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US 2002/0173220 A1Published application
Waterjet cutting system and method of operation
AssigneeService Metal Fabricating, Inc.
InventorsDavid M. Lewin, Timothy D. O'Keeffe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A waterjet cutting system and method of operating such system are disclosed. The waterjet cutting system includes an inflatable and deflatable diaphragm to control the mixing of abrasive particulate material and liquid in a stream used to abrade a target object.
Claims20
A waterjet cutting system comprising:
- (a) a storage assembly in which abrasive particulate material is retained, said storage assembly including an inlet for allowing the abrasive particulate material to flow therein, an outlet for allowing the abrasive particulate material to flow therefrom, and an inflatable diaphragm arranged at said outlet such that said inflatable diaphragm may be selectively inflated and deflated to control the flow of abrasive particulate material through said outlet, and
- (b) a liquid supply source in communication with said storage assembly whereby said abrasive particulate material is mixed with a predetermined amount of liquid.
An abrasive material delivery assembly for use with a waterjet cutting system, said abrasive material delivery assembly comprising:
- a storage assembly in which abrasive particulate material is retained, said storage assembly including an inlet for allowing the abrasive particulate material to flow therein, an outlet for allowing the abrasive particulate material to flow therefrom, and an inflatable diaphragm arranged at said outlet such that said inflatable diaphragm may be selectively inflated and deflated to control the flow of abrasive particulate material through said outlet.
A method of controlling the flow of abrasive particulate material in a waterjet cutting system comprising the steps of:
- retaining abrasive particulate material in a storage vessel;
- selectively inflating a diaphragm arranged at an outlet of a storage vessel to preclude the abrasive particulate material from flowing therethrough;
- selectively deflating the diaphragm to permit the abrasive particulate material to flow through the outlet;
- mixing the abrasive particulate material with a liquid so that a desired ratio of abrasive particulate material to liquid is created;
- and
- permitting the abrasive particulate material to flow with the liquid through a nozzle of the waterjet cutting apparatus, thus creating an abrasive stream sufficient to abrade a target object.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.