Loading patent…
AssigneeStresswave, Inc.
InventorEric T. Easterbrook
Estimating the term…
Metal coldworking tooling and a method of employing such tooling. The tooling is used to produce deformation in a workpiece, preferably via use of stress waves, to provide a selected beneficial residual stress profile in the workpiece, in order to provide high fatigue life structures in a minimum number of manufacturing steps. Preferably, action of an indenter causes propagation of stress waves to coldwork a workpiece, causing dimples in the workpiece. Preferably, the dimples are provided with a shape formed by application of a uniform pressure profile to the workpiece surface. By optimized use of the method, a relatively uniform beneficial residual stress profile is provided at both the surface and at the midplane apertures in a workpiece, so as to improve overall fatigue life. An improved indenter tool profile shape is described, having a smoothly curved indenter surface portion. Also, the use of a consumable lamina wafer technique provides the benefit of easy application of uniform stress profile to a workpiece.
Tooling for working a structure to improve the fatigue strength at a selected location in said structure, said structure comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a body therebetween, said tooling comprising:
A method for working a bounding portion of material in a structure, said structure comprising two or more workpieces, said bounding portion adjacent a pre-selected location for an opening in said structure, in order to provide residual compressive stresses in said bounding portion for improving the fatigue life of said structure, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.