Patent Application
20210301368
The present invention relates to a laser beam delivery device, and more particularly to such a device used for a laser shock peening application on a workpiece.
In some laser shock peening operations, a laser peens a surface by exciting water molecules which provide a shockwave to the surface. Recently, such an operation has been applied to hidden surfaces, such as bores, apertures, or cavities, of a workpiece. This has resulted in the newer devices for laser peening, such as those disclosed in WO 2019/209786.
The proximity and layout of the hidden surfaces has provided challenges for the use of such a device. For example, many cavities are small, and thus have a limited amount of space. Therefore, providing water, as well as a flow of air, to the surfaces of these cavities can be difficult in these confined spaces. Additionally, it is desirable to provide the shockwave as close to the surface as possible. This requires an economically robust device that is able to accommodate the shockwaves produced.
Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for providing a laser shock peening device, and components thereof, that may be used efficiently and effectively for a laser shock peening application, and in particular for such a device for a laser shock peening application in a bore or cavity of a workpiece.
A new laser shock peening device, and components thereof, have been invented. The new laser shock peening device is believed to be robust enough for laser peening surfaces closely positioned thereto. Additionally, the new devices and components are suitably configured for a laser shock peening application in a small, or confined, space.
Accordingly, in at least one aspect, the present invention may be generally characterized as providing a pen for applying a laser shock peening application with a laser on a surface of a workpiece. The pen includes an elongate member having a laser point entry aperture and a laser point exit aperture and at least one sapphire optical element disposed between the laser point entry aperture and the laser point exit aperture.
It is contemplated that a second optical element is disposed between the sapphire optical element and the laser point entry aperture. It is further contemplated that a third optical element is disposed between the second optical element and the sapphire optical element.
In at least one aspect, the sapphire optical element is a prism. The prism may be supported on a reflective platform within the elongate member. The prism may include a first side having a length greater than a length of a second side. The first side may receive the laser from the laser point entry aperture and the second side may provide the laser to the laser point exit aperture.
In at least one aspect, the sapphire optical element comprises a lens. The sapphire lens may have a first side with a first width, and a second side with a second width equal to the first width. It is contemplated that a mirror is positioned between the third optical element and the sapphire optical element.
In various aspects, the at least one sapphire optical element seals the laser point exit aperture.
According to various aspects of the present invention, the present invention may be broadly characterized as providing a pen for applying a laser shock peening application with a laser on a surface of a workpiece in which the pen includes an elongate member having a laser point entry aperture, a laser point exit aperture, and a circularly shaped surface and, a water channel having an inlet and outlet, the water channel defining a water path between the inlet and the outlet. The water path has a portion that is curved along the circularly shaped surface of the elongate member.
In various aspects, the curve has a C-shape. The curve may alternatively have a helical shape. It is contemplated that the elongate member is disposed inside of an outer sleeve. It is further contemplated that the water channel is integrally formed in the circularly shaped surface of the elongate member.
According to some aspects of the present invention, the present invention may further be characterized as generally providing a pen for applying a laser shock peening application with a laser on a surface of a workpiece, and in which the pen has an elongate member comprising a laser point entry aperture and a laser point exit aperture, and an air conduit having an outlet configured to direct a stream of air across the laser point exit aperture and towards the surface of a workpiece.
It is contemplated that the air conduit has a non-circular cross section. It is further contemplated that the air conduit has a cross sectional height that is smaller than a cross sectional length.
These aspects, embodiments, and features, which may be combined in any manner, are described in more detail below and in the attached drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with the following drawing figures, in which:
As noted above, the present invention is directed at providing a pen for a laser shock peening applicator device. In various aspects, the optical elements within the pen for focusing and delivering the laser beam include at least one sapphire optical element, which is preferably used to seal the laser exit aperture. The sapphire optical element is sufficiently robust to provide for an efficient and effective laser shock peening treatment. Additionally, to provide the proper water and air flows, various aspects of the water and air supply to the pen are provided to ensure a desired flow of each so that the laser shock peening treatment is consistent throughout the treatment.
With these above general aspects of the present invention in mind, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with the understanding that the following description is not intended to limit the present disclosure.
As shown in
The enclosure 104 houses the components that provide the applicator device 102 with a laser beam, power, overly water, and a flow of air. The enclosure 104 further includes a user interface or input device like a touch screen, keyboard, mouse, or the like and a controller for providing the applicator device 102 with control signals for operating motors that insert, advance, retract, and rotate the delivery device in a workpiece bore.
As will be appreciated, a “controller”, as used throughout this application, means a processing unit that includes one or more processors configured to cause a series of steps to be performed so as to implement methods such that instructions, when executed by a computing device or other programmable apparatus, may cause the functions/acts/steps specified in the methods described herein to be executed. The processors may be, for example, any type of general-purpose processor, microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, a digital signal processing (DSP) processor, a central processing unit (CPU), an integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a reconfigurable processor, other suitably programmed or programmable logic circuits, or any combination thereof.
The controller may also include memory that is any suitable known or other machine-readable storage medium. The memory may be a non-transitory computer readable storage medium such as, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. The memory may include a suitable combination of any type of computer memory that is located either internally or externally to the controller such as, for example, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), compact disc read-only memory (CDROM), electro-optical memory, magneto-optical memory, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), and electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), Ferroelectric RAM (FRAM) or the like. The memory may include any storage means (e.g., devices) suitable for retrievably storing the computer-executable instructions executable by the processor. Computer-executable instructions may be in many forms, including program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically, the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various configurations, arrangements, or embodiments.
Returning to
Umbilical cords 112 provide for communication between the enclosure 104 with the applicator device 102 and the verification stand 106, as well as convey power, overlay water, air, and control signals as needed for the enclosure 104 to operate both the applicator device 102 and the verification stand 106. As will be appreciated, each umbilical cord 112 contains one or more conduits, cables, pipes, or other structures.
The vacuum 108 is configured to provides a source of negative pressure to the applicator 102 so that water, dispensed from the applicator 102, can be collected. An air line 114 is extended from the vacuum 108 to the enclosure 104 and the negative pressure is provided to the applicator 102 through the umbilical cord 114.
The water system 110 is included in the system 100 to obtain water obtained from a source, to purify it, and to provide the purified water to the enclosure 104. Thus, the water system 110, which may be a reverse osmosis system, may be separately portable from the enclosure 104. As is known, such a system 110 includes pumps, couplings, filters, and conduits.
Turning to
Generally, the applicator device 102 may be secured to a workpiece and the first treatment of the inner surfaces of the bore started. For examples the applicator device 102 may include an elongated shaft 214 and a removable cap 216 that is secured to the elongated shaft 214. For an aperture being treated, the frame 200 is disposed on one side of the aperture and the removable cap is disposed on the opposite side of the aperture.
Turning to
The first end 304a of the inner cylindrical member 302 may be coupled to a fiber optic cable 306 from the umbilical cords 112 (see
Disposed between the laser point entry aperture 308 and the laser point exit aperture 310 are one of more optical elements 314, 316, 318, 320, 322. According to various aspects of the present invention, at least one of these optical elements 314, 316, 318, 320, 322 is a sapphire optical element 318. The sapphire element 318, to avoid contamination of plasma, water or other debris back into the inner cylindrical member 302 of the laser peening pen 206, also seals the laser point exit aperture 310. It has been found that the sapphire optical elements 318 are robust enough to reasonably withstand the shock waves created proximate the laser point exit aperture 310.
Accordingly, as shown in
In the arrangement shown in
In both
Turning to
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With respect to
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In either arrangement, by using the curved water channel 322, the desired direction of flow of water across the laser point exit aperture 310 may be achieved.
Returning to
Therefore, in various aspects, the laser peening pen 206 includes an air conduit 400 extending from an inlet 402, disposed near the first end 304a to couple to a air supply source from the umbilical cords 112 (see
The air conduit 400 may be formed as a separate conduit from the inner cylindrical member 302 which is disposed in groove 406 formed in the outer surface 321 of the inner cylindrical member 302. The conduit may have a non-circular cross section, such that a width (distance along the circumference of the inner cylindrical member 302) is greater than a length (distance in a direction along a line running through the longitudinal axis A1-A1 of the inner cylindrical member 302). Such a shape provides an airflow that is spread out over its circumferential length compared with a tubular conduit having a circular cross section.
It should be appreciated that the various aspects of the present invention may be combined in any manner, such as including the optical arrangements of
While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.
