WATERJET CUTTING MACHINE SYSTEM

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a waterjet cutting machine, including a frame, a cap including a liquid inlet port and an abrasive supply port, a pivoting assembly disposed at the second end of the frame and further including a nozzle that may be pivotable about a horizontal axis between +/−130 degrees relative to the horizontal axis. The nozzle may be configured to discharge a high-pressure liquid and an abrasive to perform a shape nozzle and taperless cutting operation. The waterjet cutting machine may also include a shaft assembly disposed within the frame that may rotate about a vertical axis as well as a rotary bowl with a liner selectively removably coupled to the shaft with standoff fasteners and a plurality of set screws. The rotary bowl and liner may protect the inside surface of the waterjet cutting machine from the effects of the abrasive for optimal performance.

Description

FIELD

The present technology relates to a waterjet cutting machine system.

INTRODUCTION

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Waterjet cutting machines are used to cut a variety of materials, including metals, plastics, and composites. These machines typically use a high-pressure stream of water to cut through the material, and may also use an abrasive material to enhance the cutting process. Certain approaches to the design of waterjet cutting machines have included fixed nozzle designs, where the nozzle is stationary and the material to be cut is moved beneath it, and gantry-style designs, where the nozzle is mounted on a movable gantry that moves over the material to be cut. Other approaches have included designs that use multiple nozzles to increase cutting speed, or that use robotic arms to move the nozzle over the material. However, none of these approaches provide a comprehensive and integrated solution that combines the features described in this disclosure.

Abrasive erosion is also a concern when it comes to waterjet cutting machines. Exposure to abrasive particles, such as garnet, aluminum oxide, and/or sand as used in the cutting process, can gradually wear away internal components of the machine due to the texture of the abrasive contacting internal surfaces of the waterjet cutting machine. This erosion can lead to reduced cutting accuracy, decreased machine efficiency, and increased maintenance requirements. In particular, abrasive eroding away aluminum material of the waterjet cutting machine can lead to costly repairs and replacement of the waterjet cutting machine. To mitigate these problems, regular inspections, regular replacements, and proper maintenance is required to ensure optimal performance of the waterjet cutting machine. However, these solutions can create different issues which affect the overall efficiency, operating time, and costs of the waterjet cutting machine.

Accordingly, there is a need for a waterjet system with flexibility in material cutting approaches and which can optimize dispensing and minimize wear associated with use of abrasive materials. The present technology meets these needs in providing a nozzle capable of rotating +/−130 degrees about a horizontal axis along with providing a replaceable rotary bowl with a liner capable of receiving an abrasive and providing minimal corrosion against the rotary bowl to reduce erosion of the interior surface of the waterjet cutting machine.

SUMMARY

In concordance with the instant disclosure, a waterjet system with a nozzle capable of rotating +/−130 degrees about a horizontal axis along with providing a replaceable rotary bowl with a liner capable of receiving an abrasive and providing minimal corrosion against the rotary bowl to reduce erosion of the interior surface of the waterjet cutting machine, has surprisingly been discovered.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a waterjet cutting machine, including a frame, a cap including a liquid inlet port and an abrasive supply port, a pivoting assembly including a nozzle that may be pivotable about a horizontal axis between +/−130 degrees relative to the horizontal axis, a shaft assembly disposed within the frame and including a shaft, and a rotary bowl with a liner removably disposed atop the shaft. The pivoting assembly may be configured to rotate about a first vertical axis powered by a motor and further coupled to the nozzle. The nozzle may be configured to discharge a high-pressure liquid and an abrasive to perform a shape nozzle and taperless cutting operation while also capable of rotating +/−130 degrees relative to a horizontal axis. Advantageously, the rotation of the nozzle at +/−130 degrees provides a capability of performing the shape nozzle and taperless cutting operation in difficult to reach areas, which other waterjet cutting machines cannot provide.

The rotary bowl may be selectively removably coupled to the shaft with standoff fasteners by set screws disposed in the set screw apertures. The rotary bowl may include a liner to protect the inside surface of the waterjet cutting machine from the abrasive. The liner may receive the abrasive through the abrasive supply port such that the liner may be capable of absorbing the natural effects of the abrasive rather than eroding away the inside of the waterjet cutting machine. The liner may be manufactured with stainless steel as well and may be placed inside a bottom portion of the interior surface of the rotary bowl.

By providing a rotary bowl and liner that are easily replaceable, the waterjet cutting machine is configured to mitigate erosion of the inside surface of a waterjet cutting machine resulting from the abrasive and provides an efficient means to reduce replacement of the entire waterjet cutting machine. This effectively provides a waterjet cutting machine system that is less costly and requires less maintenance than other waterjet cutting machines that do not utilize the rotary bowl with the liner. Additionally, the shaft assembly may be further configured to rotate the rotary bowl about a second vertical axis to which the shaft assembly also rotates about the second vertical axis at an infinite rotation. The shaft assembly may further house a motor with double the torque of other waterjet cutting machines to provide optimal performance and improved rotational speed and accuracy.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a waterjet cutting machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a left-side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a right-side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 7A is a front perspective view thereof;

FIG. 7B is an exploded, front perspective view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along plane 8-8 as depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, front perspective view of the invention taken at call-out 9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, front perspective view of the invention taken at call-out 10 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary bowl without the liner;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged, front perspective view of the rotary bowl taken at call-out 12 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged, front perspective view of the rotary bowl taken at call-out 13 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a rotary bowl of the waterjet cutting machine, where the rotary bowl has a liner placed in a bottom portion of an interior surface;

FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the rotary bowl;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the rotary bowl;

FIG. 17 is a bottom plan view of the rotary bowl; and

FIG. 18 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a pivoting assembly of the waterjet cutting machine, as depicted in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture and use of one or more inventions, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific invention claimed in this application or in such other applications as may be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. Regarding methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps may be different in various embodiments, including where certain steps may be simultaneously performed, unless expressly stated otherwise. “A” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. Except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description are to be understood as modified by the word “about” and all geometric and spatial descriptors are to be understood as modified by the word “substantially” in describing the broadest scope of the technology. “About” when applied to numerical values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” and/or “substantially” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” and/or “substantially” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters.

Although the open-ended term “comprising,” as a synonym of non-restrictive terms such as including, containing, or having, is used herein to describe and claim embodiments of the present technology, embodiments may alternatively be described using more limiting terms such as “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of” Thus, for any given embodiment reciting materials, components, or process steps, the present technology also specifically includes embodiments consisting of, or consisting essentially of, such materials, components, or process steps excluding additional materials, components or processes (for consisting of) and excluding additional materials, components or processes affecting the significant properties of the embodiment (for consisting essentially of), even though such additional materials, components or processes are not explicitly recited in this application. For example, recitation of a composition or process reciting elements A, B and C specifically envisions embodiments consisting of, and consisting essentially of, A, B and C, excluding an element D that may be recited in the art, even though element D is not explicitly described as being excluded herein.

As referred to herein, disclosures of ranges are, unless specified otherwise, inclusive of endpoints and include all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range. Thus, for example, a range of “from A to B” or “from about A to about B” is inclusive of A and of B. Disclosure of values and ranges of values for specific parameters (such as amounts, weight percentages, etc.) are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values useful herein. It is envisioned that two or more specific exemplified values for a given parameter may define endpoints for a range of values that may be claimed for the parameter. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that Parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9,1-8,1-3,1-2,2-10,2-8,2-3,3-10,3-9, and so on.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” may encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The present technology relates to a waterjet cutting machine 100 with a pivoting assembly 114 capable of rotating a nozzle 116+/−130 degrees relative to a horizontal axis (A) and a rotary bowl 142 with a liner 148 that is replaceable and also capable of receiving an abrasive to provide minimal corrosion to the waterjet cutting machine 100, as shown generally in FIGS. 1-18. Advantageously, the rotation of the nozzle at +/−130 degrees provides a capability of performing the shape nozzle and taperless cutting operation in difficult to reach areas. Additionally, the waterjet cutting machine is configured to mitigate erosion of the inside surface of a waterjet cutting machine resulting from the abrasive and provides an efficient means to reduce replacement of the entire waterjet cutting machine.

The industry has restrained itself previously to only utilizing, producing, and selling nozzles with a circular or round cross-section in the interior for the high-pressure liquid and abrasive material to pass through. There may be an inside diameter (ID) and an outside diameter (OD) to which the dimensions for both may be different based on manufacturer and application. However, they are always round in cross-section regarding the control of focusing the stream.

As used and described herein relating to the waterjet cutting machine system 100 of the present disclosure, the term “shape nozzle” is used to define the stream control by using Electric Discharge Machining (hereinafter “EDM”) to machine a shape through the inside length of the nozzle 116. Without limiting to any particular shape in cross-section, other shapes contemplated include a square, half moon, triangle, oval and more shapes. One of ordinary skill in the art may select suitable shapes of the shape nozzle within the scope of the present disclosure.

The use of the shape nozzle in accordance with the present disclosure has several advantages including, but not limited to, improved cutting speeds/feed rates, better abrasive utilization, finer cut details such as tight inside corners. This permits for cutting of materials that are thicker in size or harder in machinability. As a non-limiting example, the thickness in size may start at 1-inch or 25-millimeters in materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, titanium, and many other materials.

As further used and described herein relating to the waterjet cutting machine system 100 of the present disclosure, the term “taperless” and any terms relating to “taper control” are related to the tilting of the nozzle 116 dynamically to offset the flared path that the jet stream takes when cutting through different materials. The thicker, denser, or harder the machinability of the material, the more apparent this description becomes. The tilt control is designed to give the finished dimensions of a cut part the same tolerance and measurement at the top of the material as in the bottom of the finished part. Advantageously, with the tilt being controlled properly, any dimensional error ends up in the scrap side of the cut where there is no concern to the quality of the finished project.

FIGS. 1-18 illustrate a waterjet cutting machine 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The waterjet cutting machine 100 may include a frame 102, a cap 108, a pivoting assembly 114, a shaft assembly 130, and a rotary bowl 142. The frame 102 may include a first end 104 and a second end 106, where the cap 108 may be disposed on the first end 104 of the frame 102 and the pivoting assembly 114 may be disposed at the second end 106 of the frame 102. The shaft assembly 130 may further be disposed within the frame 102 and the rotary bowl 142 may be removably disposed atop the shaft 134 and beneath the cap 108. Advantageously, the frame 102 may be sized to accommodate the shaft assembly 130 within the frame 102. The cap 108 may include a liquid inlet port 110 and an abrasive supply port 112. Desirably, the cap 108 may include a diameter to cover a bearing of the rotary bowl 142.

The shaft assembly 130 may include a motor 132 and a shaft 134 which is cylindrical in shape, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 8. As a non-limiting example, the motor 132 may be a direct drive motor with a torque of 18 Newton-meters. Other waterjet cutting machines provide a motor with a torque of 9 Newton-meters. Advantageously, the motor 132 with a torque of 18 Newton-meters provides improved rotational speed and accuracy of the waterjet cutting machine 100. One of ordinary skill in the art may select a suitable motor 132.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the shaft assembly 130 may be configured to rotate the pivoting assembly 114 about a first vertical axis (B) while the shaft assembly 130 may be configured to rotate about the second vertical axis (C). Advantageously, the shaft assembly 130 may be configured to rotate the second vertical axis (C) at an infinite rotation without tangling the system's cables and wires. The shaft 134 may include a plurality of standoff fasteners 138 disposed on a top portion of the shaft 134 and an elongate bore 136 formed through a length of the shaft 134, as shown in FIG. 7B. The elongate bore 136 of the shaft 134 may be in fluid communication with both the liquid inlet port 110 of the cap 108 and the nozzle 116 of the pivoting assembly 114 to direct water through the system. The shaft 134 may also include an elongate groove 140 formed along the length of the shaft 134. It should be appreciated that the flexible tube 127 may be disposed inside of and along an entire length of the elongate groove 140, which directs the abrasive through the shaft 134, as further explained below. In general, the elongate bore 136 and the elongate groove 140 are illustrated in FIG. 7B. It should be appreciated that the elongate bore 136 may extend the entire length and through the center of the shaft 134. The elongate bore 136 may also be spaced apart from the elongate groove 140. It should also be appreciated that the elongate groove 140 may be formed in an outer surface of the shaft 134 and may extend the entire length of the shaft 134 as well. The shaft assembly 130 may be protected by a cover 131 that may be coupled to the shaft assembly 130 by the first end 104 of the frame 102 and the second end 106 of the frame 102, as shown in FIG. 7B.

The pivoting assembly 114 may further include a swing arm 118, an abrasive wire guard 120, a mixing body 122, a motor 166, and a nozzle 116 that may be pivotable about a horizontal axis (A) between +/−130 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (A), with reference to FIGS. 1, 4-8, and 18. Advantageously, the nozzle 116 may be configured to discharge a high-pressure liquid and an abrasive to perform a shape nozzle and taperless cutting operation at +/−130 degrees about the horizontal axis (A). In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle 116 rests at 0-degrees relative to the horizontal axis (A) when pointing straight down. With reference to FIG. 6, the nozzle 116 is capable of rotating up to + or −130 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (A), as shown in phantom in FIG. 6. When the nozzle 116 points straight down, as shown in FIG. 1, it rests back at 0-degrees but is capable of rotating 130 degrees in the other direction. Other waterjet cutting machines can only rotate the nozzle about a horizontal axis +/−60 degrees to 90-degrees, at most. Desirably, this capability of rotating to +/−130 degrees is beneficial for hard-to-reach areas when utilizing the waterjet cutting machine 100.

With further reference to the pivoting assembly 114, shown generally in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 7A-7B, 8, and 18, the swing arm 118 may be configured to rotate about the first vertical axis (B) and the abrasive wire guard 120 may be configured to protect an electrical wiring configuration of the swing arm 118. The mixing body 122 may include a first end 124 and a second end 126 and a side mix port 128. The first end 124 of the mixing body 122 may be in fluid communication with the elongate bore 136 of the shaft 134 for receiving water from the liquid inlet port 110 through the elongate bore 136 of the shaft 134. The side mix port 128 of the mixing body 122 may be configured to receive the abrasive for mixing the abrasive with the high-pressure liquid within the mixing body 122 and for delivery to the nozzle 116. The second end 126 of the mixing body 122 may be in fluid communication with the nozzle 116 which ultimately releases the high-pressure liquid with the abrasive for a shape nozzle and taperless cutting operation.

As shown in FIG. 18, a flexible tube 127 may be coupled to and in communication with the side mix port 128 of the mixing body 122 in order to gravity feed the side mix port 128 of the mixing body 122 with the abrasive. It should be appreciated that there is also a venturi-generated vacuum from the flow of the high-pressure liquid that also facilitates the delivery of the abrasive to the side mix port 128. The flexible tube 127 may further extend from the side mix port 128 through the elongate groove 140 of the shaft 134 and may be in communication with the abrasive aperture 158 of the rotary bowl 142 to receive the abrasive. The flexible tube 127 may be attached to the abrasive aperture 158 at a fitting (not shown) on an underside of the abrasive aperture 158 from the bottom surface of the rotary bowl 142, for example. The abrasive supply port 112 supplies the abrasive to the rotary bowl 142 and the abrasive may travel through abrasive aperture 158 and into the flexible tube 127 disposed inside the elongate groove 140 of the shaft 134. The abrasive travels the length of the flexible tube 127 and is then received by the side mix port 128 of the mixing body 122.

As further described below, the shaft assembly 130 may be configured to rotate the rotary bowl 142 infinitely or continuously about the second vertical axis (C). The connection of the flexible tube 127 to the rotary bowl 142 rotating infinitely or continuously about the second vertical axis (C) maintains the integrity of the flexible tube 127 while the rotation occurs. In other words, if the rotary bowl 142 were not also rotating infinitely or continuously about the second vertical axis (C), the flexible tube 127 coupled to the rotary bowl 142 would otherwise twist and snap, thereby rendering the flexible tube 127 unusable.

The swing arm 118 may be rotatably coupled to the shaft assembly 130, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 18. Particularly, the swing arm 118 may rotate about the first vertical axis (B) while the nozzle 116 may pivot about the horizontal axis (A)+/−130 degrees. The swing arm 118 may further include a first planar end 160 and a second planar end 162. The first planar end 160 may be orthogonal to the second planar end 162 and the first planar end 160 of the swing arm 118 may be coupled to the second end 106 of the frame 102, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7A, and 7B.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 7B, the swing arm 118 may also include a motor 166, a tilt mount plate 168, a tilt adjustment plate 170, and a cutting head mount 172. The first planar end 160 of the swing arm 118 may be coupled to the second end 106 of the frame 102. The motor 166 may be mounted to the second planar end 162 of the swing arm 118. In particular, the nozzle 116 of the pivoting assembly 114 may be coupled to the motor 166 such that the motor 166 may be configured to pivot the nozzle 116+/−130 degrees about the horizontal axis (A). As a non-limiting example, the motor 166 may be a Yaksawa electric motor (Yaksawa Electric Corporation, Japan). One of ordinary skill in the art may select suitable motors 166 as part of the pivoting assembly 114.

With continued reference to FIG. 7B, the swing arm 118 may be configured to receive a rotation limit bar 164. In particular, the rotation limit bar 164 may be coupled to the second planar end 162 of the swing arm 118. It should be appreciated that coupling the rotation limit bar 164 to the swing arm 118 may limit the nozzle 116 from pivoting more than +/−72.5 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (A). When the rotation limit bar 164 is not coupled to the swing arm 118, the nozzle 116 may be capable of pivoting about the horizontal axis (A)+/−130 degrees, as described hereinabove.

Desirably, the rotation limit bar 164 is capable of minimizing the full degree of rotation of the nozzle 116 relative to the horizontal axis (A) based on specific projects utilizing different water tank types. Standard water tanks cannot handle the nozzle 116 pivoting the full +/−130 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (A). So, the rotation limit bar 164 may be an additional component selectively added by the user or installer to the waterjet cutting machine system 100 in order to limit the degree of rotation to +/−72.5 degrees relative to the horizontal axis (A). Advantageously, the user or installer may include and couple the rotation limit bar 164 to the swing arm 118 or alternatively remove the rotation limit bar 164 to allow for the full +/−130 degree of rotation capability.

Additionally, the tilt mount plate 168 may be coupled to the motor 166 and the tilt adjustment plate 170 may be coupled to the cutting head mount 172 in series. The cutting head mount 172 may further be coupled to the nozzle 116. The tilt mount plate 168, the tilt adjustment plate 170, and cutting head mount 172 may all be secured and fastened by a plurality of set screws 155. An alignment compensation pivot 174 may be provided between the coupling of the tilt mount plate 168 and the motor 166. The alignment compensation pivot 174 may be manually adjusted.

The rotary bowl 142 may include an upper lip 144, an inlet tube 146, an interior surface 150, a liner 148, and a wear cup 149 as shown in FIGS. 7B-9 and 11-17. Particularly, the rotary bowl 142 may be manufactured from aluminum. The interior surface 150 may include a top portion 152 and a bottom portion 154. The top portion 152 may include a larger diameter than the diameter of the bottom portion 154 of the rotary bowl 142. As a non-limiting example, the top portion 152 may include a 0.13×45-degree chamfer. As another non-limiting example, the bottom portion 154 may include a 0.05×45-degree chamfer. Generally, the rotary bowl 142 may have a larger diameter than the diameter of the liner 148 in order for the rotary bowl to hold the liner 148 inside the interior surface 150 as well as couple the wear cup 149 to the top portion 152 of the rotary bowl 142. Since the rotary bowl 142 may have a larger diameter to accommodate the addition of the liner 148 and coupling of the wear cup 149, the bearing size may also be sized to accommodate the diameter of the rotary bowl 142 for optimal performance of the waterjet cutting machine 100.

The inlet tube 146 may be in fluid communication with the liquid inlet port 110 of the cap 108 and may be configured to receive the high-pressure liquid from the liquid inlet port 110. As a non-limiting example, the inlet tube 146 may have a 0.01×45-degree chamfer. The interior surface 150 of the rotary bowl 142 may be configured to receive the abrasive from the abrasive supply port 112. The shaft assembly 130 may be further configured to rotate the rotary bowl 142 about the second vertical axis (C) at an infinite rotation.

With further reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, the rotary bowl 142 may also include an O-ring groove 145, as shown in FIG. 12, capable of receiving an O-ring 143, and a snap ring groove 147, as shown in FIG. 13, respectively. Advantageously, the O-ring groove 145 provides placement for the O-ring 143 to create a seal against the cap 108 for maintaining the vacuum. This vacuum specifically helps pull the abrasive received by the abrasive supply port 112 down the abrasive aperture 158 of the rotary bowl 142 through the flexible tube 127 disposed inside the elongate groove 140 of the shaft 134, as further described below. Desirably, the snap ring groove 147 helps keep the wear cup 149 (as shown in FIG. 7B) in place.

The rotary bowl 142 may further include an abrasive aperture 158, one or more standoff apertures 156, and one or more set screw apertures 157. The abrasive aperture 158 may be in the bottom portion 154 of the interior surface 150 of the rotary bowl 142. The abrasive aperture 158 may be aligned with the flexible tube 127 inside the elongate groove 140 of the shaft 134 for permitting abrasive from the abrasive supply port 112 to gravity feed from the rotary bowl 142 through the abrasive aperture 158 and into the flexible tube 127 disposed inside the elongate groove 140 of the shaft 134 to ultimately send the abrasive to the side mix port 128 of the mixing body 122. The one or more standoff apertures 156 may be disposed on a bottom surface of the rotary bowl 142 and the one or more set screw apertures 157 may be disposed on a side surface of the rotary bowl 142. The one or more standoff apertures 156 may be in communication with the one or more set screw apertures 157 and a respective standoff aperture 156 may selectively receive a respective standoff fastener 138 of the shaft 134, as shown in FIG. 9.

The rotary bowl 142 may be selectively removably coupled to the shaft 134 with the standoff fastener 138 by a set screw 155 disposed in the set screw aperture 157, as further shown in FIG. 9. Advantageously, the rotary bowl 142 may be easily replaced by un-fastening the set screw 155 from the set screw apertures 157 of the rotary bowl 142. By providing a rotary bowl 142 that is easily replaceable, it mitigates erosion of the inside surface of the waterjet cutting machine 100 due to the abrasive and provides an efficient way to reduce replacement of the entire waterjet cutting machine 100. This effectively provides a system that is less costly and requires less maintenance than other waterjet cutting machines that do not utilize the rotary bowl 142 with the liner 148.

The liner 148 may be manufactured from stainless steel and particularly may be disposed in the bottom portion 154 of the interior surface 150 of the rotary bowl 142, as shown in FIGS. 9, 11, and 14. It should also be appreciated that the liner 148 may also be made from carbide or other suitable abrasive-resistant materials, as desired. The liner 148 may circumscribe the inlet tube 146 of the rotary bowl 142 while the inlet tube 146 may extend through an entirety of the rotary bowl 142 including outwardly and past the upper lip 144 of the rotary bowl 142. The inlet tube 146 may be fluid communication with the liquid inlet port 110 of the cap 108 to receive water.

The abrasive supply port 112 of the cap 108 may be oriented on an abrasive supply port axis (D), and the liquid inlet port 110 of the cap 108 may be oriented on a liquid supply port axis (E), as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9. The abrasive supply port axis (D) may be offset a first distance (D1) from the liquid supply port axis (E), as shown in FIG. 9. The abrasive aperture 158 of the rotary bowl 142 may also be offset a second distance (D2) from the inlet tube 146 of the rotary bowl 142, as shown in FIG. 16. An abrasive exit axis (F) on which the abrasive aperture 158 is disposed, may be offset a second distance (D2) from the liquid supply port axis (E), as shown in FIG. 16. Generally, the first distance (D1) may be equal to, less than, or greater than the second distance (D2). One of ordinary skill in the art may select suitable distances (D1 and D2). In particular, the abrasive supply port axis (D) may be closer to the liquid supply port axis (E) so that the abrasive falls on the liner 148 and not on the wall of the rotary bowl 142. Advantageously, having the abrasive to fall in the liner 148 allows the liner 148 to absorb most of the erosion caused by the abrasive over time. In turn, the liner 148 and the rotary bowl 142 may be replaced to provide optimal performance of the waterjet cutting machine 100.

Advantageously, the waterjet cutting machine 100 overcomes limitations of other waterjet cutting machines. The pivoting assembly 114 allows the nozzle 116 to pivot about the horizontal axis (A)+/−130 degrees, unlike other waterjet cutting machines. The rotary bowl 142 provides an effective way to prolong the shelf life of the waterjet cutting machine 100 by including a liner 148 that takes the effects of the erosion caused by the abrasive. Ultimately, the rotary bowl 142 and the liner 148 may easily be replaced due to the placement of one or more set screw apertures 157 on the side of the rotary bowl 142. Rather than replacing the entire waterjet cutting machine 100, the rotary bowl 142 and the liner 148 may simply be replaced once the rotary bowl 142 and the liner 148 have surpassed their shelf life, thereby reducing the need for costly repairs and consistent maintenance of the waterjet cutting machine 100. Desirably, the shaft assembly 130 includes an efficient motor 132 with an increased torque that provides improved rotational speed and accuracy of the shaft assembly 130 within the waterjet cutting machine 100. Ultimately, the waterjet cutting machine 100 with the pivoting assembly 114 capable of pivoting the nozzle +/−130 degrees about the horizontal axis (A) and the replaceable rotary bowl 142 with the addition of the liner 148 overcome limitations of other waterjet cutting machines for optimal performance of shape nozzle and taperless cutting operation.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. Equivalent changes, modifications and variations of some embodiments, materials, compositions and methods may be made within the scope of the present technology, with substantially similar results.

Claims

1. A waterjet cutting machine, comprising: a frame including a first end and a second end;a cap disposed on the first end of the frame, the cap including a liquid inlet port and an abrasive supply port;a pivoting assembly disposed at the second end of the frame, the pivoting assembly including a nozzle that is pivotable about a horizontal axis, the nozzle configured to discharge high-pressure liquid and abrasive to perform a shape nozzle and taperless cutting operation;a shaft assembly disposed within the frame, the shaft assembly including a motor and a shaft, the shaft including an elongate bore formed through a length of the shaft, the elongate bore of the shaft in fluid communication with both the liquid inlet of the cap and the nozzle of the pivoting assembly, the shaft assembly configured to rotate the pivoting assembly about a vertical axis; anda rotary bowl removably disposed atop the shaft of the shaft assembly and beneath the cap, the rotary bowl including an upper lip, an inlet tube, an interior surface, and a liner, the inlet tube in fluid communication with the liquid inlet port of the cap and configured to receive the high-pressure liquid from the liquid inlet port, and the interior surface configured to receive the abrasive from the abrasive supply port, the interior surface including a top portion and a bottom portion, the liner disposed in the bottom portion of the interior surface of the rotary bowl.

2. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 1, wherein the shaft further includes a plurality of standoff fasteners disposed on a top portion of the shaft.

3. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 2, wherein the rotary bowl further includes a plurality of standoff apertures disposed on a bottom surface of the rotary bowl, and a plurality of set screw apertures disposed on a side surface of the rotary bowl, the plurality of standoff apertures in communication with the plurality of set screw apertures, the plurality of standoff apertures selectively receiving the plurality of standoff fasteners of the shaft.

4. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 3, wherein the rotary bowl is selectively removably coupled to the shaft with the standoff fasteners by a plurality of set screws disposed in the plurality of set screw apertures.

5. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 1, wherein the shaft assembly is further configured to rotate the rotary bowl about the vertical axis.

6. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 1, wherein the rotary bowl is manufactured from aluminum.

7. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 1, wherein the liner is manufactured from stainless steel.

8. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 1, wherein the liner includes a diameter less than a diameter of the bottom portion of the interior surface of the rotary bowl.

9. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 1, wherein the liner circumscribes the inlet tube of the rotary bowl, and the inlet tube extends through an entirety of the rotary bowl including outwardly and past the upper lip, the inlet tube in fluid communication with the liquid inlet port of the cap.

10. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 1, wherein the top portion of the interior surface of the rotary bowl includes a diameter larger than a diameter of the bottom portion of the interior surface of the rotary bowl.

11. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 1, wherein the rotary bowl further includes an abrasive aperture in the bottom portion of the interior surface of the rotary bowl, and the shaft includes an elongate groove formed along the length of the shaft, the abrasive aperture aligned with the elongate groove and permitting abrasive from the abrasive supply port to gravity feed from the rotary bowl through the abrasive aperture and into the elongate groove.

12. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 11, wherein the abrasive supply port of the cap is oriented on an abrasive supply port axis, and the liquid inlet port of the cap is oriented on a liquid supply port axis, and the abrasive supply port axis is offset a first distance from the liquid supply port axis, and the abrasive aperture of the rotary bowl is offset a second distance from the inlet tube of the rotary bowl.

13. A waterjet cutting machine, comprising: a frame including a first end and a second end;a cap disposed on the first end of the frame, the cap including a liquid inlet port and an abrasive supply port;a pivoting assembly disposed at the second end of the frame, the pivoting assembly including a nozzle that is pivotable about a horizontal axis between +/−130 degrees relative to the horizontal axis, the nozzle configured to discharge high-pressure liquid and abrasive to perform a shape nozzle and taperless cutting operation; anda shaft assembly disposed within the frame, the shaft assembly including a motor and a shaft, the shaft including an elongate bore formed through a length of the shaft, the elongate bore of the shaft in fluid communication with both the liquid inlet of the cap and the nozzle of the pivoting assembly, the shaft assembly configured to rotate the pivoting assembly about a vertical axis.

14. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 13, wherein the pivoting assembly further includes a swing arm, an abrasive wire guard, and a mixing body, the swing arm configured to rotate about the vertical axis, the abrasive wire guard configured to protect an electrical wiring configuration of the swing arm, and the mixing body including a first end, a second end, and a side mix port, the first end of the mixing body in fluid communication with the elongate bore of the shaft, and the second end of the mixing body in fluid communication with the nozzle, and the side mix port configured to receive the abrasive for mixing the abrasive with the high-pressure liquid within the mixing body and for delivery to the nozzle.

15. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 14, wherein the swing arm is rotatably coupled to the shaft assembly.

16. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 14, wherein the swing arm further includes a first planar end and a second planar end, the first planar end orthogonal to the second planar end, the first planar end of the swing arm coupled to the second end of the frame.

17. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 16, further configured to receive a rotation limit bar coupled to the second end of the swing arm, the rotation limit bar configured to limit the swing arm from pivoting more than +/−72.5 degrees relative to the horizontal axis.

18. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 15, further including a motor mounted to the swing arm, the nozzle coupled to the motor, and the motor configured to pivot the nozzle about the horizontal axis.

19. The waterjet cutting machine of claim 18, further including a tilt mount plate, a tilt adjustment plate, and a cutting head mount, the tilt mount plate coupled to the motor, the tilt adjustment plate coupled to the cutting head mount, and the cutting head mount coupled to the nozzle.

20. A waterjet cutting machine, comprising: a frame including a first end and a second end,a cap disposed on the first end of the frame, the cap including a liquid inlet port and an abrasive supply port;a pivoting assembly disposed at the second end of the frame, the pivoting assembly including a nozzle that is pivotable about a horizontal axis between +/−130 degrees relative to the horizontal axis, the nozzle configured to discharge high-pressure liquid and abrasive to perform a shape nozzle and taperless cutting operation;a shaft assembly disposed within the frame, the shaft assembly including a motor and a shaft, the shaft including an elongate bore formed through a length of the shaft, the elongate bore of the shaft in fluid communication with both the liquid inlet of the cap and the nozzle of the pivoting assembly, the shaft assembly configured to rotate the pivoting assembly about a vertical axis; anda rotary bowl removably disposed atop the shaft and beneath the cap, the rotary bowl including an upper lip, an inlet tube, an interior surface, and a liner, the inlet tube in fluid communication with the liquid inlet port of the cap and configured to receive the high-pressure liquid from the liquid inlet port, and the interior surface configured to receive the abrasive from the abrasive supply port, the interior surface including a top portion and a bottom portion, the liner disposed in the bottom portion of the interior surface of the rotary bowl.