# US 12,759,109 B2 · Backflow diversion devices for liquid jet cutting systems, and associated systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,109 B2 - Document ID: US12759109B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/069,143 - Filed: 2022-12-20 - Published: 2023-06-22 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-20 - Assignees: Hypertherm, Inc. - Applicants: OMAX Corporation - Inventors: Brian K. Guglielmetti; Manases Dumlao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759109B2 ## CPC - B24C 7/003: {with means for preventing clogging of the equipment} - B24C 1/045: {for cutting (energy dissipating devices therefor B26F3/008)} - B24C: ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for providing abrasive to a cutting head in a high-pressure liquid jet cutting system, the device comprising: an abrasive inlet configured to receive abrasive from an abrasive hopper; an abrasive outlet downstream from the abrasive inlet and configured to discharge the abrasive; a backflow diverter positioned downstream of the abrasive inlet and upstream of the abrasive outlet, wherein the backflow diverter is configured to receive at least a first portion of backflow flowing away from the abrasive outlet and discharge the first portion of backflow, the backflow including abrasive, steam, and/or liquid; and at least one spillway positioned downstream of the abrasive inlet and upstream of the backflow diverter, wherein the at least one spillway is configured to discharge abrasive flowing from the abrasive inlet and/or at least a second portion of backflow flowing away from the backflow diverter, wherein the abrasive inlet, the abrasive outlet, the backflow diverter, and the at least one spillway are features of a unitary structure configured to be coupled to the abrasive hopper to receive the abrasive therefrom. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the abrasive inlet is configured to receive the abrasive from an abrasive source, and wherein the abrasive outlet is configured to discharge the abrasive toward a cutting head feed port. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one spillway is configured to discharge at least the abrasive flowing from the abrasive inlet to at least partially prevent moisture from the second portion of backflow from traveling upstream into the abrasive source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a passageway extends between the abrasive inlet and the abrasive outlet, and wherein the at least one spillway includes an opening extending through a sidewall portion of the passageway. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4 wherein the sidewall portion is a first sidewall portion and the at least one spillway is a first spillway, and wherein the device further includes a second spillway extending through a second sidewall portion of the passageway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5 wherein the first spillway is positioned opposite the second spillway. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4 wherein the at least one spillway is configured to discharge the abrasive flowing from the abrasive inlet when the passageway is at least partially filled with the backflow flowing upstream from the abrasive outlet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4 wherein the passageway includes a first passageway portion proximate the abrasive inlet and a second passageway portion proximate the abrasive outlet, wherein the first passageway portion includes an upstream end portion having a first diameter and a downstream end portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the abrasive outlet is configured to discharge the abrasive toward a cutting head feed port of the high-pressure liquid jet cutting system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a passageway extending between the abrasive inlet and the abrasive outlet, wherein the passageway includes a first passageway portion proximate the abrasive inlet and a second passageway portion proximate the abrasive outlet, wherein the first passageway portion is aligned with a first longitudinal axis and the second passageway portion is aligned with a second longitudinal axis, and wherein the second longitudinal axis is positioned at a non-zero angle relative to the first longitudinal axis and configured to direct at least the first portion of backflow toward the backflow diverter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the backflow diverter includes a backflow inlet configured to receive the first portion of backflow and a backflow outlet configured to discharge the first portion of backflow, wherein the backflow inlet has a first diameter, and wherein the abrasive outlet has a second diameter, less than the first diameter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a first passageway extends between the abrasive inlet and the abrasive outlet, the first passageway having a first inner wall, wherein a second passageway extends between an inlet of the backflow diverter and an outlet of the backflow diverter, the second passageway having a second inner wall, and wherein the device further comprises a protective coating covering at least a first portion of the first inner wall and/or at least a second portion of the second inner wall, wherein the protective coating is configured to at least partially prevent absorption of moisture from the backflow. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the high-pressure liquid jet cutting system includes a cutting table downstream from the abrasive outlet, wherein the backflow diverter is configured to redirect the first portion of backflow toward the cutting table. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the backflow diverter includes a backflow inlet configured to receive the first portion of backflow and a backflow outlet configured to discharge the first portion of backflow, and wherein the backflow diverter is configured to direct the first portion of backflow received via the backflow inlet in a curved path toward the backflow outlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the backflow diverter includes a backflow inlet configured to receive the first portion of backflow and a backflow outlet configured to discharge the first portion of backflow, and wherein the backflow diverter is configured to direct the backflow received via the backflow inlet in an arcuate path toward the backflow outlet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the backflow diverter includes a backflow inlet configured to receive the first portion of backflow and a backflow outlet configured to discharge the first portion of backflow, and wherein the backflow diverter further includes an open cross-sectional shape proximate the backflow outlet. ### Claim 17 A device for providing abrasive to a cutting head in a high-pressure liquid jet cutting system, the device comprising: an abrasive inlet configured to receive abrasive; an abrasive outlet downstream from the abrasive inlet and configured to discharge the abrasive; a first passageway configured to convey the abrasive between the abrasive inlet and the abrasive outlet; and a second passageway having a fluid inlet configured to receive high-pressure fluid and a fluid outlet positioned at an elevation below the fluid inlet and configured to discharge the high-pressure fluid into a portion of the first passageway in a downstream direction angled relative to the portion of the first passageway to at least partially dislodge abrasive backflow from within the first passageway. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17 wherein the high-pressure fluid includes pressurized air. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17 wherein the second passageway is positioned at a non-zero angle relative to the first passageway. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17 wherein the second passageway is configured to direct the high-pressure fluid in a downstream direction through at least a portion of the first passageway toward the abrasive outlet. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17 wherein the second passageway is configured to direct the high-pressure fluid in a downstream direction through at least a portion of the first passageway away from the abrasive inlet. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17 further comprising a backflow diverter positioned downstream of the abrasive inlet and upstream of the abrasive outlet, wherein the backflow diverter is configured to receive backflow flowing away from the abrasive outlet and discharge at least a portion of the backflow, the portion of the backflow including abrasive and/or liquid. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22 wherein the backflow diverter defines a curved backflow path. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22 wherein the backflow diverter includes a backflow inlet configured to receive the portion of the backflow flowing away from the abrasive outlet and a backflow outlet configured to discharge the portion of the backflow, wherein the backflow diverter is configured to direct the portion of the backflow received via the backflow inlet in an arcuate path toward the backflow outlet. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22 wherein the portion of the backflow is a first portion of backflow flowing away from the abrasive outlet, and wherein the device further comprises at least one spillway positioned downstream of the abrasive inlet and upstream of the backflow diverter, wherein the at least one spillway is configured to discharge abrasive flowing from the abrasive inlet and/or at least a second portion of backflow flowing away from the abrasive outlet. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The device of claim 25 wherein the at least one spillway is formed in a sidewall of the first passageway. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The device of claim 26 wherein at least a portion of the first passageway downstream from the at least one spillway is tapered radially inwardly in a downstream direction. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17 wherein the abrasive outlet is configured to discharge the abrasive toward a cutting head feed port of the high-pressure liquid jet cutting system. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the first passageway includes at least one spillway positioned downstream from the abrasive inlet, and wherein the at least one spillway is configured to discharge at least a portion of the abrasive backflow. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The device of claim 29 wherein the first passageway includes an inner wall, and wherein the at least one spillway includes an opening in the inner wall configured to discharge the abrasive received from the abrasive inlet when a portion of the first passageway downstream of the at least one spillway is blocked. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The device of claim 30 wherein a portion of the inner wall downstream of the at least one spillway is tapered radially outwardly in an upstream direction.