Abstract: The welding apparatus and associated method are provided. The welding apparatus includes a welding tool for forming a weld joint along the surface of at least one workpiece. The welding apparatus also includes a compression tool for selectively inducing a layer of residual compressive stress in at least a portion of the surface of the weld joint and the surface of the at least one workpiece to thereby improve the material properties of the workpiece, including corrosion resistance and fatigue strength.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 1, 2002
Date of Patent:
August 9, 2005
Assignees:
The Boeing Company, Lambda Research, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael Royston James, Murray W. Mahoney, Douglas J. Waldron, Paul S. Prevey, III
Abstract: The burnishing method and apparatus for implementing the method of the present invention utilizes a single-point burnishing process to provide deep compression with a minimal amount of cold working and surface hardening. In particular, the area to be burnished along the surface of a workpiece is defined and a freely rotating burnishing ball is forced against the surface of the workpiece to produce a zone of deformation having a deep layer of compression within the surface. The burnishing ball is then rolled over the surface in a substantially nonoverlapping pattern. A preferred embodiment of the burnishing apparatus for implementing the burnishing method comprises a socket having a tip member incorporating a ball seat, a burnishing ball disposed within the ball seat, a rod member integrally formed with the tip member; and a socket support for supporting the socket on a conventional tool holder.
Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automated system for use in the determination of subsurface material properties of a specimen by X-ray diffraction, comprising a specimen support, a rotatable mounting and aligning fixture for mounting the specimen support onto the shaft of a motor driven positioning system, a chemical holding tank having a first half section having a chemical holding chamber for providing a chemical bath for removing surface material from the specimen and a second half section for providing a position for permitting X-ray diffraction measurement of the specimen, a chemical reservoir in fluid communication with the chemical holding chamber of chemical holding tank to provide a steady supply of chemical solution to the chemical holding chamber through a closed loop system, a neutralization tank for receiving contaminated rinse water from the chemical holding tank, and an electronic controller for controlling the cycling of the specimen between the chemical holding chamber and the positio