ABRASIVE FLUID JET SYSTEM

摘要

The invention provides an abrasive jet system having a high-pressure fluid supply (10) means supplying fluid to a vessel (11) which includes a layer of abrasive slurry and a top layer that contains substantially of fluid over the layer of abrasive slurry. The system also includes a first conduit (14) which leads from the fluid supply means to the top layer of fluid in the vessel and as high-pressure fluid is fed into the vessel, causes displacement of abrasive slurry from a discharge conduit (16). The system further includes a second conduit (21) which connects at different points to the first conduit and the discharge conduit, and including a fluid valve (13) between the operative connection to the first conduit and the discharge conduit, that controls the fluid flow within the second conduit. The fluid valve is closed once the system is pressurised to displace abrasive slurry through the discharge conduit (16) and is opened upon de-pressurization of the system to allow fluid flow from the first conduit (14) to the second conduit and to stop discharge of the abrasive slurry.