High energy impact-based material removal apparatus

Abstract

A material removal apparatus for removing a material from a surface is provided. The material removal apparatus comprises a frame having distal and proximal frame portions, the proximal frame portion comprising a handle. A tool shaft is slidably mounted to the frame, the tool shaft having proximal and distal shaft ends and a longitudinal shaft axis. The tool shaft is movable between a first shaft position and a second shaft position distal to the first position. A tool head attached to the distal shaft end is adapted for engaging the material to be removed. The material removal apparatus also comprises an impulse delivery arrangement attached to the frame. The impulse delivery arrangement is adapted for selectively applying a discrete impulsive force to the proximal shaft end.

1 . A material removal apparatus for removing a material from a surface, the material removal apparatus comprising: 
 a frame having distal and proximal frame portions, the proximal frame portion comprising a handle;    a tool shaft slidably mounted to the frame, the tool shaft having proximal and distal shaft ends and a longitudinal shaft axis, the tool shaft being movable between a first shaft position and a second shaft position distal to the first position;    a tool head attached to the distal shaft end, the tool head being adapted for engaging the material to be removed; and    an impulse delivery arrangement attached to the frame, the impulse delivery arrangement being adapted for selectively applying a discrete impulsive force to the proximal shaft end.    
   
   
       2 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the impulse delivery arrangement comprises an impactor adapted for selectively contacting the proximal shaft end to apply the discrete impulsive force thereto and means for accelerating the impactor to a desired impact velocity with which the impactor contacts the proximal shaft head.  
   
   
       3 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the impactor has a kinetic energy in a range of about 5 ft-lbf to about 1000 ft-lbf at the impact velocity.  
   
   
       4 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is sized for carriage and use by a single human user.  
   
   
       5 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising means for biasing the tool shaft toward the first shaft position.  
   
   
       6 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the impulse delivery arrangement comprises: 
 an air cylinder having a closed proximal cylinder end and a distal cylinder end intersected by a longitudinal cylinder axis, the air cylinder being connectable to a pressurized air source for fluid communication therewith;    a piston slidably disposed within the air cylinder so as to be movable along the longitudinal cylinder centerline between a first piston position and a second piston position distal to the first position,    wherein the piston and the air cylinder are configured so that movement of the piston may be controlled through selective introduction of compressed air into the air cylinder and wherein the longitudinal shaft axis is substantially collinear with the longitudinal cylinder axis and the first shaft position is established so that the piston can make contact with the proximal end of the tool shaft when the tool shaft is in the first position and the piston is in a position intermediate the first and second piston positions.    
   
   
       7 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the air cylinder has an inner cylindrical wall and the distal cylinder end is open and wherein the tool shaft is mounted to the frame by an annular cylindrical housing having proximal and distal housing ends, the proximal end being disposed within the air cylinder and being attached to the inner cylindrical wall so as to extend distally from the distal cylinder end.  
   
   
       8 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein a first portion of the tool shaft is slidably disposed through a first bushing mounted to the inner cylindrical wall proximal to the cylindrical housing and wherein a second portion of the tool shaft is slidably disposed through a second bushing mounted within the cylindrical housing  
   
   
       9 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the first portion of the tool shaft has a circular cross-section and the second portion of the tool shaft has a non-circular cross-section.  
   
   
       10 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 7  further comprising a seal mounted to the first bushing, the seal being adapted to inhibit fluid leakage into or out of a portion of the air cylinder proximal to the first bushing.  
   
   
       11 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 3  further comprising a control valve adapted for selectively controlling a flow of compressed air from the compressed air source to the air cylinder.  
   
   
       12 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 3  further comprising an air reservoir in selective fluid communication with the air cylinder and being connectable to the compressed air source.  
   
   
       13 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the air reservoir is integrally formed with the frame.  
   
   
       14 . A material removal apparatus for removing a material from a surface, the material removal apparatus comprising: 
 a frame having distal and proximal frame portions, the proximal frame portion comprising a handle;    a tool shaft slidably mounted to the frame, the tool shaft having proximal and distal shaft ends and a longitudinal shaft axis, the tool shaft being movable between a first shaft position and a second shaft position distal to the first position;    a tool head attached to the distal shaft end, the tool head being adapted for engaging the material to be removed;    impact means for selectively transferring an impact energy to the proximal shaft head; and    means for accelerating the impact means to a desired impact velocity.    
   
   
       15 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the impact means comprises a piston.  
   
   
       16 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the means for accelerating comprises an air cylinder selectively connectable to a compressed air source, the piston being slidably disposed in the air cylinder for acceleration by said compressed air.  
   
   
       17 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the impact energy is in a range of about 5 ft-lbf to about 1000 ft-lbf.  
   
   
       18 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the apparatus is sized for carriage and use by a single human user.  
   
   
       19 . A material removal apparatus for removing a material from a surface, the material removal apparatus comprising: 
 a frame having distal and proximal frame portions, the proximal frame portion comprising a handle;    an impulse delivery arrangement attached to the frame, the impulse delivery arrangement comprising an air cylinder having proximal and distal cylinder ends intersected by a longitudinal cylinder axis and being connectable to a pressurized air source, and a piston slidably disposed within the air cylinder so as to be movable along the longitudinal cylinder centerline between a first piston position to a second piston position distal to the first position, the piston and the air cylinder being configured so that movement of the piston may be controlled through selective introduction of compressed air into the air cylinder;    a tool shaft slidably mounted to the frame, the tool shaft having proximal and distal shaft ends and a longitudinal shaft axis that is substantially collinear with the longitudinal cylinder axis, the tool shaft being movable between a first shaft position and a second shaft position distal to the first position, wherein the first shaft position is established so that the piston can make contact with the proximal end of the tool shaft when the tool shaft is in the first position and the piston is in a contact position intermediate the first and second piston positions; and    a tool head attached to the distal end of the tool shaft, the tool head being adapted for engaging the material to be removed.    
   
   
       20 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the air cylinder has an inner cylindrical wall and the distal cylinder end is open and wherein the tool shaft is mounted to the frame by a an annular cylindrical housing having proximal and distal housing ends, the proximal end being disposed within the air cylinder and being attached to the inner cylindrical wall so as to extend distally from the distal cylinder end.  
   
   
       21 . A material removal apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the piston has a kinetic energy in a range of about 5 ft-lbf to about 1000 ft-lbf when the piston is in the contact position.