Closed-circuit machine for marine and construction applications

Citation

(1999), "Closed-circuit machine for marine and construction applications", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 46 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.1999.12846cad.010

Closed-circuit machine for marine and construction applications

"Closed-circuit" machine for marine and construction applications

Keywords Blasting, Construction industry, Marine environment, Vacu-Blast

Vacu-Blast has introduced a new, "closed-circuit" mobile, dust-free abrasive blasting machine, specifically for in situ applications in the marine, construction and civil engineering sectors (Plate 3).

Plate 3 The "PBA06-3 Compact" closed-circuit, mobile, dust-free abrasive blasting machine from Vacu-Blast

According to Vacu-Blast, the PBA06-3 Compact machine has been custom-designed to provide a compact and powerful mobile blaster for rust and corrosion removal, paint stripping, weld preparation and cleaning, and the preparation and cleaning of concrete surfaces ­ enabling these tasks to be carried out on-site without hindering other nearby operations and without the need for special protective clothing.

Invented by Vacu-Blast, the environmentally-friendly closed-circuit abrasive blasting operating system employs a special brush-enclosed blast gun with a "deadman" control trigger, which both delivers the abrasive blast media and recovers it simultaneously by vacuum, together with resultant dust and debris ­ thus ensuring that the immediate area remains free of potentially harmful dust.

The low-profile design of the PBA06-3 Compact machine allows it to be used in areas with restricted headroom or limited access, adding to its versatility. Pressure-fed, the machine offers a high work rate and a continuous blast cycle of up to 10 minutes. It uses all common types and grades of blast media.

An integral power-pack then automatically separates out good, reusable media through a special filtration and separation system and recycles it to the gun. This continuous regrading and recycling process ensures a consistent surface finish and minimises operating costs. Degraded media, dust and debris are directed into a dust collector for safe disposal. The PBA06-3 Compact incorporates an easily detachable wheeled dust container to facilitate its removal to a suitable disposal site. This is a particularly valuable benefit for applications generating large quantities of dust ­ concrete preparation, for example.

A range of closed-circuit machines is offered by Vacu-Blast, available in pressure-fed and suction-fed versions, with capacities to suit low and high work rate applications ­ extending from the highly manoeuvrable "Midget" machine for general work-shop use, to the very powerful "PB-14" series for cleaning large surface areas. Application-specific blast guns are also available for processing angular and profiled surfaces, edges and for cleaning hot welds. Wheeled "deck guns" are offered for large flat surfaces.

Further details from Vacu-Blast Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)1753 526511; Fax: +44 (0)1753 538093.