Rotation and air/abrasive delivery system for an abrasive material surface finishing system

Abstract

A rotation and air/abrasive delivery system for an abrasive material surface finishing system includes a rotating basket within the tub; a blast head connected with a compressed air source and an abrasive media source; a hinged connection configured to allow angular adjustment of the blast head into a desired angular position relative to the rotating basket and maintain the blast head in the desired angular position; a motor outside of the tub that is configured to drive rotation of the rotating basket; a bearing shaft connected with the motor and with the rotating basket, the bearing shaft being operable to transfer rotational force from the motor to the rotating basket; and a linkage assembly having at least one seal configured to isolate the motor from the abrasive media source within the tub. A method of retrofitting an abrasive material surface finishing system is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rotation and air/abrasive delivery system for an abrasive material surface finishing system having a compressed air source, an abrasive media source, and a tub, comprising:
 a rotating basket within the tub that is configured to contain one or more parts requiring surface finishing;   a blast head connected with the compressed air source by an air inlet tube and with the abrasive media source and configured for accelerated delivery of the abrasive media;   a hinged connection configured to allow angular adjustment of the blast head into a desired angular position relative to the rotating basket and maintain the blast head in the desired angular position;   a motor mounted outside of the tub that is configured to drive rotation of the rotating basket;   a bearing shaft connected with the motor at a first end and with the rotating basket at a second end, the bearing shaft being operable to transfer rotational force from the motor to the rotating basket; and   a linkage assembly having at least one seal configured to isolate the motor from the abrasive media source within the tub.   
     
     
         2 . The rotation and air/abrasive delivery system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hinged connection is supported by the air inlet tube. 
     
     
         3 . The rotation and air/abrasive delivery system as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising an air input slide engaging the air inlet tube in a sliding manner and wherein the hinged connection is connected to the air input slide, the air input slide being configured to allow linear adjustment of the blast head into a desired linear position relative to the rotating basket and maintain the blast head in the desired linear position. 
     
     
         4 . The rotation and air/abrasive delivery system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a basket adapter connected with the second end of the bearing shaft and with the rotating basket. 
     
     
         5 . An abrasive material surface finishing system, comprising:
 a tub;   a compressed air source and an abrasive media source;   a rotating basket within the tub that is configured to contain one or more parts requiring surface finishing;   a blast head connected with the compressed air source and the abrasive media source and configured for accelerated delivery of the abrasive media;   a hinged connection configured to allow angular adjustment of the blast head into a desired angular position relative to the rotating basket and maintain the blast head in the desired angular position;   a motor outside of the tub that is configured to drive rotation of the rotating basket;   a bearing shaft connected at a first end with the motor and at a second end with the rotating basket and passing through the tub, the bearing shaft being operable to transfer rotational force from the motor to the rotating basket; and   a linkage assembly having at least one seal configured to isolate the motor from the abrasive media source within the tub.   
     
     
         6 . The abrasive material surface finishing system as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising an air inlet tube connecting the compressed air source and the blast head and wherein the hinged connection is supported by the air inlet tube. 
     
     
         7 . The abrasive material surface finishing system as set forth in  claim 6 , further comprising an air input slide engaging the air inlet tube in a sliding manner and wherein the hinged connection is connected to the air input slide, the air input slide being configured to allow linear adjustment of the blast head into a desired linear position relative to the rotating basket and maintain the blast head in the desired linear position. 
     
     
         8 . The abrasive material surface finishing system as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising a basket adapter connected with the second end of the bearing shaft and with the rotating basket. 
     
     
         9 . A method of retrofitting an abrasive material surface finishing system, having a compressed air source, an abrasive media source, and a tub, with a rotation and air/abrasive delivery system according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 creating a shaft opening in the tub having an opening diameter slightly greater than a diameter of the bearing shaft to allow insertion of and subsequent free rotation of the bearing shaft;   connecting the first end of the bearing shaft with the motor and mounting the motor to an outside surface of the tub adjacent to the shaft opening;   connecting the linkage assembly with the bearing shaft adjacent to an inside surface of the tub;   connecting the second end of the bearing shaft with the rotating basket;   connecting the blast head to the compressed air source with an air inlet tube;   connecting the blast head with the abrasive media source; and   connecting the blast head to the hinged connection and connecting the hinged connection to one of the tub or the air inlet tube.   
     
     
         10 . The method of retrofitting an abrasive material surface finishing system as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the hinged connection is configured to allow angular adjustment of the blast head into a desired angular position relative to the rotating basket and maintain the blast head in the desired angular position, and further comprising the step of pivotally adjusting the blast head into the desired angular position by pivoting the hinged connection. 
     
     
         11 . The method of retrofitting an abrasive material surface finishing system as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising an air input slide engaging the air inlet tube in a sliding manner and wherein the hinged connection is connected to the air input slide, the air input slide being configured to allow linear adjustment of the blast head into a desired linear position relative to the rotating basket and maintain the blast head in the desired linear position, and further comprising the step of slidingly adjusting the blast head relative to the rotating basket into the desired linear position by moving the air input slide along the air inlet tube. 
     
     
         12 . The method of retrofitting an abrasive material surface finishing system as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising a basket adapter and wherein the step of connecting the second end of the bearing shaft with the rotating basket further comprises connecting the basket adapter with the second end of the bearing shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The method of retrofitting an abrasive material surface finishing system as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the step of connecting the second end of the bearing shaft with the rotating basket further comprises connecting the basket adapter with the rotating basket.