Adjustable abrasive & dust separator

Abstract

Provided is a centrifuge media separator for separating blast particulate from fine particulate carried by air flowing from a blast cabinet and through the media separator. The centrifuge media separator comprises an upper panel, a lower panel, and an outer wall. The upper panel has a central opening formed therein. The outer wall is configured in a truncated logarithmic shape and which extends between the upper and lower panels. The outer wall has at least one particulate escape aperture formed therein. The upper panel, lower panel and outer wall collectively define a curvilinear air passageway having an inlet and an outlet. An air foil extends from the outer wall in to the air passageway. The distance than the air foil extends in to the air passageway is adjustable. The inlet is configured to allow a flow of air to enter the air passageway and circulate therethrough toward the outlet. The escape aperture is configured to exhaust the blast particulate out of the passageway. The central opening is configured to exhaust the fine particulate out of the passageway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blast cabinet for blasting the surface of a workpiece with blast particulate the blast cabinet comprising:
 a housing;   blast particulate placed within the housing;   a centrifuge media separator, including;
 a top panel; 
 a bottom panel; 
 an inner wall extending downwardly from the top panel; 
 an outer wall surrounding the inner wall and extending between the top and bottom panels, the outer wall defining a truncated logarithmic spiral; 
 the top panel, the bottom panel, inner wall, and outer wall collectively defining a passageway and a central opening, the passageway having an inlet and an outlet and a transverse cross section which generally decreases from the inlet to the outlet; 
 an escape aperture in the outer wall; and 
 an air foil adjacent the escape aperture, the air foil extending from the outer wall in to the passageway a distance, the distance being adjustable. 
   
     
     
         2 . The blast cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein when the air foil is set further from the outer wall, the air foil directs blast media with less mass through the escape aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The blast cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the air foil includes at least one adjustment slot. 
     
     
         4 . The blast cabinet of  claim 1 , wherein the air foil includes a bracket attached to an outer surface of the outer wall. 
     
     
         5 . The blast cabinet of  claim 4 , wherein the air foil includes a blade which attaches to the bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The blast cabinet of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one adjustment slot includes a gasket on an interior. 
     
     
         7 . The blast cabinet of  claim 5 , wherein the blade is, attached to the bracket by mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . A centrifuge media separator for separating blast particulate from fine particulate matter when both the blast media and fine particulate matter are carried in an air flow, the centrifuge media separator comprising:
 a top panel;   a bottom panel;   an inner wall extending from the top panel;   an outer wall including an escape aperture, the outer wall surrounding the inner wall and extending between the top and bottom, panels, the outer wall defining a truncated logarithmic spiral shaped passageway, the passageway having an inlet and an outlet, and the passageway having a transverse cross section which generally decreases from the inlet to the outlet; and   an air foil including a leading edge, the air foil extending from the outer wall toward the inner wall and the leading edge angled in a direction opposite the air flow to direct a portion of the air flow to the escape aperture;   wherein when the blast particulate and fine particulate matter enter the passageway at, the inlet and are carried by the airflow toward the outlet, the configuration of the passageway causes blast particulate to be closer to the outer wall than the fine particulate matter, and the air foil intercepts the blast particulate and directs the blast particulate to the escape aperture, the air foil being adjustable to vary the distance of the leading edge to the outer wall.   
     
     
         9 . The centrifuge media separator of  claim 8 , wherein the air foil includes a bracket and a blade, the bracket being attached to an outer surface of an outer wall. 
     
     
         10 . The centrifuge media separator of  claim 9 , wherein the blade is attached to the bracket by at least one mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The centrifuge media separator of  claim 10 , wherein the blade includes at least one adjustment slot. 
     
     
         12 . The centrifuge media separator of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one mechanical fastener passes through the at least one adjustment slot. 
     
     
         13 . The centrifuge media separator of  claim 8 , wherein the air foil creates an area of high pressure adjacent to the escape aperture. 
     
     
         14 . A method of forming a centrifuge media separator for separating blast particulate from fine particulate matter when both the blast particulate and tine particulate matter are carried in an air flow, the method comprising:
 providing a top panel;   providing a bottom panel;   providing an inner wall including a top edge;   providing an outer wall including an escape aperture, an upper edge, and a lower edge;   attaching the outer wall so that the outer wall surrounds the inner wall and the upper edge attaches to the top panel and the lower edge attaches to the bottom panel, the outer wall defining a truncated logarithmic spiral;   attaching the top panel to the top edge of the inner wall such that there is a gap between the bottom edge and the bottom panel; and   attaching an air foil to the outer wall, the air foil including a leading edge and adjustment slots, the adjustment slots including a first end and a second end, and the leading edge being angled in a direction opposite the air flow to direct a portion of the, air flow to the escape aperture:   wherein the top panel, the bottom panel, inner wall, and outer wall collectively define a passageway, the passageway having an inlet and an outlet, and a transverse cross section which generally decreases from the inlet to the outlet; and   wherein the air foil is adjustable along the length of the adjustment slots from the first end to the second end to move the leading edge from closer to the outer wall to further away from the outer wall.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the air foil creates an area of high pressure adjacent to the escape aperture. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the air foil includes a blade and a bracket, and the bracket is attached to the outer wall. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the blade is attached to the bracket using mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the leading edge of the blade is tapered. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein a bracket is attached to an outer surface of the outer wall. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mechanical fasteners arc nut and bolt combinations.