Swirl jet nozzle as a hydraulic work tool

Apparatus for producing a swirling jet of pressurized liquid for use in the removal of solid material from an adjacent surface comprising:

• a stator including a body with a first portion having a first cross-sectional area at a first end thereof, said body also including a neck portion extending from said first end of said first portion, said neck portion having a longitudinal axis and an average cross-sectional area which is smaller than said first cross-sectional area, at least a part of the first end of said first portion of said body which is contiguous to said neck portion defining a reaction surface, said stator being adapted for coupling at a second end of said body first portion which is disposed oppositely with respect to said first end to a source of pressurized liquid, said body in part defining a supply conduit for said liquid which extends through said first portion and into said neck portion, said supply conduit terminating at a discharge port in said neck portion oriented transversely to said axis, said stator neck portion further having a circumferential groove in the exterior thereof;
• a rotor having an elongated internal cavity sized and shaped to receive said stator neck portion, said rotor being coaxial with said stator neck portion and having oppositely disposed first and second ends, said rotor having at least a first jet defining discharge port in the first end thereof, said discharge port having an axis which is angularly oriented with respect to said stator neck portion axis, said rotor having at least a first flow passage for the pressurized liquid which extends between an inner surface thereof which faces the stator neck portion and said first jet defining discharge port whereby pressurized fluid discharged through said discharge port in said stator neck portion will be delivered to said rotor first jet defining discharge port, said rotor further defining a second flow passage for said pressurized liquid between said inner surface thereof and the second end thereof, said rotor second end having a surface which is disposed oppositely to and in facing relationship to said stator reaction surface, said rotor first end including a face portion which defines a plane oriented substantially transversely with respect to the stator neck portion axis, and said face portion having a generally V-shaped groove formed therein, said first jet defining discharge port being located in a side wall of said generally V-shaped groove;
• and
• a retainer captured in said rotor, said retainer including a pin which extends linerarly across a portion of the internal cavity in said rotor, said pin intercepting said circumferential groove in said stator neck portion to capture said rotor on said stator while permitting relative rotation therebetween.