Control valves for waterjet systems and related devices, systems and methods

摘要

Control valves for waterjet systems, control-valve actuators, waterjet systems, methods for operating waterjet systems, and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. A control valve configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first seat having a tapered inner surface, a second seat having a contact surface, and an elongated pin having a shaft portion and an end portion. The pin is movable relative to the first and second seats between a shutoff position and one or more throttling positions. When the pin is at the shutoff position, the end portion of the pin is in contact with the contact surface. When the pin is at the throttling position, the end portion of the pin is spaced apart from the contact surface and the tapered inner surface and the shaft portion of the pin at least partially define a throttling gap.

主权项

1. A waterjet system, comprising:
a base; and a waterjet assembly, wherein the waterjet assembly includes
a waterjet outlet, anda control valve upstream from the waterjet outlet, the control valve being configured to receive fluid at a pressure greater than 30,000 psi and to selectively reduce the pressure of the fluid to a steady-state pressure within a range from 1,000 psi to 25,000 psi as the fluid flows through the control valve toward the waterjet outlet, wherein—
the control valve includes
an elongate throttling passage that conveys the fluid, andan elongate pin operably associated with the throttling passage,the pin moves along an axis parallel to a length of the throttling passage as the pin transitions between a shutoff position and a throttling position,the pin has a sidewall spaced apart from a sidewall of the throttling passage by a throttling gap when the pin is in the throttling position,the sidewall of the throttling passage is tapered along the length of the throttling passage at an angle within a range from 0.01 degree to 2 degrees relative to the axis,the waterjet assembly is configured to direct a waterjet including the fluid toward a workpiece supported by the base, andthe waterjet assembly is configured to move relative to the base while directing the waterjet toward the workpiece.