Patent ID: 8235333

Claim:
A stabilizing system for a high-pressure liquid jet feed line for transmitting high-pressure liquid from a first location on a portioning apparatus to a second location on a high-pressure liquid jet cutter head, the cutter head moveable relative to the portioning apparatus during the transmission of high-pressure liquid through the high-pressure liquid jet feed lines to portion work products, the stabilizing system comprising: (a) an elongate support structure to which a feed line is attachable, for stabilization of the feed line during use of the high-pressure liquid cutter head; (b) a first pivot joint for connecting the support structure to the portioning apparatus; (c) a second pivot joint for connecting the support structure, at a location distal on the support structure from the first pivot joint, to a cutter head; (d) wherein the first pivot joint permitting the elongate support structure to pivot relative to a portioning apparatus about at least two axes of rotation as high-pressure liquid is being transmitted to a cutter head during operation of a cutter head to portion work products, said two axes of rotation being transverse to each other; (e) wherein the second pivot joint permitting the elongate support structure to pivot relative to a cutter head about at least two axes of rotation as high-pressure liquid is being transmitted to a cutter head during operation of a cutter head to portion work products, said two axes of rotation being transverse to each other; and (f) an elongation joint incorporated into at least one of the first and second pivot joints, and the support structure, said elongation joint permitting the linear distance between the location at which the first pivot joint is connected to the portioning apparatus and the location that the second pivot joint is connected to the cutter head to move relatively closer together or move relatively further apart simultaneously with the angular movement about two transverse axes with rotation of the support structure relative to a portioning apparatus and a cutter head during operation of a cutter head to portion work products and the flow of high-pressure liquid through a liquid jet feed line, while preventing the support structure from pivoting about the length of the support structure.