Cutting Head with Independent Disc and Water Jet Nozzle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting heads for slabs, particularly those with both diamond cutting discs and water jet systems, are not versatile enough to allow for independent movement and alignment of the cutting disc and water jet nozzle, limiting their ability to perform precise and varied cuts, including simultaneous use of both tools during the same operation.
Innovation Solution
A cutting head design featuring a shaft with three orthogonal axes of movement, allowing independent tilting and positioning of both the cutting disc and water jet nozzle, ensuring alignment and balance, and enabling alternate use of both cutting methods during the same operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting disc and water jet nozzle are mounted on a common beam with horizontal translation capability, then the tools can be positioned at different locations, but the tools cannot be aligned on the same plane and cannot work alternately during the same cutting operation
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting head is divided into two independent subsystems: a disc cutting subsystem with its own motor and disc, and a water jet cutting subsystem with its own pump and nozzle. Each subsystem can be independently controlled and positioned, allowing them to work alternately or simultaneously without interference. This segmentation resolves the alignment issue by giving each tool its own independent positioning mechanism rather than sharing a common mounting beam.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting head introduces dynamic positioning capabilities with independent motors for the cutting disc and water jet nozzle, allowing real-time adjustment of their positions and orientations. The system can dynamically switch between disc cutting and water jet cutting modes, and even combine both methods in a single cutting operation. This dynamic control enables precise alignment and alternate operation that was impossible with static tool mounting on a common beam.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the water jet nozzle is mounted on the fork supporting the cutting disc motor, then the nozzle can tilt, but the rotation axis of the nozzle does not intersect the rotation axis of the cutting disc, making curved cuts impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting head is designed with multi-functionality to perform both straight linear cuts and curved cuts. The water jet nozzle system includes rotational and tilting mechanisms that allow it to adapt to different cutting paths. The independent positioning systems enable the nozzle to follow curved trajectories while maintaining proper alignment with the workpiece, making the cutting head versatile enough to handle various cutting geometries that were previously impossible.
3Ease of operation
If tools project from the beam and slide horizontally, then positioning flexibility is provided, but positioning errors occur due to variation of centers of gravity and weight of tools
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting head incorporates balancing mechanisms that counteract the weight and center of gravity variations of the cutting disc motor and water jet pump. By implementing counterbalancing weights or spring-based balancing systems, the design eliminates the positioning errors that would otherwise occur due to gravitational effects on the heavy components. This allows the tools to be positioned flexibly without sacrificing cutting accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design provides precise cutting capabilities, allows for various types of cuts on different slabs, and ensures accurate operation by maintaining balance and alignment, thus overcoming the limitations of prior art cutting heads.
Implementation Method 1
a high-pressure hydraulic duct in communication with a nozzle from which a mix of water and abrasive material is ejected at a very high pressure (3000-4000 bar)
Implementation Method 2
a mix of water and abrasive material is ejected at a very high pressure
Implementation Method 3
a rotating diamond cutting disc
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
A cutting head (100) for the cutting of slabs comprises: a shaft (1) suitable for being connected to a driving system, a main body (2) connected to the shaft (1), disc cutting means (3) comprising a cutting disc (30); said disc cutting means (3) being movably mounted with respect to the main body (2) in such a way to tilt the cutting disc (30) with respect to a vertical plane, water jet cutting means (4) comprising a nozzle (40) connected to a duct for supplying high-pressure water; said water jet cutting means (4) being movably mounted relative to the main body (2) in order to raise, lower and tilt the nozzle (40) relative to the main body (2) independently of the movement of said disc cutting means (3).