and the compartment extends a conduit (5, 9, 11) in which a pump (6) is connected for delivering washing liquid and blasting agent under elevated pressure to a nozzle arrangement (8) mounted at the conduit end disposed in the compartment receiving the articles to be washed. Washing liquid and blasting agent discharged from the nozzle arrangement impinge upon the articles to be washed, to subsequently drop into the magazine via an outlet (13) from the compartment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a substrate in preparation for thin film coating. The invention involves cleaning the substrate in a cleaning chamber under controlled conditions by a blast of carbon dioxide pellets suspended in and transported by a compressed gas medium.

Abstract: A cleaning machine for treating goods with liquid only or with liquid mixed with granules which are heavier than the liquid, comprises a treating chamber (2), a pump device (3, 4) for circulating the liquid with or without granules and discharge thereof through nozzles (8) towards the goods in the treating chamber (2), and a collecting container (1) located beneath the treating chamber (2) and having a space (9) for liquid and granules, which space (9) communicates with said treating chamber (2).

Abstract: An aluminum wheel having a side on which an annular groove is formed is stably led to a polishing and cleaning station in a compact shot blasting apparatus in which the aluminum wheel is uniformly polished and cleaned, and in which an inlet guide way and an outlet guide way on which the aluminum wheel rolls are provided upstream and downstream of a pair of eccentric rollers, a stopper is provided above the inlet guide way while a kick-out bracket which can ascend and descend passing through a gap between the eccentric rollers is provided so that the aluminum wheel is led onto the eccentric rollers with its rolling speed being controlled by the stopper and the kick-out bracket. Further, the shot blasting zone on the aluminum wheel is extended horizontally in a band-like shape.

Abstract: An abrasive blasting apparatus is provided which comprises a blast nozzle arranged in a blast chamber for blasting, toward a workpiece, two different kinds of abrasive particles separately supplied from a first abrasive container and a second abrasive container. The abrasive particles falling to the bottom of the blast chamber are collected by an abrasive collector, and the collected abrasive particles are separated by an abrasive separating system into those of the first abrasive material and those of the second abrasive material. The two different portions of the abrasive particles are returned separately to the first and second abrasive containers through feedback conduits.

Abstract: A fine grain milling method which mixes powder into a high-pressure fluid, and injects the mixture to a workpiece covered with a mask or pattern to process the workpiece to a desired shape. Another high-pressure fluid is injected to remove the powder adhering to the workpiece thereby enabling an accurate transfer of the mask or pattern to the workpiece.

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: Apparatus for supporting and containing a dental prosthesis during the micro-etching thereof is disclosed. The apparatus includes a framework, a holding mechanism carried by the framework for holding the prosthesis in a position which permits micro-etching, and a flexible hood, for example, a disposable plastic bag, which has an open end sized to slidably receive the framework into the hood while holding the prosthesis. The open end is sealable while the framework is so received, and the hood is transparent to permit viewing of the prosthesis within the hood. The hood is sliceable with a knife edge to provide a small slit which permits the tip of a micro-etching tool to extend into the hood. Alternately, the hood may be pre-slit for the same purpose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to process and apparatus for automatically engraving stone memorial markers comprised of granite or marble. The markers have their polished facing surfaces covered with a cut-out blast-resistant stencil having prescribed lettering, numerals, decorative patterns and the like. The markers are conveyed through a sand blast chamber at a uniform rate and plural direct-air-feed nozzles are moved uniformly transversely thereover to effect precisely uniform engraving of the facing surfaces. The engraving is more precisely defined to a prescribed uniform depth with finer detail than heretofore possible by manual or other automated single-nozzle methods. The plural nozzles are essentially continuously fed with pressurized air and blast cutting media to obtain faster and more accurate engraving.

Abstract: A sand-blast sign-making apparatus for forming a plurality of horizontally extending and alternating grooves and peaks on the planar front surface of a degradable blank of synthetic substrate material having a non-degradable stencil removably applied thereto. The grooves and peaks are formed in the portions of the blank surrounding the stencil and are intended to simulate a naturally weathered or sand-blasted piece of wood with the peaks representing the hardest grains in the wood. A sand-blast hose is supported upon a carriage assembly which is movable simultaneously in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The hose is directed at the blank and a grille having a plurality of stock blades positioned in spaced, parallel planes is positioned between the hose and the blank.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting to a tool having a surface to be cleaned for producing aerosol from a substance for cleaning the surface, includes a flange for mounting to the tool having the surface to be cleaned. A nozzle is mounted to the flange for receiving the substance. The nozzle has at least one exit opening which allows passing of the substance therethrough for expanding the substance from a first pressure to a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure for solidifying at least a substantial portion of the substance and producing aerosol for cleaning the surface. Condensation preventing means is provided for preventing condensation from forming on surfaces of the apparatus and the surface to be cleaned, and contamination preventing means is provided for preventing contaminants from re-contaminating the surface subsequent to removal therefrom.