Patents by Inventor Bruce M. Schuman
Bruce M. Schuman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11260503Abstract: An abrasive slurry delivery system configured to discharge a high pressure mixture of water (30) and abrasives (54, 54?) for further admixture with a flow of high pressure water (30) to generate an abrasive slurry and ultimately an abrasive slurry jet is provided. The delivery system includes a storage chamber (56), a discharge chamber (58) and a shuttle chamber (60) positioned therebetween. The shuttle chamber (60) is configured to intermittently receive abrasives (54) from the storage chamber (56) and intermittently supply the abrasives (54, 54?) mixed with high pressure water (30) to the discharge chamber (58) to be selectively discharged therefrom. High pressure abrasive slurry cutting systems and related methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Mohamed A. Hashish, Robert Niblock, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman
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Patent number: 10589400Abstract: A waterjet cutting method is provided which includes directing a waterjet onto a surface of a workpiece that is exposed to the surrounding atmosphere, the interaction of the waterjet with the exposed surface defining a cutting location, and simultaneously directing a gas stream onto the exposed surface of the workpiece at or adjacent the cutting location to maintain a cutting environment at the cutting location that is, apart from the waterjet, substantially devoid of fluid or particulate matter. The method may further include moving a source of the waterjet relative to the workpiece to cut the workpiece along a desired path while continuously directing the gas stream onto the exposed surface of the workpiece at or adjacent the cutting location.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Mohamed A. Hashish, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman
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Publication number: 20180099378Abstract: A waterjet cutting method is provided which includes directing a waterjet onto a surface of a workpiece that is exposed to the surrounding atmosphere, the interaction of the waterjet with the exposed surface defining a cutting location, and simultaneously directing a gas stream onto the exposed surface of the workpiece at or adjacent the cutting location to maintain a cutting environment at the cutting location that is, apart from the waterjet, substantially devoid of fluid or particulate matter. The method may further include moving a source of the waterjet relative to the workpiece to cut the workpiece along a desired path while continuously directing the gas stream onto the exposed surface of the workpiece at or adjacent the cutting location.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Mohamed A. Hashish, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman
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Patent number: 9884406Abstract: A waterjet cutting head assembly is provided which includes an orifice unit to generate a high-pressure waterjet, a nozzle body and a nozzle component coupled to the nozzle body with the orifice unit positioned therebetween. The nozzle component may include a waterjet passage, at least one jet alteration passage and at least one environment control passage. The jet alteration passage may intersect with the waterjet passage to enable selective alteration of the waterjet during operation via the introduction of a secondary fluid or application of a vacuum. The environment control passage may include one or more downstream portions aligned relative to the fluid jet passage so that gas passed through the environment control passage during operation is directed to impinge on an exposed surface of a workpiece at or adjacent to a location where the waterjet is cutting the workpiece. Other high-pressure waterjet cutting systems, components and related methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: FLOW INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Mohamed A. Hashish, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman
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Patent number: 9844890Abstract: High-pressure fluid jet systems are provided which include a pump to selectively provide a source of high-pressure fluid, a cutting head assembly configured to receive the high-pressure fluid and generate a high-pressure fluid jet for processing workpieces or work surfaces, and a fluid distribution system in fluid communication with the pump and the cutting head assembly to route the high-pressure fluid from the pump to the cutting head assembly. The pump, the cutting head assembly and/or the fluid distribution system include at least one fluid distribution component having a unitary body formed from an additive manufacturing or casting process with an internal passage having at least a curvilinear portion to efficiently route matter through the fluid jet system. Example fluid distribution components include fittings, valve bodies, cutting head bodies and nozzles of the high-pressure fluid jet systems.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2016Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Mohamed Hashish, Robert Niblock, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman, Shawn Michael Callahan, Paul Tacheron, Sean Schramm
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Publication number: 20160339560Abstract: An abrasive slurry delivery system configured to discharge a high pressure mixture of water (30) and abrasives (54, 54?) for further admixture with a flow of high pressure water (30) to generate an abrasive slurry and ultimately an abrasive slurry jet is provided. The delivery system includes a storage chamber (56), a discharge chamber (58) and a shuttle chamber (60) positioned therebetween. The shuttle chamber (60) is configured to intermittently receive abrasives (54) from the storage chamber (56) and intermittently supply the abrasives (54, 54?) mixed with high pressure water (30) to the discharge chamber (58) to be selectively discharged therefrom. High pressure abrasive slurry cutting systems and related methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Mohamed A. Hashish, Robert Niblock, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman
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Publication number: 20160214231Abstract: High-pressure fluid jet systems are provided which include a pump to selectively provide a source of high-pressure fluid, a cutting head assembly configured to receive the high-pressure fluid and generate a high-pressure fluid jet for processing workpieces or work surfaces, and a fluid distribution system in fluid communication with the pump and the cutting head assembly to route the high-pressure fluid from the pump to the cutting head assembly. The pump, the cutting head assembly and/or the fluid distribution system include at least one fluid distribution component having a unitary body formed from an additive manufacturing or casting process with an internal passage having at least a curvilinear portion to efficiently route matter through the fluid jet system. Example fluid distribution components include fittings, valve bodies, cutting head bodies and nozzles of the high-pressure fluid jet systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Mohamed Hashish, Robert Niblock, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman, Shawn Michael Callahan, Paul Tacheron, Sean Schramm
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Patent number: 9358668Abstract: A jet receiving receptacle is provided which is coupleable to a high-pressure fluid jet system opposite a nozzle thereof to receive a fluid jet discharged from the nozzle after it acts on a workpiece. The jet receiving receptacle may include an elongated inlet alignable with a direction of travel of the nozzle to receive the fluid jet in a deflected state. The jet receiving receptacle may further include a jet deflection device positioned downstream of the elongated inlet to redirect at least a portion of the fluid jet and a jet rebound device located upstream of the jet deflection device to be impinged on by the redirected portion of the fluid jet. The jet deflection device and jet rebound device may form, in combination with a housing, a device to trap the fluid jet. Fluid jet cutting systems incorporating a jet receiving receptacle and related methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Ascent Aerospace, LLCInventors: Mohamed A. Hashish, Eckhardt R. Ullrich, Michael Knaupp, Steven J. Craigen, Charles M. Brown, Bruce M. Schuman
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Patent number: 9272437Abstract: High-pressure fluid jet systems are provided which include a pump to selectively provide a source of high-pressure fluid, a cutting head assembly configured to receive the high-pressure fluid and generate a high-pressure fluid jet for processing workpieces or work surfaces, and a fluid distribution system in fluid communication with the pump and the cutting head assembly to route the high-pressure fluid from the pump to the cutting head assembly. The pump, the cutting head assembly and/or the fluid distribution system include at least one fluid distribution component having a unitary body formed from an additive manufacturing or casting process with an internal passage having at least a curvilinear portion to efficiently route matter through the fluid jet system. Example fluid distribution components include fittings, valve bodies, cutting head bodies and nozzles of the high-pressure fluid jet systems.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Mohamed Hashish, Robert Niblock, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman, Shawn Michael Callahan, Paul Tacheron, Sean Schramm
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Publication number: 20150196989Abstract: A waterjet cutting head assembly is provided which includes an orifice unit to generate a high-pressure waterjet, a nozzle body and a nozzle component coupled to the nozzle body with the orifice unit positioned therebetween. The nozzle component may include a waterjet passage, at least one jet alteration passage and at least one environment control passage. The jet alteration passage may intersect with the waterjet passage to enable selective alteration of the waterjet during operation via the introduction of a secondary fluid or application of a vacuum. The environment control passage may include one or more downstream portions aligned relative to the fluid jet passage so that gas passed through the environment control passage during operation is directed to impinge on an exposed surface of a workpiece at or adjacent to a location where the waterjet is cutting the workpiece. Other high-pressure waterjet cutting systems, components and related methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2014Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventors: Mohamed A. Hashish, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman
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Patent number: 9003936Abstract: A cutting head of a waterjet cutting system is provided having an environment control device and a measurement device. The environment control device is positioned to act on a surface of a workpiece at least during a measurement operation to establish a measurement area on the surface of the workpiece substantially unobstructed by fluid. The measurement device is positioned to selectively obtain information from within the measurement area indicative of a position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece. A control system is further provided and operable to position the cutting head relative to the workpiece at a standoff distance based at least in part on the information indicative of the position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece obtained by the measurement device. A method of operating a waterjet cutting system is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Alex M. Chillman, Kirby J. Eide, Bruce M. Schuman, Aki Tanuma, Sean A. Vaughan, Raymond L. Chenoweth, II, Richard B. Hageman, III, Steven J. Craigen, Mohamed A. Hashish, Charles D. Burnham
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Patent number: 8894468Abstract: A jet receiving receptacle is provided which is coupleable to a high pressure fluid jet system opposite a nozzle thereof to receive a fluid jet discharged from the nozzle after it acts on a workpiece. The jet receiving receptacle may include an inlet feed component having a tapered inlet that defines a jet receiving surface about a central axis to receive the fluid jet and direct the fluid jet downstream and toward the central axis. The jet receiving receptacle may further include a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the inlet feed component about the central axis such that impact of the fluid jet with the inlet feed component is distributed around the jet receiving surface. The drive mechanism may rotate the inlet feed component continuously or intermittently. Fluid jet cutting systems incorporating a jet receiving receptacle and related methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2012Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Mohamed A. Hashish, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman, Eckhardt R. Ullrich
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Publication number: 20140116217Abstract: High-pressure fluid jet systems are provided which include a pump to selectively provide a source of high-pressure fluid, a cutting head assembly configured to receive the high-pressure fluid and generate a high-pressure fluid jet for processing workpieces or work surfaces, and a fluid distribution system in fluid communication with the pump and the cutting head assembly to route the high-pressure fluid from the pump to the cutting head assembly. The pump, the cutting head assembly and/or the fluid distribution system include at least one fluid distribution component having a unitary body formed from an additive manufacturing or casting process with an internal passage having at least a curvilinear portion to efficiently route matter through the fluid jet system. Example fluid distribution components include fittings, valve bodies, cutting head bodies and nozzles of the high-pressure fluid jet systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: FLOW INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Mohamed Hashish, Robert Niblock, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman, Shawn Michael Callahan, Paul Tacheron, Sean Schramm
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Publication number: 20140024295Abstract: A jet receiving receptacle is provided which is coupleable to a high-pressure fluid jet system opposite a nozzle thereof to receive a fluid jet discharged from the nozzle after it acts on a workpiece. The jet receiving receptacle may include an elongated inlet alignable with a direction of travel of the nozzle to receive the fluid jet in a deflected state. The jet receiving receptacle may further include a jet deflection device positioned downstream of the elongated inlet to redirect at least a portion of the fluid jet and a jet rebound device located upstream of the jet deflection device to be impinged on by the redirected portion of the fluid jet. The jet deflection device and jet rebound device may form, in combination with a housing, a device to trap the fluid jet. Fluid jet cutting systems incorporating a jet receiving receptacle and related methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: Flow International CorporationInventors: Mohamed A. Hashish, Eckhardt R. Ullrich, Michael Knaupp, Steven J. Craigen, Charles M. Brown, Bruce M. Schuman
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Publication number: 20130306748Abstract: A jet receiving receptacle is provided which is coupleable to a high pressure fluid jet system opposite a nozzle thereof to receive a fluid jet discharged from the nozzle after it acts on a workpiece. The jet receiving receptacle may include an inlet feed component having a tapered inlet that defines a jet receiving surface about a central axis to receive the fluid jet and direct the fluid jet downstream and toward the central axis. The jet receiving receptacle may further include a drive mechanism adapted to rotate the inlet feed component about the central axis such that impact of the fluid jet with the inlet feed component is distributed around the jet receiving surface. The drive mechanism may rotate the inlet feed component continuously or intermittently. Fluid jet cutting systems incorporating a jet receiving receptacle and related methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Inventors: Mohamed A. Hashish, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman, Eckhardt R. Ullrich
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Patent number: 8430430Abstract: A fitting for collecting or distributing high-pressure fluid via fluid transmission lines is provided. The fitting includes a body, and a plurality of apertures formed in the body in a common plane, intersecting inside the body such that all of the apertures are in mutual fluid communication. Each of the apertures is configured to receive a threaded coupling member of a respective high-pressure transmission line. The fitting also includes first and second compression members positioned on opposing sides of the body and coupled thereto so as to exert a compressing bias to the body in an axis perpendicular to the common plane. The compression members each comprise a raised contact surface corresponding to the region of the body where the plurality of apertures meet, and through which the compressing bias is exerted. The fitting may be an elbow-fitting, a tee fitting, a cross-fitting, or some other configuration.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2010Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Chidambaram Raghavan, Mohamed A. Hashish, Olivier L. Tremoulet, Jr., Shawn M. Callahan, Bruce M. Schuman
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Publication number: 20130025422Abstract: A cutting head of a waterjet cutting system is provided having an environment control device and a measurement device. The environment control device is positioned to act on a surface of a workpiece at least during a measurement operation to establish a measurement area on the surface of the workpiece substantially unobstructed by fluid. The measurement device is positioned to selectively obtain information from within the measurement area indicative of a position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece. A control system is further provided and operable to position the cutting head relative to the workpiece at a standoff distance based at least in part on the information indicative of the position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece obtained by the measurement device. A method of operating a waterjet cutting system is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2011Publication date: January 31, 2013Inventors: Alex M. Chillman, Kirby J. Eide, Bruce M. Schuman, Aki Tanuma, Sean A. Vaughan, Raymond L. Chenoweth, II, Richard B. Hageman, III, Steven J. Craigen, Mohamed A. Hashish, Charles D. Burnham
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Patent number: 8187056Abstract: A processing apparatus is provided to surface-finish or otherwise process features of a workpiece, such as a lumen of a stent. The fluid jet apparatus can have a nozzle system and a holder for holding and positioning the workpiece with respect to the nozzle system. A fluid jet outputted from the nozzle system is used to form a desired surface-finish.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2006Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Mohamed Hashish, Paul Tacheron, Steven J. Craigen, Bruce M. Schuman
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Publication number: 20100224270Abstract: A fitting for collecting or distributing high-pressure fluid via fluid transmission lines is provided. The fitting includes a body, and a plurality of apertures formed in the body in a common plane, intersecting inside the body such that all of the apertures are in mutual fluid communication. Each of the apertures is configured to receive a threaded coupling member of a respective high-pressure transmission line. The fitting also includes first and second compression members positioned on opposing sides of the body and coupled thereto so as to exert a compressing bias to the body in an axis perpendicular to the common plane. The compression members each comprise a raised contact surface corresponding to the region of the body where the plurality of apertures meet, and through which the compressing bias is exerted. The fitting may be an elbow-fitting, a tee fitting, a cross-fitting, or some other configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2010Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: Flow International CorporationInventors: Chidambaram Raghavan, Mohamed A. Hashish, Olivier L. Tremoulet, JR., Shawn M. Callahan, Bruce M. Schuman
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Patent number: 7748750Abstract: A fitting for collecting or distributing high-pressure fluid via fluid transmission lines is provided. The fitting includes a body, and a plurality of apertures formed in the body in a common plane, intersecting inside the body such that all of the apertures are in mutual fluid communication. The fitting also includes first and second compression members positioned on opposing sides of the body and coupled thereto so as to exert a compressing bias to the body in an axis perpendicular to the common plane. The compression members each comprise a raised contact surface corresponding to the region of the body where the plurality of apertures meet, and through which the compressing bias is exerted. The fitting may be an elbow-fitting, a tee fitting, a cross-fitting, or some other configuration.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2004Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Flow International CorporationInventors: Chidambaram Raghavan, Mohamed A. Hashish, Olivier L. Tremoulet, Jr., Shawn M. Callahan, Bruce M. Schuman