Motorized Adjustable Dump Orifice for Stable Jet-Cutting Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional manually adjustable dump orifices in liquid jet cutting systems are difficult to access and require tedious adjustments, leading to undesirable pressure spikes and dips, which cause fatigue and premature wear of high-pressure components.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a motorized adjustable dump orifice controlled by a closed-loop system that monitors pressure feedback to automatically adjust the orifice setting, reducing the need for manual intervention and maintaining consistent system pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a manually adjustable dump orifice with hand knob is used, then the system can maintain operating pressure, but the adjustment process is tedious and difficult to access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical adjustment system (hand knob) with an automated motorized adjustment mechanism. The motorized ADO receives electronic control signals to automatically adjust the orifice opening, eliminating the need for manual intervention and improving accessibility while maintaining pressure control reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The motorized ADO system enables the system to self-regulate its pressure by automatically adjusting the orifice opening in response to pressure sensor feedback, without requiring operator intervention. This self-service capability resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable pressure control while eliminating the operational difficulty of manual adjustment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If manual adjustment of ADO is performed frequently, then system pressure stability improves, but operator time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback control system where pressure sensors continuously monitor system pressure and send signals to the motorized ADO. This automatic feedback mechanism maintains stable system pressure without requiring frequent manual adjustments, thereby improving pressure stability while preserving operator productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing manual adjustment operations with an automated motorized system, the patent eliminates the need for operators to spend time frequently adjusting the ADO. The system maintains pressure stability automatically, resolving the contradiction between pressure stability and operator productivity.
3Device complexity
If the hand knob ADO is used, then the device complexity is low, but the system experiences pressure spikes and dips causing component wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback control system with pressure sensors and motorized actuation that continuously monitors and adjusts the ADO opening. This feedback mechanism eliminates pressure spikes and dips by making real-time adjustments, protecting components from wear while accepting the trade-off of increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the simple manual hand knob mechanism with a motorized adjustment system controlled by electronic signals from pressure sensors. This substitution increases device complexity but eliminates harmful pressure fluctuations that cause component wear, thereby improving reliability.
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 motorized system reduces pressure fluctuations, extends component life, and minimizes operator involvement, ensuring consistent system performance and reducing wear on high-pressure components.
Implementation Method 1
The motor can be any suitable type of machine (e.g., an electric motor) that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy including, for example, stepper motors, servo motors (e.g., precision servo motors), linear motors, etc.
Implementation Method 2
a controller operably connected to the motor and to a pressure sensor configured to provide pressure feedback to the controller
Data Source
AI summary
Automatically controlled adjustable dump orifices (ADO) for use with liquid jet cutting systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the automatically controlled ADOs described herein include a motor (e.g., an electric motor) and a coupling configured to operably couple the motor to a valve. The valve is configured to cooperate with a dump orifice connected in fluid communication with a high-pressure pump of the cutting system. The motor is operable to move the valve in a first direction to increase the pressure of high-pressure liquid (e.g., water) flowing through the dump orifice and in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to reduce the pressure of the high-pressure liquid flowing through the dump orifice.