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Title: Abrasive or sand blast apparatus and method
Claims: I claim: 1. Abrasive discharge appparatus comprising; a generally cylindrical housing means; water inlet means in one end of said housing means including an orifice for producing an inlet water jet in said housing means directed toward the opposite end of said housing means and diverging at an angle of about 5.degree. or greater when said water inlet means is connected to a source of water under pressure; discharge nozzle means in said opposite end of said housing means having a discharge passage in axial alignment with the axis of said orifice; said discharge passage including an outer discharge portion of greater diameter than said orifice terminating externally of said housing and including a tapered inner portion having a junction with said outer portion and gradually diverging from said junction toward said orifice; said water inlet means being spaced axially from said discharge nozzle means so that the outer peripheral portion of said diverging water jet engages the inner surface of said discharge passage substantially at said junction; and abrasive inlet means in the side wall of said housing for delivering a stream of abrasive admixed with air into said housing; said abrasive mixing with said water jet in said housing means and being propelled by said jet through said discharge passage. 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said orifice is adapted to provide a gradually diverging inlet water jet of conical shape. 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said water inlet means is spaced axially from said discharge nozzle means so that said outer peripheral portion of said gradually diverging water jet engages said inner surface of said discharge passage substantially at said junction. 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a water supply conduit having a straight, rigid section axially aligned with said axis of said water inlet orifice and secured at one end thereof to said water inlet means for introducing water into said water inlet means. 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 further including abrasive container means and adbrasive conduit means communicating at one end thereof with said abrasive inlet means and at the other end thereof with said abrasive container means. 6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 further including a first air inlet opening in said abrasive conduit adjacent said abrasive container means and a second air inlet opening in said abrasive conduit spaced from said abrasive container means, whereby said abrasive conduit and the external atmosphere are in communication. 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 further including adjustable valve means operatively connected into said second air inlet opening for regulating the flow of air therethrough. 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said angle is between 5.degree. and 25.degree. . 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said angle is between 5.degree. and 15.degree. . 10. Abrasive discharge apparatus comprising; a generally cylindrical housing means; water inlet means in one end of said housing means including an orifice for producing a gradually diverging inlet water jet in said housing means directed toward the opposite end of said housing means when said water inlet means is connected to a source of water under pressure; discharge nozzle means in said opposite end of said housing means having a discharge passage in axial alignment with the axis of said orifice; said discharge passage including an outer discharge portion of greater diameter than said orifice terminating externally of said housing and including a tapered inner portion having a junction with said outer portion and gradually diverging from said junction toward said orifice; said water inlet means being spaced axially from said discharge nozzle means so that the outer peripheral portion of said diverging water jet engages the inner surface of said discharge passage; abrasive inlet means in the side wall of said housing for delivering a stream of abrasive admixed with air into said housing; said abrasive mixing with sand water jet in said housing means and being propelled by said jet through said discharge passage; abrasive container means and abrasive conduit means communicating at one end thereof with said abrasive inlet means and at the other end thereof with said abrasive container meanns; said abrasive conduit means including a rigid, curved section connected at one end thereof to said housing means, extending generally outwardly from said housing means and then generally inwardly, and terminating adjacent said rigid water conduit section at the other end thereof; and a rigid, straight section attached at one end thereof to said other end of said curved section and extending generally parallel to said rigid water conduit section. 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 further including a pistol grip handle fixed to said rigid water conduit section at the end thereof opposite said one end thereof, said handle extending in a first direction substantially normally to the longitudinally axis of said water conduit section, and a second handle attached to said second abrasive conduit section between the opposite ends thereof and extending in a second direction opposite said first direction substantially normally to the longitudinal axis of said second abrasive conduit section; the longitudinal centerline of said first abrasive conduit section, said pistol grip handle, and said second handle being substantially in the same plane, whereby said apparatus is held in normal operating position with said pistol grip handle extending generally downwardly, said second handle extending generally upwardly, and said rigid curved abrasive section extending generally upwardly and then generally downwardly from said housing means. 12. Sand blast apparatus comprising in combination: a generally cylindrical nozzle housing having a water inlet in the rear end thereof, a sand inlet in the top end thereof and a discharge outlet in the front end thereof; a discharge nozzle in said outlet defining a discharge passageway including a frustoconical inner section and a cylindrical outer section, said inner section being connected to said housing at the larger end thereof and having a junction with said cylindrical section at the smaller end thereof, said inner and outer sections having the same longitudinal axis; a water inlet nozzle connected between said water inlet and said housing including an orifice having the axis thereof aligned with the longitudinal axis of said discharge passageway; a water conduit communicating between said water inlet and a pressurized water source including a shorter flexible section connected at the front end thereof to said water inlet and a longer, rigid, straight section connected at the front end thereof to the rear end of said flexible section, and having its longitudinal axis aligned with said discharge passageway; a pistol grip handle fixed to the rear end of said rigid water conduit section and extending in a first outward direction substantially normally to the longitudinal axis of said rigid water conduit section; a water flow regulating valve operatively connected to said rigid water conduit sectin; a sand container; a sand conduit communicating between said sand inlet and said sand container having a first air inlet therein adjacent said container and including a curved, rigid section connected to said housing at the front end thereof and extending outwardly and then inwardly and rearwardly from said housing and a straight rigid section connected at the front end thereof to the rear end of said curved section, extending generally rearwardly parallel to said rigid water conduit section, and having a second air inlet therein; an adjustable air valve operatively connected into said second air inlet; a second handle including a shaft section having one end fixed to said straight sand conduit section intermediate the ends thereof extending in a second outward direction substantially normally to the longitudinal axis of said straight sand conduit section and opposite to said first direction and including a hand hold section at the outer end thereof; said pistol grip handle, said second handle and said curved sand conduit section having their longitudinal centerlines substantially in a plane, whereby said pistol grip handle extends downwardly, said second handle extends upwardly and said curved sand conduit section extends upwardly and then downwardly from said housing when said apparatus is held in normal operating position. 13. The method of sand blasting which comprises: introducing water through an orifice into a nozzle housing to produce a gradually diverging conical water jet in said housing; directing said water jet into a discharge passage in axial alignment with said water jet in an opposite end of said housing, said passage having an outer discharge portion of greater diameter than said orifice and terminating externally of said housing and an inner frustoconical tapered portion having a junction with said discharge portion and gradually diverging toward said jet, to produce a discharge jet from said discharge portion and a vacuum in said housing; positioning said water jet axially with respect to said discharge passage so that the outer surface of said water jet engages the inner surface of said discharge passage substantially at said junction. Other info: Inventors: Lamb, Ralph W. (Vancouver, WA, US) Application Number: 565814 Filing Date: 1975-04-07 Publication_date: 1976-11-30 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 451/40 451/90, 451/99, 451/102 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Smith, Al Lawrence Assistant Examiner: Godici, Nicholas P. Attorney: Klarquist, Sparkman, Campbell, Leigh, Hall & Whinston |
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