Patent ID: 6287180
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: A61C,B24C

Abstract:
In an apparatus for propelling a fluid mixture containing particulate matter, under pressure, against a surface of a target to effect controlled and selective modification of the surface of said target, wherein the improvement comprises:a. an essentially cylindrical chamber having a side-wall, a lid at the top of the chamber and a base at the bottom of the chamber,wherein said lid is further characterized as having a fluid receiving port which is adapted for coupling to a source of fluid under pressure, and said base is further characterized as having a discharge port which is adapted for coupling to a nozzle,b. a fluid-delivery conduit having a proximal end and a distal end,wherein the proximal end of said conduit extends from the fluid receiving port of the lid into the chamber and said distal end of said conduit opens in to the chamber for delivery of a fluid into said chamber under pressure,c. a nozzle comprising a discharge conduit fixedly positioned in the discharge port of the base of the cylinder, said discharge conduit having an open proximal end and an open distal end, said proximal end of said discharge conduit extending from the base of the cylinder and into the cylindrical chamber above the level of the distal end of the fluid-delivery conduit, andd. a quantity of particulate matter within the chamber sufficient to cover the distal end of the fluid delivery conduit and yet insufficient to cover the proximal end of the discharge conduit;whereby upon introduction of fluid, under pressure, through the fluid-delivery conduit into the chamber, the particulate matter within said chamber is caused to mix with said fluid, and the resultant fluid and particle mixture discharged through the distal end of the discharge conduit of said nozzle onto the surface of a target so as to effect modification of the surface of said target;wherein each of said fluid-delivery conduit and said discharge conduit have an essentially circular cross-sectional area along their respective lengths, and the cross-sectional area of said fluid-delivery conduit is greater than the cross-sectional area of said discharge conduit.