US4873855A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shot sensing shot peening system and method
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1988-05-02
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Granted: 1989-10-17
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Expires: 2008-05-02
Abstract
Abstract A shot peening arrangement uses a magnetic densitometer adjacent the nozzle outlet of a shot peening gun. The magnetic densitometer generates a signal representative of the mass of shot within the coil. The signal is used in combination with the mass flow rate, which may be determined by a conventional shot flow meter, in order to generate a signal representative of the average shot velocity. Additionally, the signal representative of the mass of shot within the coil is supplied to circuitry which detects conditions suggestive of a clog or other malfunction in the system. The circuitry is used to generate an alarm and to turn off power to various components so as to halt the shot peening operation upon improper conditions occurring.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:15
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24C; B24C1/00; B24C1/10; B24C7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A shot peening system comprising: a gun for shot peening, said gun having a nozzle with an outlet; a first sensor in contact with said nozzle adjacent said nozzle outlet, said first sensor including a coil having an inductance which varies according to the amount of shot passing through said nozzle outlet; first sensing circuit means connected to said coil for sensing the inductance of said coil and generating an amount signal representative of said amount of shot passing through said nozzle outlet; a second sensor responsive to the amount of shot supplied to said gun; second sensing circuit means connected to said second sensor for generating a time-dependent signal corresponding to the amount of shot supplied to said gun during a unit period of time; and calculation means for receiving as inputs said amount signal and said time-dependent signal and generating therefrom a velocity signal representative of the average velocity of shot leaving the gun.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
A shot peening system comprising: a gun for shot peening, said gun having a nozzle with an outlet; a first sensor in contact with said nozzle adjacent said nozzle outlet, said first sensor including a coil having an inductance which varies according to the amount of shot passing through said nozzle outlet; first sensing circuit means connected to said coil for sensing the inductance of said coil and generating an amount signal representative of said amount of shot passing through said nozzle outlet; a second sensor responsive to the amount of shot supplied to said gun; second sensing circuit means connected to said second sensor for generating a time-dependent signal corresponding to the amount of shot supplied to said gun during a unit period of time; and calculation means for receiving as inputs said amount signal and said time-dependent signal and generating therefrom a velocity signal representative of the average velocity of shot leaving the gun.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shot peening system of claim 1 wherein said coil is wound around said nozzle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The shot peening system of claim 1 wherein said coil is wound around a core of non-ferromagnetic material in contact with said nozzle adjacent said nozzle outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The shot peening system of claim 3 wherein said coil is secured to said nozzle by a clamp.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shot peening system of claim 1 wherein said second sensor comprises a mass flow sensor for generating said time-dependent signal as a function of mass flow rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The shot peening system of claim 5 wherein said calculation means generates the velocity signal by calculating: v=RL/m where v=average shot velocity, R=mass flow rate, L=axial length of coil and m=mass of shot in said coil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The shot peening system of claim 5 further comprising a velocity display connected to receive said velocity signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shot peening system of claim 7 wherein said coil is wound around said nozzle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The shot peening system of claim 7 wherein said coil is wound around a core of non-ferromagnetic material in contact with said nozzle adjacent said nozzle outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The shot peening system of claim 9 wherein said coil is secured to said nozzle by a clamp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The shot peening system of claim 6 further comprising means for generating a NO GO signal when said first sensing circuit means detects a condition indicative of improper operation of said gun.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The shot peening system of claim 11 further comprising an alarm which sounds in response to said NO GO signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The shot peening system of claim 11 further comprising means for halting shot peening upon occurrence of a NO GO signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of shot peening comprising the steps of: supplying shot to a gun; generating a time-dependent signal as a function of the amount of shot supplied to said gun during a unit period of time; operating said gun to expel shot from the nozzle outlet of said gun; sensing the amount of shot within a volume immediately adjacent said nozzle outlet; generating an amount signal based on said sensed amount of shot; supplying said amount signal and said time-dependent signal to a calculation means; and generating, by operation of said calculation means, a velocity signal representative of the average velocity of shot leaving the gun through said nozzle outlet.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of shot peening comprising the steps of: supplying shot to a gun; generating a time-dependent signal as a function of the amount of shot supplied to said gun during a unit period of time; operating said gun to expel shot from the nozzle outlet of said gun; sensing the amount of shot within a volume immediately adjacent said nozzle outlet; generating an amount signal based on said sensed amount of shot; supplying said amount signal and said time-dependent signal to a calculation means; and generating, by operation of said calculation means, a velocity signal representative of the average velocity of shot leaving the gun through said nozzle outlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the shot is sensed by a coil which extends around said volume.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said time-dependent signal is provided by generating a flow rate signal dependent on the flow of shot to said gun.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the generation of said velocity signal includes the calculation: v=RL/m where v=average shot velocity, R=mass flow rate, L=axial length of coil and m=mass of shot in said coil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said volume is located within the nozzle of said gun.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said volume is located just outside said nozzle outlet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of displaying the average velocity of shot from the nozzle outlet, generating a NO GO signal when the sensed information indicates improper operation of the gun, and halting shot peening in response to said NO GO signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-16 | 1993-04-17 | 1993-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-16 | 1997-04-17 | 1997-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-16 | 2001-04-17 | 2001-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |