A high-pressure liquid jet cutting system can include a hopper configured to contain an abrasive mixture that includes abrasive and an additive, and a cutting head configured to receive the abrasive mixture from the hopper and introduce the abrasive mixture into a high-pressure liquid jet. The system can further include a sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the abrasive mixture associated with the additive, and one or more processors operably connected to the sensor and configured to determine information about the abrasive based, at least in part, on the detected characteristic. The one or more processors can be configured to adjust or otherwise control operation of one or more components of the high-pressure liquid jet cutting system based, at least in part, on the information to, e.g., improve or optimize system performance.
B24C 1/04 - Methods for use of abrasive blasting for producing particular effectsUse of auxiliary equipment in connection with such methods for treating only selected parts of a surface, e.g. for carving stone or glass
B24C 7/00 - Equipment for feeding abrasive materialControlling the flowability, constitution, or other physical characteristics of abrasive blasts
B24C 9/00 - Appurtenances of abrasive blasting machines or devices, e.g. working chambers, arrangements for handling used abrasive material
B24C 11/00 - Selection of abrasive materials for abrasive blasts
B05B 7/14 - Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas designed for spraying particulate materials
B05B 12/00 - Arrangements for controlling deliveryArrangements for controlling the spray area
G01N 15/00 - Investigating characteristics of particlesInvestigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
2.
BACKFLOW DIVERSION DEVICES FOR LIQUID JET CUTTING SYSTEMS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A device for providing abrasive to a cutting head in a liquid jet cutting system can include an abrasive inlet configured to receive abrasive from an abrasive source, an abrasive outlet downstream from the abrasive inlet and configured to provide the abrasive to the cutting head, and a backflow diverter configured to discharge backflow from the device. In some embodiments, the backflow diverter can be configured to discharge a first portion of the backflow from the device, and device can further include one or more spillways configured to discharge a second portion of the backflow from the device. The one or more spillways can be positioned upstream from the backflow diverter and/or downstream from the abrasive inlet. The backflow diverter and/or the spillways can at least partially or fully prevent the backflow from flowing upstream through the abrasive inlet and/or into the abrasive source.
B24C 7/00 - Equipment for feeding abrasive materialControlling the flowability, constitution, or other physical characteristics of abrasive blasts
B05B 1/28 - Nozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with integral means for shielding the discharged liquid or other fluent material, e.g. to limit area of sprayNozzles, spray heads or other outlets, with or without auxiliary devices such as valves, heating means with integral means for catching drips or collecting surplus liquid or other fluent material
B05B 7/14 - Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas designed for spraying particulate materials
B05B 13/04 - Means for supporting workArrangement or mounting of spray headsAdaptation or arrangement of means for feeding work the spray heads being moved during operation
B05B 14/00 - Arrangements for collecting, re-using or eliminating excess spraying material
B05B 15/555 - Arrangements for cleaningArrangements for preventing deposits, drying-out or blockageArrangements for detecting improper discharge caused by the presence of foreign matter using cleaning fluids discharged by cleaning nozzles
B05B 15/14 - Arrangements for preventing or controlling structural damage to spraying apparatus or its outlets, e.g. for breaking at desired placesArrangements for handling or replacing damaged parts
B05B 15/16 - Arrangements for preventing or controlling structural damage to spraying apparatus or its outlets, e.g. for breaking at desired placesArrangements for handling or replacing damaged parts for preventing non-intended contact between spray heads or nozzles and foreign bodies, e.g. nozzle guards
B24C 5/02 - Blast guns, e.g. for generating high velocity abrasive fluid jets for cutting materials
B24C 1/04 - Methods for use of abrasive blasting for producing particular effectsUse of auxiliary equipment in connection with such methods for treating only selected parts of a surface, e.g. for carving stone or glass
3.
GANTRY DRIVE SYSTEMS FOR LIQUID JET CUTTING SYSTEMS AND OTHER MATERIAL PROCESSING MACHINES, AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES AND METHODS
A system for moving a cutting device gantry or similar structure on a material processing machine can include a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled to the gantry and a drive assembly movably coupled to the mounting structure. The drive assembly can be configured to move the mounting structure and the gantry in a first direction relative to a gantry guide shaft of the material processing machine. The drive assembly can also be movable relative to the mounting structure in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more guide wheels rotatably coupled to the mounting structure. Each of the guide wheels can include an annular outer portion having curvature configured to complimentarily engage the gantry guide shaft. The annular outer portion can be resiliently deformable and configured to conform to the gantry guide shaft during movement of thereon.
B25J 9/02 - Programme-controlled manipulators characterised by movement of the arms, e.g. cartesian co-ordinate type
B25J 11/00 - Manipulators not otherwise provided for
B23Q 1/01 - Frames, beds, pillars or like membersArrangement of ways
B23Q 5/34 - Feeding other members supporting tools or work, e.g. saddles, tool-slides, through mechanical transmission
B23Q 5/38 - Feeding other members supporting tools or work, e.g. saddles, tool-slides, through mechanical transmission feeding continuously
B26F 3/00 - Severing by means other than cuttingApparatus therefor
B26F 1/26 - Perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet
B26D 7/26 - Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting memberMeans for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member
B24C 1/04 - Methods for use of abrasive blasting for producing particular effectsUse of auxiliary equipment in connection with such methods for treating only selected parts of a surface, e.g. for carving stone or glass
The present disclosure relates to abrasive material delivery systems for liquid jet cutting systems. The abrasive material delivery systems can include a valve configured to adjust inflow of abrasive material into the abrasive material delivery system from a source of abrasive material. The systems can include a chamber downstream of the valve and configured to receive the inflow of abrasive material. The systems can include a metering component configured to control an outflow of abrasive from the chamber to a cutting head. In some embodiments, the systems include a sensor configured to monitor movement of a top surface of a portion of abrasive material within the chamber as the top surface moves through the chamber; and a processing device operably connected to the sensor and configured to determine an abrasive flow rate through the metering component based on a speed of the top surface as monitored by the sensor.
G05D 7/06 - Control of flow characterised by the use of electric means
G01F 1/00 - Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
B24C 1/04 - Methods for use of abrasive blasting for producing particular effectsUse of auxiliary equipment in connection with such methods for treating only selected parts of a surface, e.g. for carving stone or glass
B24C 7/00 - Equipment for feeding abrasive materialControlling the flowability, constitution, or other physical characteristics of abrasive blasts
5.
Method and apparatus for monitoring particle laden pneumatic abrasive flow in an abrasive fluid jet cutting system
An abrasive jet cutting system may include a differential pressure measurement apparatus configured to measure a differential pressure between points in an abrasive supply system. The differential pressure may be used to determine one or more conditions of the jet and the abrasive delivery. The measured differential pressure may be used in a feedback control system, feed forward control system, and/or an alarm or safety system.
B24C 7/00 - Equipment for feeding abrasive materialControlling the flowability, constitution, or other physical characteristics of abrasive blasts
G01F 1/74 - Devices for measuring flow of a fluid or flow of a fluent solid material in suspension in another fluid
G01L 13/00 - Devices or apparatus for measuring differences of two or more fluid pressure values
B24C 1/04 - Methods for use of abrasive blasting for producing particular effectsUse of auxiliary equipment in connection with such methods for treating only selected parts of a surface, e.g. for carving stone or glass
G01F 22/00 - Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for
B65G 53/66 - Use of indicator or control devices, e.g. for controlling gas pressure, for controlling proportions of material and gas, for indicating or preventing jamming of material
G01F 1/34 - Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects by measuring pressure or differential pressure
G01F 15/00 - Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
6.
PUMP SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS FOR USE WITH WATERJET SYSTEMS AND OTHER HIGH PRESSURE FLUID SYSTEMS
High pressure pump systems with reduced pressure ripple for use with waterjet systems and other systems are described herein. A pump system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes four reciprocating members operably coupled to a crankshaft at 90 degree phase angles. The reciprocating members can include plungers operably disposed in corresponding cylinders and configured to compress fluid (e.g., water) in the cylinders to pressures suitable for waterjet processing, such as pressures exceeding 30,000 psi.
F04B 9/04 - Piston machines or pumps characterised by the driving or driven means to or from their working members the means being mechanical the means being cams, eccentrics or pin-and-slot mechanisms
7.
GENERATING OPTIMIZED TOOL PATHS AND MACHINE COMMANDS FOR BEAM CUTTING TOOLS
A facility for automated modelling of the cutting process for a particular material to be cut by a beam cutting tool, such as a waterjet cutting system, from empirical data to predict aspects of the waterjet's effect on the workpiece across a range of material thicknesses, across a range of cutting geometries, and across a range of cutting quality levels, all of which may be broader than, and independent of the actual requirements for a target workpiece, is described.
B26F 1/26 - Perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet
B26D 7/26 - Means for mounting or adjusting the cutting memberMeans for adjusting the stroke of the cutting member
G05B 19/19 - Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of programme data in numerical form characterised by positioning or contouring control systems, e.g. to control position from one programmed point to another or to control movement along a programmed continuous path
8.
REDUCING SMALL COLLOIDAL PARTICLE CONCENTRATIONS IN FEED AND/OR BYPRODUCT FLUIDS IN THE CONTEXT OF WATERJET PROCESSING
A waterjet system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a pressurizing device configured to pressurize a fluid, a cutting head downstream from the pressurizing device, and a catcher positioned to collect a jet from the cutting head. The system can further include a treatment assembly configured to treat a feed fluid to the pressurizing device and/or a byproduct fluid from the catcher, such as by removing submicron colloidal particles from the feed fluid and/or from the byproduct fluid. For example, the treatment assembly can include a coagulation unit, such as a chemical coagulation unit or an electrocoagulation unit, configured to coagulate the submicron colloidal particles. The pressurizing device, the cutting head, and the treatment assembly can be at different respective portions of a fluid-recycling loop.
Waterjet systems including control valves and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. A waterjet system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a fluid source, a jet outlet, and a fluid conveyance extending from the fluid source to the jet outlet. The system further includes a control valve positioned along the fluid conveyance downstream from the fluid source and upstream from the jet outlet. The fluid conveyance has a first portion upstream from the control valve and a second portion downstream from the control valve. The control valve is configured to controllably reduce a pressure of fluid within the second portion of the fluid conveyance relative to a pressure of fluid within the first portion of the fluid conveyance. The first portion of the fluid conveyance is configured to accommodate movement of the jet outlet relative to the fluid source.
Various embodiments of abrasive jet systems are described herein. In one embodiment, an abrasive jet system includes an abrasive container and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly has a mixing region or cavity and an abrasive inlet. The abrasive jet system can also include an abrasive supply conduit that is operably coupleable between the abrasive container and the abrasive inlet. The abrasive supply conduit includes a first interior surface portion configured to be positioned proximate to the abrasive inlet and a second interior surface portion, different from the first interior surface portion, configured to be spaced apart from the abrasive inlet. In one aspect of this embodiment, the first interior surface portion has a greater ability to repel fluid (e.g., water) than the second interior surface portion, thereby reducing a tendency of the abrasives to clog the abrasive supply conduit.
Embodiments of abrasive jet piercing and/or cutting devices are described herein. In some embodiments, a piercing device includes a holding or positioning device coupling a mixing tube to a secondary tube. The holding device has one or more passages extending to at least an intermediate portion of the piercing device. The one or more passages allow air to contact or mix with an abrasive waterjet as it travels through the piercing device. In some embodiments, a cutting device includes two plates configured so as to form a slot between the two plates. The cutting device can be placed directly on a workpiece, and an abrasive waterjet can be directed at the workpiece through the slot. An abrasive waterjet system utilizing the piercing and cutting devices disclosed herein can pierce holes and cut slots in materials that have reduced hole diameters and kerf widths, respectively.
Various embodiments of abrasive jet systems are described herein. In one embodiment, an abrasive jet system includes an abrasive container and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly has a mixing region or cavity and an abrasive inlet. The abrasive jet system can also include an abrasive supply conduit that is operably coupleable between the abrasive container and the abrasive inlet. The abrasive supply conduit includes a first interior surface portion configured to be positioned proximate to the abrasive inlet and a second interior surface portion, different from the first interior surface portion, configured to be spaced apart from the abrasive inlet. In one aspect of this embodiment, the first interior surface portion has a greater ability to repel fluid (e.g., water) than the second interior surface portion, thereby reducing a tendency of the abrasives to clog the abrasive supply conduit.
A bed slat cap is configured to protect a bed slat in a fluid jet cutting system. A fluid jet cutting system includes a plurality of bed slats, at least some of the plurality of bed slats being protected by one or more corresponding bed slat caps. A bed slat cap may include a hardened material to protect the bed slat. A bed slat cap may include a material softer than the bed slaps to protect the bottom of a workpiece. A fluid jet bed slat may be constructed as a composite assembly including a support portion and one or more fluid jet impingement portions.
B26F 3/00 - Severing by means other than cuttingApparatus therefor
B23K 37/00 - Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass
B23Q 3/02 - Devices holding, supporting, or positioning, work or tools, of a kind normally removable from the machine for mounting on a work-table, tool-slide, or analogous part
B23Q 1/01 - Frames, beds, pillars or like membersArrangement of ways
14.
FLASH VAPORIZING WATER JET AND PIERCING WITH FLASH VAPORIZATION
A flash vaporizing liquid jet cutting tool and method for piercing with minimal damage to the cut material. The liquid is preferably superheated water, typically with abrasive particles added after the jet is expressed through a nozzle (abrasive water jet, AWJ) or with abrasive particles added before the jet is expressed through a nozzle (abrasive slurry jet, ASJ). In piercing, only a portion of water that has not changed phase enters into the cavity or must leave the cavity and the stagnation pressure, which can damage the material, is therefore reduced.
B24B 49/00 - Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or workArrangements of indicating or measuring equipment, e.g. for indicating the start of the grinding operation
The invention provides an apparatus that holds and tilts a tool over a tilt range and substantially about a vertex. The apparatus includes a base having pivots defining a base line and a base pivot distance. The apparatus also includes first and second pivot arms coupled to the base pivots, and a tool holder having pivots coupled to the first and second pivot arms. The tool holder pivots defining a tool holder line having a pivot distance different than the base pivot distance. The tool holder is arranged for holding the machine tool. An intersection of the base line and a selected pivot arm defines a control angle, such that changing the control angle changes a tilt of the tool holder with respect to the base line, and correspondingly tilts a longitudinal axis of the tool substantially about a vertex.
B24C 3/06 - Abrasive blasting machines or devicesPlants characterised by the arrangement of the component assemblies with respect to each other movableAbrasive blasting machines or devicesPlants characterised by the arrangement of the component assemblies with respect to each other portable
patents
