Water jet/abrasive jet cutting head

A cutting head, comprising:

• a housing having a frontal portion and a rearward portion and having an axis defined as generally extending from said frontal portion to said rearward portion;
• a first nozzle being located on said housing along said axis;
• a second nozzle being located on said housing along said axis in spaced apart relation to said first nozzle;
• a third nozzle being located on said housing along said axis between said first nozzle and said second nozzle and in spaced apart relation to said first nozzle and to said second nozzle;
• a first sensor being located on said housing along said axis between said first nozzle and said third nozzle, said first sensor delivering a first signal in response to detecting a first predetermined condition, and said third nozzle delivering a jet of abrasive fluid in response to said first signal;
• and
• a second sensor being located on said housing along said axis between said third nozzle and said second nozzle, said second sensor delivering a second signal in response to detecting a second predetermined condition, and said second nozzle delivering a jet of non-abrasive fluid in response to said second signal.

A cutting head, comprising:

• a housing having a frontal portion and a rearward portion and having an axis defined as generally extending from said frontal portion to said rearward portion;
• a first nozzle being located on said housing along said axis, said first nozzle being coupled to a first fluid passageway adapted to deliver non-abrasive fluid to said first nozzle;
• a second nozzle being located on said housing along said axis in spaced apart relation to said first nozzle, said second nozzle being coupled to a second fluid passageway adapted to deliver non-abrasive fluid to said second nozzle;
• a third nozzle being located on said housing along said axis between said first nozzle and said second nozzle and in spaced apart relation to said first nozzle and to said second nozzle, said third nozzle being coupled to a third fluid passageway adapted to deliver abrasive fluid to said third nozzle;
• a pair of fourth nozzles located on said housing adjacent one another on opposite sides of said axis between said first nozzle and said third nozzle, each of said fourth nozzles being coupled to a fourth fluid passageway adapted to deliver air to each of said fourth nozzles;
• and
• a pair of fifth nozzles located on said housing adjacent one another on opposite sides of said axis between said third nozzle and said second nozzle, each of said fifth nozzles being coupled to a fifth fluid passageway adapted to deliver air to each of said fifth nozzles.

A cutting head, comprising:

• a housing having a frontal portion and a rearward portion and having an axis defined as generally extending from said frontal portion to s id rearward portion;
• a first nozzle being located on said housing along said axis, said first nozzle being coupled to a first fluid passageway adapted to deliver non-abrasive fluid to said first nozzle;
• a second nozzle being located on said housing along said axis in spaced apart relation to said first nozzle, said second nozzle being coupled to a second fluid passageway adapted to deliver non-abrasive fluid to said second nozzle;
• a third nozzle being located on said housing along said axis between said first nozzle and said second nozzle and in spaced apart relation to said first nozzle and to said second nozzle, said third nozzle being coupled to a third fluid passageway adapted to deliver abrasive fluid to said third nozzle;
• a pair of fourth nozzles located on said housing adjacent one another on opposite sides of said axis between said first nozzle and said third nozzle, each of said fourth nozzles being coupled to a fourth fluid passageway adapted to deliver air to each of said fourth nozzles;
• a pair of fifth nozzles located on said housing adjacent one another on opposite sides of said axis between said third nozzle and said second nozzle, each of said fifth nozzles being coupled to a fifth fluid passageway adapted to deliver air to each of said fifth nozzles;
• a first sensor being located on said housing along said axis between said first nozzle and said third nozzle, said first sensor delivering a first signal in response to detecting a first predetermined condition, and said third nozzle delivering a jet of abrasive fluid in response to said first signal;
• and
• a second sensor being located on said housing along said axis between said third nozzle and said second nozzle, said second sensor delivering a second signal in response to detecting a second predetermined condition, and said second nozzle delivering a jet of non-abrasive fluid in response to said second signal.

A method of segmenting an animal carcass using a single fluidic cutting head, comprising the steps of:

• directing a first non-abrasive fluid jet from said cutting head toward said carcass, said first non-abrasive fluid jet cutting a portion of said carcass;
• delivering a first signal in response to said first non-abrasive fluid jet cutting said carcass down to a bone;
• directing an abrasive fluid jet from said cutting head toward said bone, said abrasive fluid jet cutting through said bone;
• delivering a second signal in response to said first non-abrasive fluid jet and said abrasive fluid jet failing to cut completely through said carcass;
• and
• directing a second non-abrasive fluid jet from said cutting head toward said carcass, said second non-abrasive fluid jet cutting completely through said carcass.