Method and apparatus for the surface working and for reworking of workpieces

Claim 1

Apparatus for reworking of elongate workpieces, comprising: an upstanding column; a strike hammer device movably and adjustably arranged on said column and including at least one strike bolt having a curved point and movable with said strike hammer device for rapidly and repetitively striking a workpiece; a rigid comparison measuring table for supporting the workpiece in the path of the strike bolt, said table including at least one backing surface for supporting the workpiece and against which the workpiece is to be deformed by repetitive striking of the workpiece by said strike bolt, said backing surface corresponding to the undistorted shape of the workpiece, means defining a plurality of air channels discharging through said backing surface, said air channels opening through said backing surface in an aligned manner and at substantially equal distances from each other, means for maintaining each air channel under pneumatic pressure and indicating devices connected to said air channels to indicate the air pressure drop as air exits from the respective channels.

Claim 8

A method for reworking of metal workpieces to reduce distortion thereof, comprising: supporting a distorted workpiece on a measurement table having at least one work support surface having the shape of the undistorted workpiece and with said distorted workpiece facing concavely upward from said table; applying air under pressure to channels to said table and permitting such air to flow out of said channels through nozzles opening through the surface of said table beneath said workpiece and limiting the airflow out each nozzle by the proximity thereto of the opposed surface of the workpiece; repetitively striking the surface of said workpiece facing away from said nozzles with a strike bolt moved substantially toward said nozzles; varying the location at which said strike bolt strikes the workpiece to reduce the distance between the under surface of the workpiece and the opposed nozzles by monitoring the relative air pressure in said air channels, so as to conform the under side of said workpiece with said table.

Claim 9

A method for reworking of metal workpieces to reduce distortion thereof, comprising: supporting a distorted workpiece on a measurement table having at least one work support surface having the shape of the undistorted workpiece and with said distorted workpiece facing concavely upward from said table; applying air under pressure to channels to said table and permitting such air to flow out of said channels through nozzles opening through the surface of said table beneath said workpiece and limiting the airflow out each nozzle by the proximity thereto of the opposed surface of the workpiece; repetitively striking the surface of said workpiece facing away from said nozzles with a strike bolt moved substantially toward said nozzles; varying the location at which said strike bolt strikes the workpiece to reduce the distance between the under surface of the workpiece and the opposed nozzles by monitoring the relative air pressure in said air channels, so as to conform the under side of said workpiece with said table.