Shot Sensing Shot Peening System and Method

Author:  Robert A. Thompson
Source:  US Patent 4,873,855
Doc ID:  1989041
Year of Publication:  1989
Abstract:  
A shot peening arrangement uses a magnetic densitometer adjacent the nozzle outlet of a shot peening gun. The magnetic densitometer generates a signal representative of the mass of shot within the coil. The signal is used in combination with the mass flow rate, which may be determined by a conventional shot flow meter, in order to generate a signal representative of the average shot velocity. Additionally, the signal representative to the mass of shot within the coil is supplied to circuitry which detects conditions suggestive of a clog or other malfunction in the system. The circuitry is used to generate an alarm and to turn off power to various components so as to halt the shot peening operation upon improper conditions occuring.