Abstract: The outer periphery of a pelletizer barrel is devoid of obstructions allowing the number, location and size of vents to be maximized, thereby improving the flow rate of gas being vented from the interior chamber, allowing increased efficiency in and of production of pellets. Screens on the vents are disposed adjacent the inner surface of the barrel sidewall, reducing the volume within which snow can accumulate, thereby avoiding reduction in the venting of gas from the interior chamber resulting from snow accumulation in the vent passageways.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for comminuting dry ice granules, comprising a housing having a flow channel for dry ice granules which can be applied, by means of compressed gas, to a surface to be cleaned, and also comprising a first comminution member for comminuting the dry ice granules which are to be dispensed. In order to provide a device of this kind with which different degrees of comminution of dry ice granules can be achieved in a simple manner, it is proposed according to the invention that the device has at least one second comminution member which can be disposed in the housing in a position in which a total degree of comminution, which is greater than the individual degree of comminution which can be achieved solely by the first comminution member, can be achieved in combination with the first comminution member. A dry ice dispensing arrangement for dispensing a mixture of compressed gas and dry ice granules is also proposed, having a device of the above kind.

Abstract: A manufactured dry ice product containing ozone entrapped or absorbed on said dry ice. The dry ice product can be used to chill and preserve food products and provides the added benefit of ozonation of the food product to kill bacteria. Novel processes for ozonating liquid and solid CO2 are provided.

Abstract: Delivery of pelletized carbon dioxide (dry ice) to a target material such as a hazardous material or a fire from a distance, by projection, spraying, or aerial dropping the pelletized carbon dioxide onto the target material using gravity. Delivery may be made by a mobile apparatus. The types of target material with which the present invention is designed to apply may include, e.g., hydrocarbon material, hazardous material, burning material, and the like. The carbon dioxide may be pelletized to diameters in a size range of about 3 mm to 100 mm.

Abstract: Delivery of pelletized carbon dioxide (dry ice) to a target material from a distance, by projection, spraying, or aerial dropping the pelletized carbon dioxide onto the target material using gravity. Delivery may be made by a mobile apparatus. The types of target material with which the present invention is designed to apply may include, e.g., hydrocarbon material, hazardous material, burning material, and the like. The carbon dioxide may be pelletized to diameters in a size range of about 3 mm to 100 mm.

Abstract: Dry ice pellets in a container are compacted by beginning the filling of a container with dry ice pellets, vibrating the container for a short duration when the container is partially filled, and continuing vibrating the container for short durations at periodic intervals until the container is filled.

Abstract: A method and device for forming slabs of dry ice is shown. A dry ice extruding machine has been modified with a die that has a slot for extruding a slab of dry ice therethrough. The slot is blocked until a puck is formed in an end of a forming chamber of the dry ice extruding machine. The block is then removed and dry ice extruded to a desired length and then broken to give a slab of dry ice. The last step is repeated over and over as the extruded portion reaches the desired length to give the number of slabs wanted.

Abstract: In an apparatus for making dry ice pellets having plural pressing chambers, each pressing chamber is provided with a movable piston for compressing carbon dioxide into solid state and for pressing the solid carbon dioxide through a perforated plate disposed at the end of the pressing chamber. Through connecting rods, the pistons in the pressing chambers are connected with a common crankshaft driven by a motor. The pressing chambers are provided with an inlet for supplying the carbon dioxide in fluid state and with outlet for carbon dioxide in gaseous state. In this way a very compact construction is achieved which is suited for mobile units, particularly dry ice blasting units.

Abstract: A manufactured dry ice product containing ozone entrapped or absorbed on said dry ice. The dry ice product can be used to chill and preserve food products and provides the added benefit of ozonation of the food product to kill bacteria. Novel processes for ozonating liquid and solid CO2 are provided.

Abstract: In an apparatus for making dry ice pellets having plural pressing chambers, each pressing chamber is provided with a movable piston for compressing carbon dioxide into solid state and for pressing the solid carbon dioxide through a perforated plate disposed at the end of the pressing chamber. Through connecting rods, the pistons in the pressing chambers are connected with a common crankshaft driven by a motor. The pressing chambers are provided with an inlet for supplying the carbon dioxide in fluid state and with outlet for carbon dioxide in gaseous state. In this way a very compact construction is achieved which is suited for mobile units, particularly dry ice blasting units.

Abstract: System to produce and propel solid sublimable particles, the system comprises at least: a recipient for receiving solid sublimable material, a plate with an upper face with at least one line of teeth for contacting said material, a means for driving into rotation the plate, and a system for propelling the particles.

Abstract: A lightweight, highly mobile and efficient apparatus for instantaneously producing a high volume of solid carbon dioxide (CO2) pellets. The apparatus utilizes liquid CO2 that is discharged and expanded through a nozzle or nozzles and expanded to reach a triple point condition where liquid, gaseous and solid phases of CO2 can coexist and flash to a mixture of CO2 in a gaseous phase and particles of snow by a process well known in the art. The gaseous CO2 is discharged into atmosphere or recovered for converting back to liquid or used to also extinguish fires. The snow particles are aggregated into larger flakes and compressed into pellets in a compression structure by a rotor with radially movable blades forming variable volume pockets associated with the interior of a housing to compress the flakes into pellets.

Abstract: A process and device is provided for cooling extruded hollow sections, especially pipes, that are made of plastic. Liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide is directed into the interior of the plastic hollow section through an extruder head and is depressurized in at least one depressurization nozzle, whereby carbon dioxide in gaseous and solid form is produced. The carbon dioxide that is in gaseous form is directed to the inner wall of the hollow section, while carbon dioxide snow is brought into heat exchange with the inner wall of hollow section only to the extent that the latter is not damaged.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved dry ice pellet manufacturing system including an automated helical injection system, a chamber having a greater filter screen ratio than prior art designs and a compressing mechanism. The automated helical injection system enables injected CO2 to follow an approximately helical path inside the extrusion chamber, such that CO2 snow begins to form, and is packed, at the die end of the chamber. The automated injection subsystem provides maximum ice production, the present system utilizes both staggered injection rates and a valve arrangement that improve (increases) upon the amount of CO2 injected into the extrusion chamber over time. The present invention further utilizes a chamber having a greater filter screen ratio than currently is used in the art. The extrusion chamber of the improved pelletizer of the present invention has approximately a 35% or greater filter screen ratio; filter screen ratio being defined as the ratio of filter screen area to chamber bore area.

Abstract: A dry ice dispenser apparatus for dispensing a metered volume of dry ice into a receiving well. The apparatus includes a dry ice source, such as a hopper, or a dry ice producing apparatus for supplying dry ice to a metering carriage. The metering carriage delivers a metered volume of dry ice to a receiving well. The metering carriage is contained in a carriage slide assembly which includes a pair of guide walls, a closed floor portion connection to a bottom portion of the guide walls and a discharge opening located above the receiving well. The apparatus may contain a pellet press for forming dry ice pellets when the dry ice is delivered to the receiving well.

Abstract: A gas venting device for dry ice pelletizers and a method for retrofitting the venting device onto an existing piston and cylinder type dry ice pelletizer. The venting device consists of a venting mesh having wires with a generally trapezoidal cross section. The venting mesh is attached to a forward flange at one end and a rear flange at the opposite end. The two flanges are separated by spacer bars. The spacer bars absorb the compressive force exerted by four rods that extend the entire length of the dry ice pelletizer. Without the spacer bars, venting mesh would buckle under this compressive force. The forward flange is attached to an extrusion cylinder and the rear flange is attached to a home cylinder. The extrusion flange is attached at its other end to a die for dry ice pellet extrusion. The home cylinder is attached at its other end to the rest of the dry ice pelletizer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating the conversion of liquid carbon dioxide to solid carbon dioxide particles for compression into pellets or blocks using a liquid carbon dioxide conversion apparatus having a compression assembly and at least one snow accumulator assembly attached thereto includes introducing liquid carbon dioxide into the interior of a filter where it changes phase to a mixture of gas and solid particles. The gas is emitted through the filter leaving the solid particles within the filter interior. The carbon dioxide particles are then transferred from the filter to a compression chamber where they are compressed by a compression piston.

Abstract: A dry ice dispenser apparatus for dispensing a metered volume of dry ice into a receiving well. The apparatus includes a dry ice source, such as a hopper, or a dry ice producing apparatus for supplying dry ice to a metering carriage. The metering carriage delivers a metered volume of dry ice to a receiving well. The metering carriage is contained in a carriage slide assembly which includes a pair of guide walls, a closed floor portion connection to a bottom portion of the guide walls and a discharge opening located above the receiving well. The apparatus may contain a pellet press for forming dry ice pellets when the dry ice is delivered to the receiving well.

Abstract: An improved dry ice pelletizer and method for significantly increased pellet production. The improvement consists of multiple injection ports used for the timed introduction of liquid carbon dioxide into a dry ice extrusion cylinder so that the cylinder can be more completely filled with carbon dioxide snow before extrusion takes place. Part of the improvement stems from the use of a solid mass of carbon dioxide, called a puck, which is chamfered and serves to capture carbon dioxide vapor and snow within the compression cylinder. The resulting improvement in carbon dioxide pellet output is roughly 400% over that achieved by conventional methods. The inventive improvement may also be installed as a retrofit to conventional dry ice pellet extrusion machines.

Abstract: A pneumatic apparatus produces high density dry ice pellets without external electric or hydraulic energy. The apparatus operates solely on compressed air for reduced capital and maintenance costs and for portability to harsh or remote locations. An air-over-oil booster is connected to a pelletizing cylinder which is in turn connected to a source of liquid CO.sub.2 through an electronic controller. The controller sequences a set of fluid valves for operation of both the booster and pelletizing cylinder.

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: An apparatus for making carbon-dioxide snow or frost bar includes a feeding means by feeding liquefied carbon dioxide and a plurality of edible fillers such as juice concentrates into an extruder for extruding the raw materials, a forming device for discharging the extruded product from the extruder to form a dry ice bar at a freezing temperature of the liquefied carbon dioxide, a packaging and storage device for packaging the carbon-dioxide snow bars for storage, sales and final uses.

Abstract: An extruder and methods for converting pressurized liquid CO.sub.2 feed into dry ice pellets of predetermined shape and size, wherein the CO.sub.2 snow formation, CO.sub.2 snow compaction, and dry ice pellet extrusion phases occur simultaneously to achieve production rates on the order of 700-1000 lbs/hr. The increased production rates are achieved utilizing sintered plastic filter media to provide enhanced removal of CO.sub.2 gas from the CO.sub.2 snow formation chamber.