Patent ID: 6695685
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: B24C

Abstract:
A system for producing a blasting stream consisting of dry ice particles entrained in a stream of gas under pressure at a low flow rate said system comprising:a first regulator receptive of a stream of carrier gas under pressure, adapted to maintain an output gas stream at a selected flow rate; a second regulator receptive of a sequence of dry ice particles, adapted to maintain said sequence at a regulated mass rate; said second regulator being independently adjusted so as to produce particles at such a rate as to fulfill the dry ice requirement for a selected gas/dry ice ratio; a mixer combining the air and dry ice particles from said regulators to create a blasting stream with the selected ratio; a hose receiving the blasting stream from said mixer; and a nozzle attached to said hose, said nozzle having an orifice with an open cross-section from which the blasting stream is discharged; said orifice being so configured as to receive and pass said stream without plugging when the diameter of said particles is about 0.035 inches or less, and the flow rate in the regulator is between about 2 and about 40 cfm, at about 100 psi.