Abrasive waterjet receiver

An apparatus for cutting a work piece with a liquid jet cutting machine having means for pressurizing a liquid comprising:

• cutting head means having liquid discharge nozzle means connected to the means for pressurizing a liquid for directing a liquid jet toward a work piece for cutting the work piece, first control means connected to the cutting head means to control the movement of the cutting head means in desired directions, receiver means having a passage located below said work piece in general vertical alignment with the nozzle means for collecting liquid and particulate materials emanating from the nozzle means and the work piece, and discharging the liquid and particulate materials therefrom, second control means connected to the receiver means to control the movement of the receiver means according to the movements of the cutting head means, said receiver means including first means having a passage with a longitudinal axis, an open inlet end for receiving liquid and particulate materials from the nozzle means and work piece, and an open outlet end remote from the inlet end for carrying liquid and particulate materials away from the receiver means, and second means operatively connected to the first means for rotating the first means about the longitudinal axis thereof as the liquid and particulate materials flow through said passage.

An apparatus for cutting a work piece with a liquid jet cutting machine having means for pressurizing a liquid comprising:

• cutting head means having liquid discharge nozzle means connected to the means for pressurizing a liquid for directing a liquid jet toward the work piece for cutting the work piece, first control means connected to the cutting head means to control the movement of the cutting head means in desired directions, receiver means having means with a passage located below said work piece in general vertical alignment with the nozzle means for collecting liquid and particulate materials eminating from the nozzle means and the work piece and discharging the liquid in particulate materials therefrom, and drive means for rotating the means with a passage, second control means connected to the receiver means to control the movement of the receiver means according to the movements of the cutting head means, and vacuum generator means connected to the receiver means operable to draw air, liquid, and particulate materials from the jet and work piece through said passage and discharge the liquid and particulate materials to a selected location.

A method of collecting water, grit, and particulate materials emanating from an abrasive waterjet cutting a work piece with a receiver having a passage and an inlet opening and outlet opening open to the passage comprising:

• locating the inlet opening of the receiver adjacent the work piece and abrasive waterjet to allow water, grit, and work piece particulate materials to flow through the inlet opening into the passage of the receiver, said water, grit, and work piece particulate materials flowing through said passage and exiting therefrom through said outlet opening to a selected location, and rotating the receiver about an axis generally along the direction of flow of water, grit, and work piece particulate materials through the passage during flow of water, grit, and work piece particulate materials through said inlet opening, passage, and outlet opening.