This application describes a magnetic valve for controlling the flow of media in wheel-blast style abrasive blasting cabinets. The valve features a novel air aspiration system comprising of aspiration inlets, chamber, and outlets, in a configuration which guarantees passage of air from ambient into the peening system regardless of installation. This system acts as a passive aspiration source to counteract the negative pressures imposed by the wheel-blast blades in the valve's off-state. This arrangement eliminates the need for other means of aspiration to be installed in the peening system by the end user.

This application describes a magnetic valve for controlling the flow of media in wheel-blast style abrasive blasting cabinets. The valve features a novel air aspiration system comprising of aspiration inlets, chamber, and outlets, in a configuration which guarantees passage of air from ambient into the peening system regardless of installation. This system acts as a passive aspiration source to counteract the negative pressures imposed by the wheel-blast blades in the valve's off-state. This arrangement eliminates the need for other means of aspiration to be installed in the peening system by the end user.

A fluid jet cutting device (10) for sectioning materials is provided. The device includes a compact and portable body (12) having an equipment chamber (14) accessible through a first panel (20), a working chamber (16) accessible through a second panel (22) and a receptacle (18) in communication with the working chamber. A pump assembly (26) and motor (28) are removably positioned on a base (32) in the equipment chamber. A guide assembly (36) is positioned in the working chamber and a cutting head (38) having a nozzle (50) is movably coupled to the guide assembly for movement along three axes. A drive assembly (52) moves the cutting head along the guide assembly. A clamp (56) for holding a work piece includes a first face (58) and a second face (60) movable relative to the first face so as to secure regular, irregular or complex shaped work pieces. A basket (66) is positioned in the receptacle below the clamp and the device may be controlled by way of a touch screen user interface (72).

A fluid jet cutting device (10) for sectioning materials is provided. The device includes a compact and portable body (12) having an equipment chamber (14) accessible through a first panel (20), a working chamber (16) accessible through a second panel (22) and a receptacle (18) in communication with the working chamber. A pump assembly (26) and motor (28) are removably positioned on a base (32) in the equipment chamber. A guide assembly (36) is positioned in the working chamber and a cutting head (38) having a nozzle (50) is movably coupled to the guide assembly for movement along three axes. A drive assembly (52) moves the cutting head along the guide assembly. A clamp (56) for holding a work piece includes a first face (58) and a second face (60) movable relative to the first face so as to secure regular, irregular or complex shaped work pieces. A basket (66) is positioned in the receptacle below the clamp and the device may be controlled by way of a touch screen user interface (72).

A waterjet system is provided, including a pump configured to pump fluid, an electric motor configured to drive the pump, a hopper configured to store abrasive, and a mixing chamber configured to mix abrasive from the hopper and the fluid from the pump to produce a slurry. A cutting bed is configured to receive a workpiece to be cut. A cutting head is configured to expel the slurry through the outlet nozzle as a high-velocity jet into the cutting bed.

A method of removing an alpha case from a rotor blade by directing a water jet to mill a surface of a rotor blade spar to remove an Alpha-case therefrom.

A method of removing an alpha case from a rotor blade by directing a water jet to mill a surface of a rotor blade spar to remove an Alpha-case therefrom.

Wet abrasive blasting systems are described that have a slurry piping system and a gas piping system that have pipes and other piping components, such as valves and regulators, that have a more consistent internal cross-sectional area than conventional wet abrasive blasting systems. The more consistent flow area provides astonishing improvements in blasting efficiency and consistent and predictable slurry flow rates.

A method and apparatus for causing attrition to an outer surface of a food product to provide a removed portion of the food product and a remainder of the food product. In a first aspect, an abrasive stream contacts the outer surface of the food product, thereby separating at least a portion of the outer surface of the food product from the remainder of the food product to provide the removed portion of the food product. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a product positioner to position the food product in an attrition zone and a nozzle for discharging the abrasive stream into contact with the food product in the attrition zone. The abrasive stream can be food grade and can include a food grade fluid and a food grade abrasive, for example, air and salt, respectively.

A method and apparatus for causing attrition to an outer surface of a food product to provide a removed portion of the food product and a remainder of the food product. In a first aspect, an abrasive stream contacts the outer surface of the food product, thereby separating at least a portion of the outer surface of the food product from the remainder of the food product to provide the removed portion of the food product. In a second aspect, the apparatus includes a product positioner to position the food product in an attrition zone and a nozzle for discharging the abrasive stream into contact with the food product in the attrition zone. The abrasive stream can be food grade and can include a food grade fluid and a food grade abrasive, for example, air and salt, respectively.