Spot Blast Cleaning and Containment System

Abstract

A containment system for defining and containing a spot surface to be media blast treated includes a housing having walls, a closed top and an open bottom for defining a chamber. The system is mobile. The top has an opening for housing a movable assembly, typically a rotatable ball. A delivery tube is mounted in the movable assembly for delivering a media into the chamber. A view window is also mounted in the movable assembly for viewing the interior of the chamber. A purge line is provided for delivering a purging fluid into the area of the view window to purge the view window of any media in the chamber for keeping the view window free and clear of view blocking materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A containment system for defining containing a spot surface to be media blast treated, comprising:
 a. A housing having walls, a closed top and an open bottom for defining a chamber;   b. A movable assembly;   c. An opening in the closed top for supporting a movable assembly;   d. A delivery tube mounted in the movable assembly for delivering a media into the chamber;   e. A view window mounted in the movable assembly for viewing the interior of the chamber.   f. A purge line for delivering a purging fluid into the area of the view window to purge the view window of any media in the chamber for keeping the view window free and clear of view blocking materials.   
     
     
         2 . The containment system of  claim 1 , including an exhaust port for removing media introduced into the chamber by the delivery tube. 
     
     
         3 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the movable assembly is a rotatable sphere or ball. 
     
     
         4 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the view window has a sight line that converges with the area being blast treated by the media delivered by the delivery tube. 
     
     
         5 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the view window includes a window covering. 
     
     
         6 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the view window contains a lens. 
     
     
         7 . The containment system  claim 1 , wherein the view window contains a camera. 
     
     
         8 . The containment system of  claim 6 , wherein the camera is outside the view window. 
     
     
         9 . The containment system of  claim 6 , wherein the camera is inside the view window. 
     
     
         10 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the view window includes an image capture device. 
     
     
         11 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the purging fluid is air. 
     
     
         12 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the purging fluid is other than air. 
     
     
         13 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is of a substantially cylindrical cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The containment system of  claim 13 , including a purge line in the chamber, the purge line adapted for generating a centrifugal flow of media in the chamber as it is exhausted therefrom through the exhaust port. 
     
     
         15 . The containment system of  claim 2 , wherein the open bottom of the chamber includes a manifold about its perimeter, the manifold having slots around the perimeter of the chamber, said slots being in communication with the exhaust port. 
     
     
         16 . The containment system of  claim 15 , wherein the chamber is of a substantially rectangular cross-section and the slots are at the corners of the rectangle. 
     
     
         17 . The containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber is of a substantially rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a purge line associated with the chamber for directing a purge fluid into the chamber after operation for voiding the chamber of media. 
     
     
         19 . A purge system for purging contaminants away from a view window when viewing a harsh environment, the purge system comprising:
 a. A elongated housing having two ends, a first end in a location permitting access for viewing and a second end terminating in a harsh environment;   b. A purge line upstream of the second end;   c. A purging fluid in the purge line and releasing a purging fluid into the housing flowing from a location adjacent the first end and toward the second end and the harsh environment.   
     
     
         20 . The purge system of  claim 19 , wherein a window is located in communication with the first viewing end 
     
     
         21 . The purge system of  claim 19 , wherein a lens is located in communication with the first viewing end. 
     
     
         22 . The purge system of  claim 19 , wherein a camera is located in communication with the first viewing end. 
     
     
         23 . The purge system of  claim 19  wherein the harsh environment is in a pressure zone higher than ambient pressure creating a harsh pressure environment and wherein the purging fluid released in the housing is released at a pressure higher than the harsh pressure environment. 
     
     
         24 . The purge system of  claim 19 , wherein an image capture device is located in the first viewing end.