Abrasive-jet cutting system

The novel system discloses both a batch operation and a continuous operation for supplying pressured liquid and a pressured slurry to an abrasive-jet cutting nozzle. In the batch operation, a single vessel for receiving and pressuring slurry is provided and this vessel goes off line, to be recharged with slurry, when it has disgorged its contents to the nozzle. In the continuous operation, a pair of such vessels are provided, and one supplies the nozzle with slurry while the other, having been emptied, is recharged with slurry; valves switch therebetween, to put a re-charged vessel on line, and an emptied one re-charging, to maintain a continuous slurry input for the nozzle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 comprises a tank 12 which comprises a 
store of water. A tank outlet line 14 supplies water to an intensifier 16 
for pressurization of the water. Lines 18 and 20 conduct the pressured 
water to an abrasive-jet nozzle 22. 
A vessel 24 is provided for confining slurry therein, and for pressuring 
the confined slurry by means of a piston 26 movable therein. A slurry 
reservoir 28, having an agitator 30 operatively disposed therein, charges 
the vessel 24 with a supply of slurry when (a) the vessel slurry has been 
depleted, and (b) the rotary valve 32 is positioned, as shown, to 
communicate lines 34 and 36. 
Vessel 24 has a return line 38 for water to return to the tank, pursuant to 
a translation of the piston 26 in the arrowed direction (as the vessel 24 
is charged with slurry). To accommodate and to prohibit water conduct 
through line 38, the latter has a control valve 40 interpositioned 
therein. Valve 40 is kept in its closed position when vessel 24 is being 
supplied with pressured water from intensifier 16, and is kept in its open 
position when vessel 24 is being supplied with a new charge of slurry. To 
insure these conditions, valve 40 is coupled to valve 32, as the dashed 
linkage 42 signifies, for coincident operation. 
As to supplying the vessel 24 with pressured water from pump 16, to 
pressurize the slurry confined in the vessel, a line 44 communicates with 
line 18, via a throttle valve 46, for the purpose. 
When the vessel 24 is fully charged with slurry from the reservoir 28, 
valves 32 and 40 are operated; valve 32 is turned ninety degrees to the 
left (i.e., counterclockwise), to communicate line 36 with a nozzle inlet 
line 48, and coincidentally valve 40 is shut off. Pressured water, then, 
enters the vessel 24 to force the piston 26 downwardly (a) to pressurize 
the slurry in the vessel 24, and (b) to expel slurry therefrom, into the 
nozzle 22, via line 48. Nozzle 22 is of the same structure as disclosed in 
my aforecited co-pending patent application. 
The aforesaid, then, comprises the system 10 in a batch processing 
embodiment. In FIG. 2, I depict a continuous processing embodiment of the 
invention; same or similar index numbers, as employed in FIG. 1, denote 
same or similar elements and/or components in this FIG. 2. 
The FIG. 2 system 10a has a pair of vessels 24 and 24a which function 
alternatively. That is, as one of the vessels is being re-charged with 
slurry from the reservoir 28, the other is supplying pressured slurry to 
the nozzle 22. 
In this FIG. 2, continuous processing arrangement, valve 32a, 
interpositioned between the reservoir 28, nozzle 22 and vessels 24 and 
24a, serves a dual function. In the positioning shown, it communicates 
line 34 with line 36, and communicates line 36a with line 48. When turned 
ninety degrees (in either direction), valve 32a communicates line 34 with 
line 36a, and line 36 with line 48. 
The simple open/closed valve in line 38 (in FIG. 1) is now supplanted with 
a rotary valve 40a. Valve 40a has two operative positionings, and conducts 
water therethrough in both. As shown, it communicates fully through line 
38, to allow vessel 24 to be re-charged with slurry, and it communicates 
line 38a with line 44 to expel pressured slurry from the vessel 24a. In 
its alternative positioning, valve 40a interrupts common flow through both 
legs of line 38. It connects vessel 24, through one leg of line 38, to 
line 44, whereby vessel 24 expels pressured slurry to the nozzle 22. Too, 
in the latter positioning, valve 40a communicates line 38a with the other 
leg of line 38 to allow vessel 24a to return water to the tank 12. 
Valves 32a and 40a, of course, are ganged for coincident operation via the 
dashed linkage 42. 
While I have described my invention in connection with specific embodiments 
thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this is done only by way of 
example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth 
in the objects thereof and in the appended claims.