Abrasive water-jet cutting machine

Abstract

An abrasive water-jet cutting machine, comprising pumping means, fluidly connectable to a water source, a cutting head, comprising a mixing chamber, a dispensing system of powdered abrasive material, comprising a tank, a supply tube and an actuator interposed between the tank and the supply tube, which delivers the powdered abrasive material contained in the tank into the mixing chamber, through the supply tube; wherein the cutting head mixes, in the mixing chamber, the abrasive material with the water jet forming a water-abrasive material mixture jet, and said cutting head delivers the water-abrasive material mixture jet; wherein the powdered abrasive material delivered into the mixing chamber is homogeneously dispersed in suspension in a water-based gelatinous fluid; and wherein the actuator is a peristaltic pump.

1 . An abrasive water-jet cutting machine, comprising:
 pumping means, fluidly connectable to a water source, for the generation of a pressurized water flow;   a cutting head, comprising a primary nozzle, a mixing chamber and a focusing nozzle, wherein the pressurized water flow from the pumping means is conveyed into the primary nozzle of the cutting head where the pressure energy of the pressurized water flow is converted into kinetic energy so as to form a water jet, and wherein said water jet is then conveyed into the mixing chamber;   a dispensing system of powdered abrasive material, comprising:
 a tank containing powdered abrasive material, 
 a supply tube, which fluidly connects the tank to the mixing chamber of the cutting head, 
 an actuator interposed between the tank and the supply tube, which delivers the powdered abrasive material contained in the tank into the mixing chamber, through the supply tube; 
   wherein the cutting head mixes, in the mixing chamber, the abrasive material with the water jet, thus forming a water-abrasive material mixture jet, and said cutting head delivers the water-abrasive material mixture jet, through the focusing nozzle;   wherein the powdered abrasive material delivered in the mixing chamber is homogeneously dispersed in suspension in a water-based gelatinous fluid;   and wherein the actuator is a peristaltic pump.   
     
     
         2 . A cutting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply tube is made of polymer material. 
     
     
         3 . A cutting machine according to  claim 1 , comprising an air duct which converges into the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         4 . A cutting machine according to  claim 1 , comprising an electronic controller configured to adjust the amount of abrasive mixture delivered by the dispensing system. 
     
     
         5 . A cutting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank contains an abrasive mixture. 
     
     
         6 . A cutting machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to adjust the amount of abrasive mixture delivered by the actuator, through an open-loop control. 
     
     
         7 . A cutting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank comprises at least a first tank containing water-based gelatinous fluid, and at least a second tank containing powdered abrasive material, and wherein the dispensing system comprises a mixer interposed between the tank and the actuator, and configured to mix the water-based gelatinous fluid contained in the at least a first tank with the powdered abrasive material contained in the at least a second tank, so as to form an abrasive mixture, and convey the abrasive mixture into the actuator. 
     
     
         8 . A cutting machine according to  claim 1 , comprising a pulsation damper fluidly connected to the supply tube. 
     
     
         9 . A cutting machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to adjust:
 the amount of the abrasive mixture delivered by the mixer and/or   the amount of the abrasive mixture delivered by the actuator and/or   the air amount introduced from the air duct into the mixing chamber and/or   the actuation of the pulsation damper.   
     
     
         10 . A cutting machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the electronic controller is configured to carry out the adjustment by means of a closed-loop control. 
     
     
         11 . A cutting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the abrasive mixture, the mass ratio of the powdered abrasive material to the water-based gelatinous fluid is between 1.0 and 3.5. 
     
     
         12 . A cutting machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply tube is connected to the cutting head by means of an injector nozzle, and wherein the injector nozzle protrudes into the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         13 . An abrasive waterjet cutting method, comprising the steps of:
 providing an abrasive waterjet cutter according to  claim 4 ;   adjusting the amount of the abrasive mixture delivered by the actuator by means of an open-loop control.   
     
     
         14 . An abrasive waterjet cutting method, comprising the steps of:
 providing an abrasive waterjet cutter according to  claim 4 ;   performing at least one of the following adjustments by means of a closed-loop control:
 adjustment of the amount of abrasive mixture delivered by the mixer; 
 adjustment of the amount of abrasive mixture delivered by the actuator; 
 adjustment of the air amount introduced from the air duct into the mixing chamber; 
 adjustment of the actuation of the pulsation damper.