Rotating Joint Abrasive Path Humidity Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior-art abrasive fluid jet cutting devices face issues with abrasive particles being affected by humidity return flow, leading to clogging and blockages, and require compact yet efficient designs that maintain the abrasive dry and flowing regularly.
Innovation Solution
A rotating assembly with separate paths for abrasive particles and pressurized fluid, featuring expanding volumes that prevent humidity return flow and ensure easy sliding of abrasive particles to the mixing zone, while maintaining compact dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate paths for abrasive particles and pressurized fluid are used, then reliability is improved by preventing clogging, but device complexity increases due to additional path structures
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating assembly is segmented into separate paths: a first path for abrasive particles and a second path for pressurized fluid. This segmentation prevents mixing and clogging by keeping the two media separated throughout their transport routes, directly improving reliability while managing complexity through functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
A path portion acts as an intermediary element joining the first and second expanding volumes, specifically designed to block humidity return flow from the fluid path to the abrasive path. This intermediary structure prevents harmful moisture migration that would cause clogging, enhancing reliability without requiring complete path separation.
2Reliability
If expanding volumes are added to prevent humidity return flow, then reliability is improved, but volume of the rotating assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The path for abrasive particles includes expanding volumes that utilize vertical dimensionality (first upper expanding volume and second lower expanding volume) to create humidity barriers. By expanding in the vertical dimension rather than horizontally, the design prevents humidity return flow while minimizing the overall footprint and volume of the rotating assembly.
3Ease of operation
If the path for abrasive particles includes expanding volumes, then ease of operation is improved by ensuring regular flow, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expanding volumes in the abrasive particle path create regions of equal pressure potential that facilitate smooth, regular flow of particles. The first upper expanding volume and second lower expanding volume are designed to maintain consistent flow conditions, preventing blockages and ensuring reliable particle delivery to the mixing zone without requiring complex flow control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An abrasive fluid jet cutting device is disclosed comprising a rotating joint that includes a first path for abrasive and a second path for fluid, a mixing chamber where the first and second paths meet, a first expanding volume arranged above the first path to accumulate abrasive, and a second expanding volume arranged below the first path to accumulate abrasive between the first volume and the mixing chamber, in which the second volume forms a barrier against the return flow of humidity along the first path.