Rotating Abrasive Distributor for Waterjet Cutting Head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water-cutting machines with abrasive jets face limitations due to the abrasive material supply system, which restricts continuous rotation of the cutting head and leads to poor cutting quality and frequent stops, causing material abrasion and inconsistency in cuts.
Innovation Solution
A rotating distributor without seal rings connects the fixed and rotating duct portions, allowing the abrasive to flow by gravity, ensuring continuous delivery and enabling infinite rotations without stops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seal rings are used in the rotating distributor to force abrasive material under pressure towards the outlet, then the abrasive can be delivered under pressure, but the seal rings wear early due to relative rotation with abrasive material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the seal rings from the rotating distributor, extracting the problematic sealing mechanism that caused wear. The abrasive material is then delivered through a different mechanism that does not involve rotating seals, thereby eliminating the wear issue while maintaining abrasive delivery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating distributor is designed to operate without seal rings, using the rotation itself to manage abrasive flow. The system serves itself by using the natural movement and gravity of the abrasive material rather than relying on pressure-forcing mechanisms with wearing seals.
2Productivity
If the cutting head rotates continuously for more than 360 degrees, then the pipe for abrasive delivery twists and must stop, but stopping causes brief interruptions that increase material abrasion and reduce cut quality consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotating distributor that dynamically adapts to the rotation of the cutting head. The distributor rotates with the head, maintaining proper alignment and preventing pipe twisting, thereby enabling continuous rotation without stops and ensuring consistent cut quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating distributor acts as an intermediary between the fixed abrasive supply and the rotating cutting head. It mediates the connection, allowing continuous rotation by accommodating the angular movements without causing pipe twisting or requiring stops.
3Duration of action of moving object
If a rotating distributor with stator and rotor is used to connect fixed and rotating duct portions, then continuous abrasive delivery is enabled, but the relative rotation causes early wear of seal rings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the seal rings from the rotating distributor assembly, extracting the component that suffered from wear. The continuous delivery function is maintained through the rotating distributor mechanism itself, which manages abrasive flow without relying on rotating seals.
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
This solution eliminates the need for frequent stops during cutting, ensuring a consistent and high-quality cut by maintaining continuous abrasive supply and extending the service life of the machine.
Implementation Method 1
an internal chamber (26) which communicates with both of the aforesaid duct portions and is substantially at atmospheric pressure and from which the abrasive agent descends simply by gravity down to an outlet of said duct for the abrasive agent
Data Source
AI summary
A machine has a head with a nozzle, a pipe for supplying water under pressure to the nozzle, and a duct for supplying an abrasive agent, and adding it to the jet of water under pressure. The duct has a first duct portion, fixed with respect to the head in the movements of rotation about a main axis, and a second duct portion, which is fixed with respect to the movements of rotation. A rotating distributor connects the first rotating portion with the second fixed portion of the duct for supplying the abrasive agent. The distributor's stator and rotor are rotatably mounted on one another without the interposition of seal rings and define between them an internal chamber that is substantially at atmospheric pressure and from which the abrasive agent drops by gravity to a duct outlet that converges into the pipe for supplying water under pressure.