Apparatus and Method for Particle Radiation by Frozen Gas Particles

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The invention describes an apparatus and method for cleaning or treating surfaces using a spray (blast) of frozen gas particles, typically CO2, mixed with a carrier gas. The design features a jet housing with inner and outer chambers, allowing controlled introduction and mixing of liquefied gas and carrier gas. The system allows for precise control over the size and amount of frozen particles for adjustable abrasiveness, while minimizing pressure air consumption and enabling easy integration into other machinery.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Precision cleaning of sensitive or delicate surfaces (e.g., electronics, medical devices, aerospace components)
• Paint or coating removal from surfaces without causing damage to the underlying material
• Preparation or pre-treatment of surfaces before further processing (such as bonding, painting, or coating)
• Contaminant or residue removal in manufacturing and maintenance processes
• Restoration and conservation of artwork or historic artifacts
• Cleaning in environments where secondary contamination by traditional abrasive blasting media is not acceptable

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Highly controllable abrasiveness for safe and effective cleaning/treatment of delicate surfaces
• Reduced risk of damage compared to traditional abrasive methods due to lower hardness of frozen gas particles
• No secondary contamination since the blasting medium sublimates (e.g., CO2 turns into gas and leaves no residue)
• Adjustable design allows integration into various machines and adaptation to different tasks or materials
• Lower compressed air (carrier gas) consumption compared to other high-abrasion methods
• Enables homogeneous, reproducible and clog-free blasting action by optimizing particle formation and transport within the device

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for vapor blasting by means of a mixed stream of particles of a frozen gas and a carrier gas, with a jet housing which encloses an outer and an inner cavity of which the inner cavity represents an expansion chamber which has available at the upstream longitudinal end thereof an inlet for introducing a liquefied gas into the expansion chamber and an outlet opening at the downstream longitudinal end, wherein said outlet opening has a substantially larger cross-sectional area than the inlet, and of which the outer cavity at least partly surrounds the inner cavity at least in the area of the outlet opening, and with at least one liquefied gas supply which is connected to the inlet of the expansion chamber, with a carrier gas supply which is connected to the outer cavity, and with an acceleration jet which connects upstream to the outlet opening of the expansion chamber and to the outer cavity and then narrows in the direction of flow and which has a carrier gas inlet which serves as outlet of the outer cavity and which is located to the side of the outlet opening of which the cross-sectional area is adjustable in size.