Leakproof high pressure nozzle assembly

Claim 2

A fluid cutting jet nozzle assembly for a housing means defining a nozzle supply passageway, wherein said fuid cutting jet nozzle assembly comprises: (a) a jet forming means for forming a fluid cutting jet; (b) nozzle body means, defining: a bore through which said cutting jet is adapted to pass; a first snout means adapted to be snugly received in and extend upstream in said fluid supply passageway; a second snout means extending upstream from said first snout means and at least partly of smaller diameter than said first snout means; said second snout means having a surface adapted to seat said jet forming means; and a shoulder means defined by the upstream end of said first snout means; (c) sealing means at least substantially encircling said second snout means upstream from said shoulder means; (d) mounting means for mounting said nozzle body means in said nozzle supply passageway; wherein said sealing means are sized to make a snug seal between said passageway and said nozzle body means when said nozzle body means are mounted in said passageway means, and wherein said sealing means tends to flow downstream towards said shoulder means under working pressure and expand radially inwardly and outwardy under working pressure to increase the firmness of said seal as said working pressure increases, wherein said assembly is mounted to said housing means from the exterior of said housing means, and wherein said passageway defines a corner and said first snout defines a chamfer which is sized to firmly contact said corner when said nozzle assembly and housing means are assembled, to prevent downstream flow of said sealing means between said corner and said chamfer under pressure.

Claim 3

The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means snugly grips said jet forming means and second snout means to hold said jet forming means and second snout means in an assembled relation even when said assembly is not mounted in said housing means.

Claim 4

The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said assembly is mounted to said housing means from the exterior of said housing means.

Claim 5

A fluid cutting jet nozzle assembly for a housing means defining a nozzle supply passageway, wherein said fluid cutting jet nozzle assembly comprises: (a) a jet forming means for forming a fluid cutting jet; (b) nozzle means, defining: a bore through which said cutting jet is adapted to pass; a first snout means adapted to be snugly received in and extend upstream in said fluid supply passageway; a second snout means extending upstream from said first snout means and at least partly of smaller diameter than said first snout means; said second snout means having a surface adapted to seat said jet forming means; and a shoulder means defined by the upstream end of said first snout means; (c) sealing means at least substantially encircling said second snout means upstream from said shoulder means; (d) mounting means for mounting said nozzle body means in said nozzle supply passageway; wherein said sealing means are sized to make a snug seal between said passageway and said nozzle body means when said nozzle body means are mounted in said passageway means, and wherein said sealing means tends to flow downstream towards said shoulder means under working pressure and expand radially inwardly and outwardly under working pressure to increase the firmness of said seal as said working pressure increases, wherein said passageway defines a corner; and wherein said first snout defines a chamfer which is sized to firmly contact said corner when said nozzle assembly and housing means are assembled, to prevent downstream flow of said sealing means between said corner and said chamfer under pressure.

Claim 6

A fluid cutting jet nozzle assembly for a housing means defining a nozzle supply passageway, wherein said fluid cutting jet nozzle assembly comprises: (a) a jet forming means for forming a fluid cutting jet; (b) nozzle means, defining: a bore through which said cutting jet is adapted to pass; a first snout means adapted to be snugly received in and extend upstream in said fluid supply passageway; a second snout means extending upstream from said first snout means and at least partly of smaller diameter than said first snout means; said second snout means having a surface adapted to seat said jet forming means; and a shoulder means defined by the upstream end of said first snout means; (c) sealing means at least substantially encircling said second snout means upstream from said shoulder means; (d) mounting means for mounting said nozzle body means in said nozzle supply passageway; wherein said sealing means are sized to make a snug seal between said passageway and said nozzle body means when said nozzle body means are mounted in said passageway means, and wherein said sealing means tends to flow downstream towards said shoulder means under working pressure and expand radially inwardly and outwardly under working pressure to increase the firmness of said seal as said working pressure increases, wherein said passageway defines a corner; and wherein said first snout defines a chamfer which is sized to firmly contact said corner when said nozzle assembly and housing means are assembled, to prevent downstream flow of said sealing means between said corner and said chamfer under pressure.

Claim 7

The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said assembly is mounted to said housing means from the exterior of said housing means.

Claim 8

The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said sealing means snugly grips said jet forming means and second snout means to hold said jet forming means and second snout means in an assembled relation even when said assembly is not mounted in said housing means.

Claim 9

The assembly according to claim 6, wherein said assembly is mounted to said housing means from the exterior of said housing means.

Claim 10

A fluid cutting jet nozzle assembly for a hosing means defining a nozzle supply passageway, wherein said fluid cutting jet nozzle assembly comprises: (a) a jet forming means for forming a fluid cutting jet; (b) nozzle body means, defining: a bore through which said cutting jet is adapted to pass; a first snout means adapted to be snugly received in and extend upstream in said fluid supply passageway; a second snout means extending upstream from said first snout means and at least partly of smaller diameter than said first snout means; said second snout means having a surface adapted to seat said jet forming means; and a shoulder means defined by the upstream end of said first snout means; (c) flowable sealing means at least substantially encircling said second snout means upstream from said shoulder means for undergoing plastic deformation under operating pressures; (d) mounting means for mounting said nozzle body means in said nozzle supply passageway, wherein said sealing means are sized to make a snug seal between said passageway and said nozzle body means when said nozzle body means are mounted in said passageway means, and wherein said sealing means tends to flow downstream towards said shoulder means under working pressure and expand radially inwardly and outwardly under working pressure to increase the firmness of said seal as said working pressure increases; and (e) a cavity defined by said passageway and said nozzle body means for accommodating flow of said flowable sealing means.

Claim 11

A fluid cutting jet nozzle assembly for a hosing means defining a nozzle supply passageway, wherein said fluid cutting jet nozzle assembly comprises: (a) a jet forming means for forming a fluid cutting jet; (b) nozzle body means, defining: a bore through which said cutting jet is adapted to pass; a first snout means adapted to be snugly received in and extend upstream in said fluid supply passageway; a second snout means extending upstream from said first snout means and at least partly of smaller diameter than said first snout means; said second snout means having a surface adapted to seat said jet forming means; and a shoulder means defined by the upstream end of said first snout means; (c) flowable sealing means at least substantially encircling said second snout means upstream from said shoulder means for undergoing plastic deformation under operating pressures; (d) mounting means for mounting said nozzle body means in said nozzle supply passageway, wherein said sealing means are sized to make a snug seal between said passageway and said nozzle body means when said nozzle body means are mounted in said passageway means, and wherein said sealing means tends to flow downstream towards said shoulder means under working pressure and expand radially inwardly and outwardly under working pressure to increase the firmness of said seal as said working pressure increases; and (e) a cavity defined by said passageway and said nozzle body means for accommodating flow of said flowable sealing means.

Claim 12

The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said assembly is mounted to said housing means from the exterior of said housing means.

Claim 13

The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said sealing means snugly grips said jet forming means and second snout means to hold said jet forming means and second snout means in an assembled relation even when said assembly is not mounted in said housing means.

Claim 14

The assembly according to claim 10, wherein said assembly is mounted to said housing means from the exterior of said housing means.

Claim 15

A cutting head, comprising: (A) means defining an axially extending nozzle supply passageway including a downstream-most threaded section and an upstream smooth walled section; and (B) a fluid jet cutting assembly seated within said passageway and defining its own axially extending bore in fluid communication with said passageway, said assembly including (a) an integrally formed set screw defining a downstream segment of said bore, said set screw having (i) a downstream-most axially extending and externally threaded shaft thread connected into the threaded section of said passageway, said shaft defining a drive recess at its downstream end for receiving a drive means such as a screw driver, (ii) an axially extending first snout which is located directly adjacent and upstream from said shaft and which includes a smooth walled outer surface having a diameter less than the minimum outer diameter of said shaft, whereby the diameter of said first snout is less than the minimum diameter of the threaded section of said passageway and thereby easily passes therethrough, said first snout including at least an upstream-most segment which is smaller in outer diameter than the diameter of the smooth walled section of said passageway and extending at least partially into the latter passageway section whereby to form an annular void therebetween, and (iii) an upstream-most axially extending second snout which is located directly adjacent and upstream from said first snout and which includes a smooth walled outer surface having a diameter less than the outer diameter of said first snout; (b) a nozzle located directly against and upstream of the upstream end of said second snout in coaxial relationship with the latter, said nozzle including a smooth walled outer surface having a diameter at least approximately equal to the outer diameter of said second snout, said nozzle defining an upstream segment of said bore, and (c) a tubular sealing sleeve disposed entirely around the axially extending outer surface of said second snout and directly against the upstream end of said first snout and around at least most of said nozzle, said sleeve having an inner diameter which allows it to grip both the said second snout and nozzle in a friction tight manner in order to hold the set screw and nozzle together, said sleeve being located within the smooth walled section of said passageway upstream of said annular void and being formed of a material which will flow in a plastic manner into said annular void when subjected to the operating pressures of the cutting head.

Claim 16

A cutting head, comprising: (A) means defining an axially extending nozzle supply passageway including a downstream-most threaded section and an upstream smooth walled section; and (B) a fluid jet cutting assembly seated within said passageway and defining its own axially extending bore in fluid communication with said passageway, said assembly including (a) an integrally formed set screw defining a downstream segment of said bore, said set screw having (i) a downstream-most axially extending and externally threaded shaft thread connected into the threaded section of said passageway, said shaft defining a drive recess at its downstream end for receiving a drive means such as a screw driver, (ii) an axially extending first snout which is located directly adjacent and upstream from said shaft and which includes a smooth walled outer surface having a diameter less than the minimum outer diameter of said shaft, whereby the diameter of said first snout is less than the minimum diameter of the threaded section of said passageway and thereby easily passes therethrough, said first snout including at least an upstream-most segment which is smaller in outer diameter than the diameter of the smooth walled section of said passageway and extending at least partially into the latter passageway section whereby to form an annular void therebetween, and (iii) an upstream-most axially extending second snout which is located directly adjacent and upstream from said first snout and which includes a smooth walled outer surface having a diameter less than the outer diameter of said first snout; (b) a nozzle located directly against and upstream of the upstream end of said second snout in coaxial relationship with the latter, said nozzle including a smooth walled outer surface having a diameter at least approximately equal to the outer diameter of said second snout, said nozzle defining an upstream segment of said bore, and (c) a tubular sealing sleeve disposed entirely around the axially extending outer surface of said second snout and directly against the upstream end of said first snout and around at least most of said nozzle, said sleeve having an inner diameter which allows it to grip both the said second snout and nozzle in a friction tight manner in order to hold the set screw and nozzle together, said sleeve being located within the smooth walled section of said passageway upstream of said annular void and being formed of a material which will flow in a plastic manner into said annular void when subjected to the operating pressures of the cutting head.

Claim 17

A cutting head according to claim 12 wherein said tubular sleeve extends beyond the upstream end of said nozzle prior to use of the assembly within said passageway and wherein said first snout includes an upstream-most chamfered end for defining said annular void.

Claim 18

A cutting head, comprising: (A) means defining an axially extending nozzle supply passageway including a downstream-most threaded section and an upstream smooth walled section; and (B) a fluid jet cutting assembly seated within said passageway and defining its own axially extending bore in fluid communication with said passageway, said assembly including (a) an integrally formed set screw defining a downstream segment of said bore, said set screw having (i) a downstream-most axially extending and externally threaded shaft thread connected into the threaded section of said passageway, said shaft defining a drive recess at its downstream end for receiving a drive means such as a screw driver or the like (ii) an upstream axially extending section extending at least partially into the smooth walled section of said passageway so as to define an annular void between the latter and an axially extending segment of the upstream set screw section, (b) an axially extending nozzle located directly against and upstream of the upstream end of said set screw and defining an upstream segment of said bore, and (c) a tubular sealing sleeve located within the smooth walled section of said passageway around all of that portion of the upstream section of said set screw located upstream of said annular void and around the axially extending outer surface of said nozzle, said sleeve being formed of a material which will flow in a plastic manner into said annular void when subjected to the operating pressures of said cutting head.

Claim 19

A cutting head, comprising: (A) means defining an axially extending nozzle supply passageway including a downstream-most threaded section and an upstream smooth walled section; and (B) a fluid jet cutting assembly seated within said passageway and defining its own axially extending bore in fluid communication with said passageway, said assembly including (a) an integrally formed set screw defining a downstream segment of said bore, said set screw having (i) a downstream-most axially extending and externally threaded shaft thread connected into the threaded section of said passageway, said shaft defining a drive recess at its downstream end for receiving a drive means such as a screw driver or the like (ii) an upstream axially extending section extending at least partially into the smooth walled section of said passageway so as to define an annular void between the latter and an axially extending segment of the upstream set screw section, (b) an axially extending nozzle located directly against and upstream of the upstream end of said set screw and defining an upstream segment of said bore, and (c) a tubular sealing sleeve located within the smooth walled section of said passageway around all of that portion of the upstream section of said set screw located upstream of said annular void and around the axially extending outer surface of said nozzle, said sleeve being formed of a material which will flow in a plastic manner into said annular void when subjected to the operating pressures of said cutting head.

Claim 20

A cutting head according to claim 14 wherein the upstream section of said set screw includes a downstream-most first snout which with the smooth walled section of said passageway defines said annular void and a second snout having an outer diameter which is less than the outer diameter of said first snout.