Surface cleaner

Abstract

A surface cleaner wherein abrasive particles are directed against a surface to be cleaned, after which the abrasive particles rebound into the cleaner and return for recirculation. Several features are involved. First there is provided an accelerator for the normally gravity flowing abrasive particles to accelerate the particles towards a throwing wheel wherein the abrasive particles are spread over a greater depth of an associated throwing vane. Some of the abrasive particles will not rebound entirely up into the machine for return to the abrasive particle supply chamber. Accordingly, there is provided a separate path for the weaker rebounding abrasive particles to return to the accelerator. The throwing wheel includes a tubular hub into which one of the supporting bearings for the associated shaft is telescoped. This permits throwing wheels of different widths to be utilized. The vanes of the throwing wheel are flat vanes having at their inner ends enlargements. The vanes slide through slots with enlarged inner openings in an axial direction for mounting and removal. The vanes can be removed from the cleaner through an opening in one of the side walls thereof after a cover plate has been removed. There is also a wear plate which controls in part the direction of flow of abrasive particles from the throwing wheel. The wear plate protects part of the housing and most particularly one of the housing seals with the surface being cleaned.