Importance

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Abstract

The cleaning apparatus of the invention consists of a surface cleaning or treating unit such as a blast machine mounted on a support structure for oscillating motion relative thereto. In the preferred embodiment, the blast machine consists of a blast wheel for projecting abrasive onto the surface, a hopper for collecting the spent abrasive and debris, a screw conveyor for returning the spent abrasive and debris to a separator where the debris is separated from the abrasive and the abrasive is returned to the blast wheel. The support structure is supported against the surface being cleaned on sleds and is raised and lowered over the surface by a winch. The blast machine is simultaneously oscillated relative to the support structure in a direction perpendicular to the path of travel of the support structure by a fluid cylinder and cable arrangement. As a result, the blast machine is able to clean or otherwise treat a path from the bottom to top of the structure as wide as the range of oscillation. Finally, the components of the apparatus are designed to be removable such that the apparatus can be quickly and easily broken down to a size small enough to fit through small passages such as those found on storage tanks and the like.

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First Claim