Multi-head fluid jet cutting system

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide multi-head fluid jet cutting systems and methods of utilizing such devices. A multi-head fluid jet cutting system includes a body having a plurality of fluid jet cutting heads installed therein. Each cutting head receives pressurized fluid from an intensifier and directs the fluid along a jet axis out of a nozzle of the head to form a cutting stream. In some embodiments, an abrasive material can be mixed with the fluid to form an abrasive fluid cutting stream. The body can be mounted to a motion system which moves the body, and therefore the cutting heads, relative to a work piece mounted upon a work bed. Each of the fluid jet cutting heads is coupled to an actuator which can control an on/off state of the cutting head. In some embodiments, an actuator mounting plate is provided to enable mounting of the actuators off of the jet axes.

1 . A fluid jet cutting system comprising:
 a work bed adapted to receive and fixedly position a work piece;   a body having a plurality of fluid jet cutting heads installed therein, each fluid jet cutting head axially aligned with a jet axis and comprising a nozzle protruding from an exposed surface of the body, each fluid jet cutting head adapted to deliver a cutting stream from the nozzle toward the work piece;   a motion system, coupled about the work bed and adapted to move the body relative to the work piece;   a plurality of actuators coupled to the motion system and in fluid communication with the fluid jet cutting heads, each actuator configured to control delivery of pressurized fluid to one of the fluid jet cutting heads;   an intensifier configured to deliver the pressurized fluid to each actuator; and   a controller configured to control (i) the motion of the body relative to the work piece, and (ii) the delivery of the pressurized fluid to, and thereby an on/off state of, each of the fluid jet cutting heads such that a predetermined pattern can be cut from the work piece.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid jet cutting heads comprise abrasive fluid jet cutting heads, the fluid jet cutting system further comprising:
 an abrasive material source adapted to deliver an abrasive material to the abrasive fluid jet cutting heads to be mixed with the pressurized fluid to form the cutting stream,   wherein the controller is further configured to control the delivery of abrasive material to the abrasive fluid jet cutting heads.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 1 , wherein each actuator comprises an actuator housing and is fluidly coupled with the fluid jet cutting heads via a length of tubing such that the actuator housing can be mounted so that it is not axially aligned with a jet axis defined by the cutting stream of the cutting head with which the actuator is associated. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 1 , wherein the body can be mounted to the motion system such that the cutting streams are delivered at an oblique angle relative to the work piece. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pattern comprises a plurality of identical, repeating features, spaced less than approximately  3 . 375  inches apart. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid jet cutting system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the on/off state of the fluid jet cutting heads such that adjacent features of the predetermined pattern are simultaneously cut by adjacent cutting streams. 
     
     
         7 . A fluid jet cutting head mount comprising:
 a body having a plurality of individually-actuated fluid jet cutting heads, each fluid jet cutting head configured, upon actuation, to deliver a cutting stream axially aligned with a jet axis of the fluid jet cutting head and oriented such that the cutting stream is delivered from an exposed surface of the body, wherein each fluid jet cutting head comprises:
 a fluid inlet orifice axially aligned with the jet axis and in fluid communication with an intensifier configured to provide pressurized fluid to the fluid jet cutting head; and 
 a nozzle having an outlet channel axially aligned with the jet axis and terminating at a nozzle end from which the cutting stream is delivered. 
   
     
     
         8 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 7 , wherein each fluid jet cutting head is individually-actuated by an actuator interposed between the fluid inlet orifice and the intensifier, each actuator being off-axis of the jet axis. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 7 , wherein the fluid jet cutting heads comprise abrasive fluid jet cutting heads, each fluid jet cutting head further comprising:
 an abrasive feed inlet coupled with an abrasive source configured to provide abrasive material to the fluid jet cutting head; and   a mixing chamber aligned about the jet axis, interposed between the fluid inlet orifice and nozzle, and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet orifice, the abrasive feed inlet, and the outlet channel, wherein when actuated, the pressurized fluid from the fluid inlet orifice and the abrasive material from the abrasive feed inlet mix in the mixing chamber and are ejected from the fluid jet cutting head via the nozzle outlet channel thereby forming the cutting stream.   
     
     
         10 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 7 , wherein the pressurized fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 7 , further comprising a wear plate removably attached to the exposed surface of the body. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 11 , wherein the wear plate is magnetically mounted to the body. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 9 , wherein one or more of the abrasive feed inlets comprises an actuated abrasive feed inlet to selectively permit or deny communication of the abrasive feed inlet with the abrasive source. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 7 , wherein the body is configured to be mounted to a motion system. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 14 , wherein the body is configured to be mounted to the motion system such that one or more of the cutting streams is at an oblique angle relative to a surface a the work piece. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 15 , wherein the body is configured to be mounted such that one or more of the cutting streams is at an angle of approximately 25 degrees relative to the surface of the work piece. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 14 , wherein the nozzles protrude from the exposed surface of the body such that the distance between each nozzle end and the work piece is approximately the same. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 7 , comprising four fluid jet cutting heads. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid jet cutting heads are arranged in two rows and two columns within the body. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 7 , wherein one or more of the nozzles of the fluid jet cutting heads are depthwise offset within the body relative to one or more of the nozzles of the other fluid jet cutting heads. 
     
     
         21 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 7 , wherein the jet axes are substantially parallel with one another. 
     
     
         22 . The fluid jet cutting head mount of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of fluid jet cutting heads are arranged in rows and columns generally perpendicular with the jet axes, adjacent cutting streams in each row being spaced less than 3.375 inches apart. 
     
     
         23 . A method of cutting a plurality of identical features within a work piece comprising:
 providing a fluid jet cutting system comprising:
 a plurality of close-packed fluid jet cutting heads, each fluid jet cutting head delivering a cutting stream along a jet axis; 
 one or more intensifiers, for supplying pressurized fluid to the fluid jet cutting heads; 
 a plurality of actuators, each actuator in fluid communication with the one or more intensifiers and an associated fluid jet cutting head, each actuator configured to control an on/off state of the associated fluid jet cutting head and positioned such that it is not axially aligned with the jet axis of the associated fluid jet cutting head; and 
 a motion system, coupled to the fluid jet cutting heads, and configured to move the close-packed fluid jet cutting heads relative to the work piece; 
   installing the work piece within the fluid jet cutting system; and   activating the fluid jet cutting system thereby simultaneously cutting two or more features within the work piece.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the work piece comprises a material sheet. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the material sheet comprises a steel sheet. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of activating the fluid jet cutting system comprises:
 moving the fluid jet cutting heads relative to the work piece in a predetermined pattern while selectively activating two or more of the cutting heads.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the close-packed fluid jet cutting heads are disposed within a body.