IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0039225
(2005-01-19)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Panuska,Brian R.
- Hammer,Joseph
- Hammer,Ronald
- Bachman,Wesley
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출원인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
11 인용 특허 :
72 |
초록
▼
An abrasive jet apparatus is provided which includes an abrasive dispenser defining a compartment for storing a granular abrasive material and at least one metering orifice disposed in open communication therewith for dispensing the granular abrasive material. The apparatus also includes a shutter a
An abrasive jet apparatus is provided which includes an abrasive dispenser defining a compartment for storing a granular abrasive material and at least one metering orifice disposed in open communication therewith for dispensing the granular abrasive material. The apparatus also includes a shutter assembly disposed adjacent the metering orifice, which includes a shutter member angularly displaceable between first and second positions relative to the metering orifice. The shutter member has formed therethrough at least one shutter opening which in the first position is substantially fully aligned with the metering orifice, and in the second position is substantially fully offset therefrom. The apparatus further includes a position actuator operatively coupled to the shutter mechanism for reversibly displacing the shutter member to the first and second positions and a plurality of intermediate positions therebetween for occluding a selective portion of the metering orifice. A flow rate of the abrasive material dispensed through said metering orifice is thereby maintained at a predetermined level.
대표청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. An abrasive jet apparatus comprising: an abrasive dispenser defining a compartment for storing a granular abrasive material and at least one metering orifice disposed in open communication therewith for dispensing the granular abrasive material; a shutter assembly disposed ad
What is claimed is: 1. An abrasive jet apparatus comprising: an abrasive dispenser defining a compartment for storing a granular abrasive material and at least one metering orifice disposed in open communication therewith for dispensing the granular abrasive material; a shutter assembly disposed adjacent said metering orifice of said abrasive dispenser, said shutter assembly including a shutter member angularly displaceable between first and second positions relative to said metering orifice, said shutter member having at least one shutter opening formed therethrough, said shutter opening being substantially fully aligned with said metering orifice in said first position and substantially fully offset therefrom in said second position; and, a position actuator operatively coupled to said shutter mechanism for reversibly displacing said shutter member to said first and second positions and a plurality of intermediate positions therebetween for occluding a selective portion of said metering orifice, whereby a flow rate of the abrasive material dispensed through said metering orifice is maintained at a predetermined level. 2. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to said position actuator for adaptively controlling said shutter member displacement. 3. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising a feedback unit operatively coupled between said shutter assembly and said position actuator, said position actuator being driven responsive to operation of said feedback unit position actuator to adaptively position said shutter mechanism. 4. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said feedback unit includes a flow sensor positioned adjacent an outlet of said dispenser housing, said flow sensor including a light emitting diode (LED) and a photodetector optically coupled thereto, the flow of said abrasive material dispensed through said metering orifice passing therebetween. 5. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said shutter member is disposed in coaxially displaceable manner relative to said abrasive dispenser. 6. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said metering orifice is formed with a first arcuate contour extending angularly about an axial reference and radially offset therefrom. 7. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said shutter opening of said shutter member is formed with a second arcuate contour scaled dimensionally to be greater than said first arcuate contour, whereby said shutter opening in said first position extends peripherally beyond said metering orifice. 8. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising a secondary arc restrictor coaxially disposed between said metering orifice and said shutter member, said secondary arc restrictor being angularly adjustable relative to said metering orifice for selectively restricting a portion of said metering orifice. 9. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 5, comprising a plurality of said metering orifices concentrically disposed in angularly offset. 10. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said abrasive dispenser defines a plurality of said compartments partitioned one from the other, each said compartment communicating with at least a portion of at least one said metering orifice. 11. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 1, position actuator includes a drive shaft extending axially through said abrasive dispenser, and a tubular shaft guide extending coaxially about said drive shaft for protective isolation from the abrasive material disposed in said abrasive dispenser. 12. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said drive shaft is tubular in contour to direct an aspirating stream of air axially therethrough for expulsion adjacent an outlet of said shutter assembly. 13. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said electrically driven positioning actuator includes at least one device selected from the group consisting of: servo motor, a stepper motor, and a voice coil. 14. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said metering orifice is contoured as an 165째 arc. 15. A method of regulating a flow rate for an abrasive material dispensed in an abrasive jet apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: a. establishing an abrasive dispenser defining a compartment for storing a granular abrasive material; b. establishing in said abrasive dispenser at least one metering orifice disposed in open communication with said compartment for dispensing the granular abrasive material; c. establishing a shutter member adjacent said metering orifice of said abrasive dispenser, said shutter member having at least one shutter opening formed therethrough, said shutter member being angularly displaceable between first and second positions relative to said metering orifice, said shutter opening being substantially fully aligned with said metering orifice in said first position and substantially fully offset therefrom in said second position; d. reversibly displacing said shutter member to said first and second positions and a plurality of intermediate positions therebetween for occluding a selective portion of said metering orifice; and, e. adaptively controlling said shutter member displacement to maintain a flow rate of the abrasive material dispensed through said metering orifice at a predetermined level. 16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein step (e) includes controlling said shutter member displacement responsive to feedback of a downstream abrasive material flow rate measurement. 17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of partitioning said compartment of said abrasive dispenser for concurrent storage of a plurality of abrasive materials; and, the step of selectively occluding said metering orifice to dispense a selected one of said abrasive materials at a predetermined flow rate therethrough. 18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein a driving force for actuating said reversible displacement of said shutter member is imparted by a hollow tubular drive shaft concurrently conducting a stream of air induced therethrough. 19. An abrasive jet apparatus comprising: an abrasive dispenser defining a compartment for storing a granular abrasive material and at least one arcuate metering orifice disposed in open communication therewith for dispensing the granular abrasive material; a shutter assembly disposed adjacent said metering orifice of said abrasive dispenser, said shutter assembly including a shutter member angularly displaceable between first and second positions relative to said metering orifice, said shutter member having at least one arcuate shutter opening formed therethrough, said shutter opening being substantially fully aligned with said metering orifice in said first position and substantially fully offset therefrom in said second position; and, a position actuator operatively coupled by a substantially tubular drive shaft member to said shutter mechanism for reversibly displacing said shutter member to said first and second positions and a plurality of intermediate positions therebetween for occluding a selective portion of said metering orifice, said drive shaft member defining an axial bore for conducting a stream of air induced therethrough, whereby a flow rate of the abrasive material dispensed through said metering orifice is maintained at a predetermined level. 20. The abrasive jet apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the flow rate is controlled in substantially linear proportion to manner responsive to the displacement of said shutter member at least between said intermediate positions relative to said metering orifice.
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