Condition Responsive Control For Sandblasting Patents (Class 451/2)
  • Patent number: 11618127
    Abstract: A method for surface treatment of a DLC coated member that includes: taking as a treatment subject a DLC coated member having a DLC film coated on a base material surface; ejecting substantially spherical ejection particles having a median diameter of from 1 ?m to 20 ?m and a falling time through air of not less than 10 s/m against a surface of the film of the member at an ejection pressure of from 0.01 MPa to 0.7 MPa; and forming dimples on the surface of the film without exposing the base material so that a total projected area of the dimples is 50% or more of a treated region and so that the surface of the DLC film is processed to an arithmetic mean height (Sa) of from 0.01 ?m to 0.1 ?m and a texture aspect ratio (Str) of 0.4 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: FUJI MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Mase, Shozo Ishibashi, Yusuke Kondo
  • Patent number: 11577366
    Abstract: An abrasive waterjet system in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology includes a cutting head, a catcher downstream from the cutting head, and a conveyance configured to carry slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher toward the cutting head. The cutting head includes a jet-forming orifice and a mixing chamber downstream from the jet-forming orifice. The cutting head also includes a slurry inlet through which the mixing chamber receives slurry including abrasive material and liquid collected from the catcher. The abrasive waterjet system can be configured for substantially closed-loop recycling of wet abrasive material. This can be useful, for example, to increase abrasive material utilization efficiency and to decrease abrasive material disposal costs. These and/or other benefits may be realized both in the context of low pressure abrasive waterjet systems and in the context of high pressure abrasive waterjet systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: OMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Ernst H. Schubert, Axel H. Henning
  • Patent number: 11311980
    Abstract: A vapor blast system includes a pressure pot with an upper end and a main body, a fill inlet attached to the upper end of the pressure pot, and a seal assembly disposed in the pressure pot. The seal assembly is configured to control a flow of a fluid between the pressure pot and the fill inlet. The seal assembly includes a pop-up seal, a pipe, and a spring. The pop-up seal comprises an upper surface, a lower surface disposed opposite the upper surface, a blind hole disposed in the upper surface, a bore disposed in the lower surface, and a centerline axis disposed through a center of the pop-up seal. The pipe is attached to a lower surface of the pop-up seal, wherein a portion of the pipe is received by the bore. The spring is disposed in the bore and engaged with the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas K. Studt, Bryce J. Gapinski, Brandon K. Falkenberg, John W. Turner
  • Patent number: 11181880
    Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate permanently marking a housing component for a fluid control system product is disclosed. The system comprises a first processor, a second processor, and a printer. The first processor is configured to receive fixed information. The second processor is configured to receive the fixed information from the first processor, generate variable information, control a laser engraver to engrave the fixed and variable information into a workpiece, generate an information packet including the fixed information and the variable information, and transmit the information packet to the first processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Engineered Controls International, LLC
    Inventors: Tony York, John Cooke
  • Patent number: 11027396
    Abstract: A system for blast-cleaning a barge bottom providing for safety and avoidance of damage to the barge and to persons, where a barge is blast-cleaned with a blasting tractor having a transverse track beam along which positioning units move blaster heads. In one embodiment, the blasting tractor is controlled by a person in a cab of the blasting tractor, where the operator can see the blaster heads. In another embodiment, the blasting tractor is robotically controlled from a robotic controller which has access to a three-dimensional plan of the barge, communicating with the robotic blasting tractor via RF antennae, and receiving real-time data from sensors located on each blaster head. Optionally, the system for blast-cleaning a barge can provide blaster-head cameras for real-time remote monitoring of operations and for recording of the operations allowing review of any issue, such as damage, that might arise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventor: Anthony Cibilich
  • Patent number: 10987778
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide a method of forming dimples comparatively simply on a surface of hard-brittle materials such as ceramics by post-processing. In the method, substantially spherical ejection particles having a median diameter d50 of from 1 ?m to 20 ?m are ejected together with a compressed gas at an ejection pressure of from 0.01 MPa to 0.7 MPa against a dimple formation region which is a region where dimples are to be formed on a surface of an article made from a hard-brittle material or a surface of an article having a surface coated with a coating layer of a hard-brittle material, or the like so as to form dimples on the surface of the hard-brittle material by plastic deformation without occurrences of breaks or cracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Mase, Shozo Ishibashi, Yusuke Kondo
  • Patent number: 10981259
    Abstract: A waterjet system is provided, including a pump configured to pump fluid, an electric motor configured to drive the pump; a hopper configured to store abrasive, a mixing chamber configured to mix abrasive from the hopper and the fluid from the pump to produce a slurry, where the fluid entering the mixing chamber is at a pressure between 2000 psi and 8000 psi, a cutting bed configured to receive a workpiece to be cut, and a cutting head, including an outlet nozzle, in downstream fluid communication from the mixing chamber, the cutting head configured to expel the slurry through the outlet nozzle as a high-velocity jet into the cutting bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: WAZER INC.
    Inventors: Nisan Lerea, Matthew Nowicki, Daniel Meana, Christian Moore
  • Patent number: 10919174
    Abstract: A device for slicing foodstuffs by means of a liquid jet includes an advancing device for transporting the foodstuff in an advancing direction, said advancing device having a processing region on which the foodstuff bears and in which the liquid jet is directed onto the foodstuff, an exit nozzle, disposed in the region of the processing region, from which exit nozzle the liquid jet exits, wherein the processing region below the foodstuff has a jet passage opening for the liquid jet exiting from the foodstuff, and a jet receptacle for the liquid jet and the discharge of the latter is provided below the jet passage opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Nienstedt GmbH
    Inventor: Jan Groneberg
  • Patent number: 10888971
    Abstract: An abrasive jet apparatus configured to machine features into an inner diameter of bored structures. In the abrasive jet apparatus, an abrasive mixture of pressurized liquid and abrasive particles is propelled as an abrasive jet in a direction other than the direction in which the abrasive jet apparatus extends. The abrasive jet apparatus may be implemented in an automated boring system and boring method for machining rifling grooves and other features into bored structures. The boring system and boring method use an iterative process of mapping a target surface of the bored structure and adjusting parameters of the boring system in between successive passes of the abrasive jet on the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: ORMOND, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Butler, Daniel G. Alberts, Chris Ager, Nicholas Cooksey
  • Patent number: 10850367
    Abstract: The centrifugal projector (1) of the present invention has: a side plate (11), a plurality of blades (3) attached to the side plate (11), a control cage (41-45) disposed on a radial inner side of the side plate for releasing the projection material between blades from an opening portion (41a-45e), a distributor (22), disposed on a radial inner side of the control cage, for mixing and supplying the projection material to the control cage, and a rotary shaft (14) for rotating the side plate, blades and distributor; wherein the blades are formed to be pitched so that a radial outer side (3c) thereof is positioned to a rear in the rotational direction (R1) compared to a radial inner side (3b) thereof; the control cage (41-45) has a plurality of opening windows (41a-45e), or a single opening window in which a portion or all of a plurality of opening windows are respectively overlapped and integrated into a single piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SINTOKOGIO, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Suzuki, Masato Umeoka
  • Patent number: 10780550
    Abstract: A system for blast-cleaning a barge deck, sides, and fittings providing for safety and avoidance of damage to the barge and to persons, where a barge is blast-cleaned with moving blaster units suspended from and traveling along an overhead track beam. In one embodiment, the moving blaster units are each controlled by a person in a moving operator capsule moving in tandem with a moving blaster unit. In another embodiment, the moving blaster units are robotically controlled from a robotic controller which has access to a three-dimensional plan of the barge, communicating with the robotic blaster units via RF antennae, and receiving real-time data from sensors located on each blaster head. Optionally, the system for blast-cleaning a barge can provide blaster-head cameras for real-time remote monitoring of operations and for recording of the operations allowing review of any issue, such as damage, that might arise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Inventor: Anthony Cibilich
  • Patent number: 10452050
    Abstract: A positioning unit that performs positioning with respect to a predetermined sample, an imaging unit that obtains an image of the sample, and a processing unit, in which the imaging unit is moved by the positioning unit, and obtains a first image and a second image which is obtained later than the first image, and in which the processing unit obtains a first position shift trend from the first image and the second image, and determines whether or not the positioning is abnormal from a change of the first position shift trend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaki Odai, Tomohiro Inoue, Isao Takahira, Hiroshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10196929
    Abstract: A system and methods for applying a ceramic coating to a component that includes first applying a coating material to a first portion of a component. A removal agent is then applied to a second portion of the component that has an overspray byproduct thereon, and then the ceramic coating material is applied to at least the second portion of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Mantkowski, Raymond William Heidorn, Nripendra Nath Das, Anthony Wayne Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10048676
    Abstract: A facility for automated modelling of the cutting process for a particular material to be cut by a beam cutting tool, such as a waterjet cutting system, from empirical data to predict aspects of the waterjet's effect on the workpiece across a range of material thicknesses, across a range of cutting geometries, and across a range of cutting quality levels, all of which may be broader than, and independent of the actual requirements for a target workpiece, is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: OMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Axel H. Henning, James M. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 9987725
    Abstract: An abrasive jet apparatus configured to machine features into an inner diameter of bored structures. In the abrasive jet apparatus, an abrasive mixture of pressurized liquid and abrasive particles is propelled as an abrasive jet in a direction other than the direction in which the abrasive jet apparatus extends. The abrasive jet apparatus may be implemented in an automated boring system and boring method for machining rifling grooves and other features into bored structures. The boring system and boring method use an iterative process of mapping a target surface of the bored structure and adjusting parameters of the boring system in between successive passes of the abrasive jet on the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ormond, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Butler, Daniel G. Alberts, Chris Ager, Nicholas Cooksey
  • Patent number: 9409278
    Abstract: The invention relates to machine a component made of composite material in order to eliminate singularities, defects or damage to the component using a method that is repeatable and adaptable. To do this, it is proposed that the defects and their type be identified by image processing of the surface of the component and that the local machining rates at which the plies are machined be regulated at the function of this identification. According to one embodiment, a system (10) for the ply-by-ply machining of defects of a component made of composite material includes a numerical data processing unit (1) combined with a sweep control (2) that commands the sweep of a high-pressure water jet machine (20), and an image formation assembly (3) including an image capturing device (30, 31) connected with the numerical processing unit (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: JEDO TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Michel Deleris, François Cenac
  • Patent number: 9393672
    Abstract: A blasting system having a pressure control circuit that automatically sets and balances pressures in the system to provide a more efficient blasting process. The pressure control circuits provide the ability and enable an operator to more easily and efficiently set the operating pressures of a wet abrasive blasting system, for example, for various blasting processes and easily obtain a consistent blast stream flow. Embodiments of the invention provide an accurate, simple, and intuitive control of the pressure supply system. In specific embodiments, the pressure control circuit controls both the supply pressure to an air driven water pump and the pressurized air supply to slurry mixer by setting only one of these pressures. In certain other embodiments of the pressure control circuit, both pressures may be set through operation of a single, multi-port selector valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: GRACO MINNESOTA INC.
    Inventor: Keith Eliason
  • Patent number: 9308624
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for removing the unnecessary thin-film layer on the periphery of the substrate of the plate-like member having a square shape, on the surface of which substrate is formed a thin-film layer. The apparatus comprises a chamber to treat the peripheral part where the peripheral part of the plate-like member is inserted and where the unnecessary thin-film layer on the peripheral part of the plate-like member is removed; and a means to move the plate-like member. The chamber to treat the peripheral part comprises a cover to prevent the scattering of the sprayed particles and the dust for treating the peripheral part, the cover having one of its end-sides that forms a ceiling being closed and having the other end-side that is opposed to the ceiling being open and a suctioning cover for treating the peripheral part, having an opening that has the same shape as the opening of the cover to prevent the scattering of the dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SINTOKOGIO, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazumichi Hibino, Yukinori Suzuki, Kazuyoshi Maeda, Norihito Shibuya
  • Patent number: 9186708
    Abstract: Industrial cleaning plant having at least one cleaning chamber and a transport device that can be driven, rotated or pivoted. The transport device has a lifting device with a gripping tool for the items to be cleaned, with which a transport lift is produced into the chamber. The chamber can be closed with a cover, which forms one unit with a lifting arm of the lifting device. The cover is held moveably in a guide in an aperture along the shaft of the lifting arm. In closed position of the cover, an up-or-down movement of the gripping tool in the cleaning chamber can be controlled with the lifting arm which also has an entrainment mechanism forming a stop for the cover in upward movement of the lifting arm for opening the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Inventor: Golo Meissner
  • Patent number: 9138863
    Abstract: Particle-delivery devices, abrasive jet systems, and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. In certain aspects, the particle-delivery devices can include an elongated fluidizing chamber and a metering assembly. The metering assembly can include a particle flow path extending from the fluidizing chamber. The metering assembly can also include a carrier-gas passage extending to an injection orifice proximate the fluidizing chamber. The metering assembly can be configured to inject carrier gas into the fluidizing chamber to fluidize particles within the fluidizing chamber. Fluidizing the particles at different carrier-gas pressures and/or flow rates can change the rate of particle delivery. For example, the metering assembly can include a metering opening and a regulator configured to change a steady-state pressure and/or flow rate of carrier gas entering the fluidizing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: OMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Ernst H. Schubert, Erik M. Unangst
  • Patent number: 9108297
    Abstract: Various embodiments of abrasive jet cutting systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an abrasive jet system includes a cutting head configured to receive abrasives and pressurized fluid to form an abrasive jet. The system also includes an abrasive source configured to store abrasives that are supplied to the cutting head, as well as a fluid source configured to store fluid that is supplied to the cutting head. The system further includes a gas source configured to store pressurized gas that is selectively supplied to the cutting head. When supplied to the cutting head, the pressurized gas can advantageously affect, such as by at least partially diffusing, the abrasive jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: OMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Ernst H. Schubert, Peter H.-T. Liu, Axel H. Henning, David B. McNiel
  • Patent number: 9108296
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus including a first conduit configured to supply a processing solution to a substrate loaded on a supporter, and a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit configured to supply a gas to the first conduit to be mixed with the processing solution, wherein the first conduit includes an opening to permit the processing solution mixed with the gas to be injected onto the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Kwang Whang, Sung Gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 9039485
    Abstract: The method for machining a series of workpieces (21) via at least one machining jet includes the following steps: each workpiece (21) is associated with an identifier for uniquely identifying the workpiece, during the machining of a respective workpiece, the temporal characteristic of the machining jet is detected by at least one sensor (30), the detected temporal characteristic is evaluated so as to obtain at least one comparative value, and for detecting incorrect machining, the at least one comparative value is compared with at least one threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: MICROMACHINING AG
    Inventor: Walter Maurer
  • Publication number: 20150099422
    Abstract: The invention relates to machine a component made of composite material in order to eliminate singularities, defects or damage to the component using a method that is repeatable and adaptable. To do this, it is proposed that the defects and their type be identified by image processing of the surface of the component and that the local machining rates at which the plies are machined be regulated at the function of this identification. According to one embodiment, a system (10) for the ply-by-ply machining of defects of a component made of composite material includes a numerical data processing unit (1) combined with a sweep control (2) that commands the sweep of a high-pressure water jet machine (20), and an image formation assembly (3) including an image capturing device (30, 31) connected with the numerical processing unit (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: JEDO TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Michel Deleris, François Cenac
  • Publication number: 20150064400
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a surface structure (4) of a workpiece (1) in the form of a pressed sheet, endless belt, or cylindrical embossing roller using at least one water-jet device with a machining head (25). The method according to the invention allows workpiece surfaces (2) to be machined in an environmentally friendly and inexpensive manner such that the 3D topography of a surface structure of a template or of the negative of the template is reproduced. The surface (2) of the workpiece (1) is partially removed using a water jet device in the method according to the invention. Using the pressed parts machined in this manner, different materials can be pressed for example, such as particle boards with support films, wherein the 3D topography of the surface structure is reproduced on the surface of the pressed material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Wolfgang Stoffel
  • Patent number: 8961271
    Abstract: An abrasive blasting apparatus comprises a blast pot, a blast media valve fluidly connected to said blast media outlet of the blast pot, a source of pressurized gas, a proportional air valve in fluid communication with the blast media valve and the source of pressurized air, a hose having a blast nozzle at a distal end thereof, and a main control unit fluidly connected to the blast media valve and the air valve. The blast media valve comprises a housing having a blasting media intake, a plunger disposed within the housing, a sleeve disposed between the housing and the plunger, a blast media port in the sleeve, a casing fixedly connected to the housing, a piston disposed within the casing and connected to the plunger, and a base member fixedly connected to the housing. The plunger is movable by the piston with respect to the blast media port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Reco Atlantic, LLC
    Inventor: John Russell Roden
  • Publication number: 20150031270
    Abstract: An abrasive jet system for producing an abrasive cutting jet is provided. The system includes a source of abrasive suspension connected via a conduit to a cutting head. A source of displacement fluid is provided to flush abrasive suspension in the conduit towards the source of abrasive suspension, when the pressure at the source of abrasive suspension is below the pressure at the source of displacement fluid and no water jet is present in the cutting head. Also provided is a method for suspending a settled or partly settled bed of abrasive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Donald Miller
  • Patent number: 8926405
    Abstract: A treatment system for achieving a substantially uniform surface profile of a surface to be treated. The treatment system comprises a support panel which supports a rotatable orb, and the rotatable orb has an access aperture extending therethrough which facilitates receiving a desired surface treatment equipment. The access aperture is sized so as to permit the desired surface treatment equipment to pass therethrough and move relative thereto the access aperture, during surface treatment. The treatment system comprises a monitoring system for monitoring at least one of a spacing of a remote end of the surface treatment equipment from the surface to be treated and a treatment angle of the surface treatment equipment in order to control the surface treatment of the surface to be treated and achieve a substantially uniform surface profile, of the surface to be treated, following treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: William R Lynn
  • Publication number: 20140378028
    Abstract: A water abrasive slurry supply system permits abrasive recovery and reuse and allows for constant controlled supply of abrasive slurry to multiple cutting heads in series or in parallel from a remote common slurry mix/supply tank. By keeping the slurry mix always in constant motion the abrasive is not allowed to settle out of suspension. The velocity required to maintain suspension in the recirculating loop is 6 to 7 feet per second.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Mark William Hayden
  • Patent number: 8905816
    Abstract: A system for system for controlling functions of a multi-feed blasting apparatus is disclosed. Tank pressure, charge/discharge control, status of a vessel cover, total hours of pressurization or operation for the vessel and individual feed lines, ambient environmental or weather conditions, and abrasive material level inside the vessel may also be monitored and controlled by the disclosed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Marco Group International, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Gramling, Richard McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 8894467
    Abstract: The system delivers media blasting material to an interior surface of a large storage tank comprises a substantially upright support structure secured to the surface to be blasted. The upright support structure is preferably vertical. A frame extends across the upright support structure. An extendable arm is affixed to the frame at a section. The section is securely and pivotably attached to the section in such a way to enable the arm to rotate freely inside the large storage tank, so that the blaster secured at the end of the extendable arm can blast the entire interior surface of the large storage tank while the upright support structure remains in place. A robot blaster is positioned at the end of the extendable arm and performs the media blasting. A work station is located nearby the site of the large storage tank and controls the position of the extendable arm relative to the interior surface being blasted via a processor and the operation of the blasting delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Robert J. Santure
  • Patent number: 8892236
    Abstract: A fluid jet system is configured to etch a workpiece to a plurality of depths to produce an etched part corresponding to a computer image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: OMAX Corporation
    Inventor: Carl C. Olsen
  • Publication number: 20140273747
    Abstract: A method is provided for removing material from a workpiece using a material removal device and a measurement device. The method includes measuring a first dimension of the workpiece at a location with the measurement device. A jet of water is directed from the material removal device to the location to remove material from the workpiece at the location. A second dimension of the workpiece at the location is measured with the measurement device. The first dimension is compared to the second dimension to determine a measured thickness of the material removed from the workpiece at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Markowski, Anthony G. Ruglio, Dipakkumar S. Patel, Keith E. Lockyer
  • Patent number: 8821213
    Abstract: Embodiments of abrasive jet piercing and/or cutting devices are described herein. In some embodiments, a piercing device includes a holding or positioning device coupling a mixing tube to a secondary tube. The holding device has one or more passages extending to at least an intermediate portion of the piercing device. The one or more passages allow air to contact or mix with an abrasive waterjet as it travels through the piercing device. In some embodiments, a cutting device includes two plates configured so as to form a slot between the two plates. The cutting device can be placed directly on a workpiece, and an abrasive waterjet can be directed at the workpiece through the slot. An abrasive waterjet system utilizing the piercing and cutting devices disclosed herein can pierce holes and cut slots in materials that have reduced hole diameters and kerf widths, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: OMAX Corporation
    Inventors: Peter H. -T. Liu, Ernst H. Schubert
  • Publication number: 20140220861
    Abstract: A shot peening flow rate control that is useful for non-ferrous shot peening media. The control has an inlet for receiving media and an orifice through which the media may pass that is in communication with the inlet. A valve selectively blocks the orifice. The valve has a spindle that is guided for axial movement between an open and closed position. The closed position blocks the orifice and the open position places the spindle spaced from the orifice to allow media to flow through the orifice. A flow sensor has a deflectable member that extends into a flow path of media leaving the orifice. In response to increasing or decreasing flow of the media through the flow path the deflectable member will deflect more or less. A sensing device measures the deflection in the deflectable member and generates an electrical signal that varies in response to deflection in the deflectable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jack Champaigne, Mark Ingram
  • Patent number: 8764513
    Abstract: An apparatus and process used in a wet blasting cleaning operation to deliver and recycle wet media mixed with minimal liquid content to a media accelerator and maintain sizing and composition of the wet media, maximizing the efficiency of the media acceleration device, including a blast wheel or pressurized nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventor: Richard L. Spears
  • Patent number: 8727831
    Abstract: A method of machining a profile pattern in a ceramic coating of a turbine shroud is provided and includes applying the ceramic coating substantially uniformly onto the turbine shroud, positioning a machining tool proximate the ceramic coating, and removing material from the ceramic coating by activating the machining tool to machine the ceramic coating and by moving the machining tool across the ceramic coating in a movement pattern that generally corresponds to the profile pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Warren Arthur Nelson, Donald Joseph Baldwin, Lyle B. Spiegel, James Edward Viggiani
  • Patent number: 8696404
    Abstract: Systems for recycling slurry materials during polishing processes are provided. One system includes a polisher having an inlet and drain outlet, and a slurry storage tank to supply a slurry including a preselected material to the polisher inlet, and a recycling assembly including a cross flow filter including an inlet to receive a waste slurry including the preselected material from the polisher drain outlet, where the cross flow filter is configured to concentrate the preselected material in an outlet slurry, a density meter configured to measure a concentration of the preselected material in the filter outlet slurry, a valve coupled to the filter outlet and configured to supply the slurry storage tank, and a controller coupled to the density meter and valve, where the controller is configured to open the valve when the concentration of the preselected material reaches a first concentration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: WD Media, LLC
    Inventors: Qi Sun, David Graves, John P. Sargent, Lindsey A. Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20140083270
    Abstract: Methods and systems for imaging and cutting semiconductor wafers and other microelectronic device substrates are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system for singulating microelectronic devices from a substrate includes an X-ray imaging system having an X-ray source spaced apart from an X-ray detector. The X-ray source can emit a beam of X-rays through the substrate and onto the X-ray detector, and X-ray detector can generate an X-ray image of at least a portion of the substrate. A method in accordance with another embodiment includes detecting spacing information for irregularly spaced dies of a semiconductor workpiece. The method can further include automatically controlling a process for singulating the dies of the semiconductor workpiece, based at least in part on the spacing information. For example, individual dies can be singulated from a workpiece via non-straight line cuts and/or multiple cutter passes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren M. Farnworth, Tom A. Muntifering, Paul J. Clawson
  • Publication number: 20140045409
    Abstract: An abrasive jet cutting system may include a differential pressure measurement apparatus configured to measure a differential pressure between points in an abrasive supply system. The differential pressure may be used to determine one or more conditions of the jet and the abrasive delivery. The measured differential pressure may be used in a feedback control system, feed forward control system, and/or an alarm or safety system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: OMAX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shijin Zhang, Scott Veenhuizen, Axel Henning
  • Patent number: 8535113
    Abstract: A system comprising a system comprising a valve; a controller adapted to actuate the valve; a pressurized source connected to the valve; a hose and nozzle assembly connected to the pressurized source through the valve; and a switch connected to the nozzle assembly; wherein a flow from the pressurized source to the nozzle may be interrupted by the valve and by the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Chad Michael Weidert
  • Publication number: 20130210319
    Abstract: A system for system for controlling functions of a multi-feed blasting apparatus is disclosed. Tank pressure, charge/discharge control, status of a vessel cover, total hours of pressurization or operation for the vessel and individual feed lines, ambient environmental or weather conditions, and abrasive material level inside the vessel may also be monitored and controlled by the disclosed system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Marco Group International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8506361
    Abstract: A fixture for facilitating sandblasting of a generally cylindrical object includes a frame, a rotary table mounted on the frame, and a moveable blast head which can direct a flow of grit onto a cylindrical object mounted on the rotary table. The blast head may be movable vertically so that it can be extended down into the interior of a cylindrical object. The blast head may also be movable in a rotational fashion. Further the blast head may be movable in horizontal directions so that the blast head can be moved relative to a vertically extending cylindrical surface of a cylindrical object mounted on the rotary table. Controlled movements of the rotary table and the blast head allow uniform sandblasting of the cylindrical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stephen Michael Deak
  • Publication number: 20130203320
    Abstract: A sensor may be used to determine the presence of burrs on a workpiece, and a blasting media may be applied to the workpiece to lessen or eliminate burrs. The blasting media may be applied to the workpiece using a nozzle. The sensor may be scanned over the workpiece, and one or more burr metrics may be determined to qualify or quantify the presence of burrs. Based on the one or more burr metrics, a blasting schedule may be determined and performed. One or more characteristics of the workpiece may be checked after deburring to determine the extent of alteration, if any, of the workpiece caused by deburring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Hamid R. Ghalambor
  • Publication number: 20130189902
    Abstract: An impact baffle for a jet cutting tool and a method to operate the baffle in conjunction with the jet cutting tool are described, the baffle with an impact layer and an laterally extended sensing layer to trigger a control signal for interrupting a cutting operation of the jet cutting tool after the impact layer is pierced by the jet cutting tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
  • Patent number: 8485861
    Abstract: Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Edward S. Boyden, Daniel B. Cook, Roderick A. Hyde, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130143470
    Abstract: An abrasive blasting system includes an air subsystem being adapted to provide pressurized air, a fluid subsystem being adapted to provide fluid, a mixer being adapted to mix the fluid with the pressurized air, and a media subsystem being adapted to provide abrasive media. The method includes pressurizing the air, mixing the fluid with the air, thereby changing the relative humidity of the air, and blasting a surface of a structure with abrasive media mixed with the fluid and the pressurized air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Bishop, Jimmy D. Amerson, Steven Millican
  • Publication number: 20130122781
    Abstract: Abrasive blasting control method in which a control device (10) is used including at least a swing-arm (13) and in which the movement of the swing-arm (13) is controlled from the exterior of the casing of the wheel from its rest position to its second position in which said swing arm (13) is subjected to a part of the jet of abrasives leaving the wheel (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: ROSLER HOLDING GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Leon Rutten, Jean Rutten
  • Publication number: 20130115853
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a surface treatment machine that enables the inhibition or reduction of residual abrasives that remain on a workpiece that has been surface treated. An H steel (a workpiece to be treated) 12 is conveyed by means of a conveying device 20. Blasting devices 24A, 24B are then projected abrasives on to the conveying H steel such that it is surface treated. In the downstream of the blasting devices 24A, 24B along the conveying direction, a blowing port 30A of an air blower 30 is located above a conveying path to blow gas to the upper surface 112A of the H steel 12 such that the abrasives on the H steel 12 are blown off and removed therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Shigeru Yamamoto, Tadanobu Oyama
  • Patent number: 8414354
    Abstract: A glass manufacturing device includes a working container, a loading device, a sand blower, a shielding device, and a supporting device. The loading device is received in the working container and configured for loading a glass substrate in place. The sand blower is arranged opposite to the loading device and configured for sandblasting the glass substrate. The supporting device is used for supporting the shielding device and pressing the shielding device onto the glass substrate during the process of sandblasting. The shielding device includes a shielding cover having a number of shielding units. The shielding units are configured to shield portions of the glass substrate and prevent the portions of the glass substrate from being cut during sandblasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Kai Pei