Device for ultrasonic peening of metals

• US 20020014100A1
• Filed: 05/29/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Structural Integrity Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: George I. Prokopenko, Jacob I. Kleiman, Oleksandr I. Kozlov, Pavel P. Micheev, Vitaly V. Knysh, Yurii F. Kudryavtsev
• Inventors: Kozlov, Oleksandr I., Knysh, Vitaly V., Micheev, Pavel P., Kudryavtsev, Yurii F., Prokopenko, George I., Kleiman, Jacob I.
• Granted Patent: US 6,467,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 72/53
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 1/04 subjecting the grinding or polishing tools, the abrading or polishing medium or work to vibration, e.g. grinding with ultrasonic frequency polishing or abrading surfaces on work by means of tumbling apparatus B24B31/00, involving oscillating or vibrating containers B24B31/06; superfinishing surfaces on work, e.g. by means of abrading blocks reciprocating with high frequency, B24B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 39/006 Peening and tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 7/04 of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4578 Tack or needle type

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.

Claims

1. A device for the ultrasonic peening of metals comprising:

an ultrasonic generator;

an uncooled piezoelectric transducer operatively connected to said ultrasonic generator;

a working head releasably connected to said piezoelectric transducer, said working head including a holder having one or more freely moving pins extending therefrom for working a work-piece, said peens being sized and shaped to be vibrated by said transducer;

wherein, said ultrasonic generator has sufficient power to cause said pins to vibrate at amplitudes of about between 25 to 40 μ

m under axial loading of about 25 to 50 N for uninterrupted working of a work piece.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ultrasonic generator is sized to deliver between 250 to 500 watts of power.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 further including a passive working head cooling means.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said integral gradual cooling means comprises a holder, mounted to said device at a node point of oscillation, said holder defining a cooling reservoir.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said holder is generally conical to permit a user to be able to see said at least one pin contacting said work-piece.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cooling reservoir includes an open celled resilient foam and a cooling liquid carried by said open celled resilient foam.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said piezoelectric transformer is sized and shaped to impinge on said foam to cause said cooling liquid to drip from said reservoir to gradually cool said working head and said work piece.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said liquid is generally inflammable, has a high heat conductivity, is nontoxic and is non-corrosive.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the more said piezoelectric transformer vibrates, the more impingement occurs on said foam thereby causing more coolant to contact said holder and said pins.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said piezoelectric transducer includes a high strength high wear plate fixed thereto for transferring vibration to said pins.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said high strength wear plate is fixed to said piezoelectric transducer by a threaded connection, wherein said wear plate is replaceable.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said working head further includes an elastomeric retaining element for retaining said pins in said head.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said peens are generally cylindrical and are resiliently held in said elastomeric retaining element.

14. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said elastomeric retaining element is sized and shaped to permit said peens to vibrate without coming free of said elastomeric retaining element when said device is in use, but also to permit said pins to be removed and replaced when worn.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said working head is retained on said device by a removable spring.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said removable spring is a flat spring fitting into a slot on said head and a groove on said piezoelectric transducer.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of individually mountable replacement heads, each having various pin sizes and patterns suitable for working work pieces of various configurations.