Fluid jet receptacle with rotatable inlet feed component and related fluid jet cutting system and method

A fluid jet system adapted to generate a fluid jet under high pressure operating conditions to process a workpiece, the fluid jet system comprising:

• a nozzle having a fluid jet outlet to discharge the fluid jet;
• a jet receiving receptacle positioned opposite the nozzle to receive the fluid jet during a workpiece processing operation, the jet receiving receptacle including an inlet feed component having a tapered inlet that defines a jet receiving surface about a central axis, the jet receiving surface converging toward the central axis in a downstream direction;
• and
• a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the inlet feed component about the central axis such that impact of the fluid jet with the inlet feed component of the jet receiving receptacle is distributed continuously or intermittingly around the jet receiving surface defined by the tapered inlet, and the drive mechanism including a vane adapted to rotate the inlet feed component about the central axis in response to a driving fluid.

A fluid jet system adapted to generate a fluid jet under high pressure operating conditions to process a workpiece, the fluid jet system comprising:

• a nozzle having a fluid jet outlet to discharge the fluid jet;
• a jet receiving receptacle positioned opposite the nozzle to receive the fluid jet during a workpiece processing operation, the jet receiving receptacle including an inlet feed component having a tapered inlet that defines a jet receiving surface about a central axis, the jet receiving surface converging toward the central axis in a downstream direction;
• and
• a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the inlet feed component about the central axis such that impact of the fluid jet with the inlet feed component of the jet receiving receptacle is distributed continuously or intermittingly around the jet receiving surface defined by the tapered inlet, and the drive mechanism including a ratchet device coupled to the inlet feed component to incrementally rotate the inlet feed component about the central axis.

A fluid jet system adapted to generate a fluid jet under high pressure operating conditions to process a workpiece, the fluid jet system comprising:

• a nozzle having a fluid jet outlet to discharge the fluid jet;
• a jet receiving receptacle positioned opposite the nozzle to receive the fluid jet during a workpiece processing operation, the jet receiving receptacle including an inlet feed component having a tapered inlet that defines a jet receiving surface about a central axis, the jet receiving surface converging toward the central axis in a downstream direction, and a fluid distribution component positioned downstream of the inlet feed component, the fluid distribution component including a central cavity to receive fluid passing through the inlet feed component and a plurality of discharge apertures located about a perimeter of the fluid distribution component in fluid communication with the central cavity to route fluid away from the jet receiving receptacle;
• and
• a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the inlet feed component about the central axis such that impact of the fluid jet with the inlet feed component of the jet receiving receptacle is distributed continuously or intermittingly around the jet receiving surface defined by the tapered inlet.

A fluid jet system adapted to generate a fluid jet under high pressure operating conditions to process a workpiece, the fluid jet system comprising:

• a nozzle having a fluid jet outlet to discharge the fluid jet;
• a jet receiving receptacle positioned opposite the nozzle to receive the fluid jet during a workpiece processing operation, the jet receiving receptacle including an inlet feed component having a tapered inlet that defines a jet receiving surface about a central axis, the jet receiving surface converging toward the central axis in a downstream direction, and the jet receiving receptacle having a three-stage construction that includes the inlet feed component, a fluid distribution component and a jet arresting device to assist in dissipating energy of the fluid jet when the fluid jet is discharged by the nozzle into the jet receiving receptacle, the fluid distribution component positioned between the inlet feed component and the jet arresting device, the fluid distribution component including a central cavity to receive fluid passing through the inlet feed component and a plurality of discharge apertures located about a perimeter of the fluid distribution component in fluid communication with the central cavity via a cavity of the jet arresting device to route fluid away from the jet receiving receptacle;
• and
• a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the inlet feed component about the central axis such that impact of the fluid jet with the inlet feed component of the jet receiving receptacle is distributed continuously or intermittingly around the jet receiving surface defined by the tapered inlet.

A jet receiving receptacle coupleable to a high pressure fluid jet system opposite a nozzle thereof to receive a fluid jet discharged from the nozzle during a workpiece processing operation, the jet receiving receptacle comprising:

• an inlet feed component having a tapered inlet that defines a jet receiving surface about a central axis, the jet receiving surface converging toward the central axis in a downstream direction to receive the fluid jet and direct the fluid jet downstream and toward the central axis, and the jet receiving receptacle having a three-stage construction that includes the inlet feed component, a fluid distribution component and a jet arresting device to assist in dissipating energy of the fluid jet when the fluid jet is discharged by the nozzle into the jet receiving receptacle, the fluid distribution component positioned between the inlet feed component and the jet arresting device along the central axis, the fluid distribution component including a central cavity to receive fluid passing through the inlet feed component and a plurality of discharge apertures located about a perimeter of the fluid distribution component in fluid communication with the central cavity via a cavity of the jet arresting device to route fluid away from the jet receiving receptacle;
• and
• a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the inlet feed component about the central axis such that impact of the fluid jet with the inlet feed component is distributed continuously or intermittingly around the jet receiving surface defined by the tapered inlet.

A jet receiving receptacle coupleable to a high pressure fluid jet system opposite a nozzle thereof to receive a fluid jet discharged from the nozzle during a workpiece processing operation, the jet receiving receptacle comprising:

• a unitary inlet feed component having an inlet that defines a jet receiving surface about a central axis, at least a portion of the jet receiving surface being cylindrical;
• a fluid distribution component positioned immediately downstream of the unitary inlet feed component, the fluid distribution component including a central cavity to receive fluid passing through the inlet feed component and at least one discharge aperture in fluid communication with the central cavity to route fluid away from the jet receiving receptacle;
• and
• a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the inlet feed component incrementally about the central axis such that impact of the fluid jet with the inlet feed component is distributed around the jet receiving surface.