Stress testing and relieving method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. A method of stress relieving a metal component in situ, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing said metal component in situ, arranged and configured with adjoining components and attaching a vibration means to a said metal component to provide a substantially direct vibration couple between the vibration means and the said metal component;
b. actuating the vibration means through a predetermined range of vibration frequencies at a predetermined rate and at a constant input amplitude to locate and measure a resonance frequency of the said metal component;
c. actuating the vibration means at above or below the measured resonance frequency for a predetermined period of time to relieve a degree of residual stress in the said metal component;
d. repeating step b. to obtain a second measurement of the said resonance frequency;
e. comparing the first and second measurements of the said resonance frequency to provide an indication of the change in residual stress in the said metal component; and
f. repeating steps c., d. and e. until the change in the measured resonance frequency from one measurement to the next is at or below a predetermined level.
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Abstract
An apparatus for testing and stress relieving metal components comprising a vibration means (28), attachment means (30), control means (2) and measuring means (13,31), the attachment means (28) being configured and arranged to, in use, directly vibration couple the vibration means (28) to a metal component (40), the control means (2) controlling actuation of the vibration means (28), and the measuring means (13,31), in use, measuring the amplitude of vibration in the said metal component (29).
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of stress relieving a metal component in situ, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing said metal component in situ, arranged and configured with adjoining components and attaching a vibration means to a said metal component to provide a substantially direct vibration couple between the vibration means and the said metal component; b. actuating the vibration means through a predetermined range of vibration frequencies at a predetermined rate and at a constant input amplitude to locate and measure a resonance frequency of the said metal component; c. actuating the vibration means at above or below the measured resonance frequency for a predetermined period of time to relieve a degree of residual stress in the said metal component; d. repeating step b. to obtain a second measurement of the said resonance frequency; e. comparing the first and second measurements of the said resonance frequency to provide an indication of the change in residual stress in the said metal component; and f. repeating steps c., d. and e. until the change in the measured resonance frequency from one measurement to the next is at or below a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for stress relieving of a metal component in situ, the metal component being arranged and configured with adjoining components, the apparatus comprising:
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a vibration means, attachment means, control means, vibration measuring means and temperature measurement means, the attachment means being configured and arranged to, in use, directly vibration couple the vibration means to a said metal component, the control means controlling actuation of the vibration means, the vibration measuring means and the measurement means, in use, measuring the amplitude of vibration and the temperature respectively in the said metal component; wherein the metal component is a section of railway line and wherein the vibration means comprises a motor adapted to drive a shaft on which an eccentric weight is mounted; wherein the vibration control means includes a speed adjustment means to adjust the speed of the motor; and wherein the vibration control means further comprises a converter to convert a feedback speed signal measured from the shaft to a frequency signal and a speed control signal, the frequency signal being displayed by a frequency display means, and the speed control signal being adjusted by the speed adjustment means to, in use, vary the frequency of vibration being induced in the said metal component. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification