Control cage assembly for centrifugal blast wheel machine

Abstract

A centrifugal blast wheel machine includes a wheel assembly, an impeller positioned about an axis of the wheel assembly, a motor coupled to the impeller to drive the rotation of the impeller and the wheel assembly, and a control cage assembly surrounding the impeller and secured to the wheel assembly. The control cage assembly includes a control cage and a locking ring secured to a peripheral edge of the cylindrical wall. The locking ring includes an indicator projecting radially outwardly from the locking ring, and an adaptor plate secured to the wheel assembly. The adaptor plate includes at least one recess formed therein to receive the indicator when securing the locking ring and the control cage to the adaptor plate. The adaptor plate further includes a retaining ring secured to the adaptor plate to firmly secure the locking ring and the control cage in place.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A centrifugal blast wheel machine comprising:
 a wheel assembly having a plurality of blades configured to throw blast media introduced into the wheel assembly against a work piece;   an impeller positioned about an axis of the wheel assembly, the impeller having a media inlet at one end adapted to receive blast media and a plurality of impeller media outlets constructed and arranged to allow egress of blast media upon rotation of the impeller;   a motor coupled to the impeller to drive the rotation of the impeller and the wheel assembly; and   a control cage assembly surrounding the impeller and secured to the wheel assembly, the control cage assembly including
 a control cage having a cylindrical wall defining an interior chamber and a media outlet formed in the cylindrical wall to allow the egress of blast media from the interior chamber, 
 a locking ring secured to a peripheral edge of the cylindrical wall, the locking ring including an indicator projecting radially outwardly from the locking ring, 
 an adaptor plate secured to the wheel assembly, the adaptor plate including a central opening configured to receive the cylindrical wall of the control cage therein and at least one recess formed therein configured to receive the indicator when securing the locking ring and the control cage to the adaptor plate, and 
 a retaining ring configured to be secured to the adaptor plate and to firmly secure the locking ring and the control cage in place. 
   
     
     
         2 . The centrifugal blast wheel machine of  claim 1 , wherein the adaptor plate includes a circumferential recess formed therein, the circumferential recess being configured to receive the locking ring therein. 
     
     
         3 . The centrifugal blast wheel machine of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one recess of the adaptor plate extends outwardly from the circumferential recess. 
     
     
         4 . The centrifugal blast wheel machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess includes a range of movement of the control cage within the locking ring. 
     
     
         5 . The centrifugal blast wheel machine of  claim 4 , wherein the range of movement is color coded. 
     
     
         6 . The centrifugal blast wheel machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one recess further acts as a positive stop for the indicator needle to prevent further rotational movement of the locking ring beyond a recommended setting. 
     
     
         7 . The centrifugal blast wheel machine of  claim 1 , wherein the locking ring freely floats between the retaining ring and the adaptor plate until the retaining ring is secured in place. 
     
     
         8 . A control cage assembly for a centrifugal blast wheel machine, the control cage assembly comprising:
 a control cage having a cylindrical wall defining an interior chamber and a media outlet formed in the cylindrical wall to allow the egress of blast media from the interior chamber;   a locking ring secured to a peripheral edge of the cylindrical wall, the locking ring including an indicator projecting radially outwardly from the locking ring;   an adaptor plate secured to the wheel assembly, the adaptor plate including a central opening configured to receive the cylindrical wall of the control cage therein and at least one recess formed therein configured to receive the indicator when securing the locking ring and the control cage to the adaptor plate; and   a retaining ring configured to be secured to the adaptor plate and to firmly secure the locking ring and the control cage in place.   
     
     
         9 . The control cage assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the adaptor plate includes a circumferential recess formed therein, the circumferential recess being configured to receive the locking ring therein. 
     
     
         10 . The control cage assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one recess of the adaptor plate extends outwardly from the circumferential recess. 
     
     
         11 . The control cage assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one recess includes a range of movement of the control cage within the locking ring. 
     
     
         12 . The control cage assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the range of movement is color coded. 
     
     
         13 . The control cage assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one recess further acts as a positive stop for the indicator needle to prevent further rotational movement of the locking ring beyond a recommended setting. 
     
     
         14 . The control cage assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the locking ring freely floats between the retaining ring and the adaptor plate until the retaining ring is secured in place. 
     
     
         15 . A method of assembling a centrifugal blast wheel machine, the method comprising:
 providing a control cage having a cylindrical wall having an interior chamber and a media outlet formed in the cylindrical wall to allow the egress of blast media from the interior chamber;   securing a locking ring to a peripheral edge of the cylindrical wall, the locking ring including an indicator projecting radially outwardly from the locking ring;   securing an adaptor plate to the wheel assembly, the adaptor plate including a central opening configured to receive the cylindrical wall of the control cage therein and at least one recess formed therein configured to receive the indicator when securing the locking ring and the control cage to the adaptor plate;   positioning the control cage having the locking ring on the adaptor plate, and   securing a retaining ring to the adaptor plate to secure the locking ring and the control cage in place.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the adaptor plate includes a circumferential recess formed therein, the circumferential recess being configured to receive the locking ring therein. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one recess includes a range of movement of the control cage within the locking ring. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the range of movement is color coded. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one recess further acts as a positive stop for the indicator needle to prevent further rotational movement of the locking ring beyond a recommended setting. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the locking ring freely floats between the retaining ring and the adaptor plate until the retaining ring is secured in place.