Insert for use in dry blasting
An insert securable to the end of a hose is disclosed, the insert primarily intended to improve flow of a fluid emerging from the hose. The insert includes a generally cylindrical body portion, said body portion comprising an internal helical channel, the axis of said helical channel being offset from the insert axis, and conveniently parallel thereto.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
an insert ( 10 ) securable within a fluid pathway of a fluid delivering conduit, the insert comprising:
a body ( 11 , 21 );
a first fluid inlet disposed at a first end of the body;
a body length axis (e.g., A-A, FIG. 3 b ) disposed normal to a plane passing through the first body end and extending, from a center of the first fluid inlet, between the plane and a second body end disposed opposite the first body end;
a first fluid outlet disposed at the second body end;
an internally disposed fluid-guiding channel ( 13 , 23 ) extending as an uninterrupted path through the body between the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet, the channel being defined in-part, by a circumferentially disposed arcuate boundary line segment swept along a helical path with respect to the body length axis; and
a flowpath, for fluid in the channel, defined by a centroid location of corresponding channel cross-sections along the helical path such that the flowpath is offset from the body length axis to guide fluid, that is flowing through the channel, toward a corresponding helical flow, the channel having a channel length extending along the flowpath; wherein:
first coupling structure is associated with the body, the first coupling structure being operable to place the fluid inlet in fluid-tight communication with cooperating second coupling structure carried at a discharge end of the fluid delivering conduit; and
a boundary edge of the channel is disposed at a radius from the body length axis by a distance larger than an outside radius of the fluid delivering conduit.
2 . An apparatus, comprising:
an insert ( 10 ) securable within a fluid pathway of a fluid delivering conduit, the insert comprising:
a body ( 11 , 21 );
a first fluid inlet disposed at a first end of the body;
a body length axis (e.g., A-A, FIG. 3 b ) disposed normal to a plane passing through the first body end and extending, from a center of the first fluid inlet, between the plane and a second body end disposed opposite the first body end;
a first fluid outlet disposed at the second body end;
an internally disposed fluid-guiding channel ( 13 , 23 ) extending as an uninterrupted path through the body between the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet, the channel being defined in-part, by a circumferentially disposed arcuate boundary line segment swept along a helical path with respect to the body length axis; and
a flowpath, for fluid in the channel, defined by a centroid location of corresponding channel cross-sections along the helical path such that the flowpath is offset from the body length axis to guide fluid, that is flowing through the channel, toward a corresponding helical flow, the channel having a channel length extending along the flowpath; wherein:
first coupling structure is associated with the body, the first coupling structure being operable to place the fluid inlet in fluid-tight communication with cooperating second coupling structure carried at a discharge end of the fluid delivering conduit; and
the body further comprises a flange ( 12 ) disposed to protrude radially at the first body end; and
a frusto-conical section ( 41 ) connects the flange to the body, the frusto-conical section tapering from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter in the direction of the first fluid outlet.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
the insert is configured and arranged such that a direction of fluid flow through the first fluid inlet is parallel to a direction of fluid flow in the first fluid outlet.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
the channel is circular in cross-section along a portion of the channel length; and
the ratio of a channel diameter, at a location disposed along the portion of channel length, to a corresponding offset distance of the flowpath from the body length axis, is between 0.5 and 1.3.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
the ratio of the channel diameter to the corresponding offset distance of the flowpath is between 0.7 and 1.3.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein:
the ratio of the channel diameter to the corresponding offset distance of the flowpath is 1.3.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
at least one end of the body carries a threaded element ( 24 , 26 ).
8 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
at least one end of the body carries a hose barb ( 61 ).
9 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
at least one end of the body provides an exterior surface that is chamfered ( 14 ) to facilitate assembly of the apparatus.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
a cross-section of the channel ( 23 ) has a characteristic size that is constant along a portion of the channel length.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
a cross-section of the channel ( 45 ) has a characteristic size that is tapered, being larger at a fluid inlet end.