Patent ID: 6601783
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: B24C

Abstract:
For use in an abrasivejet cutting system of the type including an abrasive-carrying conduit terminating in a sleeve and a source of high pressure water, an abrasivejet assembly comprising:(A) a housing having a body disposed about a longitudinal axis between upstream and downstream ends, a first longitudinally-extending passageway in communication with said ends, and a conduit-accommodating passageway extending generally radially from the exterior of the body into a region in the longitudinal passageway, said body being adapted to be coupled to a source of high pressure liquid at its upstream end, and to be coupled to an abrasivejet nozzle at its downstream end; (B) a removable insert member within the first longitudinally-extending passageway and having (1) upstream and downstream faces, (2) a second longitudinally-extending fluid passageway in communication with, said faces and in axial alignment with the first longitudinal passageway, and (3) a radially-extending passage aligned with the conduit-accommodating passageway of the housing to place an accommodated conduit in fluid communication with the second longitudinally extending passageway adjacent a mixing region within the insert, the insert member being securable against movement within the housing by the insertion of the sleeve of the abrasive-carrying conduit into its radially-extending passageway; (C) an orifice member having a waterjet-forming orifice and supported within the insert member upstream from the mixing region with its orifice in axial alignment with the second longitudinally-extending passageway; the insert member having a surface characteristic at the region of its downstream face for receiving the upstream end of a separable abrasivejet nozzle in substantial axial alignment with the second longitudinally-extending passageway; and (D) means for securing the abrasivejet nozzle at the downstream end of the housing so that the nozzle is maintained in substantial axial alignment with the second longitudinally-extending passageway.