The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 25, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 05, 2007
Felice M. Sciulli, Issaquah, WA (US);
Andreas Meyer, Bretten, DE;
Robert J. Mann, Puyallup, WA (US);
Michael Knaupp, Zaisenhausen, DE;
Charles M. Wakefield, Puyallup, WA (US);
Felice M. Sciulli, Issaquah, WA (US);
Andreas Meyer, Bretten, DE;
Robert J. Mann, Puyallup, WA (US);
Michael Knaupp, Zaisenhausen, DE;
Charles M. Wakefield, Puyallup, WA (US);
Flow International Corporation, Kent, WA (US);
Abstract
A contour follower includes a plurality of sensors spaced around a waterjet nozzle, each of the sensors being configured to measure a distance between a working surface and a first plane, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The sensors may include hall-effect sensors lying in the first plane and magnets lying in a second plane, parallel to the working surface. A detecting circuit processes signals from the sensors to determine an angle of the working surface, relative to the first plane, and a distance between an aperture of the nozzle and the working surface. A collision detection sensor provides a signal in the event the device approaches to within a selected distance of an obstruction in the plane of the working surface. A shield plate blocks and dampens secondary spray-back of cutting fluid occurring at low angles above the working surface.