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US 6,283,833 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for producing a high-velocity particle stream
AssigneeFlow International Corporation
InventorsY. H. Michael Pao, Peter L. Madonna, Ross T. Coogan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing a high-velocity particle stream at low cost through multi-staged acceleration using different media in each stage, the particles are accelerated to a subsonic velocity (with respect to the velocity of sound in air) using one or more jets of gas at low cost, then further accelerated to a higher velocity using jets of water. Additionally, to enhance particle acceleration, a vortex motion is created, and the particles introduced into the fluid having vortex motion, thereby enhancing the delivery of particles to the target.
Claims42
An apparatus for producing a fluid jet stream of abrasive particles in a fluid matrix, comprising:
- (i) a mixing chamber;
- (ii) an air/particle inlet at one end of said mixing chamber for delivering an air/particle stream into the mixing chamber at subsonic velocity;
- (iii) at least one ultra-high pressure water inlet fluidly engaging said mixing chamber for accelerating said air/particle stream to a higher velocity;
- and
- (iv) at least one air inlet fluidly engaged to the mixing chamber for inducing or amplifying swirling flow to said stream.
2 more elements
An apparatus for producing a fluid jet stream of abrasive particles in a fluid matrix, comprising:
- (i) a mixing chamber;
- (ii) an air/particle inlet means at one end of said mixing chamber for delivering an air/particle stream into the mixing chamber at subsonic velocity;
- (iii) at least one ultra-high pressure liquid inlet means fluidly and obliquely engaging said mixing chamber for accelerating said air/particle stream to a higher velocity;
- and
- (iv) means for inducing or amplifying swirling flow to said stream;
- wherein:
- said mixing chamber is comprised of a first stage and a second stage, each said stage having an interior diameter and a length;
- said first stage and said second stage join to form a joining angle and a skew angle, and further wherein a power input is applied to said first and second stages to accelerate said particles through each said stage;
- an air power input is applied to propel air through said air inlet means;
- said air inlet means consists of a plurality of air jet ports, positionally each having an interior diameter, and positionally defined by a vortex taper included angle and a vortex air inlet skew angle;
- and
- said ultra-high pressure inlet means comprises at least one injection port, each having an interior diameter and positionally defined by a trajectory intersect.
9 more elements
An apparatus for generating a fluid jet containing abrasive particles, comprising:
- a source of abrasive particles pressurized by a gas and coupled to an inlet of a first nozzle to provide a pressurized stream of abrasive particles to the inlet of the first nozzle;
- a mixing chamber in fluid communication with an outlet of the first nozzle, the pressurized stream of abrasive particles passing through and being accelerated by the first nozzle and being discharged into the mixing chamber;
- a fluid inlet nozzle coupled in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and with a source of ultra-high pressure liquid, an ultra-high pressure liquid jet being discharged through the fluid inlet nozzle at a sufficient velocity to entrain and accelerate the pressurized stream of abrasive particles;
- and
- an exit tube having an inlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and an outlet through which the ultra-high pressure fluid jet containing abrasive particles is discharged.
2 more elements
An apparatus for generating a fluid jet containing abrasive particles, comprising:
- a source of abrasive particles pressurized by a gas and coupled to an inlet of a first nozzle to provide a pressurized stream of abrasive particles to the inlet of the first nozzle;
- a mixing chamber in fluid communication with an outlet of the first nozzle, the pressurized stream of abrasive particles passing through and being accelerated by the first nozzle and being discharged into the mixing chamber;
- a fluid inlet nozzle coupled in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and with a source of ultra-high pressure liquid, an ultra-high pressure liquid jet being discharged through the fluid inlet nozzle at a sufficient velocity to entrain and accelerate the pressurized stream of abrasive particles;
- and
- an exit tube having an inlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and an outlet through which the ultra-high pressure fluid jet containing abrasive particles is discharged;
- wherein the mixing chamber is provided with a first inlet coupled to a source of gas to supply a stream of gas into the mixing chamber to improve the distribution of the abrasive particles in the ultra-high pressure fluid jet;
- the apparatus further comprising:
- a first valve coupled to the first nozzle to selectively start and stop the flow of the pressurized stream of abrasive particles into the first nozzle;
- a second valve coupled to the fluid inlet nozzle to selectively start and stop the flow of ultra-high pressure liquid into the mixing chamber;
- and
- a third valve coupled to the first inlet to selectively start and stop the flow of gas into the mixing chamber.
8 more elements
An apparatus for generating a fluid jet containing abrasive particles, comprising:
- a source of abrasive particles pressurized by a gas and coupled to an inlet of a first nozzle to provide a pressurized stream of abrasive particles to the inlet of the first nozzle;
- a mixing chamber in fluid communication with an outlet of the first nozzle, the pressurized stream of abrasive particles passing through and being accelerated by the first nozzle and being discharged into the mixing chamber;
- a fluid inlet nozzle coupled in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and with a source of ultra-high pressure liquid, an ultra-high pressure liquid jet being discharged through the fluid inlet nozzle at a sufficient velocity to entrain and accelerate the pressurized stream of abrasive particles;
- an exit tube having an inlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and an outlet through which the ultra-high pressure fluid jet containing abrasive particles is discharged;
- and
- an annular feed ring in fluid communication with a plurality of fluid inlet nozzles that in turn are in fluid communication with the mixing chamber, a volume of ultra-high pressure liquid being provided to the annular feed ring and following through the plurality of fluid inlet nozzles into the mixing chamber.
3 more elements
An apparatus for generating a fluid jet containing abrasive particles, comprising:
- a source of abrasive particles pressurized by a gas and coupled to an inlet of a first nozzle to provide a pressurized stream of abrasive particles to the inlet of the first nozzle;
- a mixing chamber in fluid communication with an outlet of the first nozzle, the pressurized stream of abrasive particles passing through and being accelerated by the first nozzle and being discharged into the mixing chamber;
- a fluid inlet nozzle coupled in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and with a source of ultra-high pressure liquid, an ultra-high pressure liquid jet being discharged through the fluid inlet nozzle at a sufficient velocity to entrain and accelerate the pressurized stream of abrasive particles;
- an exit tube having an inlet in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and an outlet through which the ultra-high pressure fluid jet containing abrasive particles is discharged;
- and
- wherein the mixing chamber is provided with a second orifice in fluid communication with a source of chemicals.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.