WO2018197018A1

WO2018197018A1 - Water-abrasive-suspension cutting system

Info

Publication number: WO2018197018A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/060260
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Linde
Original assignee: Ant Applied New Technologies Ag
Priority date: 2017-04-28
Filing date: 2017-04-28
Publication date: 2018-11-01
Also published as: EP3615273A1

Abstract

The water-abrasive-suspension cutting system (1) disclosed herein has a high-pressure source (3) for providing (701) water under high pressure, a high-pressure line (5) fluidically connected to the high-pressure source (3), said high-pressure line having an upstream portion and a downstream portion, an outlet nozzle (7) fluidically connected to the downstream portion of the high-pressure line (5), for producing a cutting jet (9), and a pressure container (11) for providing (703) a pressurized water-abrasive suspension (13), wherein the pressure container (11) is fluidically connected on the inlet side to the upstream portion of the high-pressure line (5) and fluidically connected on the outlet side to the downstream portion of the high-pressure line (5). A pump or delivery device (16, 80) is arranged on the outlet side of the pressure container (11) and the pump or delivery device is set up to deliver the water-abrasive suspension (13) out of the pressure container (11) and to feed it to the downstream portion of the high-pressure line (5).

Description

Applicant: ANT Applied New Technologies AG

Title: Water-abrasive-suspension-cutting machine

Our sign: ANTP 3158 WO

description

[01] The present disclosure relates to a water-abrasive suspension cutting machine with the features specified in the preamble of claim 1.

[02] Water-abrasive suspension cutters are used to cut materials by means of a high-pressure water jet to which an abrasive is added. Water-abrasive suspension cutting systems are to be differentiated from water-abrasive injection-cutting systems, in which the abrasive is introduced only in or at an outlet nozzle in the already very accelerated water. For water-abrasive suspension cutters, the high-pressure water is first mixed with the abrasive and then the water-abrasive slurry is accelerated in the outlet nozzle. In the case of water abrasive injection cutting machines, there is no problem mixing the abrasive under high pressure with the water since the abrasive is supplied only at the outlet nozzle, but the abrasive / water ratio is in water abrasive injection cutting machines severely limited and thus its cutting force. In addition, air inclusions in water abrasive injection cutting systems lead to cutting performance reduction by inefficient acceleration of the abrasive particles when sucking into the water jet and high air fractions in the cutting jet. On the other hand, in water-abrasive suspension cutters, the abrasive-to-water ratio can be made higher and a higher cutting force can be achieved because the water under high pressure is controlled upstream of the exit gland without air entrainment with the abrasive. is mixed. Thus, for example, a part of the water flow can be guided through an abrasive container, which is designed as a pressure vessel. Such a system is z. B. from EP 1 199 136 known. A technical challenge in these systems is the setting of a constant desired Abrasivmittelentnahmeaufoms from the pressure vessel to set a desired mixing ratio of water and abrasive in the cutting jet and to keep constant during cutting.

[03] EP 2 755 802 B1 and WO 2015/149867 A1 describe lock solutions to ensure continuous operation of the installation. However, the Abrasivmittelentnahmestrom depends on the pressure difference between the pressure vessel inlet and outlet in the systems described therein, the pressure difference depending on the level and Abrasivmittelverteilung in the pressure vessel may vary and is difficult to control.

[04] The water-abrasive-suspension cutting apparatus disclosed herein has the advantage over the above solutions that a desired abrasive bleed stream can be adjusted and maintained from the pressure vessel to adjust a desired mixing ratio between water and abrasive in the cutting jet and cutting constant. Advantageous embodiments of the disclosure are set forth in the subclaims, the following description and the drawings.

[05] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, the Water Abrasive Suspension Cutting Machine disclosed herein comprises a high pressure source for supplying high pressure water, a high pressure fluid line connected to the high pressure source having an upstream portion and a downstream portion,

a discharge nozzle fluidly connected to the downstream portion of the high pressure line for generating a cutting jet, and a pressure vessel for providing a pressurized water abrasive slurry, the pressure vessel fluidly connected to the upstream portion of the high pressure line and the discharge side thereof downstream section of the high pressure line is fluidly connected.

On the output side of the pressure vessel, a pumping or conveying device is arranged, wherein the pumping or conveying device is set up to convey the water-abrasive suspension from the pressure vessel and to supply it to the downstream section of the high-pressure line.

[06] Abrasive fluid can be removed from the pressure vessel by the pumping or conveying device on the outlet side in a controlled and defined manner in order to set a desired mixing ratio between water and abrasive in the cutting jet and to keep it constant during cutting. The dependence of the abrasive removal flow on the pressure difference between the pressure vessel inlet and outlet is thus reduced or completely prevented, so that the Abrasivmittelentnahmestrom not with the level and / or the Abrasivmittelverteilung in the pressure vessel varies, but can be specified by the pumping or conveyor.

[07] By the "upstream section" of the high-pressure line is meant a section of the high-pressure line which purportedly carries only water and no abrasive Meant high-pressure line, the intended purpose of a water-abrasive suspension leads.

[08] In a first embodiment, the pumping or conveying device can be a jet pump with which water-abrasive suspension from the pressure vessel can be sucked by means of a water flow through a taper in the downstream section of the high-pressure line. This is advantageous since the jet pump immediately mixes the abrasive into the water flow and thus supplies it to the downstream section of the high-pressure line. In addition, the jet pump manages without moving parts, which are generally exposed to severe wear because of the water-abrasive suspension and the high pressures of 1 .000 to 4,000 bar. [09] In a second embodiment, the pumping or conveying device may be a screw conveyor with which water-abrasive suspension can be fed to the downstream section of the high-pressure line by means of a motor. Optionally, the screw conveyor project at least partially into the pressure vessel. In contrast to the embodiment with a jet pump which draws abrasive material from the pressure vessel over a defined pressure difference, the abrasive removal flow with a screw conveyor is as good as independent of the pressure difference between the pressure vessel inlet and outlet. This can possibly be dispensed with an input-side inflow control in the pressure vessel. As an alternative to the conveyor check, it is also possible to use a paddle wheel or a similar mechanical abrasive removal device in order to deliver abrasive particles portion-wise or continuously from the pressure vessel. [10] Optionally, the pumping or conveying device can be set up to convey the water-abrasive agent suspension as a function of at least one controlled variable out of the pressure vessel and to supply it to the downstream section of the high-pressure line. optional For example, the at least one controlled variable may have a sensor signal and / or an operating parameter of the high-pressure source. The controlled variable can have several parameters, combinations of parameters or calculations from one or more parameters. "Aufweisen" means in this sense that the at least one controlled variable depends on the sensor signal or the parameter, or the sensor signal or the parameter is included in the controlled variable.

[1 1] Optionally, the at least one controlled variable has an abrasive flow from the pressure vessel or a parameter characteristic of an abrasive flow from the pressure vessel. For example, the system may include a first level sensor for signaling at least a first level of abrasive in the pressure vessel. The at least one controlled variable may then have a temporal change of the first fill level.

[12] Optionally, the system may include a first level sensor for signaling at least a first level of abrasive in the pressure vessel and a second level sensor for signaling at least a second level of abrasive in the pressure vessel, wherein the at least one controlled variable is a time difference between the first level and may have the second level. For example, the level sensors may be ultrasonic sensors or optical sensors, which are arranged at different vertical positions on the pressure vessel and can signal a certain level. With known geometry of the pressure vessel and known vertical distance between the first and the second level sensor, the time difference is characteristic of an Abrasivmittelentnahmefluss, after which the pumping or conveying device can be regulated.

In the embodiment with a jet pump can be arranged on the input side of the pressure vessel controllable throttle depending on the regulate at least one controlled variable inflow into the pressure vessel from the high pressure line and thus the suction effect of the jet pump. In the embodiment with screw conveyor, the screw conveyor can be driven by a motor, in particular a speed-controlled electric servomotor, wherein the motor is regulated depending on the at least one controlled variable.

[14] Optionally, the plant may include an abrasive agent flow sensor disposed at the downstream portion of the high pressure line for signaling an abrasive withdrawal flow, after which the pumping or delivery means may be controlled. The abrasive flow sensor may, for example, count abrasive particles passing through the downstream portion of the high pressure line or otherwise measure the abrasive flow. This can e.g. by means of ultrasound, optically, inductively via ferromagnetic markers in the abrasive or via a structure-borne noise measurement.

[15] Optionally, the controlled variable speed and / or Leistungsbzw. Have current consumption of the high pressure source. About the speed and / or power or current consumption of the high pressure source can be closed to the flow of water through the high pressure line, which can co-determine the mixing ratio in the cutting jet. Therefore, these or other operating parameters of the high-pressure line can preferably be included in the at least one controlled variable. Alternatively or additionally, a flow sensor can measure or signal a flow of water through the high-pressure line, so that it can enter into the at least one controlled variable.

[1 6] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a water abrasive slurry cutting method comprising the steps of:

Providing high pressure water in a high pressure line by means of a high pressure source, Providing a high-pressure abrasive agent suspension in a pressure vessel,

Conveying the water-abrasive agent suspension out of the pressure vessel by means of a pumping or conveying device arranged on the output side of the pressure vessel,

Feeding the water abrasive suspension into a downstream portion of the high pressure line by means of the pump or conveyor, and

Cutting a material by means of a high-pressure jet under Ent- take the abrasive suspension from the downstream section of the high-pressure line.

[1 7] Optionally, the water-abrasive suspension from the pressure vessel can be conveyed by suction from the pressure vessel by means of a jet pump, by means of a water flow through a taper in the downstream portion of the high-pressure line water-abrasive suspension can be sucked from the pressure vessel , Sucking can also have a supporting effect on an already existing or additionally generated pressure difference between the pressure vessel inlet and outlet. Alternatively, the water-abrasive suspension can be conveyed out of the pressure vessel by means of a screw conveyor. Also, the conveying can act in an already existing or additionally generated pressure difference supportive between pressure vessel inlet and outlet. Preferably, the water-abrasive suspension is conveyed regulated from the pressure vessel depending on at least one controlled variable. In this case, the at least one controlled variable may optionally have a sensor signal and / or an operating parameter of the high-pressure source. [18] Optionally, the at least one controlled variable may be a change of an abrasive agent level in the pressure vessel or a change of an abrasive fluid level in the pressure vessel. have characteristic parameters. For this example, the method may optionally include signaling a first level of abrasive in the pressure vessel by means of a first level sensor, wherein the at least one controlled variable may have a temporal change of the first level.

[19] Optionally, the method may include signaling a first level of abrasive in the pressure vessel by means of a first level sensor and signaling a second level of abrasive in the pressure vessel by a second level sensor, wherein the at least one controlled variable is a time difference between the first level and the second level Has level. Alternatively or additionally, the method may include signaling an abrasive flow by means of an abrasive flow sensor arranged at the downstream section of the high-pressure line, wherein the at least one control variable comprises the abrasive flow signaled by the abrasive flow sensor. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one controlled variable may have a rotational speed and / or power or current consumption of the high-pressure source.

[20] The disclosure is explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a first embodiment of the disclosed herein water-abrasive suspension cutting machine;

FIGS. 2a-c show schematic partial circuit diagrams with different arrangements of the first exemplary embodiment of the water-abrasive suspension cutting system disclosed herein;

FIGS. 3 to 5 are schematic circuit diagrams of different embodiments of a second embodiment of the water-abrasive suspension cutting system disclosed herein; 6a-c show schematic partial circuit diagrams with different arrangements of the second exemplary embodiment of the water-abrasive suspension cutting system disclosed herein; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic flow diagram of an embodiment of the method disclosed herein for water-abrasive-suspension cutting. [21] The Water Abrasive Suspension Cutting Machine shown in FIG

I has a high pressure source 3, the water in a high pressure line 5 under a high pressure po of about 1 .000 to 4,000 bar available. The high-pressure line 5 is connected to an outlet nozzle 7 from which the high-pressure water emerges at a very high speed in a jet 9. So that the jet 9 can be used effectively as a cutting jet for cutting material, the high-pressure line 5 is branched such that at least part of the flow through the high-pressure line 5 through a pressure vessel

I I is guided, in which a water-abrasive suspension 13 is located. Via a shut-off valve 15, the feeding of the water

Abrasivmittel-suspension 13 to the outlet nozzle on and off. A jet pump 16 arranged on the output side of the pressure vessel 1 1 defines a taper in a downstream section 70 of the high-pressure line 5, which is connected to a removal point 68 via a lateral opening and utilizes the water-abrasive suspension 13 from the Pressure vessel 1 1 sucks and the downstream section 70 of the high-pressure line 5 admixed. The proportion of the water-abrasive suspension 13 in the jet 9 can be adjusted via a throttle 1 7, by the flow rate in the guided through the pressure vessel 1 1 side of the high-pressure line 5 is throttled. The throttle 17 may be static, for example in the form of a pinhole or adjustable or regulated be designed. Preferably, the throttle 17 is adjustable, so that the throttle 17 may possibly also completely shut off the inflow into the pressure vessel 1 1, so that it is possible to dispense with the shut-off valve 15. The throttle 17 is preferably controllable, wherein a signal characteristic of the excessive drive current which can be obtained from a sensor or an available operating parameter is used as a controlled variable for controlling the opening of the throttle 17 (see FIGS. 2a-c). ,

The present disclosure is applicable to both systems in which a cutting process can only last until the emptying of the pressure vessel and the pressure vessel must be refilled with non-pressurized system, as well as for those systems in which the pressure vessel 1 1 in printed plant can be refilled sequentially during cutting. In the figures, for the sake of simplicity, only systems are shown here in which the pressure vessel 11 is replenished sequentially during the cutting operation when the system 1 is printed.

When cutting with the system 1 of Figure 1, the pressure vessel 1 1 water-abrasive suspension 13 is removed and fed water under high pressure, so that in the pressure vessel 1 1 befind- lent abrasive is consumed. Therefore, it is necessary to refill the pressure vessel 11 continuously or sequentially with abrasive. For this purpose, a refill valve 19 is arranged in the form of a ball valve above the pressure vessel 1 1. The refill valve 19 connects a lock chamber 21 arranged above the refill valve 19 with the pressure vessel 11. In turn, a filling valve 23, which connects a refilling funnel 25 arranged above the lock chamber 21 to the lock chamber 21, is disposed above the lock chamber 21. The filling valve 23 may be configured substantially identical to the refill valve 19 in the form of a ball valve. [24] The refilling funnel 25 is not under pressure, so that dry, moist or wet abrasive or a water-abrasive suspension can be filled from above. This can be, at least in part, an abrasive agent which has been reprocessed from the cutting jet 9 and which can be introduced into the refilling funnel 25 from above via a conveying device in dry, wet, frozen, pelletized or suspended form. When the refill valve 19 is closed, the lock chamber 21 may be temporarily depressurized. For example, a pressure in the lock chamber 21 can be discharged via a pressure relief valve 27 in the form of a needle valve into a drain 29. In non-pressurized lock chamber 21, the filling valve 23 may be open, so that abrasive falls from the refilling hopper 25 into the lock chamber 21. This gravitational filling of the lock chamber 21 with abrasive can be supported and accelerated by a pump 31st The pump 31 may be connected on the suction side with the lock chamber 21 and the pressure side with the refilling funnel 25. Thus, the pump 31 sucking abrasive into the lock chamber 21. This is especially useful when abrasive material clogs in the tapered lower region of the refilling funnel 25 or on the filling valve 23. By sucking the abrasive down through the pump 31, a blockage can be dissolved or the occurrence of a blockage can be prevented. Thus, the pump 31 does not need to be designed for high pressure, it is advantageous if the pump 31 by means of a Pumpenabsperrventils 33 in the form of a needle valve from the lock chamber 21 can be shut off. The pump shut-off valve 33 can be embodied flushable in order to purge the valve seat and the valve body, for example in the form of a valve needle, of abrasive material. This ensures on the one hand a tight closing of the pump shut-off valve 33 and reduces the material wear in the valve. The pump 31 can be largely protected from abrasives by means of an upstream filter and / or separator (both not shown). [25] The Pumpenabsperrventil 33 is only opened when the lock chamber 21 is already depressurized. Therefore, for the pump check valve 33, a needle valve in which a side scavenging inlet and an opposite side scavenging outlet are provided can be used. For the pressure relief valve 27, however, an embodiment of the needle valve is more advantageous, in which a check valve is provided at the scavenging inlet. Since the pressure release valve 27 is opened at high pressure, the check valve prevents a pressure release in the direction of the scavenging inlet. The Spülauslass can open into the drain 29, so that both the pressure relief and the Spülmittelablass takes place only to the drain 29 out and not to Rinse inlet.

[26] As soon as the lock chamber 21 is filled, for example, with 1 kg of abrasive agent, the filling valve 23 can be closed. In addition, now the pressure relief valve 27 and the Pumpenabsperr- valve 33 are closed. The lock chamber 21 has a printing input 35 in a lower region, via which the lock chamber 21 can be printed. The printing input 35 is connected via a pressure valve 37 and a throttle 41 to the high-pressure line 5. If the throttle 41 can be adjusted to a degree at which the connection between the high-pressure line 5 and the pressure input 35 can be shut off completely, the pressure valve 37 can possibly be dispensed with. As soon as the pressure valve 37 is opened, the high-pressure line 5 imprints the lock chamber 21. By the throttle 41, the amplitude of the pressure drop in the high-pressure line 5 is restricted to a minimum. For example, the high-pressure source 3 can react so quickly to an initial pressure drop via a servo pump control and adjust the pump power correspondingly quickly so that it does not even come to a large amplitude of pressure drop. By means of pressure sensors, the high-pressure source 3 can be notified of an initial pressure drop, so that the high-pressure source 3 is supplied with an increase in power or rotational speed. Lerhöhung can counteract another pressure drop quickly. About the throttle 41, the initial pressure drop can already be mitigated, so there is no time to a pressure drop, which significantly affects the cutting performance. [27] As soon as the lock chamber 21 is completely printed, the refill valve 19 can be opened, so that gravitationally or assisted abrasive can flow from the lock chamber 21 through the refill valve 19 into the pressure vessel 1 1 to refill this. Preferably, a conveying aid 45, for example in the form of a pump, is provided, which is connected on the suction side with the pressure vessel 1 1 and the pressure side with the lock chamber 21. The conveying aid 45 supports or generates the abrasive flow from the lock chamber 21 down into the pressure vessel 1 1. It can prevent or dissolve blockages of abrasive and accelerate the gravity-induced or assisted refilling process. In contrast to the pump 31 at the refilling funnel 25, the conveying aid 45 operates on the pressure vessel 1 1 with water under the nominal high pressure po. It must therefore be designed for high-pressure operation. For example, it may only have an inductively driven paddle wheel in the high pressure, so that the number of moving parts that are under high pressure is minimized. A Förderhilfeabsperrventil 47 is disposed between the conveying aid 45 and the lock chamber 21, wherein the Förderhilfeabsperrventil 47 in the form of a needle valve, the pump 47 against the lock chamber 21 shut off when the lock chamber 21 is not or not completely printed. Preferably, the auxiliary conveying shut-off valve 47 is a flushable needle valve with a check valve on the rinse inlet, since it is operated under high pressure.

[28] In addition to an upper valve inlet 49 and a lower valve outlet 51, the refill valve 19 also has a lateral pressure inlet 53. About the pressure inlet 53, a valve chamber, in the a movable valve body is printed. Namely, without printing on the valve space, it may be that when the system is started up, the very high pressures on the valve inlet 49 and the valve outlet 51 press the valve body so strongly into the valve seat that the valve body can no longer be moved. Via the lateral pressure inlet 53, a pressure compensation in the refill valve 19 can be made, so that the valve body is movable after commissioning.

[29] In the partial circuit diagrams according to FIGS. 2a-c different control possibilities of the abrasive fluid removal flow are clarified. For the addition of abrasive in the cutting jet 9, a branch of the high-pressure line 5 is guided through the filled with Abrasivmittelsuspensi- 13 pressure vessel 1 1. A removal point 68 arranged in the lower region of the pressure vessel 11 is connected to the outlet nozzle 7 via a downstream section 70 of the high-pressure line 5. A branch of the high pressure line 5 is guided via a control valve or controllable throttle 17 in an upper region of the pressure vessel 1 1. Downstream of the pressure vessel 11, the abrasive medium line in the jet pump 16 is again brought together with the high-pressure line 5 so that the cutting jet contains, for example, a defined and constant mixing ratio of 1: 9 abrasive agent suspension and water. The mixing ratio is regulated via the input side connected to the pressure vessel 1 1 control valve 17. At the maximum open position of the control valve 17, the abrasive fluid removal flow is maximum and the mixing ratio is maximum. At minimal opening position or closed position of the control valve 17, the Abrasivmittelentnahmefluss is minimal or zero and the mixing ratio correspondingly low or contains the cutting jet 9 then only water. [30] It is now advantageous for various reasons to measure and control the actual abrasive removal flow. On the one hand, for the cutting of certain materials, workpieces or workpiece sections, a certain mixing ratio can be optimal in which only as much abrasive agent is removed as necessary to achieve the cutting performance. For inhomogeneous workpieces, the cutting performance can be adjusted by the mixing ratio during cutting. On the other hand, the refilling of the pressure vessel 1 1 with abrasive can be controlled in accordance with the abrasive removal flow so that there is always sufficient abrasive suspension 13 in the pressure vessel 11 for continuous cutting. In Fig. 2a-c are each four different levels of the abrasive in the pressure vessel 1 1 indicated by dashed cones. Between a maximum level cone Fmax and a minimum level cone Fmin, two further level cones Fi and F2 are shown, where Fmax>Fi>F2> Fmin. It should be pointed out once again that the entire system 1 and in particular the pressure vessel 1 1 are completely free of air. This means that the level cones are in high-pressure water. The maximum level cone Fmax is defined by the fact that with further refilling with abrasive in the pressure vessel 1 1, a backflow into the refill valve 19 would result. The minimum fill level cone Fmin is defined by the fact that, on further removal of the abrasive agent, the abrasive agent content of the abrasive agent suspension in the exit-side abrasive feed line 70 would decrease.

[31] As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, level sensors 72, 74, 76 can be arranged on the pressure vessel 11 in order to signal the reaching of a filling cone. The fill level sensors 72, 74, 76 may be, for example, ultrasonic sensors, optical sensors or barriers, electromagnetic sensors or sensors of another type. Here, the level sensors 72, 74, 76 are ultrasonic sensors that reach a level cone can signal via a change in structure-borne noise. For example, an upper level sensor 72 may signal the reaching of the level cone Fi and start a timer or define a time ti. For example, a lower level sensor 74 may signal the reaching of the level cone F2 and stop a timer at At or define a time h. About the known geometry of the pressure vessel 1 1 and the vertical distance of the level sensors 72, 74, a mean Abr- sivmittelentnahmefluss can be determined as AV / At and AV / (t2-ti). The third lowermost level sensor 76 can signal the minimum level cone Fmin and immediately cause a shut-off of the shut-off valve 15 in order to prevent empty suction of the pressure vessel 1 1. According to FIG. 2 b, other operating parameters such as the pump speed and / or the power consumption of the high-pressure source 3 for determining the abrasive fluid removal flow and its control can also be used as control variable for the control valve 17. As shown in FIG. 2 c, the abrasive medium flow or the mixing ratio can also be determined by means of a corresponding sensor 79 at the downstream section 70 of the high-pressure line 5 or in front of the outlet nozzle 7 and used as a controlled variable for the control valve 17.

[32] The level sensors 72, 74 can also be used to control or clock the refill cycles. For example, a filling of the lock chamber 21 can fit above the upper level sensor 72 between the level cone Fi and the maximum level cone Fmax. If the level cone falls below Fi, the upper level sensor 72 can trigger a filling of the lock chamber 21 so that it is completely filled when the lower level sensor 74 signals the level cone F2 and thus can trigger refilling from the filled lock chamber 21 into the pressure vessel 1 1. This prevents the level cone from reaching the minimum filling level. Fm sinks. Between the minimum fill level cone Fmin and the fill level cone F2, at least one fill of the lock chamber 21 can likewise be used as a buffer. As an alternative to triggering the filling of the lock chamber 21 at a certain level, the lock chamber 21 can be automatically filled again immediately as soon as the refilling of the pressure vessel 1 1 is completed. Then only with the level cone F2 refilling from the lock chamber 21 needs to be triggered. The vertical distance between the upper level sensor 72 and the lower level sensor 74 may be chosen to be relatively short, for example, so short that a decrease between Fi and F2 lasts shorter than a filling operation of the lock chamber 21. With a shorter vertical distance, the average abrasive take-off flow AV / At or AV / († 2- † i) can be determined more frequently and thus more accurately reflect the current abrasive take-off flow dV / dt.

[33] In Fig. 3, according to the second embodiment, a screw conveyor 80 is shown, which is driven by a servo motor 81. In this case, the auger 80 can convey abrasive material upward via a rotation about its longitudinal axis and thus supply it to the downstream section 70 of the high-pressure line 5 in a defined manner. Analogous to the arrangements shown in FIGS. 6a-c, the servomotor 81 can be regulated via at least one controlled variable. According to FIG. 4, the screw conveyor 80 can also be arranged on a lower-side abrasive outlet of the pressure vessel 11, and convey abrasives in a defined manner downwards through the lower-side abrasive outlet of the pressure vessel 11. Here, the Abrasivmittelaustrag is gravity assisted. Below the lower side abrasive outlet of the pressure vessel 11, a mixing chamber 82 is arranged, in which a main stream of water from the upstream section of the high pressure line 5 is mixed with the abrasive fed from the pressure vessel 11 and the downstream section 70 the high-pressure line 5 is supplied. Again, the screw conveyor 80 is preferably driven by a controlled servo motor 81, wherein a drive shaft guided through the mixing chamber 82 transmits the torque of the servomotor 81 to the screw conveyor 80. Optionally, a pressure relief line 83 may also be provided on the pressure vessel 11. About a shut-off or control valve 84, the pressure relief line 83 can be opened to relieve the pressure in the pressure vessel 1 1 when needed. The shut-off or control valve 84 may be an adjustable or fixed throttle or a combination of a shut-off valve and a throttle or only a shut-off valve. Alternatively, the pressure relief line 83, as shown in Figure 5, also be performed directly without shut-off or control valve 84 in the downstream portion 70 of the high-pressure line 5.

[34] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the conveying screw 80 protrudes at least partially into the pressure vessel 11 in order to actively convey abrasive material out of the pressure vessel 11. In contrast, in FIG. 5, abrasive agent falls through a lower-side abrasive outlet of the pressure vessel 11 onto a conveyor screw 80 arranged horizontally below the pressure vessel 11, which is located in a mixing chamber 82. In this case, the flow through the high-pressure line 5 assists in conveying the abrasive through the screw conveyor 80. The screw conveyor 80 also assists in the mixing of the upstream water flow through the high-pressure line 5 with the abrasive conveyed from the pressure vessel 11. Again, the feed screw 80 is driven by a servo motor 81, which is preferably controlled according to the Abrasivmittelentnahmefluss. FIG. 6 a shows, analogously to FIG. 2 a, how the servomotor 81 is regulated by the control signals of the fill level sensors 72, 74. An input-side control valve 1 7 is not required here, since with the screw conveyor 80 the abrasive agent outflow only slightly depends on the pressure difference between the pressure vessel inlet and outlet. Alternatively or additionally in the control of the servo motor 81, the speed and / or the power consumption of the high pressure source 3 with enter (see Figure 6b). Alternatively or additionally, the servomotor 81 can be regulated by a signal from an abrasive medium flow sensor 79 at the downstream section 70 of the high-pressure line 5 (see FIG. 6c).

[35] FIG. 7 illustrates the process steps of the water-abrasive-suspension-cutting process disclosed herein in terms of time, with some or all process steps preferably occurring simultaneously. In a first step 701, high pressure water is provided in the high pressure line 5 by the high pressure source 3. Then or at the same time, a high-pressure abrasive suspension is provided 703 in the pressure vessel 1 1. A subsequent conveying 705 of the water-abrasive suspension from the pressure vessel 1 1 by means of an output side of the pressure vessel 1 1 arranged pumping or conveying device 16, 80th Subsequently or simultaneously, the water-abrasive suspension is fed 707 into the downstream section 70 of the high-pressure line 5 by means of the pumping or conveying device 16, 80. Finally, a workpiece or material is removed from the high-pressure jet 9 by removing the abrasive suspension downstream section 70 of the high pressure line 5 cut 709.

The step of conveying 705 may optionally include suction from the pressure vessel 1 1 by means of a jet pump 16, by means of a water flow through a taper in the downstream section 70 of the high-pressure line 5 water-abrasive suspension from the pressure vessel 1 1 can be sucked , Alternatively, the water-abrasive suspension can be promoted by means of a screw conveyor 80 from the pressure vessel 1 1. The water-abrasive agent suspension is preferably conveyed in a controlled manner from the pressure vessel 11 depending on at least one controlled variable. The mini- at least one controlled variable optionally have a sensor signal and / or an operating parameter of the high-pressure source.

[37] The numbered designations of the components or directions of movement as "first", "second", "third", etc. are here purely arbitrarily chosen to distinguish the components or directions of movement with each other and can be chosen arbitrarily different.

[38] Equivalent embodiments of the parameters, components, or functions described herein that appear to be obvious in light of this description of a person skilled in the art are herein as if explicitly described. Accordingly, the scope of the claims is intended to include such equivalent embodiments. As optional, advantageous, preferred, desirable, or similarly designated "may" features are to be understood as optional rather than as limiting the scope of protection.

[39] The described embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples and are not an exhaustive list of possible embodiments. Each feature disclosed in one embodiment may be used alone or in combination with one or more other features, regardless of whether in which embodiment the features have been described respectively. While at least one embodiment is described and shown herein, variations and alternative embodiments that appear obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of this description are also within the scope of this disclosure. Incidentally, neither the term "comprising" herein is intended to exclude additional other features or method steps nor is "a" or "an" to exclude a plurality. 21

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

I - Water Abrasive Suspension Cutter 3 - High Pressure Source

5 - High pressure line

7 - outlet nozzle

9 - cutting jet

I I - pressure vessel

13 - Water abrasive suspension

15 - stop valve

1 6 - jet pump

1 7 - throttle

19 - refill valve

21 - lock chamber

23 - filling valve

25 - refill funnel

27 - Pressure relief valve

29 - Procedure

31 - pump

33 - Pump stop valve

35 - printing input

37 - Pressure valve

41 - Throttle

45 - Assistance

47 - Aid control valve

49 - Valve input

51 - Valve output

53 - Pressure inlet

68 - sampling point

70 - downstream section of the high pressure line

72 - level sensor 74 - Level sensor

76 - level sensor

80 - screw conveyor

81 - servomotor

82 - mixing chamber

83 - Pressure relief line

84 - Shut-off or control valve

701 - Providing high pressure water in the high pressure line

703 - providing a pressurized abrasive dispenser in the pressure vessel

705 - conveying the water-abrasive suspension from the

pressure vessel

707 - supplying the water abrasive suspension in a downstream portion of the high pressure line

709 - Cutting a material by means of a high-pressure jet

Fi - level cone

F2 - level cone

rmax maximum level cone

rmin minimum level cone

Claims

claims

Water abrasive suspension cutting machine (1) with

a high pressure source (3) for providing (701) high pressure water,

a high pressure line (5) fluidly connected to the high pressure source (3) and having an upstream portion and a downstream portion,

a discharge nozzle (7) fluidly connected to the downstream portion of the high-pressure line (5) for producing a cutting jet (9),

a pressure vessel (11) for providing (703) a pressurized water abrasive slurry (13), the pressure vessel (11) being fluidly connected to the upstream portion of the high pressure line (5) and having the downstream portion thereof at the exit side High pressure line (5) is fluidly connected,

characterized in that

On the output side of the pressure vessel (1 1) a pumping or conveying device (16, 80) is arranged, wherein the pumping or conveying device (16, 80) is adapted to the water-Abrasivmittel- suspension (13) from the pressure vessel (1 1 ) and supply the downstream portion of the high pressure line (5).

A water-abrasive suspension cutting machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pumping or conveying device is a jet pump (16), by means of a water flow through a taper in the downstream portion of the high-pressure line (5) water-abrasive suspension (13 ) from the pressure vessel (1 1) is sucked. A water-abrasive suspension-cutting machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pumping or conveying means is a screw conveyor (80) by means of which a motor water-abrasive suspension (13) can be supplied to the downstream portion of the high pressure line (5) ,

A water abrasive slurry slicer (1) according to claim 3, wherein the screw conveyor (80) projects at least partially into the pressure vessel (11).

Water-abrasive suspension cutting system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pumping or conveying device (16, 80) is adapted to the water-abrasive suspension (13) depending on at least one controlled variable regulated from the pressure vessel ( 11) and supply to the downstream portion of the high-pressure line (5).

Water-abrasive suspension cutting system (1) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one controlled variable comprises a sensor signal and / or an operating parameter of the high-pressure source (3).

Water-abrasive suspension cutting system (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the at least one controlled variable comprises a change of Abrasivmittelfüllstands in the pressure vessel (11) or a characteristic of a Abrasivmittelfüllstands in the pressure vessel (11) parameters.

Water-abrasive suspension cutting system (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, with a first level sensor (72) for signaling at least a first level (Fi) of abrasive in the pressure vessel (11), wherein the at least one controlled variable a temporal change of the first level (Fi). Water-abrasive suspension cutting system (1) according to one of Claims 5 to 8, having a first fill level sensor (72) for signaling at least one first fill level (Fi) of abrasive in the pressure vessel (11) and with a second fill level sensor (74). for signaling at least one second filling level (F2) of abrasive in the pressure vessel (1 1), wherein the at least one controlled variable has a time difference between the first level (Fi) and the second level (F2).

A water-abrasive suspension cutting system (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 9, comprising an abrasive flow sensor (79) disposed at the downstream portion of the high pressure line (5), the at least one controlled variable having an abrasive flux signaled by the abrasive flow sensor (79).

Water-abrasive suspension cutting system (1) according to one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the at least one controlled variable speed and / or power or current consumption of the high-pressure source (3).

Method for water-abrasive suspension cutting with the steps:

Providing (701) high pressure water in a high pressure line (5) by means of a high pressure source (3),

Providing (703) a high-pressure abrasive suspension (13) in a pressure vessel (11),

Conveying (705) the water-abrasive-suspension (13) from the pressure vessel (1 1) by means of an output side of the pressure vessel (1 1) arranged pumping or conveying device (1 6, 80), and

Feeding (707) the water abrasive suspension (13) into a downstream portion of the high pressure line (5) by means of the pumping or conveying means (16, 80), and Cutting (709) a material by means of a high pressure jet (9) removing the abrasive slurry (13) from the downstream portion of the high pressure line (5).

The method of claim 12, wherein conveying (705) the water abrasive slurry (13) from the pressure vessel (11) comprises sucking the water abrasive slurry (13) from the pressure vessel (11) by means of a jet pump (16) in which water-abrasive suspension (13) is sucked out of the pressure vessel (11) by means of a water flow through a taper in the downstream section of the high-pressure line (5).

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the conveying of the water-abrasive-suspension (13) from the pressure vessel (11) leads to a delivery of the water-abrasive suspension (13) from the pressure vessel (11) by means of a screw conveyor (80). having.

15. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the water-abrasive-suspension (13) from the pressure vessel (11) depending on at least one controlled variable is conveyed regulated.

16. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the at least one controlled variable has a sensor signal and / or an operating parameter of the high pressure source (3).

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the at least one controlled variable has a change of Abrasivmittelfüllstands in the pressure vessel (11) or a characteristic of a change of Abrasivmittelfüllstands in the pressure vessel (11) parameters.

18. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 17, further comprising signaling a first level (Fi) of abrasive in the pressure vessel (11) by means of a first level sensor (72), wherein wherein the at least one controlled variable has a temporal change of the first fill level (Fi).

Method according to one of claims 15 to 18, further comprising signaling a first level (Fi) of abrasive in the pressure vessel (1 1) by means of a first level sensor (72) and signaling a second level (F2) of abrasive in the pressure vessel (1 1 ) by means of a second level sensor (74), wherein the at least one controlled variable has a time difference between the first level (Fi) and the second level (F2).

The method of claim 15, further comprising signaling an abrasive flow by means of an abrasive flow sensor arranged at the downstream portion of the high pressure line, wherein the at least one controlled variable comprises the abrasive fluid flow signaled by the abrasive fluid flow sensor.

Method according to one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the at least one controlled variable has a speed and / or power or current consumption of the high-pressure source (3).