Patent ID: 8608865

Claim:
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.