Abstract: A valve with permanent magnet(s) and electro-magnet coils magnetically coupled to the permanent magnet(s). The valve is positioned below an inlet for receiving media. The amount of media flow may be regulated by controlling the current to the coils for partial or full flow. With no power applied to the electro-magnet coils, the media flow is inhibited. Application of a current to the electro-magnet coils will block the flux in the pole pieces rendering the working gap free of magnetic flux and thus allowing media to freely flow. As it is used, the media may become magnetized, altering the flow properties and causing magnetized media to bridge across the working gap. A magnetic sensor detects the amount of flux in the working gap to provide a signal to a control system. The signal allows closed loop control of the coils as media becomes magnetized, allowing consistent flow properties during use.

Abstract: A method for regulating the flow of media that provides a valve having a first pole piece and a second pole piece that are separated by a working gap through which media may flow. The pole pieces direct a first magnetic field through the working gap. A coil generates a second magnetic field when electrical current is passed through the coil and that second magnetic field is capable of opposing the first magnetic field. The current in the coil is set at a first level that corresponds to a desired low rate of media through the working gap. The actual flow rate that results from the first duty cycle of current in the coil is compared to a desired flow rate and the current can be adjusted if the actual flow rate is different than the desired flow rate.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an electronic sensor for peening intensity. A range of desired intensity levels is chosen and that range may contain a single value or multiple values. The parameters for a blast stream are set that correspond to a particular intensity level. Test strips are peened in the blast stream and then the arcs of the peened strips are measured to determine the intensity level of the blast stream. Subsequently, a sensor is placed in the blast stream set at particular intensity levels and the signal generated at each intensity level is recorded. A roto-flap peening device can also be set at particular intensity levels and then a sensor is subjected to the roto-flap peening device set at those levels. A chart may be developed that correlates peening intensity to the signal of the sensor so the sensor may be used in place of Almen strips.

Abstract: A valve with permanent magnet(s) and electro-magnet coils magnetically coupled to the permanent magnet(s). The valve is positioned below an inlet for receiving media. The amount of media flow may be regulated by controlling the current to the coils for partial or full flow. With no power applied to the electro-magnet coils, the media flow is inhibited. Application of a current to the electro-magnet coils will block the flux in the pole pieces rendering the working gap free of magnetic flux and thus allowing media to freely flow. As it is used, the media may become magnetized, altering the flow properties and causing magnetized media to bridge across the working gap. A magnetic sensor detects the amount of flux in the working gap to provide a signal to a control system. The signal allows closed loop control of the coils as media becomes magnetized, allowing consistent flow properties during use.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an electronic sensor for peening intensity. A range of desired intensity levels is chosen and that range may contain a single value or multiple values. The parameters for a blast stream are set that correspond to a particular intensity level. Test strips are peened in the blast stream and then the arcs of the peened strips are measured to determine the intensity level of the blast stream. Subsequently, a sensor is placed in the blast stream set at particular intensity levels and the signal generated at each intensity level is recorded. A roto-flap peening device can also be set at particular intensity levels and then a sensor is subjected to the roto-flap peening device set at those levels. A chart may be developed that correlates peening intensity to the signal of the sensor so the sensor may be used in place of Almen strips.

Abstract: A flow sensor for use downstream from a particulate media dispensing device is provided having an inlet to receive particulate media and an outlet to dispense the media. The flow sensor has an inlet portion with a funnel to direct particulate media towards a central axis. An axially mounted flow director is located downstream from the funnel to direct the media outwards towards a sensor portion. A capacitive sensor located in the sensor portion surrounds the flow director to create an annular flow path to measure the amount of media that passes through sensor rings in the sensor.

Abstract: A valve is provided having an inlet to receive a flowable particulate media and an outlet to dispense the media. The valve has an inlet portion with a funnel and repelling magnets. A shuttle sleeve extends from the inlet portion to allow a shuttle to slide along a central axis between an opened and a closed position. The shuttle has shuttle magnets that are oriented to have poles that face the repelling magnets to create a biasing force that biases the shuttle towards the closed position. When the shuttle moves, the shuttle magnets create eddy currents in a tube. The closed position is defined by a sealing edge of the shuttle contacting a sealing surface on a flow director. A capacitive sensor surrounds the flow director to measure the amount of media that is dispensed by the valve.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a gage for measuring shot blast intensity having an indication mounted on a platform adjusts the calibration of the indicator to compensate for variations of positioning of the Almen test strip supports on the platform. After verifying that the test strip supports are within tolerance by use of “go-no go” gages, the indicator is mounted on the support and calibrated by using a notch calibration block to first set the zero datum of the indicator and then to make a calibration reading of the depth of the notch. If the reading is within specifications, the notched calibration block is removed, and a calibration block having a curved surface simulating the curvature of an Almen strip to be measured by the Almen gage and having a known maximum deflection is installed on the gage and the indicator used to measure the deflection. If the measured deflection is within tolerance limits of the known actual deflection, the indicator is recalibrated to read the actual deflection.

Abstract: An Almen type gage to measure the deflection of a test strip relative to a supporting surface to provide an indication of shot blasting intensity includes curved surfaces extending from the support surface for supporting the test strip. A holding block is also mounted on the support surface. Plungers carried by the holding block opposite the curved surface clamp the test strip between the spring loaded plungers and the curved surface. The holding block is undercut to accommodate the test strip so that the weight of the holding block is not borne by the test strip and the test strip is retained on the supporting surface by the force of the spring loaded plungers clamping the test strip against the curved surface. Since the weight of the holding block is not borne by the test strips, the holding force is constant and the weight of the holding block does not corrupt measurement of the deflection of the test strip.

Abstract: A shot peening method and apparatus enables low intensity peening at a velocity which is equal to or less than the minimum velocity required to assure conveyance of the media through the transport hose in pneumatic systems or the minimum velocity necessary to project a coherent shot stream in the case of wheel systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a shot peening operation includes the measurement of pressures at two different points in a compound gas shot peening system. By comparing these pressure levels with the pressures set forth in a table for a given mass rate of flow of shot, the peening operator can control the velocity of the shot particles applied to the workpiece, thereby controlling peening intensity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a shot peening operation includes the measurement of pressures at the nozzle which directs the shot unto the workpiece and just downstream of the point where the conveying medium (generally compressed air) is communicated into the transport hose. By comparing these pressure levels with the pressures set forth in a table for a given mass rate of flow of shot through the transport hose, the peening operator can control the velocity of the shot particles applied to the workpiece, thereby controlling peening intensity.

Abstract: A valve for regulating the flow of materials which are made up substantially of magnetic particles. The valve includes an outer housing and a core assembly secured within the housing to define an annular flow passage therebetween. The core assembly supports an improved magnet/coil assembly. The magnet/coil assembly includes a permanent magnet positioned between a pair of pole pieces and has an electromagnetic coil surrounding the permanent magnet. When energized, the coil establishes a counteracting magnetic field to cancel the magnetic field of the permanent magnet, which allows an open flow condition in the valve. An annular cavity is defined between the permanent magnet and the coil, which provides for a flux leakage path for the permanent magnet. During an open condition, the flux from the permanent magnet is shunted across the cavity to reduce the flux to be counteracted by the coil's magnetic field and therefore reduce the power consumed by the valve.

Abstract: An Almen type gage with an improved test strip support mechanism, which concentrates the holding force at the contact points. The support mechanism includes four paired contact balls and a permanent magnet engaged between the paired balls to magnetically hold the test strip against the contact balls. Each contact ball seated atop a set screw turned into a test platform with the magnetic flux of the permanent magnets passing through both the contact balls and the set screws.

Abstract: A method for determining the size of metal particles which includes the positioning of an inductive circuit within a particle flow path to establish an oscillatory signal, varying the signal frequency to determine at which amplitude a signal is substantially constant, and then recording changes in signal amplitude which correlate to changes in particle size.