Adaptive nozzle system for high-energy abrasive stream cutting
View Patent ↗A system is provided for delivering onto a workpiece a high-energy abrasive cutting stream. The system generally comprises a head assembly for providing a pressurized fluidic stream; a nozzling unit coupled to the head assembly for nozzling the pressurized fluidic stream; and, an adaptive orientation assembly coupled to the nozzling unit. The nozzling unit is operable to expel a high-energy abrasive cutting stream for cutting about or along a predefined pattern on the workpiece, and includes a nozzle member having a laminar inner wall surface defining a longitudinally extending passage. This passage terminates at an outlet portion which describes in sectional contour a predetermined shape such that, during operation, it serves to generate upon the workpiece an instantaneous kerf of cut having a corresponding sectional contour. The adaptive orientation assembly is operable to displace the nozzle member in a manner adaptive to the position of the nozzling unit relative to the pattern predefined on the workpiece. The adaptive orientation assembly thus maintains the cutting stream within a predefined angular orientation range relative to predefined pattern.
1. A system for delivering onto a workpiece a high-energy abrasive cutting stream comprising:
(a) a head assembly for generating a pressurized fluidic stream;
(b) a nozzling unit coupled to said head assembly for nozzling said pressurized fluidic stream to expel a high-energy abrasive cutting stream for cutting along a predefined pattern on the workpiece, said nozzling unit including a nozzle member extending along an angular orientation axis and having a laminar inner wall surface defining a longitudinal passage, said passage extending in non-coaxial manner relative to said angular orientation axis and terminating at an outlet portion describing in sectional contour a predetermined shape to generate upon the workpiece an instantaneous kerf of cut having a corresponding sectional contour; and,
(c) an adaptive orientation assembly coupled to said nozzling unit for angularly displacing said nozzle member about said angular orientation axis in a manner adaptive to the position of said nozzling unit relative to said pattern predefined on the workpiece, said adaptive orientation assembly maintaining the instantaneous kerf of cut within a predefined angular orientation range relative to said predefined pattern.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined shape is selected from the group consisting of: circular, square, rectangular, curved rectangular, elliptic, segmented annular, diamond-like, oval, oblong, curved oblong, teardrop-like, and keyhole-like shapes.
3. A water jet system for delivering onto a workpiece a high definition abrasive cutting stream comprising:
(a) a head assembly for generating a pressurized fluidic stream having a particulate abrasive material suspended therein;
(b) a nozzling unit coupled to said head assembly for nozzling said pressurized fluidic stream to expel a high-energy abrasive cutting stream for cutting along a predefined pattern on the workpiece, said nozzling unit including a nozzle member extending along an angular orientation axis, said nozzle member having a laminar inner wall surface defining a longitudinally extended passage extending in non-coaxial manner relative to said angular orientation axis, said passage having distal inlet and outlet portions respectively describing in sectional contour incongruent inlet and outlet shapes, said outlet portion passing the high-energy abrasive cutting stream to generate upon the workpiece an instantaneous kerf of cut having a corresponding sectional contour, said outlet shape being a non-circular shape selected from the group consisting of: square, rectangular, curved rectangular, elliptic, segmented annular, diamond-like, oval, oblong, curved oblong, teardrop-like, and keyhole-like shapes;
(c) an adaptive orientation assembly coupled to said nozzling unit for angularly displacing said nozzle member about said angular orientation axis in a manner adaptive to displacement of said nozzling unit and workpiece one relative to the other, said adaptive orientation assembly maintaining the instantaneous kerf of cut within a predefined angular orientation range relative to said predefined pattern; and,
(d) a controller coupled to said adaptive orientation assembly for automatically actuating said adaptive angular displacement of said nozzle member.
4. A method of delivering onto a workpiece a high-energy abrasive cutting stream comprising the steps of:
(a) establishing a nozzling unit including a nozzle member extending along an angular orientation axis and having a laminar inner wall surface defining a longitudinally extended passage therethrough, said passage extending non-coaxially relative to said angular orientation axis and terminating at an outlet portion describing in sectional contour a predetermined shape, said predetermined shape being a non-circular shape selected from the group consisting of: square, rectangular, curved rectangular, elliptic, segmented annular, diamond-like, oval, oblong, curved oblong, teardrop-like, and keyhole-like shapes;
(b) compressing a fluid and combining therewith an abrasive particulate material to generate a pressurized fluidic stream;
(c) nozzling said pressurized fluidic stream through said nozzling unit to expel a high-energy abrasive cutting stream for cutting along a predefined pattern on the workpiece, said high-energy abrasive cutting stream generating upon the workpiece an instantaneous kerf of cut having a sectional contour corresponding to said predetermined shape;
(d) displacing said nozzling unit and workpiece one relative to the other to progressively cut along said predefined pattern on the workpiece; and,
(e) automatically maintaining the instantaneous kerf of cut within a predefined angular orientation range relative to said predefined pattern by angularly displacing said nozzle member about said angular orientation axis in a maimer adaptive to the position of said nozzling unit relative to said pattern predefined on the workpiece.