Blasting assemblies and vanes thereof

Abstract

A vane for insertion into a slot of a wheel of a blasting assembly such that the vane propels media as the wheel is rotated includes a body radially extending between a first vane end and a second vane end, between a first flange and a second flange, and having opposing vane side surfaces. An attachment portion integral with the second flange, the attachment portion configured to be received into the slot, and the attachment portion having a first vane end retaining surface and a second vane end retaining surface that are configured to abut the wheel. The first vane end retaining surface and the second vane end retaining surface are adjacent to each other, the first vane end retaining surface is convex, and the second vane end retaining surface is concave.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blasting assembly comprising:
 a wheel that is rotatable about a first axis, the wheel defining a hole centered about the first axis and at least one radially extending slot that has a first slot end that faces the hole and a second slot end that is opposite the first slot end; and   a vane configured to be received into each radially extending slot such that each vane is retained in a radially extending slot as the wheel is rotated and configured to propel media, the vane including:
 a body radially extending between a first vane end and a second vane end, the body extending between a first flange and a second flange, and having opposing vane side surfaces; and 
 an attachment portion integral with the second flange, the attachment portion configured to be received into the slot, the attachment portion having a first vane end retaining surface and a second vane end retaining surface that abut the second slot end;
 wherein the first vane end retaining surface and the second vane end retaining surface are adjacent to each other, the first vane end retaining surface is convex, and the second vane end retaining surface is concave. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The blasting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second vane end retaining surface abuts the first vane end retaining surface without an edge therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The blasting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second vane end retaining surface of the attachment portion has the opposing ends that extends in a direction toward the second vane end. 
     
     
         4 . The blasting assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the second vane end retaining surface has a radially extending first centerline that extends along a radius extending from a first line axis and a second centerlin that extends along a radius extending from a second line axis. 
     
     
         5 . The blasting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second vane end retaining surface has negative curvature. 
     
     
         6 . The blasting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second slot end has a slot end retaining surface having a first section that corresponds to the first vane end retaining surface and a second section that corresponds to the second vane end retaining surface. 
     
     
         7 . The blasting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein depth of the slot tapers in a direction from the first slot end to the second slot end. 
     
     
         8 . The blasting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the wheel has a slot flange having a thickness that tapers in a direction from the second slot end to the first slot end. 
     
     
         9 . The blasting assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion has a first end and an opposite second end, and wherein thickness of the attachment portion tapers in a direction from the second end toward the first end. 
     
     
         10 . The blasting assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the attachment portion has a vane base retaining surface and a pair of vane shoulder retaining surfaces that converge toward each other in a direction from the second end of the attachment portion toward the first end of the attachment portion, and wherein one of the pair of vane shoulder retaining surfaces is on opposite sides of a vane portion of the vane. 
     
     
         11 . The blasting assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the attachment portion has a vane side retaining surface with width that tapers in a direction from the second end of the attachment portion toward the first end of the attachment portion. 
     
     
         12 . A vane for insertion into a slot of a wheel of a blasting assembly such that the vane propels media as the wheel is rotated, the vane comprising:
 a body radially extending between a first vane end and a second vane end, between a first flange and a second flange, and having opposing vane side surfaces; and   an attachment portion integral with the second flange, the attachment portion configured to be received into the slot, the attachment portion having a first vane end retaining surface and a second vane end retaining surface that are configured to abut the wheel;   wherein the first vane end retaining surface and the second vane end retaining surface are adjacent to each other, the first vane end retaining surface is convex, and the second vane end retaining surface is concave.   
     
     
         13 . The vane according to  claim 12 , wherein the second vane end retaining surface abuts the first vane end retaining surface without an edge therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The vane according to  claim 12 , wherein the second vane end retaining surface has opposing ends that extend in a direction toward the second vane end. 
     
     
         15 . The vane according to  claim 12 , wherein the second vane end retaining surface has a radially extending first centerline that extends along a radius extending from a first line axis and a second centerline that extends along a radius extending from a second line axis. 
     
     
         16 . The vane according to  claim 12 , wherein the second vane end retaining surface has negative curvature. 
     
     
         17 . The vane according to  claim 12 , wherein the attachment portion has a first end and an opposite second end, and wherein the attachment portion tapers in a direction from the second end toward the first end. 
     
     
         18 . The vane according to  claim 17 , wherein the attachment portion has a vane base retaining surface and a pair of vane shoulder retaining surfaces that converge toward each other in a direction from the second end of the attachment portion toward the first end of the attachment portion, and wherein one of the pair of vane shoulder retaining surfaces is on opposite sides of a vane portion of the vane. 
     
     
         19 . The vane according to  claim 18 , wherein the attachment portion has a vane side retaining surface that tapers in a direction from the second end of the attachment portion toward the first end of the attachment portion. 
     
     
         20 . The vane according to  claim 12 , wherein the vane is configured to be held in the slot through centrifugal force as the wheel is rotated.