Patent ID: 7793896

Claim:
A stabilizing system for stabilizing a high pressure liquid jet feed line operable to transferring high pressure liquid through the line, the line spanning from a first location on a processing apparatus to a second location on a cutter head assembly distal from the first location, the cutter head assembly movable relative to the processing apparatus during the transfer of high pressure liquid through the liquid jet feed line, the stabilizing system comprising: (a) an elongate support structure for which a high pressure liquid jet feed line is attachable; (b) a universal joint for connecting the support structure to one of the processing apparatus and the cutter head assembly, said universal joint connected to the support structure at a first position along the support structure; (c) a pivot joint for connecting the support structure to the other of the processing apparatus and the cutter head assembly, said pivot joint connected to the support structure at a second position along the support structure, said second position being distal along the support structure relative to the position that the universal joint is connected to the support structure; and (d) wherein said universal joint comprising a first yoke connectable to one of the processing apparatus and cutter head assembly, a second yoke connectable to the support structure and a spider junction pivotally connected to the first yoke along a first pivot axis and pivotally connected to the second yoke about a second pivot axis, the first and second pivot axes disposed transversely to each other, the connection of the spider junction to the first and second yokes enabling the first and second yokes to pivot relative to each other about first and second axes, but not about the length of the support structure, and thus the universal joint also enabling the elongate support structure to continuously pivot relative to at least one of the processing apparatus and cutter head assembly at the universal joint during the movement of the cutter head assembly and the flowing of high pressure liquid through the liquid jet feed line, but preventing the support structure from pivoting about the length of the support structure; (e) said pivot joint enabling the support structure to angularly pivot relative to the other of the processing apparatus and cutter head assembly; and (f) an elongation joint incorporated into at least one of the universal joint, pivot joint, and support structure, said elongation joint permitting the linear distance between the location at which the universal joint is connected to one of the processing apparatus and cutter head assembly and the location that the pivot joint is connected to the other of the processing apparatus and cutter head assembly to move closer together or move further apart simultaneously with the angular movement of the support structure relative to one or both of the processing apparatus and cutter head assembly during operation of the cutter head assembly and the flow of high pressure liquid through the liquid jet feed line.