Jay A Armstrong

US Patent:

53656997, Nov 22, 1994

Filed:

Aug 5, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/925525

Inventors:

Jay Armstrong - Westlake OH
James R. Becker - North Ridgeville OH

International Classification:

B24B 4900

US Classification:

451 7

Abstract:

This invention relates to a carbon dioxide blast cleaning system for propelling dry-ice pellets by cryogens, namely high pressure nitrogen, helium and/or oxygen, against a surface being cleaned. Carbon dioxide pellets, in a pellet hopper, a blast unit and a blast gun are located at a blast site near the surface being cleaned. A portable cryogenic liquid nitrogen, liquid helium and/or liquid air tank with an ambient air vaporizer is also located at or near the blast site. Cryogenic liquid nitrogen, liquid helium and/or oxygen flow through the ambient air vaporizer to the liquid and is vaporized to form a high pressure gas. The high pressure, cryogenic gas is then brought into the blast unit and mixed with the pellets. The mixture of the high pressure gas and the pellets exit the gun nozzle at high velocities to blast the surface being cleaned.

US Patent:

51844273, Feb 9, 1993

Filed:

Sep 27, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/589042

Inventors:

Jay Armstrong - Westlake OH

International Classification:

B24B 4900

US Classification:

5116573

Abstract:

This invention relates to carbon dioxide blase cleaning system. In the present invention, the propelling of the dry-ice pellets is provided by cryogens, namely liquid nitrogen and/or liquid oxygen supplied under high pressure. In a preferred embodiment liquid carbon dioxide pellets are placed into a pellet hopper and a portable liquid nitrogen and/or liquid air storage tank is employed. The pellet hopper and the blast unit and blast gun(s) are located at the blast site, the portable cryogenic liquid nitrogen and/or liquid air tank with an ambient air vaporizer are located at or near the blast site. In this invention, as distinguished from the prior art, all the equipment and material for cleaning is located near the blast site and there is only one hose running to the nitrogen supply, there are no cables or hoses running to a truck air compressor or generator located away from the blast site. Pellets from the hopper are fed into the blast gun(s) through a blast unit. Cryogenic liquid nitrogen and/or oxygen is caused to pass through an ambient air vaporizer to vaporize the liquid gases and build such gases up to high pressure.