Support system for abrasive jet cutting
AssigneePPG Industries, Inc.
InventorJames E. Sherby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sheet support assembly for fluid jet cutting operation having a first support extending through and independent of a catcher tank of the cutting jet system to support the central portion of said sheet and a frame assembly mounted independent of said catcher tank to support selected edge portions of the sheet to be cut. The first support includes a vertically adjustable vacuum plenum to secure the sheet thereto. The sheet edge supports on the frame are vertically and horizontally adjustable so that they may support the edges of a variety of sheet sizes.
Claims19
An apparatus for cutting a sheet whereby vibrations of selected components of the apparatus are substantially isolated from one another, the apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a catcher tank;
- sheet support means;
- edge engaging means;
- means for mounting said edge engaging means above said catcher tank;
- means for securing said edge engaging means directly to said base, said sheet support means above said tank and directly to said base, and said catcher tank directly to said base;
- and
- wherein said edge engaging means, said sheet support and said catcher tank are mounted independent from one another whereby vibrations of said edge engaging means, said sheet support column and said catcher tank are substantially isolated from one another.
A method of cutting a sheet comprising the steps of:
- securing a sheet in position;
- positioning a central portion of the sheet at a lower elevation than edge portions of the sheet, and
- directing a high velocity cutting fluid toward the sheet to cut the sheet.
A method of cutting a sheet, comprising the steps of:
- assembling sheet support means, catcher tank, and edge engaging means to a base such that the catcher tank is secured to the base, the sheet support means is mounted above the catcher tank and is secured to the base, the edge engaging means is secured to the base and above the tank, and the vibrations of the sheet support means, the catcher tank and the edge engaging means are substantially isolated from one another;
- securing a sheet on the sheet support means with the edge engaging means engaging the edges of the sheet;
- and
- directing high velocity cutting fluid toward the sheet to cut the sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.