Patent ID: 7040959

Claim:
An abrasive jet apparatus comprising: an abrasive dispenser defining a compartment for storing a granular abrasive material and at least one metering orifice disposed in open communication therewith for dispensing the granular abrasive material; a shutter assembly disposed adjacent said metering orifice of said abrasive dispenser, said shutter assembly including a shutter member angularly displaceable between first and second positions relative to said metering orifice, said shutter member having at least one shutter opening formed therethrough, said shutter opening being substantially fully aligned with said metering orifice in said first position and substantially fully offset therefrom in said second position; and, a position actuator operatively coupled to said shutter mechanism for reversibly displacing said shutter member to said first and second positions and a plurality of intermediate positions therebetween for occluding a selective portion of said metering orifice, whereby a flow rate of the abrasive material dispensed through said metering orifice is maintained at a predetermined level.