Motorized systems and associated methods for controlling an adjustable dump orifice on a liquid jet cutting system

An adjustable dump orifice (ADO) for use with a liquid jet cutting system, the liquid jet cutting system including a high-pressure conduit configured to provide high-pressure liquid to a cutting head, the ADO comprising:

• a motor that includes an output shaft;
• a coupling configured to operably couple the motor to a valve, wherein the valve is configured to cooperate with a dump orifice connected in fluid communication with the high-pressure conduit, and wherein the motor is operable to move the valve in a first direction to increase a pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice and in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to reduce the pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice;
• a valve positioning element having a first end portion configured to interact with the valve and a second end portion operably coupled to the output shaft of the motor via the coupling, wherein—
• the output shaft is operable to rotate the valve positioning element in a first direction of rotation to thereby move the valve in the first direction and increase the pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice, and
• the output shaft is further operable to rotate the valve positioning element in a second direction of rotation, opposite to the first direction of rotation, to thereby move the valve in the second direction and reduce the pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice;
• and
• a controller configured to be operably connected to the liquid jet cutting system and automatically control operation of the motor to adjust a flow of the high-pressure liquid through the dump orifice in response to a change in at least one of a state or a condition of the liquid jet cutting system.

An adjustable dump orifice (ADO) for use with a liquid jet cutting system, the liquid jet cutting system including a high-pressure conduit configured to provide high-pressure liquid to a cutting head, the ADO comprising:

• a motor;
• a coupling configured to operably couple the motor to a valve, wherein the valve is configured to cooperate with a dump orifice connected in fluid communication with the high-pressure conduit, and wherein the motor is operable to move the valve in a first direction to increase a pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice and in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to reduce the pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice;
• a valve housing containing the valve and the dump orifice;
• a coupling housing containing the coupling;
• an adapter having a first end portion fixedly attached to the coupling housing and a second end portion, opposite to the first end portion, fixedly attached to the valve housing;
• a valve positioning element at least partially positioned within the adapter, wherein the motor is operable to move the valve positioning element in a first way to thereby move the valve in the first direction and increase the pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice, and wherein the motor is further operable to move the valve positioning element in a second way, opposite to the first way, to thereby move the valve in the second direction and reduce the pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice;
• and
• a controller configured to be operably connected to the liquid jet cutting system and automatically control operation of the motor to adjust a flow of the high-pressure liquid through the dump orifice in response to a change in at least one of a state or a condition of the liquid jet cutting system.

A liquid jet cutting system, comprising:

• a high-pressure conduit;
• a cutting head having a cutting head nozzle and a cutting head valve operable to control a flow of high-pressure liquid from the high-pressure conduit to the cutting head nozzle;
• an adjustable dump orifice (ADO)) including—
• a motor;
• a coupling configured to operably couple the motor to a dump orifice valve, wherein the dump orifice valve is configured to cooperate with a dump orifice connected in fluid communication with the high-pressure conduit, and
• a valve positioning element having a first end portion configured to interact with the dump orifice valve and a second end portion operably coupled to the motor via the coupling;
• and
• a controller operably connected to the ADO and the cutting head and configured to automatically adjust the flow of the high-pressure liquid through the cutting head and/or the dump orifice by—
• causing the motor to move the valve positioning element in a first direction of rotation to move the dome orifice valve in a first direction to increase a pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice,
• causing the motor to move the valve positioning element in a second direction of rotation, opposite the first direction of rotation, to move the dump orifice valve in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to reduce the pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice;
• causing the cutting head valve to open and the dump orifice valve to close when the liquid jet cutting system is cutting, and
• causing the cutting head valve to close and the dump orifice valve to open when the liquid jet cutting system is not cutting.