Abstract: An endless metallic belt has at its outer peripheral surface a layer provided with a compressive residual stress by shot peening, and also has at its inner peripheral surface a layer provided with a compressive residual stress by shot peening. In a method for manufacturing the endless metallic belt, both outer and inner peripheral surfaces of the endless metallic belt are subjected to shot peening, wherein the inner peripheral surface is shot peened prior to the outer peripheral surface. The method produces an endless metallic belt having its fatigue strength improved without suffering any significant deformation.

Abstract: Described is a method of manufacturing a crown-shaped component 3 having a plurality of axially extending protrusions 2 which are formed at an end of a cylindrical portion 1. The method comprises the steps of: upsetting the cylindrical portion into a cylindrical blank 10a having protrusions arrayed on and along the inner circumferential surface of a remaining part 12; annealing the cylindrical blank; removing the remaining part by cutting; and subjecting the resultant blank to a shot blasting process, whereby a magnetic characteristic of the resultant crown-shaped component is improved.

Abstract: An automatic machine for peening the tenons on bucket cover plates to secure the cover plates and adjacent buckets of a turbine wheel to one another is provided. The machine includes a fixture having stepped surfaces for locating the freely suspended fixture and peening tool relative to the bucket tips and cover plates and clamping the tips and cover plates to the fixture surfaces. After peening a first tenon, the fixture and tool head are displaced relative to the fixed cover plate and bucket tip to register the tool with a second tenon. An actuator displaces the suspended system to compensate for the movement of the fixture and tool relative to the turbine wheel. A counterbalance is provided to accommodate fixtures of different weights when peening the tenons of covers in different turbine wheels.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for forming metal parts by cold deformation, consisting in: (i) mechanically depositing a metal zinc layer on the free surface of the blank of the part to be produced; and (ii) forming said part by plastic deformation.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a metal plate with an enhanced surface. More particularly, the method of the invention produces a metal press plate with a roughened matte surface having a substantially uniform and raised surface topography for use in the manufacture of laminated and multilayer materials used to fabricate circuit boards and other electronic assemblies. The method of the invention also cleans and reprocesses the roughened matte surface of the metal press plate after use in laminate and multilayer materials production to reestablish the substantially uniform and raised surface topography. The invention also provides a metal press plate produced according to the method of the invention.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for transverse ultrasound peening of blades (2) on a rotor which consists in driving in rotation the wheel (3) bearing the blades (2) about its geometrical axis (6) arranged substantially vertically and in causing the blades (2) to pass through a mist of microbeads produced by a vibrating surface (20) in an active chamber (12) arranged laterally relative to the wheel. The active surface (20) is located beneath the path of the blades (2). Preferably, the active chamber (12) comprises a second vibrating surface above the path of the blades (2). The invention also concerns a machine for implementing said method.

Abstract: A water jet peening apparatus which can carry out an efficient peening work on a large-diameter cylindrical structure by injecting a jet stream which contains air bubbles caused by cavitation at a low angle of incidence is provided. The apparatus is comprised of a nozzle which introduces a high pressure water and injects a water jet stream containing air bubbles caused by cavitation at the cylindrical structure disposed in water, wherein the angle of injection of the jet stream is smaller than 45 degrees relative to a tangent of the cylindrical structure.

Abstract: Equipment and methods for the rapid and easy cleaning of metal forming dies while in a press and operating at elevated temperatures. The invention features the physical removal of excess lubricant collecting on the hot surface of the forming dies under operating conditions so that no lubricant-induced flaws occur on the show surface of the formed part for optimized production of high quality parts. Special and effector tooling is supplied with high velocity air which draws in solid CO2 which sublimes into pressurize streams of gaseous CO2 that is discharged through nozzles onto the forming surfaces of hot forming dies after a number of lubricated parts have been formed therewith to physically sweep foreign matter including lubricants from the die surfaces. A robot is employed to move the activated end effector in predetermined paths across the dies for fully sweeping and cleaning the forming surfaces. The gas then dissipates.

Abstract: Tip treatment bars 16 of a rotor casing 2 for a gas turbine engine are subjected to a process which induces compressive stress within the bars 16. The process may be a laser shock peening process applied to opposite sides 20 of each bar 16. The processing of the tip treatment bars 16 renders them less susceptible to fatigue failure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the ultrasonic peening of annular recesses for the attachment of blades to a rotor rim, these recesses including a blade introduction opening. According to the method, a plurality of beads is placed on a vibratory surface of a sonotrode, arranged in an intermediate position in a sleeve having opposed closing-off means capable of sliding in the recess, the introduction opening is placed facing the sonotrode, the sonotrode and the sleeve are moved together toward the introduction opening into a peening position in which the closing-off means face the recess ends opening into said opening, then the rotor rim is turned about its axis so as to bring the closing-off means into a first end of the recess so as to form a closed chamber containing the beads. The rim is turned and the vibratory surface is vibrated to mobilize the beads within the chamber, thereby peening the recess.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for the surface treatment and compressive prestressing by peening of a wall of at least one oblong cavity formed in a part, said cavity opening to the outside via a lateral mouth and having two ends presenting frontal openings. The wall of the cavity is ultrasonically peened by mobilizing a plurality of beads in a chamber delimited by said wall of said cavity, a vibratory surface closing off said mouth of said cavity, and closing-off means closing off said openings, by means of a sonotrode excited by means for producing ultrasonic oscillations. The method and the apparatus are particularly intended for treating a turbine disk comprising a number of axial recesses formed in the periphery of said disk and having wall portions which diverge from each mouth.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for the treatment of shot peening by which a high residual compressive-stress can be given, while having the surface roughness of the treated article be low even when a metal substance with a high hardness is used. That is to say, this invention is related to a method for the treatment of shot peening wherein a peening material having a Vickers hardness (Hv) in the range of 900-1100 and a Young's modulus of 200,000 MPa or less, is used, and wherein a treated article is obtained by such a method that has a maximum residual compressive-stress of 1600 MPa or more and a surface roughness of 5 microns or less.

Abstract: An abrasive water treatment method and apparatus includes supporting a metal workpiece on a workpiece support and arranging a nozzle above a target surface of the workpiece so that the nozzle is pointed towards the target surface of the workpiece. A pressurized fluid having entrained abrasive particles is then generated and discharged through the nozzle and toward the target surface of the workpiece. The nozzle is located a texturing standoff distance from the target surface such that the periphery of the pressurized fluid stream discharged from the nozzle expands after being discharged from the nozzle and prior to impinging upon the target surface of the workpiece. As a result, a textured surface is created on the workpiece.

Abstract: A blanked plate-like metal member for use as an element of a belt in a continuously variable transmission has an recess including an undercut therein. A stream of a liquid mixed with particle members is ejected toward an edge to be beveled of the recess thereby to bevel the recess. After the edge is beveled by deburring the edge, the recess is finished by removing a bulge formed on an outer surface of the edge by deburring the edge.

Abstract: A method for peening the tops of cooled blades which include cooling air passage orifices. Peening is performed by mobilization of a plurality of beads in a sealed chamber containing at least one blade tip. The plurality of beads is mobilized by the active surface of a sonotrode which delimits part of said chamber. The beads have a diameter greater than that of the cooling air passage orifices.

Abstract: A system for shot peening that includes an enclosure in which are provided a workpiece W to be shot peened and a nozzle for projecting the shot particles. A memory stores data for maximizing the anticipated shot-peening intensity at the workpiece based on the predetermined conditions of the shot peening. Then a calculating circuitry determines the conditions of the shot peening to be carried out in the system to maximize an anticipated shot-peening intensity at the workpiece based on the stored data from the memory and the selected type of the shot-peening process to be applied to the workpiece before the shot particles have been actually projected. The nozzle is then actuated under the determined conditions such that it projects the shot particles and directs them onto the workpiece. The shot-peening intensity of the actually projected shot particles at the workpiece is measured by a measuring device.

Abstract: A method of producing a workpiece involves positioning the workpiece at a current processing position indicated by a hard-coded part program and then collecting position data which defines the positional arrangement of a current target area of the workpiece. The collected position data is processed by comparing it to reference position information that represents the positional arrangement of the same target area in an ideal workpiece employed in the development of the part program. The position of the workpiece (and hence the target area) is adjusted in accordance with the comparison results. A laser shock processing operation is performed on the workpiece at the current target area following the position adjustment step.

Abstract: A device for ultrasonic peening of metals is intended for strengthening and relaxation treatment of metal surfaces with an ultrasonic oscillation and includes an ultrasonic generator (1) having the optimized power of from 0.2 to 0.5 kW, a piezoelectric transducer with an ultrasonic velocity transformer (6) and a set of readily replaceable heads with striking tools (pins). Various sizes and arrangements of the tools allow for ultrasonic peening of parts of complicated configuration fast and efficiently. In the device, drop-wise cooling and lubrication of striking tools, as well as of treatment area are provided.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for detecting the intensity of shot peening by detecting at least one of the number of shot that have collided with the apparatus and the intensity of the colliding shot, comprising a box-like case having an opening at its top; a first resilient member disposed under the top of the case; a hollow supporting member resiliently supported in the case between the first resilient member and a second resilient member which is mounted in the case, the hollow supporting member including a third resilient member mounted therein; a shot collision propagating member supported by the hollow supporting member to close the opening of the top of the box-like case by way of the first resilient member, the shot collision propagating member producing and propagating an elastic wave when colliding with a shot; a transducer, for receiving the propagating elastic wave from the shot collision propagating member and converting the elastic wave to high frequency signals, disposed in the hollow supporting member

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for a shot-peening processing that can process in one step and thus reduce operating costs and the cost of equipment while increasing the efficiency of the treatment in the peening processing while achieving a peening effect similar to the effect obtained by shot-peening processing a plural number of times, that is, deeply generating compressive residual stress far from the top surface while generating the peak value of the compressive residual stress on the top surface. This method is characterized by projecting, on a product to be subjected to peening, shot in which two or three kinds of particles, each having a different predetermined average particle diameter and having a predetermined average particle diameter ratio to one another, are combined in a predetermined weight ratio.

Abstract: The rate of impact between the peening elements and an internal surface of a hollow part is a function of the vibration frequency, and there is a cut-off frequency at which a hollow part can vibrate and induce repeated impact between its internal surface and the peening elements because the rate of impact becomes erratic and loses its cyclical nature as the vibration frequency deviates from the cut-off frequency. The present invention provides a method for determining the cut-off frequency at which a hollow part can vibrate and maintain the repetitive nature of the impact between its internal surface and the peening elements. Such a method requires a peening element speed limit ratio, which is the ratio of the velocity of the hollow part compared to the velocity of the peening element above which the rate of impact begins to become erratic and lose its cyclical nature. The present invention, therefore, teaches a method of determining the peening element speed limit ratio.

Abstract: A water jet peening apparatus which can carry out an efficient peening work on a large-diameter cylindrical structure by injecting a jet stream which contains air bubbles caused by cavitation at a low angle of incidence is provided. The apparatus is comprised of a nozzle which introduces a high pressure water and injects a water jet stream containing air bubbles caused by cavitation at the cylindrical structure disposed in water, wherein the angle of injection of the jet stream is smaller than 45 degrees relative to a tangent of the cylindrical structure.

Abstract: A centrifugally projecting apparatus is provided to allow a liner to be easily exchanged, to prevent projecting members from projecting through the connected parts of the liner components, and to prevent an impeller cover from being abraded. The apparatus comprises bolts 36, 36a and a fixing member (hook members 24, 24) to press first and second-side liner components 31, 31A, front and rear-side liner components 34, 34A, and a frame-liner component 37 against a ceiling-side liner component 39 so that they are fixed to each other.

Abstract: A water jet peening apparatus which can carry out an efficient peening work on a large-diameter cylindrical structure by injecting a jet stream which contains air bubbles caused by cavitation at a low angle of incidence is provided. The apparatus is comprised of a nozzle which introduces a high pressure water and injects a water jet stream containing air bubbles caused by cavitation at the cylindrical structure disposed in water, wherein the angle of injection of the jet stream is smaller than 45 degrees relative to a tangent of the cylindrical structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the ultrasonic peening of annular recesses for the attachment of blades to a rotor rim, these recesses including a blade introduction opening. According to the method, a plurality of beads is placed on a vibratory surface of a sonotrode, arranged in an intermediate position in a sleeve having opposed closing-off means capable of sliding in the recess, the introduction opening is placed facing the sonotrode, the sonotrode and the sleeve are moved together toward the introduction opening into a peening position in which the closing-off means face the recess ends opening into said opening, then the rotor rim is turned about its axis so as to bring the closing-off means into a first end of the recess so as to form a closed chamber containing the beads. The rim is turned and the vibratory surface is vibrated to mobilize the beads within the chamber, thereby peening the recess.

Abstract: A method for producing a turbine airfoil that is coated with a beta phase, high aluminum content coating, such as substantially stoichiometric NiAl, and which has a surface finish suitable for application of a ceramic topcoat. The method involves impacting the coating with preselected particles of a preselected size so that the brittle coating is not adversely affected by chipping or breakage. The impacting produces a surface finish of 120 micro-inches or better so that a ceramic thermal barrier layer can be applied over the coating. The preferred method of improving the surface finish utilizes steel balls having a diameter of about 0.033″ and a peening intensity of no greater than about 6 A.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for the surface treatment and compressive prestressing by peening of a wall of at least one oblong cavity formed in a part, said cavity opening to the outside via a lateral mouth and having two ends presenting frontal openings. The wall of the cavity is ultrasonically peened by mobilizing a plurality of beads in a chamber delimited by said wall of said cavity, a vibratory surface closing off said mouth of said cavity, and closing-off means closing off said openings, by means of a sonotrode excited by means for producing ultrasonic oscillations. The method and the apparatus are particularly intended for treating a turbine disk comprising a number of axial recesses formed in the periphery of said disk and having wall portions which diverge from each mouth.

Abstract: A method for peening the tops of cooled blades which include cooling air passage orifices. Peening is performed by means of the mobilization of a plurality of beads in a sealed chamber containing at least one blade tip. Said plurality of beads is mobilized by the active surface of a sonotrode which delimits part of said chamber. Said beads have a diameter greater than that of said cooling air passage orifices.

Abstract: A panel, such as is intended for an aircraft wing panel, has continuous ribs extending on one surface. The panel is formed, or given a dihedral bend, by shot peening the ribs at a V-shaped section to expand the V-shaped sections and thus deform the panel. A strong formed panel is thus provided with continuous ribs. Further shot peening steps can be carried out on the panel for further shaping.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for enhancing fatigue strength of a gear by producing compressive residual stress on a gear surface using shot peening. In the method according to the present invention, a plurality of shot balls are projected in a direction parallel to a straight line connecting a contact point of a root circle and an involute curve of a gear tooth to be subjected to the peening to a contact point of a tooth face circle and an involute curve of a gear tooth adjacent to the gear tooth to be subjected to the peening, and particularly a direction forming an angle of 0° to 15° relative to the straight line by use of high-pressure air.

Abstract: A generally disc-shaped flywheel which is an integral one-piece forged structure formed by forging of a carbon steel blank and consisting of an inner portion having a friction surface and an outer ring gear portion disposed radially outwardly of the inner portion. The flywheel is formed by forging the carbon steel blank to obtain an intermediate product consisting of the inner portion and the outer ring gear portion, hardening the friction surface of the inner portion of the intermediate product, and shot peening the hardened friction surface to form a multiplicity of recesses in the hardened friction surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a coiled spring having a high fatigue strength to be used for example as a suspension spring of a car using a rod of tensile strength 1910 to 2020 N/mm2 and diameter 8 to 17 mm. In a cold coiling step, the rod is formed into a coil. Annealing is then carried out to remove strains having arisen inside the coil during the coiling step. A hot setting step of utilizing surplus heat from the annealing step and applying a predetermined load to the coil to compress it for a predetermined time is then carried out. After that, multi-stage shot peening is carried out on the coil.

Abstract: A device for ultrasonic peening of metals is intended for strengthening and relaxation treatment of metal surfaces with an ultrasonic oscillation and includes an ultrasonic generator (1) having the optimized power of from 0.2 to 0.5 kW, a piezoelectric transducer with an ultrasonic velocity transformer (6) and a set of readily replaceable heads with striking tools (pins). Various sizes and arrangements of the tools allow for ultrasonic peening of parts of complicated configuration fast and efficiently. In the device, drop-wise cooling and lubrication of striking tools, as well as of treatment area are provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for surface treatment by impact, the apparatus comprising a vibrating surface and at least one projectile suitable for being projected towards the surface to be treated by said vibrating surface. The apparatus includes retaining means for keeping each projectile captive in the apparatus.

Abstract: A preventive maintenance method and apparatus for a structural member in a reactor pressure vessel according to the present invention reduce a tensile residual stress on a surface of the structural member by impinging a water jet from a nozzle onto a plane surface of a deflector to thereby change direction of flow of the water jet, and impinging the water jet after being deflected onto the surface of the structural member. This method and apparatus are applicable to a narrow space portion, and can improve a residual stress on the surface of the structural member and can also prevent damage such as stress corrosion cracking.

Abstract: A method for improving the thermal fatigue life of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) deposited on an aluminide bond coat through a process by which the surface morphology of the aluminide bond coat is modified to eliminate or at least reduce oxidation and oxidation-induced convolutions at the alumina-bond coat interface, as explained more fully below. The bond coat is deposited to have generally columnar grains and grain boundary ridges at its surface, and is then peened at an intensity sufficient to flatten at least some of the grain boundary ridges, but insufficient to cause recrystallization of the bond coat when later heated, such as during deposition of the thermal barrier coating. In so doing, the original surface texture of the bond coat is altered to be smoother where the grain boundaries meet the bond coat surface, thereby yielding a smoother bond coat surface where the critical alumina-bond coat interface will exist following oxidation of the bond coat.

Abstract: An abrasive water treatment method and apparatus includes supporting a metal workpiece on a workpiece support and arranging a nozzle above a target surface of the workpiece so that the nozzle is pointed towards the target surface of the workpiece. A pressurized fluid having entrained abrasive particles is then generated and discharged through the nozzle and toward the target surface of the workpiece. The nozzle is located a texturing standoff distance from the target surface such that the periphery of the pressurized fluid stream discharged from the nozzle expands after being discharged from the nozzle and prior to impinging upon the target surface of the workpiece. As a result, a textured surface is created on the workpiece.

Abstract: A processing system for increasing the quality of a gear having a shot peening apparatus for subjecting, to shot peening, a gear after tooth-forming and surface hardening; a barreling apparatus positioned adjacently to the shot peening apparatus, for subjecting, to barreling, the gear which has been subject to shot peening by the shot peening apparatus; and a gear feeding apparatus positioned adjacently to the shot peening apparatus and the barreling apparatus, for feeding, to the barreling apparatus, the gear which has been subjected to the shot peening by the shot peening apparatus. Thus, a gear of high quality can be efficiently produced, and the working environment can be cleaned at low cost by a dust collecting apparatus.

Abstract: A method of so-called “ultrasonic” peening is described for peening large sized annular surfaces on thin parts. The method uses a microbead mist vibrated in a chamber with an opening so that the surface that is to be peened makes at least five movements past the opening of the peening chamber during peening so as to reduce deformation of the part.

Abstract: Improvement in a method of surface-treating a back plate for friction material by blasting slurry containing particles made of plastic material through high pressure air to obtain desired surface roughness constantly for a long period of time. In the present method, no alumina grinding particle but particles made of stainless steel or titanium are fed into slurry, and the slurry is blasted through high pressure air to surface-treat the back plates. Stainless steel or the like strike works to make the surface thereof rough, which does not cause the stainless steel particles or titanium particles to be broken, unlike the grinding particles, so that the amount of sludge generated is reduced, resulting in longer life of the slurry.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of forming a component made of an artificially and plastically formable material which can be hardened by artificial aging. The component is first shot-peen-formed in the unhardened condition and is subsequently, artificially aged. During artificial aping it is subjected to an exterior pressure load causing a creep of the impact-body-forming material to conform to a mold having the desired shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is a strength-enhancing apparatus for a metal part comprising a recovery mechanism for sucking powder flow dust generated from glass beads crushed on a surface of a gear in a chamber to recover it together with drainage, wherein the recovery mechanism includes a liquid-spouting means arranged on a ceiling in the chamber, for effecting showering for the whole interior of the chamber. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably recover the mist containing the powder flow dust floating in the chamber, and it is possible to reliably avoid adhesion and accumulation of the powder flow dust.

Abstract: A mask for masking a corner of a metal component during peening. The component has a first surface defining an opening in the component and a second surface intersecting the first surface of the component at the corner. The mask includes a plug sized and shaped for insertion in the opening adjacent to the corner to cover the corner during peening. Further, the mask includes a rim surrounding at least a portion of the plug sized and shaped for surrounding at least a portion of the opening to cover the corner during peening thereby preventing the corner from being peened.

Abstract: The rate of impact between the peening elements and an internal surface of a hollow part is a function of the vibration frequency, and there is a cut-off frequency at which a hollow part can vibrate and induce repeated impact between its internal surface and the peening elements because the rate of impact becomes erratic and loses its cyclical nature as the vibration frequency deviates from the cut-off frequency. The present invention provides a method for determining the cut-off frequency at which a hollow part can vibrate and maintain the repetitive nature of the impact between its internal surface and the peening elements. Such a method requires a peening element speed limit ratio, which is the ratio of the velocity of the hollow part compared to the velocity of the peening element above which the rate of impact begins to become erratic and lose its cyclical nature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for a surface treatment of a metallic product. In this method, by conducting one step of injecting mixture shots including at least two types of shots comprised of different or same materials consisting of high hardness metal or metallic component and having different shot diameters between 0.6 and 0.03 mm onto the surface of a metallic product at an injection pressure of not less than 0.29 MPa or not less than 50 m/sec, the residual compressive stress of the surface of the metallic product and that of a lower surface layer are made at least -1200 MPa and that of a portion having a depth of about 50 .mu.m below the surface of the metallic product is made -1300 MPa or higher.

Abstract: In a manufacturing method of a valve spring, a coiled valve spring made of an oil-tempered wire is applied with nitriding treatment and is supported to be rotated about its center axis. During a shot peening process of the coiled valve spring, cut wires of Hv 650 to 850 in hardness and 1.0 to 0.6 mm in diameter are shot to the coiled valve spring at a first step, in a roller-type shot machine and cut wires of Hv 650 to 850 in hardness and 0.4 to 0.2 mm in diameter are shot to the coiled valve spring at a second step in a tumbling shot machine, the time for the second step being longer than the time for the first step.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing helical springs from steel wire. The springs' skin is thermomechanically hardened by shot peening the unstressed springs followed by thermally destressing them, and shot peening them again. The second shot peening is carried out in at least two steps. The method produces springs that are just as strong as conventional but smaller and lighter in weight. The first one of the steps is a rough shot peening with shot that is coarser than in the second one of the steps which is a fine shot peening was shot at a lower speed than in the first step. This increases compression of the wire's surface and polishes the wire's surface.

Abstract: With a view to increasing the lifespan of metallic dental components as regards fatigue fractures, compressive stresses are introduced into the surface layer of these components, such as by means of shot-peening.

Abstract: A method of increasing the durability of the cutting point (8) of a blade, and a blade. A compression stress (P.sub.10) is formed in at least one surface (10 or 6) joining the point (8) of the blade (1) by cold working the blade.

Abstract: A shot-peening assembly for dispelling shot onto a workpiece includes a discharging device for dispelling shot onto the workpiece. The shot-peening assembly also includes a reservoir for collecting the shot dispelled from the discharging device. The assembly further includes a transfer tube defining a fluid passageway between the reservoir and the discharging device for recirculating the shot from the reservoir back to the discharging device. A fluid nozzle of the assembly is interposed between the reservoir and the transfer tube for conveying the shot through the fluid passageway.