Grit Pickup Apparatus And Method

Abstract

A grit pickup apparatus and method, and a grit pickup member used therewith that avoids the difficulties encountered with conventional devices. In accordance with certain embodiments, the grit pickup member includes an elbow-shaped preferably tubular member, having an aperture or slot formed in a wall thereof that allows communication between grit pickup media and the interior of the grit pickup member. The pickup member is submerged in the media such as granular material (e.g., sand), and as high velocity fluid travels by the aperture, the media is drawn into the interior region of the pickup member through the aperture and becomes entrained in the high velocity air stream, which carries it to the nozzle where it is expelled and directed toward a substrate to be cleaned.

1 . A grit pickup device, comprising an angled pickup member having a wall defining an interior cavity and an aperture in said wall, a first end extending in a first direction from said aperture, and a second end extending in a second direction from said aperture, and a nozzle in fluid communication with said angled member via said second end. 
     
     
         2 . The grit pickup device of  claim 1 , further comprising a source of granular material, and wherein said angled pickup member is submerged in said granular material. 
     
     
         3 . The grit pickup device of  claim 2 , wherein said nozzle is in fluid communication with a high pressure fluid, which causes a high velocity air stream to enter said first end and travel past said aperture, causing said granular material to enter said interior cavity through said aperture and become entrained in said high velocity air stream. 
     
     
         4 . The grit pickup device of  claim 3 , further comprising a source of granular material, and a screen between said source of granular material and said angled member. 
     
     
         5 . The grit pickup device of  claim 1 , wherein said aperture is oval-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The grit pickup device of  claim 1 , wherein when said angled member is oriented so that said aperture is at the bottom of said member, said first end is angled at about 45° from horizontal. 
     
     
         7 . The grit pickup device of  claim 6 , wherein when said angled member is oriented so that said aperture is at the bottom of said member, said second end is angled at about 45° from horizontal. 
     
     
         8 . A method of directing granular material against a substrate, comprising:
 providing a source of granular material;   submerging a pickup member in said granular material, said pickup member comprising a wall defining an interior cavity and an aperture in said wall, a first end extending in a first direction from said aperture, and a second end extending in a second direction from said aperture;   causing said first end to be in fluid communication with ambient air unobstructed by said granular material;   providing a nozzle in fluid communication with said second end;   creating a high velocity air stream in said pickup member, causing said granular material to enter said interior cavity through said aperture and become entrained in said stream; and   ejecting said entrained granular material out of said nozzle and towards said substrate.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said aperture is oval-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein when said angled member is oriented so that said aperture is at the bottom of said member, said first end is angled at about 45° from horizontal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein when said angled member is oriented so that said aperture is at the bottom of said member, said second end is angled at about 45° from horizontal.