System for electromagnetic pulse surface treatment

摘要

A system and method for electromagnetic surface treatment of a work piece has an electromagnetic pulse generator and an electromagnetic pulse tool. The work piece has a working surface. A current pulse generated by the electromagnetic pulse generator travels through the tool producing an electromagnetic pulse. The electromagnetic pulse interacts with the working surface causing an indentation to form. A residual compressive stress layer is also formed. The indentation has a smooth and continuous topography that is described by an indentation perimeter, an indentation transition region, an indentation sidewall, an impact transition region, and an impact region. The method may also simultaneously, or subsequently, form a second indentation which overlaps with the indentation. An inter-indentation overlap region is formed when the indentations overlap. The inter-indentation overlap region is smooth and continuous. Multiple treated surfaces may easily be formed on the working surface of the work piece.

主权项

1. An electromagnetic pulse surface treatment system for treating a work piece, having a bearing surface and a working surface, with a single electromagnetic pulse, comprising:
an electromagnetic pulse generator having a power supply and a capacitor, wherein the electromagnetic pulse generator produces a current pulse having a current pulse duration; an electromagnetic pulse tool in electrical communication with the electromagnetic pulse generator, wherein the electromagnetic pulse tool has a tool face and the tool face has a tool face perimeter, for forming and directing the single electromagnetic pulse toward the working surface; and a controller to control operation of the electromagnetic pulse generator to generate the current pulse which travels to the electromagnetic pulse tool such that the single electromagnetic pulse emanates from the electromagnetic pulse tool to produce an indentation and a residual compressive stress layer in the working surface with substantially no stress change in the bearing surface opposite the residual compressive stress layer, wherein the tool face produces the indentation entirely below an untreated surface and free of pile-up above the level of the untreated surface along a perimeter of the indentation, and wherein the indentation is free of sharp transitions and comprises only smooth and continuous surfaces having radii greater than 1 millimeter and an indentation depth of less than 0.5 millimeter.