Multi-outlet pressure vessel, system, and method for wet abrasive blasting

Abstract

A wet abrasive blasting system includes a vessel having multiple outlets for dispensing slurry. A first sprayer of the system is operatively associated with a first blast control switch, and a second sprayer is operatively associated with an n-th blast control switch. A first blast line fluidly connecting the first sprayer to the first outlet includes a first pinch valve, and an n-th blast line fluidly connecting the n-th sprayer to the n-th outlet includes an n-th pinch valve. A time delay module of the system transmits signals to close all system pinch valves upon receipt of signals indicative of an actuated state of more than one blast control switch and, after a predetermined time delay, transmits signals to open all system pinch valves associated with their respective actuated blast control switches.

1 . A wet abrasive blasting system comprising:
 a vessel comprising a first outlet and a second outlet for providing a slurry;   a first sprayer operatively associated with a first blast control switch;   a second sprayer operatively associated with a second blast control switch;   a first pinch valve disposed along a first blast line fluidly connecting the first sprayer to the first outlet;   a second pinch valve disposed along a second blast line fluidly connecting the second sprayer to the second outlet;   a logic module configured to:
 receive a first blast signal indicative of an actuated state of the first blast control switch; and 
 receive a second blast signal indicative of an actuated state of the second blast control switch; and 
   a time delay module wherein:
 upon receipt of the second blast signal during the actuated state of the first blast control switch by the logic module, the time delay module is configured to:
 transmit a first closure signal to the first pinch valve to close the first pinch valve; and 
 transmit a second closure signal to the second pinch valve to maintain the second pinch valve in a closed position; and 
 
 after a predetermined time delay starting upon receipt of the second blast signal, the time delay module is further configured to:
 transmit first and second opening signals to first and second pinch valves, respectively, to open the first and second pinch valves. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The wet abrasive blasting system of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a pump comprising an intake port in fluid communication with a fluid source and a discharge port; 
 a first solenoid valve positioned along a first delivery line fluidly connecting the pump discharge port to an inlet of the vessel; and 
 a second solenoid valve positioned along a second delivery line fluidly connecting the pump discharge port to the vessel inlet; 
 wherein, upon receiving the first blast signal, the logic module is configured to transmit a third opening signal to the first solenoid valve to open the first solenoid valve; and 
 wherein, upon receiving the second blast signal, the logic module is configured to transmit a fourth opening signal to the second solenoid valve to open the second solenoid valve. 
 
     
     
         3 . The wet abrasive blasting system of  claim 2 , wherein the logic module is further configured to:
 transmit a third closure signal to the first pinch valve to close the first pinch valve upon receiving a third blast signal indicative of an unactuated state of the first blast control switch.   
     
     
         4 . The wet abrasive blasting system of  claim 3 , wherein upon receiving the third blast signal, the logic module is further configured to:
 transmit a fourth closure signal to the first solenoid valve to close the first solenoid valve.   
     
     
         5 . The wet abrasive blasting system of  claim 4 , wherein upon receiving a fourth blast signal indicative of an unactuated state of the second blast control switch, the logic module is further configured to:
 transmit a fifth closure signal to the second pinch valve and transmit a sixth closure signal to the second solenoid valve to close the second pinch valve and the second solenoid valve.   
     
     
         6 . The wet abrasive blasting system of  claim 5 , wherein the logic module is configured to open a bypass valve positioned along a bypass line fluidly connecting the pump discharge port to the vessel inlet upon receiving blast signals indicative of unactuated states of all blast control switches. 
     
     
         7 . The wet abrasive blasting system of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a compressed air source; 
 first and second compressed air lines fluidly connecting the compressed air source to the first and second sprayers, respectively; 
 wherein the first and second compressed air lines fluidly connect with the first and second blast lines, respectively, at the first and second sprayers, respectively; 
 wherein the actuated state of the first blast control switch discharges compressed air from the first sprayer; and 
 wherein the actuated state of the second blast control switch discharges compressed air from the second sprayer. 
 
     
     
         8 . The wet abrasive blasting system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel includes a partial internal partition, the internal partition defining a first volume that includes the first outlet and a second volume that includes the second outlet, and wherein the vessel includes a third volume fluidly connecting the first volume to the second volume. 
     
     
         9 . The wet abrasive blasting system of  claim 2  and further comprising:
 a first regulating valve along the first delivery line having a first adjustable valve element operable to adjust a first flow rate within the first delivery line; and 
 a second regulating valve along the second delivery line having a second adjustable valve element operable to adjust a second flow rate with the second delivery line. 
 
     
     
         10 . The wet abrasive blasting system of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined time delay is greater than a time required for the pump to increase a pressure within the vessel to a target operating pressure sufficient to operate the first sprayer and the second sprayer at a target flow rate. 
     
     
         11 . A method controlling a wet abrasive system, the method comprising:
 receiving a first blast signal indicative of an actuated state of a first blast control switch at a logic module, wherein the first blast control switch is operatively associated with a first sprayer, the first sprayer fluidly connected to a first outlet of a vessel by a first blast line;   receiving a second blast signal indicative of an actuated state of a second blast control switch at the logic module, wherein the second blast control switch is operatively associated with a second sprayer, the second sprayer fluidly connected to a second outlet of the vessel by a second blast line;   transmitting, upon receipt of the second blast control signal by the logic module during the actuated state of the first blast control switch, a first closure signal from a time delay module to a first pinch valve and a second closure signal from the time delay module to a second pinch valve, wherein the first and second closure signals close the first pinch valve and the second pinch valve, respectively, and wherein the first pinch valve is disposed along the first blast line, and the second pinch valve is disposed along the second blast line;   transmitting, after a predetermined time delay starting upon receipt of the second blast signal, a first opening signal from the time delay module to the first pinch valve and a second opening signal from the time delay module to the second pinch valve.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising:
 transmitting a third opening signal from the logic module to a first solenoid valve upon receipt of the first blast signal, wherein the third opening signal opens the first solenoid valve, and wherein the first solenoid is positioned along a first delivery line fluidly connecting a pump discharge port to an inlet of the vessel. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  and further comprising:
 transmitting a third closure signal to the first pinch valve upon receiving a third blast signal indicative of an unactuated state of the first blast control switch by the logic module, wherein the third closure signal closes the first pinch valve. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  and further comprising:
 transmitting a fourth closure signal from the logic module to the first solenoid valve upon receipt of the third blast signal by the logic module, wherein the fourth closure signal closes the first solenoid valve. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 15  and further comprising:
 transmitting a fifth closure signal from the logic module to the second solenoid valve and transmitting a sixth closure signal from the logic module to the second pinch valve upon receiving a fourth blast signal indicative of an unactuated state of the second blast control switch, wherein the fifth closure signal closes the second solenoid valve, and the sixth closure signal closes the second pinch valve. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 16  and further comprising:
 opening a bypass valve using the logic module upon receipt of blast signals indicative of unactuated states of all blast control switches, wherein the bypass valve is positioned along a bypass line fluidly connecting the pump discharge port to the vessel inlet. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  and further comprising:
 supplying compressed air from a compressed air source to the first sprayer along a first compressed air line in response to the first blast control switch in the actuated state; and 
 supplying compressed air from the compressed air source to the second sprayer along a second compressed air line in response to the second blast control switch in the actuated state; 
 wherein the first and second compressed air lines fluidly connect with the first and second blast lines, respectively, at the first and second sprayers, respectively. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  and further comprising:
 setting a first flow rate through the first delivery line with a first adjustable valve element of a first regulating valve disposed along the first delivery line; and 
 setting a second flow rate through the second delivery line with a second adjustable valve element of a second regulating valve disposed along the second delivery line. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined time delay is greater than a time required for the pump to increase a pressure within the vessel to a target operating pressure sufficient to operate the first sprayer and the second sprayer at a target flow rate. 
     
     
         20 . A wet abrasive blasting system comprising:
 a vessel comprising a first outlet and a second outlet for providing a slurry and an inlet;   a first sprayer operatively associated with a first blast control switch;   a second sprayer operatively associated with a second blast control switch;   a first pinch valve disposed along a first blast line fluidly connecting the first sprayer to the first outlet;   a second pinch valve disposed along a second blast line fluidly connecting the second sprayer to the second outlet; and   a first compressed air line fluidly connecting the first sprayer to a compressed air source;   a second compressed air line fluidly connecting the second sprayer to the compressed air source;   a pump comprising an intake port in fluid communication with a fluid source and a discharge port;   a first solenoid valve positioned along a first delivery line fluidly connecting the pump discharge port to the vessel inlet;   a second solenoid valve positioned along a second delivery line fluidly connecting the pump charge the vessel inlet;   a logic module comprising configured to:
 receive a first blast control signal indicative of an actuated state of the first blast control switch; 
 transmit, upon receipt of the first blast signal, a first opening signal to the first pinch valve and a second opening signal to the first solenoid valve; and 
 receive a second blast control signal indicative of an actuated state of the second blast control switch after receiving the first blast control signal and during the actuated state of the first blast control switch; and 
   a time delay module that, upon receipt of the second blast signal, is configured to:
 transmit a first closure signal to close the first pinch valve and transmit a third opening signal to open the second solenoid valve; and 
 transmit fourth and fifth opening signals to open first and second pinch valves, respectively, after a predetermined time delay starting upon receipt of the second blast signal.