A vapor abrasive blast system includes a pump for pumping a water stream to a pressure vessel for pressurizing the pressure vessel to a pot pressure. A water regulator is disposed to regulate the water stream to a fixed water pressure, such that the water stream entering the pressure vessel has the fixed water pressure. The pressure vessel contains a blasting mixture, comprising an abrasive media and water, for introduction to a compressed air stream and application to a substrate. The water entering the pressure vessel has the fixed water pressure to control the pot pressure. The water regulator is configured to output the water stream such that the fixed water pressure is greater than a compressed air pressure in the compressed air stream.

Waterjet systems including control valves and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. A waterjet system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a fluid source, a jet outlet, and a fluid conveyance extending from the fluid source to the jet outlet. The system further includes a control valve positioned along the fluid conveyance downstream from the fluid source and upstream from the jet outlet. The fluid conveyance has a first portion upstream from the control valve and a second portion downstream from the control valve. The control valve is configured to controllably reduce a pressure of fluid within the second portion of the fluid conveyance relative to a pressure of fluid within the first portion of the fluid conveyance. The first portion of the fluid conveyance is configured to accommodate movement of the jet outlet relative to the fluid source.

Apparatuses, components, methods, and techniques for selectively texturing concrete surfaces are provided. An example method of providing a surface portion of an architectural precast concrete wall panel with an abraded texture is provided. The method includes a step of spraying a surface portion of an architectural precast concrete wall panel with an aqueous-based particulate abrasive mixture under conditions adequate to at least partially abrade the surface portion. An example sprayer system for abrading a concrete surface is also provided. The system includes an aqueous-based particulate abrasive mixture dispenser including a spray nozzle arrangement. The system also includes a material communication assembly in abrasive flow communication with the aqueous-based particulate abrasive mixture dispenser. The system also includes a dispenser positioning arrangement.

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 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, a mixing chamber configured to mix abrasive from the hopper and the fluid from the pump to produce a slurry, where the fluid entering the mixing chamber is at a pressure between 2000 psi and 8000 psi, a cutting bed configured to receive a workpiece to be cut, and a cutting head, including an outlet nozzle, in downstream fluid communication from the mixing chamber, the cutting head configured to expel the slurry through the outlet nozzle as a high-velocity jet into the cutting bed.

The invention is directed toward a static wet-abrasive blasting system used for cleaning, preparing surfaces, removing coatings, and other abrasive blasting applications. The wet abrasive basting system has a blast pot that includes pilot-controlled pneumatics to control the loading, pressurizing, de-pressurizing, and wash down functions. The wet-abrasive blasting system also uses a floating bung in conjunction with a vent mechanism to further automate the pressurizing steps in setting up the system. The wet-abrasive blasting system also uses pilot-controlled pneumatics to decide the blasting function options of just water, just air, or water/abrasive mix and air. Wet-abrasive blasting systems mix an abrasive media with water and convey the mix to meet compressed air and direct through a blast hose and nozzle.

The invention is directed toward a mobile wet-abrasive blasting system used for cleaning, preparing surfaces, removing coatings, and other abrasive blasting applications. The wet abrasive basting system has a blast pot that includes pilot-controlled pneumatics to control the loading, pressurizing, de-pressurizing, and wash down functions. The wet-abrasive blasting system also uses a floating bung in conjunction with a vent mechanism to further automate the pressurizing steps in setting up the system. The wet-abrasive blasting system also uses pilot-controlled pneumatics to decide the blasting function options of just water, just air, or water/abrasive mix and air. Wet-abrasive blasting systems mix an abrasive media with water and convey the mix to meet compressed air and direct through a blast hose and nozzle.

Embodiments of this disclosure provide a method and apparatus to inject an abrasive fluid mixture into a high-pressure fluid flow using a clear fluid pump. The high-pressure fluid flow may be used in abrasive jet perforating and hydraulic fracturing applications in oil and gas wells, and other oilfield related work that uses high pressure fluids containing abrasive material. The embodiments include inserting abrasive material downstream of a high-pressure pump, such that a pump without specialized capability for abrasives (e.g., a clear fluid pump) can be used instead of a specialized pump that can withstand abrasives (e.g., hydraulic fracturing pump, oilfield cementing pump).

An apparatus for manufacturing a glass laminated substrate includes a chamber, a cutting apparatus configured to cut the glass laminated substrate within the chamber, and a surface processing apparatus configured to process a surface of the glass laminated substrate that is cut. The cutting apparatus and the surface processing apparatus of the apparatus for manufacturing a glass laminated substrate can be used to manufacture in-line the glass laminated substrate within the chamber.

A method of cavitation peening may include coupling a moveable water source to a portable nozzle, through a flexible conduit. The method may include positioning the nozzle adjacent a treatment surface and discharging a first and second stream of fluid through a first and second channel of the nozzle, with the second channel concentrically positioned around the first channel. The first stream may have a first pressure, and the second stream may have a second pressure, the first pressure being greater than the second pressure and the two streams combining to generate a cloud of cavitation bubbles.