Abstract: A sacrificial media shield to be used in flow control valves in high volume wheel blast peening machines, comprised from a wear resistant material. This shield is intended to prevent undesired wear to the valve and its components via an offset arrangement, which isolates the majority of contact with the abrasive media stream to the media shield. This prevents plastic contamination within the media stream. Being a replaceable component, the shield extends the operating life of the valve by avoiding replacement of the valve in its entirety.

Abstract: This application describes a magnetic valve for controlling the flow of media in wheel-blast style abrasive blasting cabinets. The valve features a novel air aspiration system comprising of aspiration inlets, chamber, and outlets, in a configuration which guarantees passage of air from ambient into the peening system regardless of installation. This system acts as a passive aspiration source to counteract the negative pressures imposed by the wheel-blast blades in the valve's off-state. This arrangement eliminates the need for other means of aspiration to be installed in the peening system by the end user.

Abstract: A valve for regulating the flow of ferromagnetic peening materials, consisting of an arrangement of pole pieces, spacers, permanent magnets, and electrical coils. This arrangement uses an angular magnetic field to concentrate holding strength within the working gaps without sacrificing holding strength to the environment, increasing the valve's efficiency. Additionally, this valve covers a large range of flow rates by exchanging center bars and magnets of different sizes, without otherwise increasing the size of the valve.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a shot peening device includes receiving, by a controller, one or more parameters representative of the shot peening device, receiving, by the controller, one or more parameters representative of a test strip for use with the shot peening device, determining, by the controller, a compensation value for the test strip based on the one or more parameters representative of the shot peening device and on the one or more parameters representative of the test strip, receiving, by the controller, an arc height of the test strip following an introduction of the test strip into a shot stream generated by the shot peening device, generating, by the controller, a compensated curvature value based on the compensation value and the arc height, and presenting, by the controller, a calibration suggestion based on the compensated curvature value.

Abstract: A shot peening intensity measurement device has a holder and a test disk formed from a resonant and hardened material. The test disk is held to the holder with a cover that threads onto the holder and clamps the test disk. The holder and test disk form a chamber where a portion of the test disk is unsupported. A measurement device, such as a microphone or other non-contacting device detects vibrations from the test disk when shot or media contacts the test disk.

Abstract: A shot peening intensity measurement device has a holder and a test disk formed from a resonant and hardened material. The test disk is held to the holder with a cover that threads onto the holder and clamps the test disk. The holder and test disk form a chamber where a portion of the test disk is unsupported. A measurement device, such as a microphone or other non-contacting device detects vibrations from the test disk when shot or media contacts the test disk.

Abstract: A shot peening flow rate control that is useful for non-ferrous shot peening media. The control has an inlet for receiving media and an orifice through which the media may pass that is in communication with the inlet. A valve selectively blocks the orifice. The valve has a spindle that is guided for axial movement between an open and closed position. The closed position blocks the orifice and the open position places the spindle spaced from the orifice to allow media to flow through the orifice. A flow sensor has a deflectable member that extends into a flow path of media leaving the orifice. In response to increasing or decreasing flow of the media through the flow path the deflectable member will deflect more or less. A sensing device measures the deflection in the deflectable member and generates an electrical signal that varies in response to deflection in the deflectable member.

Abstract: A shot peening flow rate control that is useful for non-ferrous shot peening media. The control has an inlet for receiving media and an orifice through which the media may pass that is in communication with the inlet. A valve selectively blocks the orifice. The valve has a spindle that is guided for axial movement between an open and closed position. The closed position blocks the orifice and the open position places the spindle spaced from the orifice to allow media to flow through the orifice. A flow sensor has a deflectable member that extends into a flow path of media leaving the orifice. In response to increasing or decreasing flow of the media through the flow path the deflectable member will deflect more or less. A sensing device measures the deflection in the deflectable member and generates an electrical signal that varies in response to deflection in the deflectable member.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring variations in the flatness of an Almen strip holding surface includes a gaging block having opposing parallel surfaces defining an aperture extending between said parallel surfaces and substantially conforming to the size of the holding surface. A plunger is mounted in a cross member which extends across the aperture and is moved along opposite sides thereof. A dial indicator responds to displacement of the aperture to permit detection of any variation in flatness as the plunger is moved over the holding surface and along and between the side and end edges thereof. Placement of the Almen strip holding screws is verified to be in tolerance by the gaging block in that the gaging block cannot be mounted on the holding surface if the distance between the openings is out of tolerance.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a workpiece with a granular media includes a hopper for storing media and discharging the media into a flow path. A source of compressed air mixes with the media, which is forced through a nozzle for directing media onto the workpiece. A flow sensor includes a beam extending into the flow path and is responsive to flow of media in the flow path to increase and decrease deflection of the beam in response to increasing or decreasing flow of media through said flow path. A proximity sensing device measures deflection of the beam and generates an electrical signal which varies in response to deflection of the beam. The flow path is defined by a conduit having a branch in which the beam is mounted. One end of the beam is mounted on a base in the branch. The base is mounted on a cap closing an open end of the branch, permitting the beam to be easily removed and changed when necessary.

Abstract: A gage for measuring deflection of a “mini-strip” used to determine peening intensity in small cavities and crevices of a work piece includes a pair of platforms made of a magnetic material spaced apart in a non-magnetic fixture a distance substantially the same as the length of the mini-strip. The platforms have a diameter slightly larger than the width of the mini-strip to provide support for both corners on each end of the mini-strip. A magnet for each of the platforms may be advanced toward and retracted from the platform to adjust the degree of magnetic attraction of the mini-strip. The platforms are stepped to define a shoulder and posts are offset from one of the platforms which cooperate to guide the user in proper placement of the strip. A plunger extended from the indicator engages the strip at substantially its midpoint, to thereby measure the deflection of the strip to give an indication of peening intensity.

Abstract: Both the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of a coil spring are peened by passing sequential segments of the spring around offset pulleys mounted within a peening cabinet. As the spring is pulled around one of the pulleys, the coils fan out from the pulley to permit the peening media to impact portions of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the spring, and as the spring is pulled around the other pulley, the portions of the surfaces not peened as the segment traveled around the first pulley will be peened.

Abstract: Both the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of a coil spring are peened by passing sequential segments of the spring around offset pulleys mounted within a peening cabinet. As the spring is pulled around one of the pulleys, the coils fan out from the pulley to permit the peening media to impact portions of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the spring, and as the spring is pulled around the other pulley, the portions of the surfaces not peened as the segment traveled around the first pulley will be peened.

Abstract: The flow of media in shot peening, blast cleaning, and similar equipment is improved by applying a time varying magnetic field to the media to thereby degauss the media, allowing the media to flow through equipment without clogging and clumping due to magnetic attraction between the media.

Abstract: The portion of an orthopaedic implant to which soft tissue adherence is desired is treated by shot peening using microbead having a diameter in the range of about 10 microns–300 microns. This treatment causes indentations on the surface of the implant of about 10 microns to about 50 microns to provide a fine, shallow texturing of the implant that permits the soft tissue to adhere, but is not rough enough that it will interlock with hard tissue.

Abstract: A media transport device for use in shot peening, blast cleaning, granite cutting, and similar applications transports media from a storage hopper to a workpiece. The media transport device includes a source of compressed air, a supply hose connecting the compressed air source to a mixing chamber, and a blast hose connecting the mixing chamber to a nozzle dispensing the media onto a workpiece. The mixing chamber defines a flow path for the compressed air between the supply hose and the blast hose and includes an inlet portion connected to the supply hose, an outlet portion connected to the blast hose, and a curved dispensing portion conveying media from the storage hopper into the flow path obliquely with respect to the flow path so that laminar flow through the mixing chamber is not substantially disturbed.

Abstract: The flow of media in shot peening, blast cleaning, and similar equipment is improved by applying a time varying magnetic field to the media to thereby degauss the media, allowing the media to flow through equipment without clogging and clumping due to magnetic attraction between the media.

Abstract: Shot peening coverage is confirmed by mounting a test strip having surface irregularities of graduated depth on a surface of a component undergoing peening for which peening coverage is to be confirmed. The component, with the test strip attached thereto, is exposed to the shot stream under production conditions. The strip, which is selected according to a procedure described herein such that some, but not all, of the surface irregularities are removed when proper peening coverage is attained, is then removed and examined.

Abstract: A calibration apparatus and method for shot blast intensity measuring gages uses a calibration block which is placed upon the measuring surface of the gage. The calibration block has a zero datum surface with a notch cut into the zero datum surface at a predetermined calibration depth. The measuring block is sufficiently shorter than the test strips such that the measuring block can be shifted between a zero datum reference position in which the flat surface is supported over the plunger which operates the read-out display. The measurement block is then shifted relative to the measurement surface to a second position in which the plunger or feeler of the display engages the notch to permit a calibration reading to be taken.