Systems and methods for fluidizing an abrasive material
AssigneeOMAX Corporation
InventorsErnst H. Schubert, Andrew Turpin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for fluidizing an abrasive particulate material for an abrasive water jet are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the abrasive material is delivered to a metering orifice in a distributor. Pressurized pulses of air can be directed around a circumference of the distributor to at least partially fluidize the particulate material to facilitate the material passing through the metering orifice. From the metering orifice, the abrasive particulate material is entrained in a water jet for a cutting procedure or other suitable application.
Claims31
An abrasive jet system comprising:
- an abrasive container configured to hold abrasives;
- a nozzle assembly configured to combine a fluid with the abrasives;
- and
- an abrasive fluidizer assembly configured to be operably coupled to the abrasive container and the nozzle assembly to meter abrasives to the nozzle assembly from the abrasive container, wherein the fluidizer assembly comprises—
- a distributor having a distributor body with a first end portion upstream of a second end portion, the distributor body further comprising—
- a metering orifice at the first end portion;
- an internal bore extending through the distributor body from the metering orifice to the second end portion and positioned to direct abrasives from the metering orifice, through the distributor body, and toward the nozzle assembly;
- and
- a flow passage having an exit opening at the first end portion, wherein the flow passage extends through at least a portion of the distributor body to the exit opening, and wherein the exit opening is positioned to deliver gas upstream of the internal bore;
- and
- a distributor coupler configured to be operably coupled to the first end portion of the distributor body and to receive accumulated abrasives at a collection portion proximate to the first end portion of the distributor body;
- wherein gas exiting the distributor body via the exit opening passes through at least a portion of the accumulated abrasives.
A distributor for an abrasive jet system, the distributor comprising:
- a body having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is configured to be positioned proximate to an accumulation of particles that are to be delivered to a nozzle assembly of the abrasive jet system, wherein the body further comprises—
- a metering orifice at the first end portion configured to receive particles from the accumulation of particles;
- a particle flow passage extending from the metering orifice toward the second end portion and positioned to direct abrasives from the metering orifice, through the body, and toward the nozzle assembly, wherein the particle flow passage is in fluid communication with the metering orifice;
- and
- a gas flow passage having an exit opening at the first end portion, wherein the gas flow passage extends through at least a portion of the body to the exit opening, wherein the exit opening is positioned to deliver gas upstream of the particle flow passage, and wherein gas exiting the exit opening passes through at least a portion of the accumulation of particles.
A method of operating an abrasive jet system, the method comprising:
- conveying pressurized gas through a gas flow passage of a distributor to an accumulation of particles upstream of and proximate to an end portion of the distributor, wherein the gas flow passage exits the end portion of the distributor at a location spaced apart from a metering orifice of the distributor, wherein the metering orifice is configured to receive particles from the accumulation of particles;
- and
- conveying particles from the accumulation of particles to a nozzle assembly via the distributor, wherein the particles pass through the metering orifice.
A method of operating an abrasive jet system, the method comprising:
- conveying particles of abrasive from an abrasive hopper toward a metering orifice via a drop conduit;
- pulsing pressurized gas into an accumulation of the particles within the drop conduit upstream from the metering orifice;
- metering the particles from the accumulation into a delivery conduit via the metering orifice;
- and
- conveying the metered particles toward a nozzle assembly of the abrasive jet system via the delivery conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.