Modular flat wetblast nozzle

Abstract

A modular flat wetblast nozzle. The nozzle includes: a slurry inlet chamber coupled to a slurry plate; an air inlet chamber coupled to an air plate; a mixing chamber formed between the slurry plate and air plate; and an air jet manifold removably mountable between the slurry plate and the air plate and configured to receive slurry from the slurry inlet chamber via the slurry plate and to receive air from the air inlet chamber via the air plate, and further configured to force the slurry and air into the mixing chamber to create a flattened mixture that is expelled between the slurry plate and air plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular flat wetblast nozzle, comprising:
 a slurry inlet chamber coupled to a slurry plate;   an air inlet chamber coupled to an air plate;   a mixing chamber formed between the slurry plate and air plate; and   an air jet manifold removably mountable between the slurry plate and the air plate and configured to receive slurry from the slurry inlet chamber via the slurry plate and to receive air from the air inlet chamber via the air plate, and further configured to force the slurry and air into the mixing chamber to create a flattened mixture that is expelled between the slurry plate and air plate.   
     
     
         2 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , further comprising a blast path side fitting positioned around the air jet manifold between the slurry plate and the air plate, wherein the blast path side fitting includes sidewalls configured to direct the flattened mixture out a blast path outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The nozzle of  claim 2 , wherein the air jet manifold includes a lateral wall having a plurality of mini-nozzles for expelling air received from the air inlet chamber into the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The nozzle of  claim 3 , wherein the air jet manifold further includes a partially enclosed surface region with an opening along the lateral wall for forcing slurry received from the slurry inlet chamber to the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The nozzle of  claim 4 , wherein the mixing chamber formed adjacent to the lateral wall. 
     
     
         6 . The nozzle of  claim 5 , wherein the slurry plate and air plate include beveled edges within the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The nozzle of  claim 3 , wherein the air jet manifold further includes an internal air feed that receives air flow from an air channel in the air plate. 
     
     
         8 . The nozzle of  claim 4 , wherein the partially enclosed surface region includes a lip that mates with the slurry plate about a slurry channel to form a slurry feed. 
     
     
         9 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the slurry inlet chamber includes a bypass fitting having a relief gap. 
     
     
         10 . The nozzle of  claim 3 , further comprising a second air jet manifold, wherein second air jet manifold includes different sized mini-nozzles than the air jet manifold and is swappable with the air jet manifold. 
     
     
         11 . A wetblast robot, comprising:
 a chamber for holding a workpiece;   a robotic arm that moves within the chamber; and   a flat wetblast nozzle connected to the robotic arm, wherein the flat wetblast nozzle includes:
 a slurry inlet chamber coupled to a slurry supply hose; 
 an air inlet chamber coupled to an air supply hose; and 
 an air jet manifold configured to receive slurry from the slurry inlet chamber via a slurry plate and to receive air from the air inlet chamber via an air plate, and to force the slurry and air into a mixing chamber to form a flattened mixture that is expelled between the slurry plate and air plate. 
   
     
     
         12 . The robot of  claim 11 , further comprising a blast path side fitting positioned around the air jet manifold between the slurry plate and the air plate, wherein the blast path side fitting includes sidewalls configured to direct the flattened mixture out a blast path outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The robot of  claim 12 , wherein the air jet manifold includes a lateral wall having a plurality of mini-nozzles for forcing air received from the air inlet chamber into the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The robot of  claim 13 , wherein the air jet manifold further includes a partially enclosed surface region with an opening along the lateral wall for forcing slurry received from the slurry inlet chamber into the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The robot of  claim 14 , wherein the slurry plate and air plate form the mixing chamber adjacent to the lateral wall. 
     
     
         16 . The robot of  claim 15 , wherein the slurry plate and air plate include beveled edges within the mixing chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The robot of  claim 16 , wherein the air jet manifold further includes an internal air feed that directs air flow from an air channel in the air plate to the mini-nozzles. 
     
     
         18 . The robot of  claim 14 , wherein the partially enclosed surface region includes a lip that mates with the slurry plate about a slurry channel to form a slurry feed. 
     
     
         19 . The robot of  claim 11 , wherein the slurry inlet chamber includes a bypass fitting having a relief gap. 
     
     
         20 . The robot of  claim 13 , further comprising a second air jet manifold, wherein second air jet manifold includes different sized mini-nozzles than the air jet manifold and is swappable with the air jet manifold.