Abstract: An abrasive throwing wheel assembly comprises a throwing wheel having parallel annular side plates (29) joined by spacers with the facing surfaces of the side plates having angularly-spaced registering throwing blade locating slots (30) and throwing blades (20) with lateral rails or edges (22) for location in the slots. The side wheels slots are wider than is customary and contain central radially-extending projections (30c). The lateral rails or edges of the throwing blades are grooved (28) from the tips inwardly for at least part of their lengths. The throwing blades are located by interengagement between the sidewall projects and the rail or edge grooves of the blades. This reduces the surface contact between the blades and the side plates with consequent reduction in the accumulation of jamming abrasive during use. Throwing blade removal is thus facilitated.

Abstract: A blast wheel assembly has a bladed rotor and an impeller which rotate together. A cage has an axial and angular wall including an aperture through which in use particulate material passes. The cross section of the aperture is irregular to control the uniformity of blast effect on a surface being treated. The assembly can be in a mobile or static machine. Various forms of aperture are described, the preferred form of which is of non-uniform shape as it extends angularly with respect to the cage axis, the aperture being of less cross-section in a region intermediate the angular end regions of the aperture.

Abstract: A shot blast machine for deflashing plastic molded parts in which a substantially horizontal conveyor belt is used for delivering the parts to be deflashed. Shot blasting wheels are located above the conveyor belt and impel particles downward into deflashing engagement with plastic parts on the conveyor. A wire mesh member, in the form of an endless belt, is positioned above and in close proximity to the conveyor belt so that parts being blasted are trapped and held between the wire mesh belt and the conveyor belt. The wire mesh belt prevents the parts being deflashed from being moved off the conveyor belt under the influence of blasting particles. The hold down belt is also movably mounted above the conveyor belt so that it can float up and down and accommodate parts of different sizes.

Abstract: A blast wheel having a rotatable shaft with discs carrying blades for propelling abrasive material against a surface to be blast-cleaned. Each one of the blades has a striking portion and a dovetail base member. Each one of the discs has a number of circumferential dovetail slots for receiving the base members of the blades. Keeper plates, lock washers and keeper bolts are used to retain each end of each blade in place. Each disc has several sound-abating holes to reduce the rotational noise of the blast wheel.

Abstract: An abstract throwing wheel assembly comprises a throwing wheel having parallel annular side plates (29) joined by spacers with the facing surfaces of the side plates having angularly-spaced registering throwing blade locating slots (30) and throwing blades (20) with lateral rails or edges (22) for location in the slots. The side wheels slots are wider than is customary and contain central radially-extending projections (30c). The lateral rails or edges of the throwing blades are grooved (28) from the tips inwardly for at least part of their lengths. The throwing blades are located by interengagement between the sidewall projects and the rail or edge grooves of the blades. This reduces the surface contact between the blades and the side plates with consequent reduction in the accumulation of jamming abrasive during use. Throwing blade removal is thus facilitated.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of releasably connecting a blade to a single wheel plate of a centrifugal blasting wheel without using a separate stop-member to prevent outward radial movement of the blade. An alternative method of releasably connecting a blade to a wheel plate, and an alternative blade, wheel plate and blasting wheel are provided. The invention is useful in releasably aligning blades without the use of stop members. The blade can be accurately aligned in the channel of the wheel plate as a result of positive abutment of the sides of a wedge on the blade against the sides of the channel.

Abstract: A cryoblasting process having a centrifugal accelerator for accelerating frozen pellets of argon or carbon dioxide toward a target area utilizes an accelerator throw wheel designed to induce, during operation, the creation of a low-friction gas bearing within internal passages of the wheel which would otherwise retard acceleration of the pellets as they move through the passages. An associated system and method for removing paint from a surface with cryoblasting techniques involves the treating, such as a preheating, of the painted surface to soften the paint prior to the impacting of frozen pellets thereagainst to increase the rate of paint removal. A system and method for producing large quantities of frozen pellets from a liquid material, such as liquid argon or carbon dioxide, for use in a cryoblasting process utilizes a chamber into which the liquid material is introduced in the form of a jet which disintegrates into droplets.

Abstract: The bolt-together wheel consists of a pair of side plates separated from one another by cylindrical spacers. The spacers are connected to the side plates by shearable bolts where the head of the bolt will shear off when a predetermined torque is applied thereto. The predetermined torque is selected such that the bolt head will shear after the bolt securely fixes the spacers to the side plates. As a result, the bolt does not extend from the side plate such that wear on the blast wheel is reduced. After the bolt head shears, it can be machined to provide a uniform, smooth surface that further minimizes wear. Finally, the edges of the side plates can be provided with tapered faces to reduce the impact force of rebounding shot and the wear resulting therefrom and to direct the rebounding shot away from the interior of the blast wheel.