Fluid-jet-abrasive device and system

Claim 2

A fluid-jet-abrasive device in combination with a highpressure fluid flow and abrasive material, said device comprising: a fluid-jet gun; a handle attached to said gun at one end thereof; a spray-nozzle means disposed at the opposite end of said gun and having an inlet port to receive said abrasive material therein to comingle with said fluid flow; a high-pressure-control valve disposed intermediate said handle and said nozzle means, said valve having an inlet port, a return-flow-outlet port and a discharge end; and a trigger means operably engaging said control valve and disposed in said handle thereof.

Claim 3

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 1, including: a high-pressure, fluid-flow system interconnected to said gun through said inlet port and said return-flow-outlet port; and an abrasive-material-flow system.

Claim 4

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 2, wherein said abrasive-material-flow system comprises: a reservoir tank in which said abrasive is stored therein, said tank having a discharge end; a material-flow regulator operably secured to said reservoir tank; and conduit means interconnected between said material-flow regulator and said inlet port of said nozzle means whereby said abrasive material is transported from said reservoir to said nozzle means.

Claim 5

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 3, wherein said nozzle means includes a vacuum means whereby said abrasive material is caused to flow from said reservoir into said nozzle means.

Claim 6

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 4, wherein said nozzle means includes: a housing having a rectangular, box-like configuration; a spray nozzle secured in one end of said housing, thereby discharging a high-pressure-fluid flow received from said discharged end of said control valve, the opposite end of said housing being open; a vacuum chamber disposed intermediate said spray nozzle and said abrasive-inlet port, wherein a low-pressure condition is created when said high-pressure fluid issues from said spray nozzle.

Claim 7

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 5, wherein said housing includes: a removable, forwardly-disposed, housing sleeve; a nozzle-support block removably secured within one end of said housing and having a bore therethrough in which said spray nozzle is received therein; and a conduit connected between said control valve and said nozzle-support block, whereby high-pressure fluid is transported to said nozzle means when said trigger means operates said control valve.

Claim 8

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 6, wherein said housing includes: a first removable wear plate positioned below the abrasive-inlet port; and a second wear member having a box-like configuration removably disposed within the forward area of said housing, whereby said housing and said housing sleeve are protected from abrasive wear.

Claim 9

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 5, wherein said high-pressure-control valve comprises: a valve housing having a plurality of communicating concentric bores disposed therein, and wherein one of said bores defines said discharge end, said housing including said inlet port and said return-flow-outlet port, each communicating with said concentric bores; a central receiving chamber defined by one of said concentric bores, to receive direct fluid flow from said fluid-flow system; a flow-return disposed within one of said concentric bores adjacent one side of said central chamber, and having a plurality of interconnected passages for fluid flow from said inlet port to said return-flow-outlet port, said flow-return means having a central bore therethrough; a flow-discharge means disposed within said concentric bore defining said discharge end and positioned adjacent said central chamber opposite to that of said flow-return means, said discharge means being provided with a plurality of interconnected passages, with a central bore disposed therein communicating between said passages and said central chamber, whereby said fluid is discharged therefrom into said nozzle means; and a slide valve slidably disposed within said bores of said return means and said discharge means, whereby movement thereof controls fluid flow in either said return means or said discharge means, said slide valve being actuated by said trigger means.

Claim 10

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 8, including: a conduit interposed between said control valve and said spray-nozzle means, whereby fluid can traverse from said valve to said nozzle means when said trigger means is actuated.

Claim 11

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 5, wherein said material-flow regulator comprises: a depending pipe having an open, free end, the opposite end thereof being secured to said discharge end of said reservoir tank; a receptacle disposed below said free end of said pipe, wherein said free end thereof is received within said receptacle and positioned below the upper, open, free end of said receptacle, the opposite end of said receptacle being attached to said conduit means; and means to introduce ambient pressure within said vacuum system, said means being interposed between said receptacle and said conduit means, whereby a continuous flow of abrasive material is permitted to discharge from said reservoir tank when said control valve is actuated, providing a vacuum within said conduit means and, inversely, preventing flow from said reservoir when said valve is positioned for a fluid recycle mode.

Claim 12

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 4, wherein said high-pressure-fluid flow system comprises: a fluid storage tank having an inlet and an outlet port, said inlet port being interconnected to said return-flow-outlet port of said control valve; a high-pressure-fluid-pump means operably interconnected to said outlet port of said storage tank to receive fluid flow therefrom, said means being operably interconnected to said inlet port of said control valve; and a power-drive means coupled to said high-pressure-fluid-pump means.

Claim 13

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 11, wherein said high-pressure-pump means comprises a high-pressure pump having an outlet therefrom communicating witH said inlet port of said control valve and an oppositely-disposed inlet; and a centrifugal pump interposed between said fluid storage and said high-pressure pump and operably interconnected therebetween, whereby fluid is pumped from said storage tank to said pressure pump through said inlet of said pressure pump, both of said pumps being operably coupled to said power-drive means.

Claim 14

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 4, wherein said fluid-jet-gun includes an abrasive-protection shield secured to said gun.

Claim 15

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 11, wherein said fluid in said fluid-flow system consists of water, and wherein said fluid-flow system includes a gas injected into said system at a point between said control valve and said high-pressure pump.

Claim 16

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 7, wherein said abrasive material comprises a sand having various sized particles between 16 through 90 mesh.

Claim 17

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 7, wherein said abrasive material comprises glass beads.

Claim 18

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 7, wherein said abrasive material comprises metal shots.

Claim 19

A fluid-jet-abrasive device as recited in claim 5, wherein said high-pressure-fluid flow discharged from said spray nozzle forms a fan spray having a substantially pyramidal configuration wherein the base portion thereof is equal to the height and width of said rectangular housing, thereby creating said low-pressure condition within said vacuum chamber.