Various embodiments of abrasive jet cutting systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an abrasive jet system includes a cutting head configured to receive abrasives and pressurized fluid to form an abrasive jet. The system also includes an abrasive source configured to store abrasives that are supplied to the cutting head, as well as a fluid source configured to store fluid that is supplied to the cutting head. The system further includes a gas source configured to store pressurized gas that is selectively supplied to the cutting head. When supplied to the cutting head, the pressurized gas can advantageously affect, such as by at least partially diffusing, the abrasive jet.

A wet abrasive blast pot includes a cylindrical pressure vessel have a top section, a bottom section, and sidewalls extending between the top section and the bottom section. The bottom section includes an outlet, and the top section includes a fill inlet. The top section includes a convex head, with the fill inlet located at the uppermost portion of the pressure vessel.

A blasting system includes a pressure vessel, water pump, blast circuit, motor, orifice valve, and controller. The pressure vessel is configured to contain a pressurized blast media slurry. The water pump pumps water from a water supply to the pressure vessel. The blast circuit delivers the pressurized blast media slurry received from the pressure vessel. The motor drives the water pump. The orifice valve regulates a rate of flow of the blast media slurry to the blast circuit. The controller provides control commands to the water pump or the orifice valve based on a blast media flow rate set point and at least one sensed operating parameter.

An abrasive slurry delivery system configured to discharge a high pressure mixture of water (30) and abrasives (54, 54′) for further admixture with a flow of high pressure water (30) to generate an abrasive slurry and ultimately an abrasive slurry jet is provided. The delivery system includes a storage chamber (56), a discharge chamber (58) and a shuttle chamber (60) positioned therebetween. The shuttle chamber (60) is configured to intermittently receive abrasives (54) from the storage chamber (56) and intermittently supply the abrasives (54, 54′) mixed with high pressure water (30) to the discharge chamber (58) to be selectively discharged therefrom. High pressure abrasive slurry cutting systems and related methods are also provided.

A high pressure pump including a linear actuator having a servo motor to axially rotate a hollow rotor shaft in alternating directions, the servo motor having a stator positioned co-axially around the hollow rotor shaft with an interior of the rotor shaft being co-axially coupled to a drive member to convert axial rotation into reciprocal displacement, the drive member being constrained against linear movement and supporting a shaft. At least one piston is coupled to the shaft and the piston is arranged within a cylinder to define a pumping chamber, whereby alternating rotation of the rotor shaft causes reciprocal linear displacement of the piston to pressurize fluid in the pumping chamber. A drive mechanism includes a controller coupled to a servomotor and an encoder to measure movement of the hollow rotor or output shaft and send a feedback signal proportional to the movement to the controller.

An apparatus for treating a surface of an object is disclosed, including a carrier configured to transport the object through a treatment zone and an array of nozzle devices, each nozzle device positioned to deliver a cavitating jet into the treatment zone. The apparatus further includes a fluid source, a pump connected to the fluid source, and a hose configured to carry fluid under high pressure generated by the pump from the fluid source to the array of nozzle devices.

A cavitation peening system is disclosed, including a tank containing a fluid, a carrier, and an array of cavitation nozzles. The carrier is configured to deliver a workpiece to a treatment zone in the tank, and the array of cavitation nozzles are collectively configured to generate a cavitation induced whirlpool in the treatment zone.

A pneumatic-controlled abrasive blasting system that includes a blast hose; and a deadman assembly coupled with the blast hose. The deadman assembly has a primary deadman valve; and a secondary deadman valve. There is an air source configured for fluid communication with each of the primary and secondary deadman valves and the blast hose. There is a regulator valve disposed between the deadman assembly and the air source. The regulator is configured to reduce the pressure of airflow to the deadman assembly.

The invention is directed toward wet-abrasive blasting systems used for cleaning, preparing surfaces, removing coatings, and other abrasive blasting applications. The wet abrasive basting system has a blast pot that includes a venting system. The venting system may be a self-venting system that allows gases to be vented during charging and prevents gases from accumulating in the blast pot during operation. In wet abrasive blasting systems a slurry is conveyed via a piping system, hoses, etc. to a mixer connected to a source of pressurized gas where slurry and compressed air/gas are combined and directed through the blast hose and blast nozzle.

The apparatus for cleaning surfaces comprises a body (1) comprising a tank (2) for containing an abrasive material and a first duct (19) for a flow of compressed air which extends adjacent to said tank (2) along the whole length of said tank (2). The apparatus comprises as well a mixing valve (31), associated with said tank (2), for mixing said abrasive material with said compressed air.