Centrifugal accelerator, system and method for removing unwanted layers from a surface

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:870189

Foster, Christopher A ^[1]; Fisher, Paul W ^[2]

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1. Clinton, TN
2. Heiskell, TN

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. A non-condensible gas, such as inert helium or air, is injected into the chamber at a controlled rate so that the droplets freeze into bodies of relatively high density.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 5472369
• OSTI ID: 870189
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

centrifugal
accelerator
method
removing
unwanted
layers
surface
cryoblasting
process
accelerating
frozen
pellets
argon
carbon
dioxide
target
utilizes
throw
wheel
designed
induce
operation
creation
low-friction
gas
bearing
internal
passages
otherwise
retard
acceleration
move
associated
paint
techniques
involves
treating
preheating
painted
soften
prior
impacting
thereagainst
increase
rate
removal
producing
quantities
liquid
material
chamber
introduced
form
jet
disintegrates
droplets
non-condensible
inert
helium
air
injected
controlled
freeze
bodies
relatively
density
cryoblasting process
frozen pellets
controlled rate
process utilizes
liquid material
carbon dioxide
centrifugal accelerator
liquid argon
removing unwanted
wheel designed
inert helium
throw wheel
internal passage
accelerating frozen
accelerator throw
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