US 11,872,670 B2
Recirculation of wet abrasive material in abrasive waterjet systems and related technology
Ernst H. Schubert, Snoqualmie Pass, WA (US); and Axel H. Henning, Black Diamond, WA (US)
Assigned to OMAX Corporation, Kent, WA (US)
Filed by OMAX Corporation, Kent, WA (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/153,961.
Application 18/153,961 is a division of application No. 15/839,708, filed on Dec. 12, 2017, granted, now 11,577,366.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/433,167, filed on Dec. 12, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0143795 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. B24C 7/00 (2006.01); B26F 3/00 (2006.01); B24C 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC B24C 7/0023 (2013.01) [B24C 1/04 (2013.01); B24C 1/045 (2013.01); B24C 7/00 (2013.01); B24C 7/003 (2013.01); B26F 3/004 (2013.01)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating an abrasive waterjet system, the method comprising:
supplying pressurized liquid to a jet-forming orifice of a cutting head of the abrasive waterjet system;
forming a jet from the pressurized liquid at the jet-forming orifice;
passing the jet through a mixing chamber of the cutting head while the mixing chamber contains slurry including abrasive material and liquid, wherein passing the jet through the mixing chamber causes abrasive material to become entrained in the jet;
impacting the jet against a workpiece to alter the workpiece;
diffusing the jet in a catcher of the abrasive waterjet system;
collecting slurry including abrasive material and liquid from the catcher;
automatically decreasing a rate of movement of the cutting head at least partially in response to an increased fraction of spent abrasive material in the slurry collected from the catcher; and
flowing the slurry collected from the catcher into the mixing chamber.