Claims
- 1. An assembly for providing a rotating, particle-laden fluid jet, comprising:
- (a) tube means including a straight inner tube for containing within its interior a stream of particle-free fluid which flows from an upstream pressurized source of said fluid through the inner tube and out the downstream end of said tube, said tube means also including a straight tubular section surrounding said inner tube;
- (b) means for rotating said straight tubular section of said tube means about the longitudinal axis of said straight tubular section;
- (c) means for introducing solid particles into said at a point along said rotating straight tubular section so as to cause said particles to mix with said fluid stream at the downstream end of said tube, whereby to produce particle-laden fluid stream; and
- (d) means for forming a rotating jet from said particle-laden stream; and
- (e) said straight tubular section of said tube means including a pair of spaced apart longitudinal subsections having confronting flanges and bolts coupling said flange means and therefore said subsections for rotation by said rotating means.
- 2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said means for introducing said particles into said stream includes:
- (a) an annular opening defined by said flange means and circumscribing said longitudinal subsections of said tubular means; and
- (b) stationary tube means in fluid communication with said annular opening for directing said particles from an external supply into said opening and into the interior of said tube means.
- 3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said flange means includes means for defining said annular opening such that the latter extends longitudinally at an acute angle with said tube means.
- 4. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said flange means includes means for defining said annular opening such that the latter extends longitudinally at a 90 angle with said tube means.
- 5. An assembly for providing a rotating, particle-laden fluid jet comprising:
- (a) means for containing a particle-free stream of fluid;
- (b) means for introducing particles into said particle-==free stream, whereby to produce a particle-free stream, whereby to produce a particle-laden fluid stream; and
- (c) means for forming a rotating jet from said particle-laden stream; and
- (d) said means for containing said particle-free stream including a tube carrying said last-mentioned stream and said means for forming said rotating jet including a housing containing one end section of said tube for receiving said last-mentioned stream and means for rotating said housing about a given axis, and said means for introducing particles into said rotating stream including an opening into said rotating housing.
- 6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said housing extends longitudinally along said given axis and includes a passageway out of the housing from its interior for passage of said particle-laden fluid stream whereby to form said jet and thereby serve as said jet-forming means.
- 7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein said passageway is offset with respect to said given axis.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 120,865 filed Nov. 16, 1987, now Pat. Ser. No. 4,854,091.
The present invention relates generally to abrasive swivels and more particularly to a swivel arrangement especially suitable for use in providing a rotating, particle-laden fluid stream and, ultimately, a high pressure, abrasive fluid cutting jet in a specific embodiment.
Techniques for providing high and ultra-high pressure particle-laden liquid cutting jets that do not rotate are well known in the art. One example is illustrated in Hashish, U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 4,648,215. At the same time, rotating swivel arrangements for providing rotating streams of particle-free fluid, even high-pressure applications, are well known in the art. See Hashish et al. U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 4,669,760. However, to date, applicants are not aware of any type of swivel assembly for use in providing a rotating, particle-laden stream of fluid. They have found there to be a great need for such an assembly, especially one capable of operating at high and ultra-high pressures for use in providing abrasive fluid cutting jets that can be rotated or oscillated back and forth. Applicants have found that there are many cutting applications where abrasive cutting jets that rotate or oscillate back and forth are essential to use. In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a swivel assembly especially designed for use in providing a rotating, particle-laden fluid stream.
A more particular object of the present invention is to provide an uncomplicated and reliable abrasive swivel assembly.
Another particular object of the present invention is to provide an abrasive swivel assembly which is especially suitable for use in producing high pressure, rotating abrasive fluid cutting jets for use in cutting through soil rocks and even harder material such as concrete and steel reinforced concrete.
Still another particular object of the present invention is to provide an abrasive swivel for use with high pressure jets designed to minimize wear to its various components which are exposed to particulate material.
Yet another particular object of this invention is to provide an abrasive swivel assembly in which particulate material is introduced into a stream of particle-free fluid with minimal interruption to the flow of the fluid and without creating any clogs or any significant turbulence.
As will be seen hereinafter, the abrasive swivel assembly disclosed herein includes means for containing a particle-free stream of fluid, means for rotating the stream containing means about a given axis, and means for introducing particles into the rotating stream containing means and ultimately into the stream itself, whereby to be capable of producing a rotating, particle-laden fluid jet from the particle-laden stream. The jet itself can be provided by, for example, connecting the particle-laden stream in fluid communication with a rotating nozzle disposed in an offset position with respect to its axis of rotation.
In one embodiment of the present invention, an end section of a tube carrying the particle-free fluid stream is disposed within a rotating housing which serves to receive particles therein and combine the particles with the stream for providing the particle-laden streams. The housing also provides a rotating nozzle through which the particle-laden stream passes in order to create the rotating jet.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the abrasive swivel assembly comprises tube means including a straight tubular section thereof for containing within its interior a stream of particle-free fluid which flows from an upstream pressurized source of the fluid through the tube means including its straight section. Means are provided for rotating the straight tubular section about its own longitudinal axis and means are provided for introducing solid particles into the particle-free fluid stream at a point along the rotating straight tubular section, whereby to produce a particle-laden fluid stream which, like in the first recited embodiment, will be ultimately used to produce a rotating abrasive fluid cutting jet.
In this second embodiment, the swivel assembly preferably includes sleeve means defining a longitudinally extending annular cavity which circumscribes a segment of the straight tubular section of the tube means and which is placed in fluid communication with the interior of the tubular means. The sleeve means also serves to provide at least one entry port in fluid communication with the cavity for directing particles from an external supply into the cavity for passage from there into the particle-free stream. The annular cavity defining sleeve means includes two parts, a rotating part defining one longitudinal portion of the annular cavity and a second, stationary part which defines a second longitudinal portion of the cavity and which also includes the particle entry port. The cross-sectional areas of the annular cavity and the entry port and the area of the opening from the entry port into the cavity preferably vary by at most a factor of two. In this way, the particles enter and then pass through the cavity and ultimately combine with the particle-free fluid stream in a smooth, relatively turbulent free manner without clogging or otherwise disrupting the flow of fluid or particles within the swivel assembly.
US Referenced Citations (2)
| Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
|
3109262 |
Weaver et al. |
Nov 1963 |
|
|
4708214 |
Krawza et al. |
Nov 1987 |
|
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 0462527 |
Mar 1930 |
DE2 |
| 0882152 |
May 1943 |
FRX |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
120865 |
Nov 1987 |
|
Patent Grant
4936059
