# US 2019/0314938 A1 · Portable cavitation peening method and apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0314938 A1 - Document ID: US20190314938A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/391,237 - Filed: 2019-04-22 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-31 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Daniel Gordon Sanders; Amanda Jean Thoreson; Hali The Diep - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190314938A1 ## CPC - B23P 9/04: Treating or finishing by hammering or applying repeated pressure - B05B 1/08: of pulsating nature, e.g. delivering liquid in successive separate quantities - B05B 9/0403: {with pumps for liquids or other fluent material (B05B9/043 takes precedence)} - B24C 3/06: movable; portable - B24C 7/0023: {of feed pressure} - C21D 7/06: by shot-peening or the like - B05B 9/0406: {with several pumps} - B24C 3/12: Apparatus using nozzles - B24C 5/04: Nozzles therefor (nozzles in general B05B) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - B24C: ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL - C21D: MODIFYING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FERROUS METALS; GENERAL DEVICES FOR HEAT TREATMENT OF FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS METALS OR ALLOYS; MAKING METAL MALLEABLE, e.g. BY DECARBURISATION OR TEMPERING (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass C23F17/00; unidirectional solidification of eutectic materials or unidirectional demixing of eutectoid materials C30B) ## Abstract A method of cavitation peening may include coupling a moveable water source to a portable nozzle, through a flexible conduit. The method may include positioning the nozzle adjacent a treatment surface and discharging a first and second stream of fluid through a first and second channel of the nozzle, with the second channel concentrically positioned around the first channel. The first stream may have a first pressure, and the second stream may have a second pressure, the first pressure being greater than the second pressure and the two streams combining to generate a cloud of cavitation bubbles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of cavitation peening, comprising: coupling a moveable fluid source to a portable nozzle through a flexible conduit, the nozzle having a first channel and a second channel concentrically positioned around the first channel, positioning the nozzle adjacent a treatment surface of a work piece, discharging toward the treatment surface, a first fluid stream through the first channel, and a second fluid stream through the second channel, the first fluid stream having a greater fluid pressure than the second fluid stream, wherein the first and second fluid streams combine to generate a cloud of cavitation bubbles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment surface comprises a metallic material and the fluid pressure of the first fluid stream is at least 10,000 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment surface comprises aluminum and the fluid pressure of the first fluid stream is at least 11,500 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment surface comprises titanium and the fluid pressure of the first fluid stream is at least 14,000 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment surface comprises steel and the fluid pressure of the first fluid stream is at least 21,500 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment surface comprises mid-strength steel and the fluid pressure of the first fluid stream is at least 29,000 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment surface comprises high-strength steel and the fluid pressure of the first fluid stream is at least 49,000 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second fluid stream exhibits predominantly laminar flow. ### Claim at position 9 -15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 A portable fluid supply apparatus, comprising: a base configured for transport, a fluid reservoir supported by the base, a temperature control device for maintaining a desired temperature of fluid contained in the reservoir, a first pump device configured to receive fluid from the reservoir and to pump the fluid into a first flexible conduit at a first fluid pressure, and a second pump device configured to receive fluid from the reservoir and pump the fluid into a second flexible conduit at a second fluid pressure, the first fluid pressure being higher than the second fluid pressure such that a cavitation bubble cloud will be generated through a co-flow nozzle assembly connected to distal ends of the first and second flexible conduits, and a controller programmed to maintain desired temperature and pressure of fluid carried by the flexible conduits. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the base is equipped with wheels for moving the apparatus between locations. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller receives temperature data sensed in the nozzle assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller receives pressure data sensed in the nozzle assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is programmed to alter a fluid discharge parameter at least partially based on identification of a characteristic of a work piece being treated. ### Claim 21 A method of treating a work piece, comprising: discharging a fluid stream through a nozzle assembly at a first pressure of at least 10,000 pounds per square inch, translating a resulting cloud of cavitation bubbles across a treatment area of a work piece at a substantially constant stand-off distance. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the nozzle assembly is portable, the treatment area is stationary, and the translating step is performed manually. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the first pressure is at least 12,000 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the first pressure is at least 15,000 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the first pressure is at least 22,000 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the first pressure is at least 30,000 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the first pressure is at least 50,000 pounds per square inch.