Abrasive jet systems, including abrasive jet systems utilizing fluid repelling materials, and associated methods

An abrasive jet system comprising:

• a container configured to hold abrasives;
• a nozzle assembly including—
• a mixing region;
• a fluid inlet configured to direct a fluid jet into the mixing region;
• an abrasive inlet port proximate to the mixing region;
• and
• an axial passage downstream of the mixing region;
• and
• a conduit having a first end portion operably coupleable to the container and a second end portion operably coupleable to the abrasive inlet port, the conduit including an interior surface, wherein the conduit is configured to direct abrasives from the container into the mixing region via the abrasive inlet port, whereby the abrasives are mixed with the fluid jet in the mixing region, thereby forming an abrasive jet conveyed through the axial passage, and wherein at least a portion of the interior surface is hydrophobic to repel a portion of the fluid upon splash back of the portion of the fluid into the conduit from the mixing region.

An abrasive jet system comprising:

• means for holding abrasives;
• means for forming an abrasive fluid jet, the means for forming including a fluid inlet aperture and an abrasive inlet aperture, wherein the fluid inlet aperture conveys fluid to a mixing cavity;
• means for conveying abrasives from the means for holding to the abrasive inlet aperture, wherein the means for conveying includes a first interior surface portion configured to be proximate to the abrasive inlet aperture and a second interior surface portion configured to be spaced apart from the abrasive inlet aperture, wherein a portion of the fluid from the mixing cavity splashes onto the first interior surface;
• and
• means for returning the portion of the fluid that splashed onto the first surface into the mixing cavity, wherein the means for returning the portion of the fluid is configured to prevent abrasives in the portion of the fluid from adhering to at least one of the first and second interior surface portions.

A method of manufacturing an abrasive jet system, the method comprising:

• coupling a first tube portion to a second tube portion to form a supply conduit, wherein the first tube portion includes a hydrophobic interior surface region and the second tube portion includes a non-hydrophobic interior surface region;
• coupling the second tube portion of the abrasive supply conduit to an abrasive source;
• and
• coupling the first tube portion of the abrasive supply conduit to an abrasive inlet port proximate to a mixing region of the nozzle assembly, wherein the nozzle assembly includes a fluid inlet aperture configured to direct a jet of fluid into the mixing region,
• wherein coupling the first tube portion to the abrasive inlet port includes—
• positioning the hydrophobic surface proximate to the mixing region to receive a splash back of fluid from the mixing region;
• and
• positioning the first tube portion such that the splash back of fluid returns to the mixing region.

An abrasive jet system comprising:

• a nozzle assembly having a mixing cavity downstream of a fluid inlet aperture and an abrasive inlet aperture proximate to the mixing cavity, wherein the fluid inlet aperture is configured to direct a jet of fluid into the mixing cavity;
• an abrasive container containing abrasives, wherein the abrasives are not wettable by the fluid;
• and
• an abrasive supply conduit operably coupleable between the abrasive container and the abrasive inlet aperture, wherein the abrasive supply conduit is configured to repel a portion of the fluid upon splash back of the portion of the fluid into the abrasive supply conduit from the mixing cavity.

An abrasive jet system comprising:

• means for forming an abrasive fluid jet, the means for forming including a fluid inlet aperture configured to receive a fluid and an abrasive inlet aperture;
• means for holding;
• means for abrading positioned within the means for holding, wherein the means for abrading remains dry when mixed with the fluid;
• and
• means for conveying the means for abrading from the means for holding to the abrasive inlet aperture,
• means for returning at least a portion of the fluid to the means for forming an abrasive fluid jet when the means for forming an abrasive fluid jet splashes the portion of the fluid into the means for conveying the means for abrading.

A method of operating an abrasive jet system, the method comprising:

• conveying fluid from a fluid source to a mixing cavity of a nozzle assembly of the abrasive jet system;
• conveying abrasives from an abrasive source to the mixing cavity of the nozzle assembly via an abrasive supply conduit, wherein at least one of the abrasives and the abrasive supply conduit includes at least generally hydrophobic material;
• mixing with the fluid a quantity of abrasives to form an abrasive jet;
• expelling the abrasive jet from an opening in the nozzle assembly;
• and
• returning at least a portion of the fluid to the mixing cavity upon splash back of the portion of the fluid into the abrasive supply conduit from the mixing cavity.