Device and method for improving accuracy of a high-pressure fluid jet apparatus

Abstract

A calibration device provided for use with a high-pressure fluid jet apparatus includes a body configured to be coupled to the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus, and a light-emitting device positioned toward the first end of the body and configured to project light on a target element at a location substantially identical to a location at which the high-pressure fluid jet contacts the target element during operation with fluid, allowing calibration of the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus before operation with fluid.

1 . A calibration device for use with a high-pressure fluid jet apparatus having a mixing tube and operable to produce a high-pressure fluid jet that exits the mixing tube and contacts a target element at a location thereon, the calibration device comprising:
 a body having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to be coupled to the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus; and   a light-emitting device coupled to the body and configured to selectively project light on the target element at a location substantially identical to the location at which the high-pressure fluid jet contacts the target element during operation with fluid, allowing calibration of the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus before operation with fluid.   
   
   
       2 . The calibration device of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the body is configured to be removably coupled to a portion of the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus to which the mixing tube couples, after removal of the mixing tube. 
   
   
       3 . The calibration device of  claim 2  wherein the body is configured to threadedly engage the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus toward the first end of the body. 
   
   
       4 . The calibration device of  claim 1  wherein the light-emitting device is configured to emit light having a controlled wavelength. 
   
   
       5 . The calibration device of  claim 1  wherein the light-emitting device includes a laser diode. 
   
   
       6 . The calibration device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one power-producing device electrically coupled to the light-emitting device for selectively delivering electrical power thereto to illuminate the light-emitting device.   
   
   
       7 . The calibration device of  claim 6  wherein the at least one power-producing device is portable. 
   
   
       8 . The calibration device of  claim 6  wherein the body includes a first portion and a second portion removably coupled to the first portion, at least one of the first and second portions being configured to house the light-emitting device and the power-producing device. 
   
   
       9 . The calibration device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a switch configured to selectively electrically connect and disconnect the power-producing device to and from the light-emitting device, respectively.   
   
   
       10 . A high-pressure fluid jet apparatus comprising:
 a cutting head body configured to withstand passage of high-pressure fluid and form a high-pressure fluid jet;   a mixing tube configured to be coupled to the cutting head body, the high-pressure fluid jet exiting the mixing tube and contacting a target element at a location thereon during operation with fluid; and   a calibration device being configured to be coupled to the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus and having a light-emitting element, the light-emitting element being configured to project light on the target element at a location substantially identical to the location at which the high-pressure fluid jet contacts the target element during operation with fluid, allowing calibration of the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus before operation with fluid.   
   
   
       11 . The high-pressure fluid jet apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the calibration device includes at least one structural feature for coupling the calibration device to the cutting head body. 
   
   
       12 . The high-pressure fluid jet apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the at least one structural feature includes a detent mechanism. 
   
   
       13 . The high-pressure fluid jet apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a coupling portion, the calibration device being configured to be removably coupled to the coupling portion.   
   
   
       14 . The high-pressure fluid jet apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the calibration device is configured to be coupled to a portion of the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus to which the mixing tube couples, after removal of the mixing tube. 
   
   
       15 . The high-pressure fluid jet apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the light-emitting element is configured to emit light having a controlled wavelength. 
   
   
       16 . The high-pressure fluid jet apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the light-emitting element includes a laser diode. 
   
   
       17 . The high-pressure fluid jet apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one power-producing device electrically coupled to the light-emitting element and configured to selectively deliver electrical power thereto to illuminate the light-emitting element.   
   
   
       18 . The high-pressure fluid jet apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the at least one power-producing device is portable. 
   
   
       19 . The high-pressure fluid jet apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the body includes a first portion and a second portion removably coupled to the first portion, at least one of the first and second portions being configured to house the light-emitting device and the power-producing device. 
   
   
       20 . The high-pressure fluid jet apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a switch configured to selectively electrically connect and disconnect the power-producing device to and from the light-emitting device, respectively.   
   
   
       21 . The high-pressure fluid jet apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the mixing tube and the calibration device are both coupled to the cutting head body, the calibration device being fixedly positioned with respect to the mixing tube when the mixing tube and calibration device are coupled to the cutting head body. 
   
   
       22 . A method of calibrating a high-pressure fluid jet apparatus having a cutting head body coupled to a mixing tube through which the high-pressure fluid jet exits the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus and contacts a target element at a location thereon during operation with fluid, the method comprising:
 mounting a light-emitting device to the cutting head body;   projecting light from the light-emitting device on a location on the target element substantially identical to the location at which the high-pressure fluid jet contacts the target element during operation with fluid; and   before operation of the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus with fluid, calibrating a positioning of at least a portion of the high-pressure fluid jet apparatus such that the light is projected on a location on the target element substantially identical to a location at which it is desired for the high-pressure fluid jet to contact the target element during operation with fluid.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 removing the mixing tube; and   mounting the light-emitting device in place of the mixing tube.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein calibrating the positioning includes subjecting the high-pressure fluid apparatus while it projects light to a motion substantially identical to a selected motion of the apparatus during operation with fluid and aligning a motion of the projected light with a path on the target element along which it is desired for the high-pressure fluid jet to contact the target element during operation with fluid. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 applying reference indicia on the target element indicating the path along which it is desired for the high-pressure fluid jet to contact the target element during operation with fluid.