High-pressure fluid jet systems are provided which include a pump to selectively provide a source of high-pressure fluid, a cutting head assembly configured to receive the high-pressure fluid and generate a high-pressure fluid jet for processing workpieces or work surfaces, and a fluid distribution system in fluid communication with the pump and the cutting head assembly to route the high-pressure fluid from the pump to the cutting head assembly. The pump, the cutting head assembly and/or the fluid distribution system include at least one fluid distribution component having a unitary body formed from an additive manufacturing or casting process with an internal passage having at least a curvilinear portion to efficiently route matter through the fluid jet system. Example fluid distribution components include fittings, valve bodies, cutting head bodies and nozzles of the high-pressure fluid jet systems.

High-pressure fluid jet systems are provided which include a pump to selectively provide a source of high-pressure fluid, a cutting head assembly configured to receive the high-pressure fluid and generate a high-pressure fluid jet for processing workpieces or work surfaces, and a fluid distribution system in fluid communication with the pump and the cutting head assembly to route the high-pressure fluid from the pump to the cutting head assembly. The pump, the cutting head assembly and/or the fluid distribution system include at least one fluid distribution component having a unitary body formed from an additive manufacturing or casting process with an internal passage having at least a curvilinear portion to efficiently route matter through the fluid jet system. Example fluid distribution components include fittings, valve bodies, cutting head bodies and nozzles of the high-pressure fluid jet systems.

A re-circulatory blasting device obtained is capable of performing stable treatment for a prolonged period of time even in cases in which an elastic abrasive employed has abrasive grains adhered to the surface of elastic cores. An elastic abrasive regeneration device provided to the blasting device regenerates elastic abrasive employed for re-circulation. The elastic abrasive regeneration device includes a mixer and a combining unit. Recovered abrasive fed in from an abrasive recovery section is mixed in the mixer with abrasive grains fed in from an abrasive grain feeder, and the abrasive grains are adhered to the surface of the cores of the recovered abrasive. In the combining unit, the abrasive grains are pressed against and combined to the surface of the cores by passing an aggregated state of the recovered abrasive mixed by the mixer along a constricted flow path having a flow path cross-sectional area that gradually narrows.

A device for providing abrasive to a cutting head in a liquid jet cutting system can include an abrasive inlet configured to receive abrasive from an abrasive source, an abrasive outlet downstream from the abrasive inlet and configured to provide the abrasive to the cutting head, and a backflow diverter configured to discharge backflow from the device. In some embodiments, the backflow diverter can be configured to discharge a first portion of the backflow from the device, and device can further include one or more spillways configured to discharge a second portion of the backflow from the device. The one or more spillways can be positioned upstream from the backflow diverter and/or downstream from the abrasive inlet. The backflow diverter and/or the spillways can at least partially or fully prevent the backflow from flowing upstream through the abrasive inlet and/or into the abrasive source.

A wet media blasting system with a water injection system that provides more uniform distribution of the water, air and media components for achieving a more efficient mixture while minimizing the amount of water required to contain and minimize or eliminate airborne particulate matter such as dust produced during the blasting operation. The system supports dry blasting, wet blasting, and water wash down modes and air drying modes. When blasting, by more thoroughly mixing the water into the abrasive/water mix, the amount of water required is reduced. The abrasive feed is placed and shaped to optimize spray coverage and minimize abrasive flow into injection space thus mitigating water nozzle clogs. The water injectors are downstream of the air/abrasive mixing station.

A wet media blasting system with a water injection system that provides more uniform distribution of the water, air and media components for achieving a more efficient mixture while minimizing the amount of water required to contain and minimize or eliminate airborne particulate matter such as dust produced during the blasting operation. The system supports dry blasting, wet blasting, and water wash down modes and air drying modes. When blasting, by more thoroughly mixing the water into the abrasive/water mix, the amount of water required is reduced. The abrasive feed is placed and shaped to optimize spray coverage and minimize abrasive flow into injection space thus mitigating water nozzle clogs. The water injectors are downstream of the air/abrasive mixing station.

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.

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.

The invention relates to a liquid jet cutting method using a compressor unit (3) that comprises a liquid for generating a liquid jet and using a nozzle (10) that is connected to the compressor unit (3) and has an outlet opening (11) through which the compressed liquid exits in the form of a liquid jet (14). The flow of the compressed liquid to the outlet opening (11) can be interrupted or released by means of an interruption unit (8). The method has the following steps: compressing the liquid by means of the compressor unit (3), moving the outlet opening (11) closer to a workpiece (15) to be machined up to a machining distance (d), and alternatively releasing and interrupting the liquid jet (14) by means of the interruption unit (8), wherein the nozzle is simultaneously moved relative to the workpiece in a machining direction (22), and the machining angle between the workpiece surface (115) and the liquid jet (14) is less than 90°.

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.