Method and assembly for mounting fluid-jet orifice plate

Claim 3

A method as in claim 1 wherein subsequent to step (c) there is practiced the step of: (d) allowing said thermally expanded orifice plate to cool so as to be tensioned between said one and other ends.

Claim 4

A method as in claim 1 wherein prior to step (a) there is practiced the step of: (a1) positioning the orifice plate relative to said outlet.

Claim 5

A method as in claim 3 wherein step (a1) is practiced by registering an aperture formed in said orifice plate with a post member associated with said fluid supply chamber defining means.

Claim 6

A method as in claim 1 wherein step (b) is practiced by applying heat to said orifice plate for a time sufficient to cause thermal expansion thereof.

Claim 7

A method as in claim 5 wherein step (b) is further practiced by visually monitoring the thermal expansion of said orifice plate by observing the relative movement between a visible scale formed on said fluid supply chamber defining means and an indicator formed on said orifice plate.

Claim 8

A method as in claim 6 wherein step (c) is practiced when said indicator moves relative to said scale a magnitude indicative of said predetermined amount.

Claim 9

A method as in claim 5 wherein step (b) is practiced utilizing heated air.

Claim 10

A method as in claim 7 wherein said predetermined amount is about 1/16 inch.

Claim 13

A method as in claim 10 further comprising the step of clamping lateral portions of said orifice plate.

Claim 16

An orifice plate mounting assembly comprising: a manifold assembly including an interior cavity having an elongated slot in fluid communication therewith and a pair of exterior first vertical guide surfaces bracketing a substantially planar mounting surface surrounding said elongated slot; a substantially planar orifice plate including a linear array of plural orifices, said orifice plate being positioned onto said planar mounting surface so that said linear array of orifices is in fluid communication with said slot; clamping means for removably clamping and retaining said planar orifice plate onto said planar mounting surface, said clamping means including a pair of clamping members each having a clamp body defining a second vertical guide surface and a clamping arm extending substantially horizontally outwardly from said clamp body and defining a substantially planar contact surface, each said clamping member being operatively disposed on said manifold assembly such that each said second vertical guide surface is in sliding contact with a respective one of said pair of first vertical guide surfaces to horizontally position said planar contact surface of each said clamping arm in planar contact with a respective portion of said planar orifice plate laterally of said linear array of orifices so that fluid issuing from said linear array of orifices passes between terminal ends of said pair of clamping arms; and securing means operatively bridging said manifold assembly and each said clamp body for causing each said planar contact surface to exert a clamping force against said planar orifice plate, and, in turn, also exerting a clamping force between the planar orifice plate and the planar mounting surface to thereby minimize bowing of said orifice plate along its longitudinal axis.

Claim 17

An orifice plate mounting assembly comprising: a manifold assembly including an interior cavity having an elongated slot in fluid communication therewith and a pair of exterior first vertical guide surfaces bracketing a substantially planar mounting surface surrounding said elongated slot; a substantially planar orifice plate including a linear array of plural orifices, said orifice plate being positioned onto said planar mounting surface so that said linear array of orifices is in fluid communication with said slot; clamping means for removably clamping and retaining said planar orifice plate onto said planar mounting surface, said clamping means including a pair of clamping members each having a clamp body defining a second vertical guide surface and a clamping arm extending substantially horizontally outwardly from said clamp body and defining a substantially planar contact surface, each said clamping member being operatively disposed on said manifold assembly such that each said second vertical guide surface is in sliding contact with a respective one of said pair of first vertical guide surfaces to horizontally position said planar contact surface of each said clamping arm in planar contact with a respective portion of said planar orifice plate laterally of said linear array of orifices so that fluid issuing from said linear array of orifices passes between terminal ends of said pair of clamping arms; and securing means operatively bridging said manifold assembly and each said clamp body for causing each said planar contact surface to exert a clamping force against said planar orifice plate, and, in turn, also exerting a clamping force between the planar orifice plate and the planar mounting surface to thereby minimize bowing of said orifice plate along its longitudinal axis.

Claim 18

An orifice plate mounting assembly as in claim 13 wherein said contact surface is vertically spaced from said arm so that a slight clearance is defined therebetween.

Claim 19

An orifice plate mounting assembly as in claim 14 wherein each said clamp body further includes an upwardly extending flange means defining a bearing surface which bears against said manifold assembly, said flange means thereby defining a space between said clamp body and said manifold assembly whereby said securing means bridges said defined space.

Claim 20

An orifice plate as in claim 13 wherein each said clamp body further includes an upwardly extending flange means defining a bearing surface which bears against said manifold assembly, said flange means thereby defining a space between said clamp body and said manifold assembly whereby said securing means bridges said defined space.

Claim 23

A method as in claim 17 wherein prior to step (a) there is practiced the step of (a 1 ) positioning the orifice plate relative to said outlet of said fluid supply chamber.

Claim 24

A method as in claim 18 wherein step (a 1 ) is practiced by registering an aperture formed in said orifice plate with a post member associated with said tensioning means.

Claim 25

A method as in claim 17 wherein step (c) is further practiced by visually monitoring the tensioning of said orifice plate by observing the relative movement between a visible scale formed on said fluid supply chamber and an indicator formed on said orifice plate.

Claim 28

A method as in claim 21 further comprising the step of clamping lateral portions of said orifice plate.

Claim 29

An orifice plate mounting assembly comprising: a manifold assembly including an interior cavity having an elongated slot in fluid communication therewith and a substantially planar mounting surface surrounding said elongated slot; a substantially planar orifice plate including a linear array of orifices, said orifice plate being positioned on said planar mounting surface so that said linear array of orifices is in fluid communication with said slot; clamping means for removably clamping and retaining said planar orifice plate onto said planar mounting surface, said clamping means including a pair of clamping members each having a clamp body and a clamping arm extending substantially horizontally outwardly from said clamp body and defining a substantially planar contact surface, each said clamping member being operatively disposed on said manifold assembly and having hinge means rigidly secured to said clamp body and to said manifold assembly for removably positioning each said clamping arm in planar contact with a respective portion of said planar orifice plate and laterally of said linear array of orifices; and securing means operatively bridging said manifold assembly and each said clamp body for causing each said planar contact surface to exert a clamping force against said planar orifice plate, and, in turn, exerting a clamping force between the planar orifice plate and the planar mounting surface to thereby minimize bowing of said orifice plate along its longitudinal axis.

Claim 30

An orifice plate mounting assembly comprising: a manifold assembly including an interior cavity having an elongated slot in fluid communication therewith and a substantially planar mounting surface surrounding said elongated slot; a substantially planar orifice plate including a linear array of orifices, said orifice plate being positioned on said planar mounting surface so that said linear array of orifices is in fluid communication with said slot; clamping means for removably clamping and retaining said planar orifice plate onto said planar mounting surface, said clamping means including a pair of clamping members each having a clamp body and a clamping arm extending substantially horizontally outwardly from said clamp body and defining a substantially planar contact surface, each said clamping member being operatively disposed on said manifold assembly and having hinge means rigidly secured to said clamp body and to said manifold assembly for removably positioning each said clamping arm in planar contact with a respective portion of said planar orifice plate and laterally of said linear array of orifices; and securing means operatively bridging said manifold assembly and each said clamp body for causing each said planar contact surface to exert a clamping force against said planar orifice plate, and, in turn, exerting a clamping force between the planar orifice plate and the planar mounting surface to thereby minimize bowing of said orifice plate along its longitudinal axis.

Claim 31

An orifice plate mounting assembly as in claim 23 wherein said planar contact surface of each clamping arm is positioned laterally of said linear array of orifices so that fluid issuing from said linear array of orifices passes between terminal ends of said pair of clamping arms.

Claim 32

An orifice plate mounting assembly as in claim 23 wherein each said clamp body further includes an upwardly extending flange means defining a bearing surface which bears against said manifold assembly, said flange means thereby defining a space between said clamp body and said manifold assembly whereby said securing means bridges said defined space.

Claim 35

An apparatus as in claim 26, wherein said first mounting means is rigidly secured to said manifold assembly and said second mounting means comprises a fixed member rigidly secured to said manifold assembly, a movable member operatively connected to said fixed member and being coupled to said other end of said orifice plate, and means for adjusting the position of said movable member relative to said fixed member to cause translational movement of said orifice plate and thereby tension said orifice plate.

Claim 36

An apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said adjusting means comprises (a) actuator means for causing an adjustment of said movable member; (b) spring means for causing reciprocal translational movement of said orifice plate, said spring means being operatively connected to said actuator means and being coupled at one end to said orifice plate; and (c) cable means connecting said spring means and said actuator means.

Claim 37

An apparatus as in claim 28, wherein said actuator means consists of first and second rotatable members each having a shaft portion and a gear portion, said rotatable members being disposed substantially perpendicular to one another and being operatively engaged at their gear portions such that the rotation of said first member causes a rotational movement of said second member, said second member being connected to said cable means.

Claim 38

An orifice plate mounting assembly comprising: a manifold assembly including an interior cavity having an elongated slot and a substantially planar mounting surface surrounding said elongated slot; a substantially planar orifice plate including a linear array of orifices, said orifice plate being positioned onto said planar mounting surface so that said linear array of orifices is in fluid communication with said slot; clamping means for removably clamping and retaining said planar orifice plate onto said planar mounting surface, tensioning means for exerting a tension force on said orifice plate, said tensioning means comprising a fixed member rigidly secured to one end of said orifice plate mounting surface, a movable member operatively connected to said fixed member and coupled to one end of said orifice plate, and means for adjusting said movable member relative to said fixed member to cause reciprocal translational movement of said orifice plate and thereby tension said orifice plate; and securing means operatively bridging said manifold assembly and said clamping means for exerting a clamping force between said planar orifice plate and said planar mounting surface to thereby minimize bowing of said orifice plate along its longitudinal axis.

Claim 39

An orifice plate mounting assembly comprising: a manifold assembly including an interior cavity having an elongated slot and a substantially planar mounting surface surrounding said elongated slot; a substantially planar orifice plate including a linear array of orifices, said orifice plate being positioned onto said planar mounting surface so that said linear array of orifices is in fluid communication with said slot; clamping means for removably clamping and retaining said planar orifice plate onto said planar mounting surface, tensioning means for exerting a tension force on said orifice plate, said tensioning means comprising a fixed member rigidly secured to one end of said orifice plate mounting surface, a movable member operatively connected to said fixed member and coupled to one end of said orifice plate, and means for adjusting said movable member relative to said fixed member to cause reciprocal translational movement of said orifice plate and thereby tension said orifice plate; and securing means operatively bridging said manifold assembly and said clamping means for exerting a clamping force between said planar orifice plate and said planar mounting surface to thereby minimize bowing of said orifice plate along its longitudinal axis.

Claim 40

An orifice plate mounting assembly as in claim 30, wherein said clamping means includes a pair of clamping members each having a clamp body and a clamping arm extending substantially horizontally outwardly from said clamp body and defining a substantially planar contact surface, each said clamping member being operatively disposed on said manifold assembly and having hinge means for removably positioning each said clamping arm in planar contact with a respective portion of said planar orifice plate laterally of said linear array of orifices.

Claim 43

An apparatus as in claim 30 wherein said means for adjusting said movable member further comprises (a) actuator means for adjusting the position of said movable member; (b) spring means operatively connected to said actuator means and being coupled at one end to said orifice plate for causing reciprocal translational movement of said orifice plate; and (c) cable means operably connecting said spring means and said actuator means.