Device and method for deburring and/or cleaning a work piece dipped in a fluid medium

1. A device for deburring and/or cleaning a work piece which is dipped in a fluid medium, comprising a fluid discharge device for producing a high pressure fluid jet and a gas discharge device for the production of a gas flow which at least partially envelops the high pressure fluid jet,

wherein the device comprises a housing incorporating a chamber, wherein the fluid discharge device comprises at least one fluid inlet to the chamber for an entry of the high pressure fluid jet into the chamber, and

wherein the gas discharge device comprises at least one gas inlet to the chamber for an entry of gas into the chamber and at least one outlet from the chamber for an exit of the high pressure fluid jet and the gas flow,

wherein the device comprises a gas supply arrangement for supplying the gas to the chamber under a pressure that is greater than a sum of a pressure prevailing in an environment of the device and a hydrostatic pressure at an immersion depth measured between a level of the gas flow and a surface of the fluid medium,

wherein the device is configured such that the high pressure fluid jet exiting the chamber widens at a beam angle of 25° or less at the outlet from the chamber and is enveloped by the gas flow which also widens at the outlet from the chamber and

wherein the outlet from the chamber is of such a size that an annular gap remains between a periphery of the high pressure fluid jet and a peripheral chamber boundary surface at the outlet from the chamber so that the gas entering the chamber forms the gas flow enveloping the high pressure fluid jet and the high pressure fluid jet does not come into direct contact with the fluid medium in the vicinity of the fluid discharge device, so that cavitation is prevented.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the gas discharge device is configured for introducing at least a part of the gas into the chamber substantially parallel to a jet axis of the high pressure fluid jet.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the gas discharge device is configured for introducing at least a part of the gas into the chamber in a gas entry direction which is inclined with respect to a jet axis of the high pressure fluid jet.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the chamber runs substantially parallel to a jet axis of the high pressure fluid jet.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first housing part for a disposition of the fluid discharge device and a second housing part which bounds at least a section of the chamber and which is connected to or is connectable to the first housing part.

6. A method for deburring and/or cleaning a work piece, comprising:

dipping the work piece in a fluid medium and exposing the work piece to a high pressure fluid jet produced by a fluid discharge device;

producing a gas flow which at least partially envelops the high pressure fluid jet;

discharging the high pressure fluid jet together with the gas flow from a chamber through an outlet from the chamber,

wherein the gas entering the chamber is subjected to a pressure that is greater than a sum of a pressure prevailing in an environment of the device and a hydrostatic pressure at an immersion depth measured between a level of the gas flow and a surface of the fluid medium, wherein the high pressure fluid jet exiting the chamber widens at a beam angle of 25° or less at the outlet from the chamber and is enveloped by the gas flow which also widens at the outlet from the chamber and

wherein the high pressure fluid jet does not come into direct contact with the fluid medium in the vicinity of the fluid discharge device, so that cavitation is prevented.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein at least a part of a gas is introduced into the chamber substantially parallel to a jet axis of the high pressure fluid jet.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein at least a part of a gas is introduced into the chamber in a gas entry direction that is inclined with respect to a jet axis of the high pressure fluid jet.

9. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the outlet from the chamber is positioned at a spacing of at most 5 centimeters relative to a surface of the work piece which is to be cleaned and/or deburred.

10. A device for deburring and/or cleaning a work piece which is dipped in a fluid medium, comprising:

a fluid discharge device for producing a high pressure fluid jet and a gas discharge device for the production of a gas flow which at least partially envelops the high pressure fluid jet,

wherein the device comprises a housing incorporating a chamber,

wherein the fluid discharge device comprises at least one fluid inlet to the chamber for an entry of the high pressure fluid jet into the chamber, and

wherein the gas discharge device comprises at least one gas inlet to the chamber for an entry of gas into the chamber and at least one outlet from the chamber for an exit of the high pressure fluid jet and the gas flow,

wherein the chamber is substantially in the form of a frustum of a cone,

wherein an angle between an outer surface of the frustum of the cone and an axis of the high pressure fluid jet is between about 10° and 60°,

wherein the at least one gas inlet to the chamber opens out at the outer surface of the frustum of the cone,

wherein a chamber cross section of the chamber extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the chamber tapers towards the outlet from the chamber,

wherein the device comprises a gas supply arrangement for supplying the gas to the chamber under a pressure that is greater than a sum of a pressure prevailing in an environment of the device and a hydrostatic pressure at an immersion depth measured between a level of the gas flow and a surface of the fluid medium, and

wherein the outlet from the chamber is of such a size that an annular gap remains between a periphery of the high pressure fluid jet and a peripheral chamber boundary surface at the outlet from the chamber so that the gas entering the chamber forms the gas flow enveloping the high pressure fluid jet and the high pressure fluid jet does not come into direct contact with the fluid medium in the vicinity of the fluid discharge device, so that cavitation is prevented, wherein the device is configured such that the high pressure fluid jet exiting the chamber widens at the outlet from the chamber and is enveloped by the gas flow which also widens at the outlet from the chamber.

11. A device for deburring and/or cleaning a work piece which is dipped in a fluid medium, comprising:

a fluid discharge device for producing a high pressure fluid jet and a gas discharge device for the production of a gas flow which at least partially envelops the high pressure fluid jet,

wherein the device comprises a housing incorporating a chamber,

wherein the fluid discharge device comprises at least one fluid inlet to the chamber for an entry of the high pressure fluid jet into the chamber, and

wherein the gas discharge device comprises at least one gas inlet to the chamber for an entry of gas into the chamber and at least one outlet from the chamber for an exit of the high pressure fluid jet and the gas flow,

wherein the device comprises a gas supply arrangement for supplying the gas to the chamber under a pressure of 10 bar at the most, said pressure being greater than a sum of a pressure prevailing in an environment of the device and a hydrostatic pressure at an immersion depth measured between a level of the gas flow and a surface of the fluid medium,

wherein the device is configured such that the high pressure fluid jet exiting the chamber widens at the outlet from the chamber and is enveloped by the gas flow which also widens at the outlet from the chamber, and

wherein the outlet from the chamber is of such a size that an annular gap remains between a periphery of the high pressure fluid jet and a peripheral chamber boundary surface at the outlet from the chamber so that the gas entering the chamber forms the gas flow enveloping the high pressure fluid jet and the high pressure fluid jet does not come into direct contact with the fluid medium in the vicinity of the fluid discharge device, so that cavitation is prevented.

12. A device for deburring and/or cleaning a work piece which is dipped in a fluid medium, comprising:

a fluid discharge device for producing a high pressure fluid jet and a gas discharge device for the production of a gas flow which at least partially envelops the high pressure fluid jet,

wherein the device comprises a housing incorporating a chamber,

wherein the fluid discharge device comprises at least one fluid inlet to the chamber for an entry of the high pressure fluid jet into the chamber, and

wherein the gas discharge device comprises at least one gas inlet to the chamber for an entry of gas into the chamber and at least one outlet from the chamber for an exit of the high pressure fluid jet and the gas flow,

wherein the device comprises a container which is filled with the fluid medium up to a surface of the fluid medium and accommodates the housing holding the fluid discharge device and the gas discharge device, the container being dimensioned such that the work piece can be at least partially dipped in the fluid medium contained in the container during the deburring or cleaning of the work piece,

wherein the device comprises a gas supply arrangement for supplying the gas to the chamber under a pressure that is greater than a sum of a pressure prevailing in an environment of the device and a hydrostatic pressure at an immersion depth measured between a level of the gas flow and a surface of the fluid medium, and

wherein the outlet from the chamber is of such a size than an annular gap remains between a periphery of the high pressure fluid jet and a peripheral chamber boundary surface at the outlet from the chamber so that the gas entering the chamber forms the gas flow enveloping the high pressure fluid jet and the high pressure fluid jet does not come into direct contact with the fluid medium in the vicinity of the fluid discharge device, so that cavitation is prevented, wherein the device is configured such that the high pressure fluid jet exiting the chamber widens at the outlet from the chamber and is enveloped by the gas flow which also widens at the outlet from the chamber.

13. A method for deburring and/or cleaning a work piece, comprising:

dipping the work piece in a fluid medium and exposing the work piece to a high pressure fluid jet produced by a fluid discharge device;

producing a gas flow which at least partially envelops the high pressure fluid jet;

discharging the high pressure fluid jet together with the gas flow from a chamber having at least one fluid inlet for an entry of the high pressure fluid jet into the chamber and at least one gas inlet for an entry of gas into the chamber, through an outlet from the chamber;

wherein the chamber is substantially in the form of a frustum of a cone,

wherein an angle between an outer surface of the frustum of the cone and an axis of the high pressure fluid jet is between about 10° and 60°,

wherein the at least one gas inlet opens out at the outer surface of the frustum of the cone,

wherein a chamber cross section of the chamber in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the chamber tapers towards the outlet from the chamber,

wherein the gas entering the chamber is subjected to a pressure that is greater than a sum of a pressure prevailing in an environment of the device and a hydrostatic pressure at an immersion depth measured between a level of the gas flow and a surface of the fluid medium, and

wherein the high pressure fluid jet does not come into direct contact with the fluid medium in the vicinity of the fluid discharge device, so that cavitation is prevented,

wherein the high pressure fluid jet exiting the chamber widens at the outlet from the chamber and is enveloped by the gas flow which also widens at the outlet from the chamber.

14. A method for deburring and/or cleaning a work piece, comprising:

dipping the work piece in a fluid medium and exposing the work piece to a high pressure fluid jet produced by a fluid discharge device;

producing a gas flow which at least partially envelops the high pressure fluid jet;

discharging the high pressure fluid jet together with the gas flow from a chamber through an outlet from the chamber;

wherein the gas entering the chamber is subjected to a pressure of 10 bar at the most, said pressure being greater than a sum of a pressure prevailing in an environment of the device and a hydrostatic pressure at an immersion depth measured between a level of the gas flow and a surface of the fluid medium, and

wherein the high pressure fluid jet does not come into direct contact with the fluid medium in the vicinity of the fluid discharge device, so that cavitation is prevented,

wherein the high pressure fluid jet exiting the chamber widens at the outlet from the chamber and is enveloped by the gas flow which also widens at the outlet from the chamber.

15. A device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the chamber into which the high pressure fluid jet enters through the at least one fluid inlet and into which the gas enters through the at least one gas inlet is substantially in the form of a frustum of a cone,

wherein an angle between an outer surface of the frustum of the cone and an axis of the high pressure fluid jet amounts to between 10° and 60°,

wherein the at least one gas inlet to the chamber opens out at the outer surface of the frustum of the cone,

wherein a chamber cross section of the chamber extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the chamber tapers towards the outlet from the chamber,

wherein the gas supply arrangement is configured to supply the gas to the chamber under a pressure of 10 bar at the most and

wherein the device comprises a container which is filled with the fluid medium up to a surface of the fluid medium and accommodates the housing holding the fluid discharge device and the gas discharge device, the container being dimensioned such that the work piece can be at least partially dipped in the fluid medium contained in the container during the deburring or cleaning of the work piece.

16. A method in accordance with claim 6 , wherein the chamber has at least one fluid inlet for an entry of the high pressure fluid jet into the chamber and at least one gas inlet for an entry of the gas into the chamber,

wherein the chamber is substantially in the form of a frustum of a cone, wherein an angle between an outer surface of the frustum of the cone and an axis of the high pressure fluid jet amounts to between 10° and 60°,

wherein the at least one gas inlet opens out at the outer surface of the frustum of the cone,

wherein the gas entering the chamber is subjected to a pressure of 10 bar at the most and

wherein a device comprising a housing holding the fluid discharge device and the gas discharge device further comprises a container which is filled with the fluid medium up to a surface of the fluid medium and accommodates the housing holding the fluid discharge device and the gas discharge device,

wherein the work piece is at least partially dipped in the fluid medium contained in the container during the deburring or cleaning of the work piece.