Ingersoll-rand Company

Omax Corporation

Jiyue Zeng

Jose P Munoz

An improved orifice assembly for use with an ultra high pressure fluid jet cutting apparatus is disclosed. The improved orifice assembly generally includes an orifice body defining a central bore, a high pressure inlet cavity located at an upstream portion of the body, a mixing cavity located at a downstream portion of the body, and an abrasive material inlet bore that is in direct communication with the mixing cavity. The inlet or high pressure cavity preferably has a cylindrical cross section at the side wall portion and a generally flat bottom wall, with a constant radius transition portion between the side and bottom walls. A jeweled orifice is preferably located at the bottom wall and forms a portion thereof. A chamfer at the downstream portion of the mixing chamber permits appropriate coaxial alignment of a mixing tube with the jeweled orifice so as to preserve proper fluid flow characteristics. In addition, the incorporation of a soft seal between the mating surfaces of the inlet body and the orifice assembly permit easy user removal of these components from a cutting jet system.

Orifice body with mixing chamber for abrasive water jet cutting

A method and apparatus for sensing a pierce-through condition of a material made by a piercing force in which a shield surrounding a source of the piercing force is supplied with a gas supply to create a pressure within the shield means. A decrease in pressure caused within the shield by a pierce-through condition created by the piercing force is then detected. A method and apparatus for detecting the distance between a nozzle assembly for a machining process and a workpiece to be machined in which gas is supplied to a shield surrounding a nozzle assembly. An increase in pressure in the shield is detected as an open end of the shield approaches a workpiece to be machined. A method and apparatus for obtaining and maintaining a predetermined gap distance between nozzle assembly and a workpiece for a machining process are provided by further detecting when the pressure within the shield means reaches a pressure corresponding values and ranges. A method and apparatus for determining the thickness of a workpiece is further provided by comparing an established nozzle assembly position with a predetermined reference position.

Multi-functional sensing methods and apparatus therefor

A method for measuring the machinability of a material which includes piercing a hole through a material to be tested while simultaneously measuring a pierce time duration, T, of the piercing step, and calculating a machinability number from the pierce time duration. Also provided are methods for determining the machining speed of a material and for machining a material which calculate a machining speed for a material based upon the machinability number of the material. The methods used to measure the machinability number and calculate a machining speed for a particular material can include any combination of machining operations, including but not limited to AWJ cutting processes. Also provided is an apparatus which detects the time duration a piercing force takes to create a pierce-through condition through a material. The apparatus includes any of a pressure sensor, an acoustic sensor, an optical sensor, a load cell, a mechanical switch, and combinations thereof to measure the pierce-time duration.

Automatic machinability measuring and machining methods and apparatus

A method for measuring the machinability of a material which includes piercing a hole through a material to be tested while simultaneously measuring a pierce time duration, T, of the piercing step, and calculating a machinability number from the pierce time duration. Also provided are methods for determining the machining speed of a material and for machining a material which calculate a machining speed for a material based upon the machinability number of the material. The methods used to measure the machinability number and calculate a machining speed for a particular material can include any combination of machining operations, including but not limited to AWJ milling processes. Also provided is an apparatus which detects the time duration a piercing force takes to create a pierce-through condition through a material. The apparatus includes any of a pressure sensor, an acoustic sensor, an optical sensor, a load cell, a mechanical switch, and combinations thereof to measure the pierce-time duration.

An abrasive waterjet cutting system is monitored and controlled by measuring at least one process parameter and using that measurement as a comparison with a running average of the process parameter as it may change over time. Optionally, the rate of change of the process parameter may also be used to signal an emergency condition, and extreme outer limits of the process parameter may be used to define unacceptable operating conditions.

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Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Jiyue Zeng