Patent Application
20100327126
This invention pertains to stabilization systems for lines spanning from one location to another, wherein the two locations are moveable relative to each other, and more specifically to a stabilization system for high-pressure fluid lines spanning between a first stationary location and a second moveable second location at a moveable work tool, and further to stabilization systems for high-pressure coil tubing for delivering high-pressure fluid to cutting heads of the water jet portioners.
High-pressure water jet cutting heads and feed systems are widely known in the field. Various systems provide a conduit for delivering the high-pressure fluid to the cutting head, which is mounted on a positioning carriage. The positioning carriage transports the cutting head along an x-axis and a y-axis, accessing an infinite number of points that define a two-dimensional plane over a cutting surface. The extreme speed at which the cutting head moves throughout the plane in order to make appropriate cuts on a work product on the cutting surface results in tremendous stresses on the components of the cutting head, the carriage, the control connections and leads, and the high-pressure feed line. The stresses caused by the movements result in failures of the components.
Various techniques are employed in order to diminish the stress and wear on the high-pressure feed line. Some of these techniques include providing coils in the feed line tubing at points that require movement, providing a support structure between the cutting containment housing and the cutting head, stabilizing the feed line tubing at movement points of the support structure. Complications still occur at both the connection points of the support structure and points where the feed line tubing contacts the support structure.
A relatively successful configuration includes polymer dampeners that secure the stabilization structure to a cutting containment housing and cutting head. Although this configuration provides sufficient range and freedom of motion, at the extremely high speeds at which the carriage and cutting head move, a certain amount of vibration still exists which, after time, results in feed line failures.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The invention is a support system for stabilizing a high-pressure feed line, while permitting necessary range of motion and speed of the cutting head mounted on a x- and y-axis positioning carriage. The support system provides for a support rod connected at one end by a precise, extendable universal joint that permits free movement around two axes, and that greatly reduces the level of vibration permitted in the rod after a movement motion. The support rod is connected at the other end by a precise pivotal point that permits free movement around two axes, and that also reduces the level of vibration permitted in the rod after a movement motion. Together the two connections greatly limit vibrations in the support rod created as a product of the cutting head carriage location motion.
The remaining vibration in the support rod and vibration in the feed line is dampened by securing the feel line adjacent to the support rod connection ends, and providing a dampener span tensioned between distal points along the feed line coil at either or both ends of the support rod.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Portioner cutting applications typically require the cutting carriage 11 to make a series of small, fast, abrupt moves. These fast moves excite vibration in feed line 15, which can cause metal fatigue and ultimately lead to catastrophic failure.
Vibrations in feed line 15, across top helical coil section 32, longitudinal section 33, and bottom helical coil section 34, may be suppressed by attaching longitudinal section 33 of feed line 15 to a support assembly or structure 10, as depicted in
Telescoping universal joint 40 is depicted in
Each yoke arm 44, 45 has a hole 54 at its distal end into which the shank portion 46A of bearing pad 46 may be press fit or otherwise retained. The bearing pads 46 may be generally in the shape of a circular disk, but other shapes such as octagonal, hexagonal or square can be used. Each bearing pad 46 has a central spherical seat 56 in its face opposite shank portion 46A that may accommodate a ball bearing 49. The bearing pads 46 are sized and positioned to mate against the longitudinal faces of the spider block 42. The ball bearings 49 slide in bowled raceways 52 extending along each longitudinal face of central spider block 42. With this geometry, central spider block 42 can translate relative to each yoke assembly 41 along axis 38 by virtue of ball bearings 49 rolling in the raceways 52 in spider block 42. In this regard, one yoke assembly 41 is nominally positioned at each end of the central spider block 42, with the yoke assemblies disposed 90° relative to each other in the manner of a typical universal joint. Central spider block 42 can also rotate about an axes 36, 37 defined by corresponding pairs of bearing pads 46. This geometry allows upper coil 32 two degrees of rotational freedom and one degree of translational freedom, but is constrained from vibrating, moving or rotating in any other directions.
The upper yoke assembly 41 of the universal joint 40 is mounted to the portioner by a bracket assembly 31. The bracket assembly 31 includes a connector plate 31A having a transverse portion 30 that overlaps the upper surface of yoke base piece 43 and is superiorly connected thereto via hardware members 31B, which may be in the form of threaded capscrews. The capscrews extend through clearance holes formed in the connector plate 31A to engage in threaded holes formed in the base piece 43 of the yoke assembly 41. The connector plate 31A also has a major plate portion that underlies a two-piece clamp block 31C, which in turn underlies the lower flange portion 31D of a formed bracket 31E. The formed bracket 31E also includes an upper flange portion 31F which is secured to the frame, housing or other portion of a cutting or portioning apparatus, not shown, via hardware members 31G which engage through clearance holes formed in the upper flange 31F. The clamp block 31C is composed of a lower half and an upper half that cooperatively define a transverse through-hole for snugly receiving the corresponding portion 32A of coil suction 32. The lower flange 31D, clamp block 31C and connector plate 31A are all clamped together by hardware members 31H that extend through clearance openings formed in each of the foregoing components. The clamp blocks 31C may include a generally cylindrically shaped snubber portion 31I that projects laterally from the clamp block to encircle and support the coil section 32A. The clamp block 31C may be composed of material having inherent shock absorbing properties so as to not transmit vibrations between the formed bracket 31E and the universal joint 40. The formed bracket 31E also includes a clamping arm 31J to support the adjacent portion of the feed line 15. A lower clamping block 31K supports the line 15 against the underside of clamping arm 31I and is held in position by hardware members 31L.
Universal joint 40 is designed for use in washdown environments, such as found in food processing plants. All of the parts may be made from stainless steel. Parts in rubbing contact with other parts (e.g., spider block 42, ball bearings 49, and bearing pads 46) may be made from different stainless steel alloys to minimize galling or other forms of abrasive wear. Contact surfaces between parts, which are difficult to keep clean in food processing areas, are kept to a minimum. Yoke arms 44, 45 may be designed to provide generous clearance to the central spider box 42 so it is easily washed with a water and/or steam stream (not shown). Other washdown-proof materials known in the field of food preparation (e.g., Delrin®) may be used.
The universal joint 40 is also designed to be easily maintained. Over time, the bearing pads 46, bearings 49 and the spider block 42 may wear. By loosening bolts 47, yoke arms 44, 45 may be repositioned to move bearing pads 46 closer to spider block 42 to accommodate minor wear. Also, the shank portions 46A of bearing pads 46 may be threadably engaged with yoke holes 54 so that the pressure of the bearing pads against the adjacent face of the spider block 42 may be adjusted. When bearing pads 46 “wear out,” yoke arms 44, 45 may be removed and new bearing pads 46 may be installed. Also, central spider block 42 can be easily replaced when it is “worn out.”
The bottom of span member 12 has a telescoping piece 16, which is held in place by a split bushing 13 and a pair of clamps 14. A rod-end spherical bearing 17 is mounted to the distal end of telescoping piece 16. Rod-end bearing 17 connects span member 12 to a cutting carriage 11 via intermediate telescoping extension piece 16. The extension piece 16 allows the pivot point of rod-end bearing 17 to be moved relative to the span member 12, which has been found important to accommodate changes in the water jet nozzle 58 height.
Referring to
A dampener 23 provides relative radial support to a tube coil, such as helical coil sections 32, 34 of feed line 15. Dampener 23 is anchored at its center 24 to support structure 10. Exemplary dampener 23 is a flexible membrane that is attached to telescoping component 16 and is further attached to bottom helical coil section 34 at three points with tie wraps 80. Dampener 23 dampens vibration in coils of helical coil section 34. Exemplary dampener 23 may be constructed of thin (e.g., ⅛″ thick) ultra-high-molecular-weight polymer or polyurethane, but those skilled in the art will appreciate other suitable materials. Dampener 23 is illustrated as composed of three spokes that radiate out from a central hub portion 24, but it will be appreciated that the dampener can be constructed in other shapes.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the span member 12 may be in the form of a rod rather than a tube. Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with feed systems for high-pressure water jet cutting heads, the present invention can be utilized in other applications, including to stabilize high-pressure fluid lines spanning between a first location, which may be movable or stationary, and a second location at a movable work tool. Generally the present invention may also be used in conjunction with stabilizing lines spanning from one location to another location, wherein the two locations are movable relative to each other. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.
While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is a division of application Ser. No. 11/294874, filed Dec. 6, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7793896, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/633589, filed Dec. 6, 2004, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60633589 | Dec 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11294874 | Dec 2005 | US |
| Child | 12881046 | US |
