Sandblasting apparatus

Claim 2

In an apparatus for sandblasting surface areas of elongate structural members having different configurations, the combination of: means to move the members longitudinally along a path through a sandblasting zone; at least one horizontal blaster unit in said zone with laterally directed nozzle means movable in an upright orbit to sandblast the surface area of a member of one configuration; at least one overhead vertical blaster unit in said zone with downwardly directed nozzle means movable in a substantially horizontal orbit to sandblast the surface area of a member of another configuration; and means respectively supporting said blaster units for independent movement laterally of said path between a position of non-use and an operating position of use, whereby the horizontal blaster unit and the vertical blaster unit may be selectively utilized to sandblast the surface areas of members having different configurations.

Claim 3

A combination as set forth in claim 1, which includes two horizontal blaster units on opposite sides respectively of said path, and means to urge said horizontal blaster units towards said path; and which includes pilot means on the horizontal blaster units to contact the members of one configuration to limit the movement of the blaster units by said urging means to maintain predetermined spacing between the contacted members and said nozzle means of the horizontal blaster units.

Claim 4

A combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes a track with rails extending along said path; which includes carriage means to support the members for movement along said track; in which the rails of said track are of inverted V-shaped configuration to shed sandblast particles falling thereon; and in which the carriages are mounted on wheels to traverse said rails, the wheels having circumferential grooves for engagement with the rails.

Claim 5

A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the members are plate members, and including carriage means movable along said path to support the plate members by their lower edges; and which includes means separate from the carriage means to releasably engage upper portions of the plate members to stabilize the plate members in upright position on said carriage means.

Claim 6

A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said stabilizing means comprises: an overhead track extending along said path; clamp means to releasably engage the upper edges of the plate members; and trolley means on said overhead track connected to said clamp means.

Claim 7

A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the means for supporting the vertical blasting unit includes overhead track means extending transversely of said path in said zone; and trolley means on said overhead transverse track means carrying said vertical blaster unit for movement between an operating position above said path and A retracted position out of the way to avoid interference with the processing of members by the horizontal blaster unit.

Claim 8

A combination as set forth in claim 6 which includes releasable guy means to stabilize the vertical blaster unit at its operating position.

Claim 9

A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the members are pipe members, and including carriage means to move a plurality of lengths of said pipe members longitudinally along said path through said processing zone with the pipe members positioned side by side in a substantially horizontal row; which includes at least two spaced transverse rows of rollers on said carriage means to support the opposite ends of the pipe members; and which includes power means on said carriage means to actuate at least some of said rollers to rotate the pipe members on their axes as they travel through the processing zone.

Claim 10

A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said carriage means for the plurality of said pipe members are variable in height for coarse adjustment of the vertical spacing between the pipe members and the vertical blaster unit; and in which the vertical blaster unit is vertically extensible and contractible by small increments for fine adjustment of said vertical spacing.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for sandblasting large plates for the fabrication of large storage tanks, the combination of: means for holding a plate in upright position in a sandblasting zone; a horizontal blaster in said zone on one side of the plate to sandblast one face of the plate, said blaster having blaster nozzle means power actuated to move in an upright circular orbit; means to yieldingly urge the horizontal blaster towards the plane of the plate; means to cause relative movement between the plate and the blaster longitudinally of the plate to cause the orbitally moving nozzle to blast a helical path along the length of the plate; and pilot means on the horizontal blaster to contact the plate to limit the movement of the blaster towards the plate to maintain predetermined spacing between the plate and the orbiting nozzle means.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for sandblasting large plates for the fabrication of large storage tanks, the combination of: means for holding a plate in upright position in a sandblasting zone; a horizontal blaster in said zone on one side of the plate to sandblast one face of the plate, said blaster having blaster nozzle means power actuated to move in an upright circular orbit; means to yieldingly urge the horizontal blaster towards the plane of the plate; means to cause relative movement between the plate and the blaster longitudinally of the plate to cause the orbitally moving nozzle to blast a helical path along the length of the plate; and pilot means on the horizontal blaster to contact the plate to limit the movement of the blaster towards the plate to maintain predetermined spacing between the plate and the orbiting nozzle means.

Claim 13

In an apparatus for sandblasting large plates for the fabrication of large storage tanks, the combination of: means for holding a plate in upright position in a sandblasting zone; a horizontal blaster in said zone on one side of the plate to sandblast one face of the plate, said blaster having blaster nozzle means power actuated to move in an upright circular orbit; means to yieldingly urge the horizontal blaster towards the plane of the plate; means to cause relative movement between the plate and the blaster longitudinally of the plate to cause the orbitally moving nozzle to blast a helical path along the length of the plate; and pilot means on the horizontal blaster to contact the plate to limit the movement of the blaster towards the plate to maintain predetermined spacing between the plate and the orbiting nozzle means, said pilot means including pilot roller means for rolling contact with the face of the plate.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for sandblasting large plates for the fabrication of large storage tanks, the combination of: means for holding a plate in upright position in a sandblasting zone; a horizontal blaster in said zone on one side of the plate to sandblast one face of the plate, said blaster having blaster nozzle means power actuated to move in an upright circular orbit; means to yieldingly urge the horizontal blaster towards the plane of the plate; means to cause relative movement between the plate and the blaster longitudinally of the plate to cause the orbitally moving nozzle to blast a helical path along the length of the plate; and pilot means on the horizontal blaster to contact the plate to limit the movement of the blaster towards the plate to maintain predetermined spacing between the plate and the orbiting nozzle means, said pilot means including pilot roller means for rolling contact with the face of the plate.

Claim 15

In an apparatus for sandblasting large plates for the fabrication of large storage tanks, the combination of: means for holding a plate in upright position in a sandblasting zone; a horizontal blaster in said zone on one side of the plate to sandblast one face of the plate, said blaster having blaster nozzle means power actuated to move in an upright circular orbit; means to cause edgewise movement of the upright plate along a path past the horizontal blaster to cause the orbitally moving nozzle to blast a helical path along the length of the plate; a base with a flat level surface; low friction means to movably support the horizontal blaster on said flat surface to permit free movement of the horizontal blaster towards and away from said path; spring means to urge the horizontal blaster towards said path; guide means to maintain a given orientation of the hOrizontal blaster relative to said path and to guide the horizontal blaster along a linear path in the movements of the horizontal blaster towards and away from said path; and pilot means on the horizontal blaster to contact the plate to limit the movement of the blaster towards the plate to maintain predetermined spacing between the plate and the orbiting nozzle means.

Claim 16

In an apparatus for sandblasting large plates for the fabrication of large storage tanks, the combination of: means for holding a plate in upright position in a sandblasting zone; a horizontal blaster in said zone on one side of the plate to sandblast one face of the plate, said blaster having blaster nozzle means power actuated to move in an upright circular orbit; means to cause edgewise movement of the upright plate along a path past the horizontal blaster to cause the orbitally moving nozzle to blast a helical path along the length of the plate; a base with a flat level surface; low friction means to movably support the horizontal blaster on said flat surface to permit free movement of the horizontal blaster towards and away from said path; spring means to urge the horizontal blaster towards said path; guide means to maintain a given orientation of the hOrizontal blaster relative to said path and to guide the horizontal blaster along a linear path in the movements of the horizontal blaster towards and away from said path; and pilot means on the horizontal blaster to contact the plate to limit the movement of the blaster towards the plate to maintain predetermined spacing between the plate and the orbiting nozzle means.

Claim 17

A combination as set forth in claim 12 which includes releasable means to maintain the horizontal blaster retracted from the path to await the arrival of a leading edge of a plate to the region of the horizontal blaster, whereby releasing the retracted horizontal blaster permits said spring means to move the horizontal blaster into position to sandblast the plate.

Claim 18

A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which the means for supporting the horizontal blaster on said level surface comprises a plurality of air casters to float the horizontal blaster above the level surface on a corresponding number of air cushions.

Claim 19

A combination as set forth in claim 14 which includes control means to cut off air to said air casters when the horizontal blaster is retracted from said path through the processing zone thereby to lower the horizontal blaster onto said level surface to immobilize the blaster against the resistance of said spring means, whereby with the horizontal blaster retracted and resting on the level surface said control means may be manipulated to supply compressed air to said casters when a traveling plate reaches the region of the horizontal blaster thereby to permit the spring means to move the horizontal blaster towards the traveling plate until said pilot means makes contact with the plate.

Claim 20

A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said guide means includes: at least one horizontal guide rod that is anchored against longitudinal movement; and low friction bushing means on the horizontal blaster slidingly embracing said guide rod.

Claim 21

A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which the horizontal blaster rides on a flat surface and is provided with air cushion means to float over the flat surface, inflation of the air caster means raising the horizontal blaster and deflation of the air caster means lowering the horizontal blaster, said guide rod being free for vertical translation to follow the changes in level of the horizontal blaster.

Claim 22

A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which said pilot means comprises a pair of arms straddling the orbit of the nozzle means, one of the arms being positioned for initial contact with the leading end of a traveling plate, the other arm being positioned for terminal contact with the trailing end of the plate.

Claim 23

A combination as set forth in claim 18 in which the two guide arms are foldable to retract out of the way when the horizontal blaster is not in use.

Claim 24

A combination as set forth in claim 18 in which said horizontal blaster has a lower section and an upper section with the upper section rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the lower section; and in which said two arms are mounted on said upper section whereby the upper section may be rotated to swing the two arms out of the way when the horizontal blaster is not in use.

Claim 25

A combination as set forth in claim 18 in which the two pilot arms are foldable to fold out of the way when the horizontal blaster is not in use.

Claim 26

A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which the horizontal blaster has a predetermined range of movement transversely of said path; and in which the horizontal blaster is at an intermediate point in said range when the pilot means is at the center line of said path, whereby the horizontal blaster has freedom for movement to follow the moving surface of a curved plate that lies on both sides of the center line of the path.

Claim 27

In an apparatus for sandblasting lengths of pipe, the combination of: means to support a plurality of the pipes side by side in a pRocessing zone; blaster means in said processing zone to sandblast the plurality of pipes from above, said blaster means having a nozzle moving in a substantially horizontal orbit; means to rotate the pipes on their axes while they are in the processing zone; means to cause relative movement between the plurality of pipes and the blaster means longitudinally of the plurality of pipes to cause the orbitally moving nozzle to blast a helical path along the plurality of pipes, said support means having a first forward transverse row of spaced rollers with their axes parallel to the pipes to permit the forward ends of the pipes to rest on pairs of the rollers of the first row, said support means having a second rearward transverse row of spaced rollers with their axes parallel to the pipes to permit the trailing ends of the pipes to rest on the pairs of rollers of the second row; and means on the support means to actuate at least some of said rollers to cause the pipes to rotate on their axes as they pass through the processing zone, some of the rollers of each of the two transverse rows being removable to increase the spacing between the rollers in the two rows to permit the rollers to support and rotate pipes of increased diameter.

Claim 28

In an apparatus for sandblasting lengths of pipe, the combination of: means to support a plurality of the pipes side by side in a pRocessing zone; blaster means in said processing zone to sandblast the plurality of pipes from above, said blaster means having a nozzle moving in a substantially horizontal orbit; means to rotate the pipes on their axes while they are in the processing zone; means to cause relative movement between the plurality of pipes and the blaster means longitudinally of the plurality of pipes to cause the orbitally moving nozzle to blast a helical path along the plurality of pipes, said support means having a first forward transverse row of spaced rollers with their axes parallel to the pipes to permit the forward ends of the pipes to rest on pairs of the rollers of the first row, said support means having a second rearward transverse row of spaced rollers with their axes parallel to the pipes to permit the trailing ends of the pipes to rest on the pairs of rollers of the second row; and means on the support means to actuate at least some of said rollers to cause the pipes to rotate on their axes as they pass through the processing zone, some of the rollers of each of the two transverse rows being removable to increase the spacing between the rollers in the two rows to permit the rollers to support and rotate pipes of increased diameter.

Claim 29

In an apparatus for sandblasting lengths of pipe, the combination of: means to support a plurality of the pipes side by side in a processing zone; blaster means in said processing zone to sandblast the plurality of pipes from above, said blaster means having a nozzle moving in a substantially horizontal orbit; means to rotate the pipes on their axes while they are in the processing zone; means to cause relative movement between the plurality of pipes and the blaster means longitudinally of the plurality of pipes to cause the orbitally moving nozzle to blast a helical path along the plurality of pipes, said support means having a first forward transverse row of spaced rollers with their axes parallel to the pipes to permit the forward ends of the pipes to rest on pairs of the rollers of the first row, said support means having a second rearward transverse row of spaced rollers with their axes parallel to the pipes to permit the trailing ends of the pipes to rest on the pairs of rollers of the second row; and means on the support means to actuate at least some of said rollers to cause the pipes to rotate on their axes as they pass through the processing zone, said support means having a removable third transverse row of idler rollers near said forward row and a removable fourth transverse row of idler rollers near said rearward row, the axes of said idler rollers being parallel with the pipes, the auxiliary idler rollers being offset laterally from the rollers of said forward and rearward rows to permit pipes of reduced diameter to be transported by the carriage with the forward end of each pipe resting on an auxiliary roller and a roller of the forward row and with the trailing end of each pipe resting on an auxiliary roller and a roller of said rearward row.

Claim 30

In an apparatus for sandblasting lengths of pipe, the combination of: means to support a plurality of the pipes side by side in a processing zone; blaster means in said processing zone to sandblast the plurality of pipes from above, said blaster means having a nozzle moving in a substantially horizontal orbit; means to rotate the pipes on their axes while they are in the processing zone; means to cause relative movement between the plurality of pipes and the blaster means longitudinally of the plurality of pipes to cause the orbitally moving nozzle to blast a helical path along the plurality of pipes, said support means having a first forward transverse row of spaced rollers with their axes parallel to the pipes to permit the forward ends of the pipes to rest on pairs of the rollers of the first row, said support means having a second rearward transverse row of spaced rollers with their axes parallel to the pipes to permit the trailing ends of the pipes to rest on the pairs of rollers of the second row; and means on the support means to actuate at least some of said rollers to cause the pipes to rotate on their axes as they pass through the processing zone, said support means having a removable third transverse row of idler rollers near said forward row and a removable fourth transverse row of idler rollers near said rearward row, the axes of said idler rollers being parallel with the pipes, the auxiliary idler rollers being offset laterally from the rollers of said forward and rearward rows to permit pipes of reduced diameter to be transported by the carriage with the forward end of each pipe resting on an auxiliary roller and a roller of the forward row and with the trailing end of each pipe resting on an auxiliary roller and a roller of said rearward row.

Claim 31

In an apparatus for sandblasting different work pieces of different configurations with surfaces facing in different directions, the combination of: means to move the workpieces along a path through a sandblasting zone; a plurality of blaster units having blaster nozzles to process the workpieces; and a corresponding plurality of supports for the blaster units each movable laterally of said path from a retracted position away from said path to an advanced operating position to blast workpieces on the path, different blaster units of said plurality having nozzles facing the path from different directions to process the surfaces of workpieces of different configurations, whereby the blaster units may be advanced selectively from their retracted positions to their operating positions to sandblast the different configurations of workpieces.

Claim 32

In an apparatus for sandblasting different work pieces of different configurations with surfaces facing in different directions, the combination of: means to move the workpieces along a path through a sandblasting zone; a plurality of blaster units having blaster nozzles to process the workpieces; and a corresponding plurality of supports for the blaster units each movable laterally of said path from a retracted position away from said path to an advanced operating position to blast workpieces on the path, different blaster units of said plurality having nozzles facing the path from different directions to process the surfaces of workpieces of different configurations, whereby the blaster units may be advanced selectively from their retracted positions to their operating positions to sandblast the different configurations of workpieces.

Claim 33

A combination as set forth in claim 25 in wHich said plurality of blaster units include a first kind of blaster unit having a downwardly directed blaster nozzle and a second kind of blaster unit having a blaster nozzle directed towards said path from one side of the path.

Claim 34

A combination as set forth in claim 26 in which said first kind of blaster is mounted on an overhead trolley and the second kind of blaster is mounted on a lower carriage.

Claim 35

A combination as set forth in claim 27, which includes means to urge the second kind of blaster units towards said path; and which includes pilot means on the second kind of blaster unit to contact the traveling workpieces to limit the movement of the second kind of blaster by said urging means to maintain predetermined spacing between the workpieces and the nozzle means of the second kind of blaster unit.