Method and apparatus for material removal
OwnerGilbert L. Mains, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus that allows the removal of solid material from a workpiece utilizes a high velocity stream of ice which is caused to impinge on the workpiece. A working liquid, such as water, is supplied at high pressure to a discharge nozzle with an orifice for forming the needle-like stream. The water is cooled before it reaches the nozzle to a temperature below its freezing point so that at least some of the stream is transformed to ice. Optionally, the stream is cooled after it is emitted from the orifice by flowing an envelope of cryogenic gas around the emitted stream.
Claims13
A method of removing solid material from a workpiece which comprises the steps of:
- supplying a pressurized working liquid through a conduit having an outer surface and an orifice for emitting a high pressure stream of at least partially solidified working liquid,
- removing heat from said conduit via said outer surface such that said conduit is cooled to a temperature sufficient to cause solidification of at least some of said working liquid within said conduit,
- and impinging said stream on the workpiece to dislodge solid material therefrom.
A method of cutting a solid workpiece, comprising the steps of:
- forcing a high pressure stream of working liquid through a conduit located within a cutting tool,
- removing heat from within said conduit in an amount sufficient to cause solidification of at least some of said working liquid to thereby form solid particles within said stream, and
- impinging said stream on the workpiece.
A method of cutting a solid workpiece, comprising the steps of:
- forcing a high pressure stream of working liquid through a conduit located within a cutting tool,
- lowering the temperature of said conduit to a temperature sufficient to cause solidification of at least some of said working liquid to thereby form solid particles within said stream, and
- impinging said stream on the workpiece, wherein said forcing step further comprises forcing said working liquid through a first section of said conduit having a first internal diameter and thereafter forcing said working liquid through a second section of said conduit having a second internal diameter that is greater than said first internal diameter to thereby facilitate solidification of said working liquid.
An apparatus for removing solid material from a workpiece, comprising:
- a high pressure pump for supplying a liquid working material,
- a conduit coupled to said pump to receive the liquid working material, said conduit having an orifice for emitting a stream containing at least partially solidified working material, and
- cooling means for removing heat from within said conduit to thereby cause solidification of at least some of the working material contained in said conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.