The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 08, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 05, 1997
John L Myers, Panorama City, CA (US);
Comco, Inc., Burbank, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the flow of abrasive particles in a micro abrasive blasting machine. The machine propels abrasive particles using a carrier stream of compressed gas, typically air, nitrogen or carbon dioxide. The machine mixes the abrasive particles such as aluminum oxide, glass bead, sodium bicarbonate, or silicon carbide, with the carrier gas stream. This mixture is then directed at a work piece through a hard nozzle, typically carbide or sapphire. The apparatus operates on a particle flow detection area upstream of the nozzle through which the carrier stream containing the abrasive particles flows. The apparatus analyzes the fluctuations in the optical transmissivity of the carrier stream containing the abrasive particles to determine the flow of the abrasive particles in the carrier stream.