Particle Blast System with Synchronized Feeder and Particle Generator

1 . A particle blast cleaning apparatus comprising a particle generator configured to generate particles at a first rate, a particle feeder disposed to receive particles from said particle generator and configured to feed particles into a flow of transport gas at a second rate, said first rate being synchronized with said second rate.

2 . The particle blast cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism operably connected to said particle generator and said particle feeder, said drive mechanism synchronizing said first rate with said second rate.

3 . The particle blast cleaning apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said drive mechanism comprises a belt.

4 . The particle blast cleaning apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said drive mechanism comprises a chain.

5 . The particle blast cleaning apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said drive mechanism comprises a variable transmission.

6 . The particle blast cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said particle feeder comprises

i. an inlet disposed to receive particles from said particle generator,

ii. a discharge configured to discharge particles into a flow of transport gas; and

iii. a rotatable rotor interposed between said inlet and said discharge, said rotable rotor being rotatable at a rotational speed, said rotational speed defining said second rate.

7 . The particle blast cleaning apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said particle generator comprises a rotatable member having a speed of rotation which defines said first rate, and said apparatus comprises a drive mechanism, said drive mechanism operably connected to said rotor and said rotatable member, said drive mechanism synchronizing said first rate with said second rate.

8 . The particle blast cleaning apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said drive mechanism comprises a drive belt, said rotor comprises a first plurality of teeth, and said rotatable member comprises a second plurality of teeth, said belt engaging said first plurality of teeth and said second plurality of teeth.

9 . The particle blast cleaning apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said rotatable member comprises a pulley having said second plurality of teeth.

10 . The particle blast cleaning apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said rotatable member comprises a carrier and a plurality of working edges carried by said carrier.

11 . The particle blast cleaning apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said particle generator includes a rotatable member having a speed of rotation which defines said first rate.

12 . A method of entraining particles in a flow of pressurized transport gas, said method comprising the steps of:

a. generating particles at a first rate;

b. feeding said particles into a flow of pressurized transport gas at a second rate; and

c. synchronizing said first rate with said second rate.

13 . The method of claim 12 , comprising the step of directly controlling said second rate.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of synchronizing said first rate with said second rate is done at a fixed ratio between said first and second rates.