Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Tomonobu Okada

Takashi Kawashima

Masanori Kiyoshige

Shigeki Koe

Kanta Nihei

Yoshiaki Aoki

Hideo Ono

Koji Take

Syunji Takasugi

Masahiko Higashida

Tadafumi Ochi

Takeshi Horikawa

Wataru Yasukawa, Deceased

Takeshi Hirokawa

In an apparatus for cutting a work by an abrasive water jet containing abrasive particles, an abrasive suspension such that abrasive particles with an average size of up to about 100 microns are held in suspension in water is supplied to a jet nozzle assembly in which the abrasive suspension is induced by a high pressure ejected water and directed against the work. The ejected water is passed through an ejected water passageway to which is connected an abrasive water orifice of an abrasive water nozzle tip. The abrasive water orifice has an upstream tapered portion the diameter of which gradually increases toward an upstream opening at which the abrasive water orifice is connected smoothly to the downstream end of the ejected water passageway, whereby the flow of ejected water is streamlined. The abrasive suspension is supplied to, and merges with, the streamlined flow of the ejected water near the junction of the ejected water passageway and the abrasive water orifice, as an outer layer of the streamlined flow, whereby a dual-layer streamlined jet is obtained which enables fine cutting and also reduces wear of the nozzle tip.

Abrasive water jet cutting apparatus

For cutting sheet metal or other work by means of a jet of water containing abrasive particles, an abrasive water jet nozzle assembly is provided to which there are separately supplied highly pressurized water and an abrasive suspension. The abrasive suspension is such that abrasive particles with an average size of up to 100 microns are held in suspension in water. The abrasive suspension is introduced into the ejected water by virtue of a partial vacuum created in the nozzle assembly by the pressurized water. The nozzle assembly directs the resulting mixture as an abrasive water jet against the work for cutting thereof. Preferably, the abrasive water jet is recovered for recirculation back to the nozzle assembly as an abrasive suspension of controlled abrasive concentration. Various constructions of the nozzle assembly and various recovery systems are also disclosed.

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Hyogo, Japan

Tomonobu Okada