US 4,733,503 A · Abrasive jet machining

Abstract

Apparatus for abrasive jet machining, including equipment for storage, feeding, and control of abrasive powder in a carrier jet delivered through an upright feed tube at relatively high pressure and relatively high velocity.

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Claims9

Dependent claims

Apparatus for developing and handling an abrasive-laden gas stream, comprising a substantially vertical feed tube having an inlet at its upper end comprising an upwardly flared funnel and having a downwardly directed delivery nozzle at its lower end with a downwardly directed delivery nozzle opening, the vertical feed tube with said funnel and said nozzle having coaxial passages from the inlet of the funnel to the delivery nozzle opening, a pressurized gas receptacle in which said upwardly flared funnel is exposed, the pressurized receptacle having a bottom wall, and said vertical feed tube being extended downwardly through said bottom wall of the pressurized receptacle, a vibratory feed chamber in said pressurized receptacle, the feed chamber having a delivery duct adapted to feed a stream of particulate abrasive material into the inlet funnel of said feed tube to provide for carrying the particulate material in a stream of gas downwardly in said tube, a flow shut-off valve in said vertical feed tube below the bottom wall of the pressurized receptacle and upstream of the nozzle opening, a support for mounting a workpiece in spaced relation to the nozzle opening, and means for shiftably moving the workpiece support in a direction transversely of the nozzle delivery passage.

Apparatus for developing and handling an abrasive-laden gas stream, comprising a substantially vertical feed tube having an inlet opening at its upper end and having a downwardly directed delivery nozzle at its lower end with a downwardly directed delivery nozzle opening, said vertical feed tube and said nozzle having coaxial passages, a pressurized gas receptacle having a lower closure, and said vertical feed tube being extended downwardly through said lower closure of the pressurized receptacle, a vibratory feed chamber in said pressurized receptacle, the feed chamber having a delivery duct adapted to feed a stream of particulate abrasive material into the inlet opening of said feed tube to provide for carrying the particulate material in a stream of the pressurized gas downwardly through said tube to a region externally of said pressurized receptacle, the delivery duct being vibratory with said vibratory feed chamber but being vibratory independently of said vertical feed tube, a flow shutoff valve in saisd vertical tube below the lower closure of the pressurized receptacle and upstream of the nozzle opening, a support positioned externally of the pressurized receptacle for mounting a workpiece to be abraded and comprising a device for holding the workpiece in spaced relation to the nozzle opening, a base for mounting the pressurized receptacle and the workpiece support, first mounting mechanism for vertically adjusting the position of the pressurized receptacle and the associated vertical duct with respect to the workpiece support, and second mounting mechanism for moving the workpiece support in a horizontal plane in relation to the nozzle opening.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,965 words

Summary934 words

#This invention relates to abrasive jet machining and is particularly concerned with improvements in equipment of the kind disclosed in copending application of one of the present Applicant's, namely, Ben J. Gallant, Ser. No. 830,686 filed Feb. 18, 1986.

#The present invention is particularly concerned with the provision of equipment for abrasive jet machining providing for employment of a jet of relatively high pressure and high velocity.

#Although the equipment disclosed in the present application may be employed with a pressurized gas stream at any desired pressure, the equipment of the present invention is of special importance for use where relatively high gas pressure is contemplated.

Brief description of the drawings10 figures

#With the foregoing in mind, attention is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an abrasive jet machine according to the present invention, including the vertical pressurized flow duct and the mechanism for delivering a uniform supply of abrasive particles into the vertical duct, together with a reserve abrasive particle or powder supply, this view also illustrating workpiece supporting means and certain control systems;

#FIG. 1a is a sectional view of one of the control devices used in the system of FIG. 1;

Detailed description3,752 words

#The abrasive particle storage, supply and feed mechanism is generally illustrated in FIG. 1, and it is here noted that the general arrangement of the feed mechanism and the associated storage chamber are similar to those features as disclosed in the companion application of Ben J. Gallant above fully identified. The equipment includes a pair of generally cylindrical components 8 and 9 which constitute a pressurized vessel in which the feed is effected and which also encloses a reserve supply of the particulate material being used. These cylindrical components are interconnected with a sealing ring 10 therebetween and constitute a unified pressure chamber, the lower end of which is closed by a wall 11, and the upper end of which is closed by a closure cap 12 having a threaded engagement with the upper edge of the cylinder 9, and further having an aperture 13 with a closure valve 14 adapted to be shiftably moved by means of the knob 15.

#Toward the upper end of the lower cylindrical component 8, a cylindrical feed chamber 16 is mounted at the top of a vibrator 17, so that the vibratory motion of the vibrator is communicated to the feed chamber 16. It is contemplated that the vibrator 17 and the feed chamber 16 be mounted so as to vibrate substantially independently of the chamber components 8 and 9 and the mounting structure.

#The feed chamber 16 has a bottom wall 18 which receives a deposit of abrasive powder to be fed from the vertical tube 19 which extends upwardly into the lower end of the conical wall 20 which defines the bottom of the reserve powder supply chamber in the upper end of the cylindrical component 9. A supply of powder may be introduced either through the aperture 13 in the upper cap 12 or by removal of the cap and then insertion of a supply, for instance, in a generally conical supply cartridge 21, formed, for example, of disposable paper, and with its lower end arranged to be pierced by the pointed component 22 in the bottom of the conical chamber 20, so that the powder in the reserve supply container will flow into the apertures 23 in the conical component 22, and thence downwardly through the vertical tube 19 to the bottom wall 18 of the feed chamber 16.

Abrasive jet machining

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Claims9

Abrasive jet machining

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims9

Description4,965 words

Drawings

Classification9 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,965 words