Multi-jet nozzle

Abstract

Some embodiments can be implemented as a system, method, or nozzle and can include some of these features. A fluid jet cutting system can include a frame, a cutting head, a high-pressure fluid source, an abrasive source, and an actuator. The cutting head can include a fluid inlet, an orifice, a mixing chamber, and a fluid jet nozzle. The fluid jet nozzle can include an elongated body which can include a body axis, a fluid inlet orifice that can be in fluid communication with a plurality of conduits, and a source of high speed fluid and abrasive, which can be the cutting head's mixing chamber. Each of the plurality of conduits can: be in fluid communication with the fluid inlet orifice; have its own conduit axis that forms an angle with the body axis; and be in fluid communication with its own fluid outlet orifice.

1 . A high pressure fluid jet cutting system comprising:
 a frame;   a fluid jet cutting head coupled to the frame, the fluid jet cutting head including:
 a fluid inlet; 
 an orifice in fluid communication with the fluid inlet; 
 a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the orifice; and 
 a nozzle with an elongated body that comprises: a body axis, a fluid inlet orifice in fluid communication with the cutting head's mixing chamber, and a plurality of conduits, wherein each of the plurality of conduits (a) is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet orifice, (b) has its own conduit axis that forms an angle with the body axis, and (c) is in fluid communication with its own fluid outlet orifice; 
   a high-pressure fluid source including a pressurized fluid supply line connected to the fluid jet cutting head's fluid inlet and configured to supply pressurized fluid to the fluid jet cutting head's fluid inlet;   an abrasive source including an abrasive source supply line connected to the fluid jet cutting head's mixing chamber and configured to supply abrasive to the fluid jet cutting head's mixing chamber; and   an actuator coupled to the frame, the actuator being configured to control flow of pressurized fluid from the high-pressure fluid source to the fluid jet cutting head's fluid inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The high pressure fluid jet cutting system of  claim 1 , wherein a first angle formed by a first conduit axis and the body axis is substantially zero degrees, and a second angle formed by a second conduit axis and the body axis is greater than a third angle formed by a third conduit axis and the body axis. 
     
     
         3 . The high pressure fluid jet cutting system of  claim 1 , wherein the high-pressure fluid source is configured to supply pressurized fluid that is pressurized to substantially between 50,000 and 100,000 pounds per square inch and wherein the orifice is adapted to withstand fluid that is pressurized to substantially between 50,000 and 100,000 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         4 . The high pressure fluid jet cutting system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid jet cutting head further includes:
 a second fluid inlet;   a second orifice in fluid communication with the second fluid inlet;   a second mixing chamber in fluid communication with the second orifice; and   a second nozzle with a second-nozzle elongated body that comprises: a second-nozzle body axis, a second-nozzle fluid inlet orifice in fluid communication with the second mixing chamber, and a plurality of second-nozzle conduits, wherein each of the plurality of second-nozzle conduits (a) is in fluid communication with the second-nozzle fluid inlet orifice, (b) has its own second-nozzle conduit axis that forms a second angle with the body axis, and (c) is in fluid communication with its own second-nozzle fluid outlet orifice; and   wherein the high-pressure fluid source includes a second pressurized fluid supply line connected to the fluid jet cutting head's second fluid inlet and configured to supply pressurized fluid to the fluid jet cutting head's second fluid inlet;   wherein the abrasive source includes a second abrasive source supply line connected to the fluid jet cutting head's second mixing chamber and configured to supply abrasive to the fluid jet cutting head's second mixing chamber; and   wherein the high pressure fluid jet cutting system further comprises a second actuator, the second actuator coupled to the frame, the second actuator in fluid communication with the high-pressure fluid source and the second fluid inlet.   
     
     
         5 . A fluid jet nozzle including an elongated body that comprises:
 a body axis;   a fluid inlet orifice configured to be in fluid communication with a source of high speed fluid and abrasive;   a plurality of conduits, wherein each of the plurality of conduits (a) is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet orifice, (b) has its own conduit axis that forms an angle with the body axis, and (c) is in fluid communication with its own fluid outlet orifice.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid jet nozzle of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of conduits further (d) have a circular cross sectional shape, wherein a diameter of at least one conduit is approximately 0.01 inches, and a diameter of at least one other conduit is approximately 0.06 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid jet nozzle of  claim 5 , wherein the elongated body is made of carbide. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid jet nozzle of  claim 5 , wherein a first angle formed by a first conduit axis and the body axis is greater than a second angle formed by a second conduit axis and the body axis. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid jet nozzle of  claim 5 , wherein a first angle formed by a first conduit axis and the body axis is approximately two degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid jet nozzle of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an outlet face substantially normal to the body axis, the fluid outlet orifices disposed on the outlet face,   wherein the fluid outlet orifices are positioned on the outlet face such that each fluid outlet orifice substantially locates one of six vertices of a hexagon.   
     
     
         11 . The fluid jet nozzle of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an outlet face substantially normal to the body axis, the fluid outlet orifices disposed on the outlet face,   wherein the fluid outlet orifices are positioned on the outlet face such that each fluid outlet orifice substantially locates vertices and endpoints of a “W”; and   wherein a portion of the elongated body has a rectangular cross sectional shape.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid jet nozzle of  claim 5 , further comprising a cutting head connector adapted to attach the elongated body to a fluid jet cutting head, wherein the fluid outlet orifices are each configured to provide a fluid jet cutting stream. 
     
     
         13 . A method of drilling a plurality of holes into a work piece comprising:
 (a) providing a high pressure fluid jet cutting system comprising:
 (i) a fluid jet cutting head including
 a fluid inlet, 
 an orifice in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, 
 a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the orifice, and 
 a nozzle with an elongated body that comprises: a body axis, a fluid inlet orifice in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, and a plurality of conduits, wherein each of the plurality of conduits (A) is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet orifice, (B) has its own conduit axis that forms an angle with the body axis, and (C) is in fluid communication with its own fluid outlet orifice, 
 
 (ii) a high-pressure fluid source adapted to supply pressurized fluid to the fluid jet cutting head's fluid inlet, 
 (iii) an abrasive source adapted to supply abrasive to the fluid jet cutting head's mixing chamber, and 
 (iv) an actuator configured to control flow of pressurized fluid from the high-pressure fluid source to the fluid jet cutting head's fluid inlet, 
   (b) installing the work piece in the fluid jet cutting system; and   (c) activating the actuator of the fluid jet cutting system, thereby dispensing high speed fluid and abrasive from the fluid outlet orifices of the fluid jet cutting head's nozzle to simultaneously drill the plurality of holes into the work piece.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the diameter of at least one of the drilled holes is 0.01 inches, and the diameter of at least one of the drilled holes is 0.06 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of holes drilled in the work piece comprise a plurality of angled, diamond-shaped holes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a first hole drilled has a first center, and a second hole drilled has a second center, and the distance from the first center to the second center is approximately 0.12 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the high pressure fluid supplied to the fluid jet cutting head's fluid inlet is pressurized to 100,000 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the high pressure fluid supplied to the fluid jet cutting head's fluid inlet is pressurized to at least 75,000 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the high pressure fluid supplied to the fluid jet cutting head's fluid inlet is pressurized to substantially between 50,000 and 100,000 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , the method further comprising:
 (d) moving the fluid jet cutting head while the high speed fluid and abrasive are being dispensed from the fluid outlet orifices of the fluid jet cutting head's nozzle.