An abrasive waterjet system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology includes a cutting head, a catcher downstream from the cutting head, and a conveyance configured to carry slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher toward the cutting head. The cutting head includes a jet-forming orifice and a mixing chamber downstream from the jet-forming orifice. The cutting head also includes a slurry inlet through which the mixing chamber receives slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher. The abrasive waterjet system can be configured for substantially closed-loop recycling of wet abrasive material. This can be useful, for example, to increase abrasive material utilization efficiency and to decrease abrasive material disposal costs. These and/or other benefits may be realized both in the context of low pressure abrasive waterjet systems and in the context of high pressure abrasive waterjet systems.

A vapor abrasive blast system includes a compressor for generating compressed air, a water pump for pumping a water stream to a pressure vessel to pressurize the pressure vessel. A control valve is disposed upstream of the pressure vessel and is configured to control the flow of water from the water pump to the pressure vessel to thereby control the flow of blast slurry downstream out of the pressure vessel.

A blasting system, comprising a tank comprising a center tube, an inlet, a fill valve, an outlet, a refilling aperture, and a relief valve. Said tank comprises a top end and a bottom end, said outlet located at said top end of said tank, said inlet located at said bottom end, said fill valve and said relief valve are positioned in a side portion of said tank. Said relief valve closer to said bottom end of said tank than said fill valve. Wherein said tank receives a fluid through said fill valve. Wherein said tank receives a pressurized air through said inlet. Wherein said bottom end of said tank holds said fluid. Wherein said center tube receives a portion of said pressurized air and selectively receives a portion of said fluid to exit through said outlet for a blasting application.

An abrasive head with clean gas infeed for cleaning/removing material surfaces and splitting/cutting materials by a liquid beam enriched with solid abrasive particles to extend the tool lifetime by eliminating damage to the liquid jet's aperture by the abrasive, avoid degrading the abrasive inside the tool and increase the cutting power and flow efficiency.

Fluid jet cutting systems, components and related methods for generating relatively low load abrasive fluid jets that are particularly well suited for cutting fragile, brittle or otherwise sensitive materials are provided. An example method includes supplying fluid at an operating pressure of at least 60,000 psi to an orifice having a circular cross-sectional profile with a diameter that is less than or equal to 0.010 inches to create a fluid jet that leaves a fluid jet cutting head through a jet passageway having a circular cross-sectional profile with a diameter that is less than or equal to 0.015 inches.

An abrasive waterjet system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology includes a cutting head, a catcher downstream from the cutting head, and a conveyance configured to carry slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher toward the cutting head. The cutting head includes a jet-forming orifice and a mixing chamber downstream from the jet-forming orifice. The cutting head also includes a slurry inlet through which the mixing chamber receives slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher. The abrasive waterjet system can be configured for substantially closed-loop recycling of wet abrasive material. This can be useful, for example, to increase abrasive material utilization efficiency and to decrease abrasive material disposal costs. These and/or other benefits may be realized both in the context of low pressure abrasive waterjet systems and in the context of high pressure abrasive waterjet systems.

A blasting system, comprising a tank comprising a center tube, an inlet, a fill valve, an outlet, a refilling aperture, and a relief valve. Said tank comprises a top end and a bottom end, said outlet located at said top end of said tank, said inlet located at said bottom end, said fill valve and said relief valve are positioned in a side portion of said tank. Said relief valve closer to said bottom end of said tank than said fill valve. Wherein said tank receives a fluid through said fill valve. Wherein said tank receives a pressurized air through said inlet. Wherein said bottom end of said tank holds said fluid. Wherein said center tube receives a portion of said pressurized air and selectively receives a portion of said fluid to exit through said outlet for a blasting application.

An abrasive jet system for producing an abrasive cutting jet is provided. The system includes a source of abrasive suspension connected via a conduit to a cutting head. A source of displacement fluid is provided to flush abrasive suspension in the conduit towards the source of abrasive suspension, when the pressure at the source of abrasive suspension is below the pressure at the source of displacement fluid and no water jet is present in the cutting head. Also provided is a method for suspending a settled or partly settled bed of abrasive.

The use of abrasive entrainment waterjet technology to cut improvised hazardous devices, such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), located above or below ground. Abrasive is conducted to an entrainment abrasive waterjet cutting head under the control of an abrasive feed and metering system that monitors the flow rate of abrasive.

The use of abrasive entrainment waterjet technology to cut improvised hazardous devices, such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), located above or below ground. Abrasive is conducted to an entrainment abrasive waterjet cutting head under the control of an abrasive feed and metering system that monitors the flow rate of abrasive.