Method and apparatus for removal of surface material

Claim 1

Apparatus for removing material from a surface, for use in association with a source of water at a pressure within the range of about 10,000 to 25,000 psi, the apparatus comprising; a carriage vehicle means; extendable arm means mounted on the vehicle means and defining a free end, said arm means being movable along a linear path away from and towards said vehicle means and defining a longitudinal axis lying in a predetermined plane; a transverse nozzle support member attached to the free end of said arm means; transverse nozzle movement means on said support member; rotatable nozzle means movably attached to said support member, said nozzle means being movable to and fro along a linear transverse path defining a transverse axis lying in a predetermined plane, and being operable to direct a water jet at an angle onto said surface over a circular zone of predetermined width; hose means connecting said source of water to said nozzle means; motor means attached to said nozzle means operable to rotate said nozzle means, and, power operated means attached to said arm means operable to extend and retract said arm means relative to said vehicle means along said longitudinal axis by increments equal to said predetermined width of said circular zone of said jet.

Claim 14

A method for removing material from a surface comprising the steps of pressurizing water to a pressure within the range of 10,000 to 25,000 psi; at a first location passing said pressurized water through nozzle means supported on a movable carriage; directing at least two separate water jets from said nozzle means, oriented at two different angles relative to a vertical axis; rotating said nozzle means whereby to establish a circular zone of predetermined width for said water jets on said surface to establish turbulent water flow thereon to break up material and to wash away loose material; traversing said nozzle means relative to said carriage along a transverse linear axis from one side to another establishing a transverse path of said jets having a width equal to said predetermined width whereby to define a scan and stopping said traversing of said nozzle means; moving said nozzle means relative to said carriage along a second linear axis perpendicular to said first axis at the completion of at least one said scan by an increment equal to said predetermined width, and stopping said movement; again tranversing said nozzle means to define another scan parallel to and alongside said first mentioned scan; repeating said traversing and incremental movement a predetermined number of times, and then stopping same; moving said carriage and stopping at second location, and, repeating said steps, in sequence, whereby to progressively remove said material from said surface.

Claim 15

A method for removing material from a surface comprising the steps of pressurizing water to a pressure within the range of 10,000 to 25,000 psi; at a first location passing said pressurized water through nozzle means supported on a movable carriage; directing at least two separate water jets from said nozzle means, oriented at two different angles relative to a vertical axis; rotating said nozzle means whereby to establish a circular zone of predetermined width for said water jets on said surface to establish turbulent water flow thereon to break up material and to wash away loose material; traversing said nozzle means relative to said carriage along a transverse linear axis from one side to another establishing a transverse path of said jets having a width equal to said predetermined width whereby to define a scan and stopping said traversing of said nozzle means; moving said nozzle means relative to said carriage along a second linear axis perpendicular to said first axis at the completion of at least one said scan by an increment equal to said predetermined width, and stopping said movement; again tranversing said nozzle means to define another scan parallel to and alongside said first mentioned scan; repeating said traversing and incremental movement a predetermined number of times, and then stopping same; moving said carriage and stopping at second location, and, repeating said steps, in sequence, whereby to progressively remove said material from said surface.