Process and appratus for the production of hydroelectric pulsed liquids jets

Claim 2

A process for producing a high energy liquid jet with a confined chamber provided with an electrical discharge channel and an outlet opening which comprises: a. supplying a relatively incompressible liquid to said chamber; b. confining the liquid within said chamber; c. discharging electric energy across the discharge channel through the liquid to create a shock wave in said liquid; and d. directing at least a portion of the liquid directionally through the outlet opening under action of the shock wave whereby the liquid emerges as a high energy liquid jet.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1, including the step of applying mechanical force to the liquid to increase the energy level of the liquid prior to the discharge of electrical energy therein.

Claim 4

A process for producing a high energy liquid jet with an electrohydraulic chamber having a shaped outlet nozzle and at least one pair of spaced apart electrodes insulatingly supported within the chamber to define an electric channel, the process comprising: a. confining a relatively incompressible liquid in the electrohydraulic chamber; b. charging a capacitance to a desired level of electrical energy from an electrical power supply; c. initiating a wave within the electrohydraulic chamber by discharging the electrical energy stored in the capacitance across the electrodes defining the discharge channel while the electrodes are surrounded by the liquid in the chamber; and d. directing at least a portion of the liquid within the chamber out through the outlet nozzle under action of the shock wave as a high energy liquid jet.

Claim 5

A process for producing a high energy liquid jet with an electrohydraulic chamber having a shaped outlet nozzle and at least one pair of spaced apart electrodes insulatingly supported within the chamber to define an electric channel, the process comprising: a. confining a relatively incompressible liquid in the electrohydraulic chamber; b. charging a capacitance to a desired level of electrical energy from an electrical power supply; c. initiating a wave within the electrohydraulic chamber by discharging the electrical energy stored in the capacitance across the electrodes defining the discharge channel while the electrodes are surrounded by the liquid in the chamber; and d. directing at least a portion of the liquid within the chamber out through the outlet nozzle under action of the shock wave as a high energy liquid jet.

Claim 6

The process of claim 3, further including capacitance dividing the electric energy appearing between the electrohydraulic chamber and the electrodes defining the electric discharge channel.

Claim 7

A process for producing repetitively pulsed high energy liquid jets with an electrohydraulic chamber having a shaped outlet nozzle and a pair of spaced apart electrodes insulatingly supported with the chamber to define an electric discharge channel, the process comprising: a. providing a continuously available supply of a relatively incompressible liquid to the electrohydraulic chamber; b. repetitively charging a capacitance connected to an electrical power supply to a desired level of electrical energy; c. repetitively triggering the capacitance to discharge the same across the electrodes while surrounded by the liquid in the chamber to create a series of shock waves within said chamber; and d. directing at leasT a part of the liquid within the chamber out through the nozzle under action of each shock wave as a pulsed liquid jet.

Claim 8

A process for producing repetitively pulsed high energy liquid jets with an electrohydraulic chamber having a shaped outlet nozzle and a pair of spaced apart electrodes insulatingly supported with the chamber to define an electric discharge channel, the process comprising: a. providing a continuously available supply of a relatively incompressible liquid to the electrohydraulic chamber; b. repetitively charging a capacitance connected to an electrical power supply to a desired level of electrical energy; c. repetitively triggering the capacitance to discharge the same across the electrodes while surrounded by the liquid in the chamber to create a series of shock waves within said chamber; and d. directing at leasT a part of the liquid within the chamber out through the nozzle under action of each shock wave as a pulsed liquid jet.

Claim 9

The process of claim 5, including the step of isolating the liquid supply from the chamber during electrical discharge.

Claim 10

Apparatus for producing a high energy liquid jet comprising: a. electrohydraulic chamber means having liquid jet outlet means; b. electric spark discharge means positioned within said chamber means; c. supply means connected to said chamber for supplying liquid to said chamber; d. electric circuit means connected to said electric spark discharge means for supplying electric energy to said electric spark means; and e. switch means in said electric circuit means for selectively supplying electric energy to the electric spark discharge means whereby a shock wave is created in the liquid in the chamber means and at least a portion of the liquid is directed out through the outlet means as a high energy liquid jet.

Claim 11

Apparatus for producing a high energy liquid jet comprising: a. electrohydraulic chamber means having liquid jet outlet means; b. electric spark discharge means positioned within said chamber means; c. supply means connected to said chamber for supplying liquid to said chamber; d. electric circuit means connected to said electric spark discharge means for supplying electric energy to said electric spark means; and e. switch means in said electric circuit means for selectively supplying electric energy to the electric spark discharge means whereby a shock wave is created in the liquid in the chamber means and at least a portion of the liquid is directed out through the outlet means as a high energy liquid jet.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said electric circuit means includes, f. capacitance means; g. high voltage means connected to said electric circuit means for charging said capacitance means to a desired level of electrical energy; and h. Wherein said switch means in said electric circuit means selectively discharges the capacitance means across the electric discharge means whereby a shock wave is created in the liquid in the chamber means and at least a portion of the liquid is directed out through the outlet means as a high energy liquid jet.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outlet means is shaped to force the liquid directed therethrough into a relatively cohesive mass.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein check valve means are included for making the electrohydraulic chamber a substantially closed chamber except for the outlet means at the time of electrical discharge.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the electric spark discharge means comprises a pair of electrodes insulatingly supported within the electrohydraulic chamber so as to be surrounded by the liquid.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each electrode is supported within a conductive shell electrically insulated therefrom and mechanically and electrically connected to the electrohydraulic chamber to form a capacitance voltage divider between the electrodes and the electrohydraulic chamber means.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the chamber means and the capacitance means are not connected to a common electrical ground and the electrical discharge means is connected to a common electrical ground.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the supply means includes check valve means for preventing reverse flow of the liquid.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 7, including valve means selectively actuatable to open said jet outlet means upon electrical discharge of the capacitance means.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said supply means includes cylinder means communicating directly with said electrohydraulic chamber means, port means for delivering liquid to the cylinder means and piston means freely acceleratible within said cylinder means for delivering the liquid from said port means to the chamber means.