Air aspiration system for media flow control valve in shot peening

Abstract

This application describes a magnetic valve for controlling the flow of media in wheel-blast style abrasive blasting cabinets. The valve features a novel air aspiration system comprising of aspiration inlets, chamber, and outlets, in a configuration which guarantees passage of air from ambient into the peening system regardless of installation. This system acts as a passive aspiration source to counteract the negative pressures imposed by the wheel-blast blades in the valve's off-state. This arrangement eliminates the need for other means of aspiration to be installed in the peening system by the end user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling a flow of media comprising:
 a housing;   a working gap within the housing configured to regulate the flow of media into the housing and out of the housing, the working gap further defining a perimeter within the housing;   at least one inlet on the housing substantially outside of the working gap;   at least one aspiration chamber within the housing connected to the at least one inlet; and   at least one outlet on the housing connected to the at least one aspiration chamber, the outlet substantially within the working gap.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet further defines a recess on a surface of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet further comprises an extended channel protruding into the aspiration chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the aspiration chamber further defines an air filtering geometry. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet further comprises a media barrier located substantially between the outlet and the working gap. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 at least one pole piece located substantially on the perimeter of the working gap; and   at least one intermediate bar located substantially within the perimeter of the working gap.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the pole piece or intermediate bar are magnetically charged. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the housing further comprises:
 a first side configured to receive media from a media hopper; and 
 a second side configured to mate with a connection to a media blast unit; 
   the at least one pole piece and the at least one intermediate bar are substantially fixed within the working gap at a point between the first side of the housing and the second side of the housing; and   the at least one outlet within the working gap is on the second side of the housing within the working gap.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for controlling a flow of media comprising:
 a housing;   a working gap within the housing configured to accept the flow of media into the housing and out of the housing the working gap further defining a perimeter within the housing;   at least one inlet on the housing substantially outside of the working gap, the inlet defining a recessed portion and an extended channel;   at least one aspiration chamber within the housing further comprising:
 a first end; 
 an air filtering geometry; and 
 a second end; 
 wherein the first end is connected to the at least one inlet and the extended channel of the at least one inlet extends into the at least one aspiration chamber; and 
   at least one outlet on the housing connected to the second end of the at least one aspiration chamber, the at least one outlet located substantially within the working gap, the at least one outlet further comprising a media barrier substantially between the outlet and the working gap.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 at least one pole piece located substantially on the perimeter of the working gap; and   at least one intermediate bar located substantially within the perimeter of the working gap.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the pole piece or intermediate bar are magnetically charged. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the housing further comprises:
 a first side configured to receive media from a media hopper; and 
 a second side configured to mate with a connection to a media blast unit; 
   the at least one pole piece and the at least one intermediate bar are substantially fixed within the working gap at a point between the first side of the housing and the second side of the housing; and   the at least one outlet within the working gap is on the second side of the housing within the working gap.   
     
     
         13 . A method for reducing negative pressure inherent to media flow in shot peening comprising the steps:
 providing an apparatus configured to regulate the flow of media, the apparatus further comprising:
 a housing further comprising:
 a first side configured to receive media from a media hopper; and 
 a second side configured to mate with a connection to a media blast unit; 
 
 a working gap configured to enable the flow of media between the first side and the second side; 
 at least one inlet on the housing located substantially outside of the working gap; 
 at least one aspiration chamber connected to the inlet; and 
 at least one outlet on the housing connected to the aspiration chamber, the outlet located substantially within the working gap; 
   connecting the apparatus housing on the first side to the media hopper;   connecting the apparatus housing on the second side to the media blast unit; and   setting the apparatus to a closed position, wherein;
 when the apparatus is in the closed position it does not allow flow of media; and 
 a negative pressure created by the media blast unit is relieved by air flowing through the at least one inlet, into the at least one aspiration chamber, and out from the at least one outlet towards the media blast unit, relieving the negative pressure.