CUTTING HEAD

Abstract

A cutting head includes a cutting head body with an integrated collet and a shield configured to direct expended abrasive particles away from the cutting head. A wear insert is secured within the cutting head body and configured with a venturi chamber in which a stream of water accelerates a metered stream of abrasive. A focusing tube is secured to the wear insert assembly by the cutting head body with the integrated collet. The integrated collet aligns a focusing orifice of the focusing tube with an orifice through which the stream of water flows. A nut secures the integrated collet to the focusing tube and seals an interior of the cutting head body. The shield is selectively positionable along a length of the focusing tube to optimize shielding.

Claims

1. A cutting head comprising: a cutting head body with an integrated collet; a wear insert secured within the cutting head body; an orifice flow connected to the wear insert; a feed tube flow connected to the wear insert; a focusing tube secured to the integrated collet; and a nut configured for securing the integrated collet to the focusing tube and sealing an interior of the cutting head body.

2. The cutting head of claim 1, wherein at least one sealing ring extends between the nut and the cutting head body with the integrated collet.

3. The cutting head of claim 2, wherein the at least one sealing ring extends in a groove of the cutting head body.

4. The cutting head of claim 2, wherein the nut is in covering relationship with the at least one sealing ring.

5. The cutting head of claim 1, wherein the integrated collet is configured to prevent at least lateral movement of the focusing tube secured therein.

6. The cutting head of claim 1, wherein a shield is moveably secured to the focusing tube.

7. The cutting head of claim 1, wherein a cone shaped shield is secured to the focusing tube.

8. The cutting head of claim 1, wherein the cutting head body includes a tapered exterior surface that is screwably secured to the nut.

9. A cutting head that is flow connected to a pressurized supply of water and a metered feed of abrasive particles, the cutting head comprising: a cutting head body with an integrated collet; a wear insert secured within the cutting head body; an orifice that is flow connected to the wear insert, wherein the orifice is configured such that the pressurized supply of water flows through the orifice to form a focused stream of water; a feed tube that is flow connected to the wear insert, wherein the feed tube is configured such that the metered feed of abrasive particles is drawn into the wear insert by the focused stream of water, and the focused stream of water and the metered feed of abrasive particles form a cutting stream; a focusing tube secured to the integrated collet, the focusing tube configured such that the cutting stream flows therethrough; and a nut configured for securing the cutting head body with the integrated collet to the focusing tube and sealing an interior of the cutting head body, wherein at least one sealing ring extends between the cutting head body and the nut, and the nut is in covering relationship with the at least one sealing ring.

10. The cutting head of claim 9, wherein the at least one sealing ring extends in a groove of the cutting head body.

11. The cutting head of claim 9, wherein the integrated collet is configured to prevent at least lateral movement of the focusing tube secured therein.

12. The cutting head of claim 9, wherein a shield is moveably secured to the focusing tube.

13. The cutting head of claim 9, wherein a cone shaped shield is secured to the focusing tube.

14. The cutting head of claim 9, wherein the cutting head body includes a tapered exterior surface that is screwably secured to the nut.

15. A cutting head that is flow connected to a pressurized supply of water and a metered feed of abrasive particles, the cutting head comprising: a cutting head body with an integrated collet; a wear insert secured within the cutting head body; an orifice that is flow connected to the wear insert; a feed tube flow connected to the wear insert; a focusing tube secured to the integrated collet; a nut configured for securing the cutting head body with the integrated collet to the focusing tube and sealing an interior of the cutting head body, wherein at least one sealing ring extends between the cutting head body and the nut, the at least one sealing ring extends in a groove of the cutting head body, and the nut is in covering relationship with the at least one sealing ring, and the integrated collet is configured to align a focusing orifice of the focusing tube with the orifice.

16. The cutting head of claim 15, wherein a shield is moveably secured to the focusing tube.

17. The cutting head of claim 15, wherein a cone shaped shield is secured to the focusing tube.

18. The cutting head of claim 15, wherein the cutting head body includes a tapered exterior surface that is screwably secured to the nut.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a cutting head that includes a cutting head body with an integrated collet and sealing rings extending between the cutting head body and a beveled nut to seal an interior of the cutting head.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a section of cross-sectional view of the cutting head in FIG. 1 that shows a detailed view of the cutting head body with the integrated collet.

[0009] The drawing figures do not limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The following detailed description references the accompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of the equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

[0011] In this description, references to one embodiment, an embodiment, or embodiments mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to one embodiment, an embodiment, or embodiments in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments but is not necessarily included. Thus, the technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

[0012] An embodiment of a cutting head 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for use in an abrasive waterjet cutting system is described herein. The cutting head 10 includes a cutting head body 20 with an integrated collet 30 that is formed integral with the cutting head body 20 and that is configured for setting and maintaining an alignment of the components of the cutting head 10. The integrated collet 30 is configured to secure a nozzle or focusing tube 40 within the cutting head body 20 such that a cutting stream formed by accelerated abrasive particles and a high speed water stream advances through the focusing tube 40 during a cutting operation. Alignment of components during assembly of the cutting head 10 is required to ensure a consistent cutting stream and to minimize wear of the components of the cutting head 10, including the focusing tube 40, due to a high speed and high pressure of the stream of water and abrasive through the cutting head 10.

[0013] Integration of the integrated collet 30 with the cutting head body 20 decreases a tolerance stack of the cutting head 10 by reducing the number of components of the cutting head 10, eliminating a level of tolerance stack-up inherent in the prior art. The reduction in components and decrease in the tolerance stack of the cutting head 10 permits an overall tolerance requirement to be achieved when the cutting head 10 is assembled such that the cutting head 10 meets functional requirements. The integrated collet 30 also facilitates initial alignment and repeatability of the alignment of the components during reassembly of the cutting head 10 after the cutting head 10 has been disassembled, such as for cleaning or repair.

[0014] A stream of water that has been pressurized by an intensifier and/or pump is supplied to the cutting head 10 through tubing formed to accommodate high pressures. The stream of water passes through an orifice 50 in the cutting head body 20. The orifice 50 provides a constricted section such that a velocity of the stream of water is increased as it passes through the orifice 50 and forms a focused stream of water. As shown in FIG. 1, the water orifice 50 is provided at a rearward end 55 of the cutting head 10. The stream of water flows through the orifice 50 and into a wear insert 60 that is secured within the cutting head body 20 by a securing screw 58. The wear insert 60 is in flow communication with the focusing tube 40.

[0015] An abrasive feed tube 70 is secured to the cutting head body 20 and provides a metered flow of abrasive to the cutting head 10. The abrasive is supplied to the feed tube 70 from a hopper by a hose having a friction fitting that is securable to the feed tube 70. In an embodiment, the feed tube 70 includes screw threads at an end thereof for securing the feed tube 70 to the cutting head body 20. A sealing ring 80 may be provided between the feed tube 70 and the cutting head body 20 such that contaminants, including, for example, water, abrasive, and abrasive and cut material dust, are prevented from entering an interior of the cutting head body 20 or getting between components of the cutting head 10.

[0016] A venturi chamber 85 of the wear insert 60, which may also be referred to a mixing chamber, is positioned between the orifice 50 from which the stream of water flows and the focusing tube 40 from which a cutting stream is discharged. The stream of water exits the orifice 50 and flows through the wear insert 60. The feed tube 70 is secured to the cutting head body 20 such that the abrasive is fed into the venturi chamber 85 of the wear insert 60. Speed of the stream of water through the wear insert 60 creates a venturi vacuum that draws the abrasive into the wear insert 60. The abrasive particles are accelerated to, at, or near the speed of the water stream within the venturi chamber and exit into the focusing tube 40 with the stream of water.

[0017] The focusing tube 40 extends through the integrated collet 30 such that the focusing tube 40 is secured in alignment with the wear insert 60. The focusing tube 40 includes a focusing orifice 90 that is aligned with the orifice 50 such that the cutting stream is precisely focused as it flows through the focusing tube 40. Misalignment, contamination, or other imperfections affect a quality of the cutting stream, a quality of a cut in a material, and a speed of deterioration of, at least, the focusing tube 40.

[0018] The focusing tube 40 is removably secured within the integrated collet 30 of the cutting head body 20. The integrated collet 30 is a collar that extends from and is integral with the cutting head body 20 and secures the focusing orifice 90 of the focusing tube 40 in alignment with the orifice 50. The integrated collet 30 facilitates repeatable alignment of the focusing orifice 90 of the focusing tube 40 with the orifice 50. The cutting head body 20 with the integrated collet 30 includes at least two radial surfaces, an interior cylindrical surface 100 having an interior diameter approximately equal to or slightly greater than an exterior diameter of the focusing tube 40 and an exterior surface 110 that is tapered toward a forward end 112 (see FIG. 2) of the cutting head body 20 and may have one or more grooves and/or slots or serrations (not shown) that extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of the focusing tube 40. The focusing tube 40 is insertable in the forward end 112 of the integrated collet 30 and extends therefrom. In an embodiment, the integrated collet 30 uniformly and centrally secures the focusing tube 40 such that the focusing tube 40 does not move within the integrated collet 30, and, in an embodiment, does not move at least laterally within the integrated collet 30. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the integrated collet 30 includes longitudinal serrations (not shown) that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the focusing tube 40, such that when the beveled nut 114 is tightened therearound, as described herein, the beveled nut 114 engages the serrations causing the integrated collet 30 to clamp down on the focusing tube 40.

[0019] In FIG. 2, the exterior surface of the cutting head body 20 includes a first surface 116 that is able to form a seal with beveled nut 114, a second surface 117 that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the focusing tube 40, and a third surface 110 that extends toward and may gradually narrow or taper toward the forward end 112 and forms the integrated collet 30. The second surface 117 preferably includes threads (not shown) formed therearound, and the beveled nut 114 is threadingly securable to the second surface 117 of the cutting head body 20 to secure the cutting head body 20 around the focusing tube 40 and/or to seal the interior of the cutting head 10 from contaminants.

[0020] The beveled nut 114 includes an interior radial surface that mates with the exterior surface of the cutting head body 20 and the integrated collet 30. In FIG. 2, the interior radial surface includes a shoulder or flange 124 that is formed on and extends from the beveled nut 114 to sealingly secure the beveled nut 114 around the first surface 116 of the cutting head body 20, a threaded portion 121 that includes threads (not shown) and is threadingly securable onto the second surface 117 of the cutting head body 20, and a locking portion 126 that applies pressure to the third surface 110 that forms the integrated collet 30. The threaded portion 121 of the beveled nut 114 threadingly engages the second surface 117 of the cutting head body 20. The locking portion 126 applies pressure to the integrated collet 30 when the beveled nut 114 is threaded onto second surface 117 of the cutting head body 20 such that the integrated collet 30 is compressible to apply a uniform clamping pressure to the focusing tube 40 to secure it in a central, aligned position.

[0021] One or more sealing rings 130 secured in one or more grooves 131 that extend in the exterior surface of the cutting head body 20 and/or in the beveled nut 114 prevent contaminants from entering an interior of the cutting head 10, such as, for example, in between the threads of the beveled nut 114 and the threads of the cutting head body 20, on the interior cylindrical surface 100 of the cutting head body 20, or between other components of the cutting head 10. Prevention of such exposure to contaminants in the cutting head 10 maintains the alignment of the focusing orifice 90 to the orifice 50 and facilitates repeatability of the alignment. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the sealing ring 130 extends in the groove 131 around the first surface 116 of the exterior surface of the cutting head body 20. In an embodiment, the beveled nut 114 is in covering relationship with at least the first surface 116, the second surface 117, and the third surface 110 of the cutting head body 20. In an embodiment, the beveled nut 114 is in covering relationship with the one or more sealing rings 130 that extend around the cutting head body 20.

[0022] The cutting head body 20 with the integrated collet 30, the beveled nut 114, and the one or more sealing rings 130 are securement features that secure the focusing tube 40 such that the focusing orifice 90 is in alignment with orifice 50, and a cutting steam from the focusing tube 40 accurately and precisely forms a cut in a material. These securement features prevent the focusing tube 40 from becoming misaligned or from moving during use and/or align the focusing tube 40 when assembled. Alignment of the focusing tube 40 includes alignment of the focusing orifice 90 with the orifice 50. Providing such alignment minimizes wear, and especially uneven wear, of the focusing tube 40. Misalignment of the focusing orifice 90 and the orifice 50 causes the cutting stream to impact a surface of the focusing orifice 90 causing uneven wear of the focusing tube 40, an imprecise cutting stream, and an inaccurate cut. The securement features also enable robotic applications, including robotic replacement of the focusing tube 40 and robotic use of the cutting head 10 due to the precision and repeatable accuracy of assembly and reassembly of the cutting head 10.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, an abrasive shield 160 is secured to the focusing tube 40 by a set screw 170. The abrasive shield 160 may be flat or be in a shape of a cone such that a concave portion of the cone is directed toward the discharge or forward or cutting end 180 of the cutting head 10 to redirect the expended abrasive particles away from the beveled nut 114, preventing possible contamination of the interior of the cutting head 10. The focusing tube 40 extends through a base or collar 190 secured to the middle of the abrasive shield 160 and the set screw 170 secures the base 190 to the focusing tube 40. The abrasive shield 160 may be selectively positioned along a length of the focusing tube 40 to optimize shielding.

[0024] Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.