The Closed Loop System
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Closed loop implies that the machine will not require a drain nearby and will not consume large amounts of water.
The basis for a closed loop system is a large filter unit which filters the liquid sufficiently so it may be used for the rinse gun and the window wash. Some top up or replacement of clean water will be required from time to time, but the machine will not require a continual drain supply.
The window wash and rinse gun use recycled water which is pumped from the filter unit using a heavy-duty air operated diaphragm pump.
The sedimentation tank is supplied with a series of Vixen designed containers which have an overlap feature. These are Vixen's tooling and are fitted with weirs to allow water to cascade from 1 container to the next, meaning the fine particles of debris or broken abrasive settle in the containers. These can easily be removed individually for cleaning and make maintenance of the closed loop system quick and easy. A paper filter roll sits above the weir system so that the water being recycled does not contain large particles of abrasive.
Recirculating Pump
This pump transports water which has been filtered in the sedimentation tank through to the windscreen wash and rinse gun. The recycled water reduces water consumption and enables the collection of debris in the weir buckets inside the sedimentation tank.
Inline Filtration
An additional disposable filter is fitted between the sedimentation tank and the rinse/windscreen wash. The disposable filter collects fine debris larger than 300 microns prolonging the life of the water and keeps the rinse water in good condition.
Replacement Inline Filter
The filter is normally fitted at 300 microns.
Three Weir Bucket System
The weir buckets fitted inside the sedimentation tank use specific designs and tooling unique to Vixen. Inside the filtration tank the buckets overlap one another with a designer weir, which traps any unwanted debris carrying over. This debris then falls into the base of each bucket. This allows easy maintenance for the operator by decanting dirty water and emptying the solids which have settle in the base of the weir buckets.
Media Roll
A disposable filter roll is supplied in all closed loop systems and sits on top of the sedimentation tank. Its purpose is to catch coarse debris. Typically, this filter paper is replenished daily or weekly dependent on the individual's usage.
Pneumatic Sleeve Valve
One of the benefits of the closed loop system is that it reduces abrasive waster during the vapor blasting process. It also reduces water consumption. The pinch valve remains closed while the machine slightly overfills with rising water and the windscreen wash water.
When blasting ends, a timer (adjustable) delays the valve from opening, which allows the good abrasive to settle in the sump of the machine, and the broken-down abrasive to exit in the sedimentation tank for filtration.
Internal Rinse Nozzle
The internal rinse gun uses recycled water which is filtered from the sedimentation tank. The flexi rinse gun is very robust in the blasting environment and has no external triggers which would tend to clog with abrasive in the blast chamber. To operate this flexi nozzle rinse gun, the operator simply bends the rubber nozzle which makes it easy to operate through the rubber armhole gauntlets.
Window Wash System
The internal window wash system on a closed loop machine uses recycled water which has been filtered. This recycled water exits an adjustable flexi nozzle on the inside of the glass while the operator uses the machine. This water jetting, combined with the integral wiper maintains good visibility for the operator. On the outside there is an adjustable needle valve which enables the operator to increase/decrease the flow of the windscreen water wash for the glass.
