A mask that protects the edges of the gear teeth of a gear during a particle impacting process, such as a shot peen or other similar process, without preventing the particle impacting process from effectuating advantageous hardening and other results for areas that are not protected by the mask. The cover may be removable and reusable. The mask may include a closed end and an open end, with a plurality of protective vanes extending between the two ends. The gear may be received within the mask and aligned and secured such that the vanes cover the gear teeth edges, thereby protecting the edges from the particle impact process, without preventing the particle impacting process with regard to other portions of the gear teeth.

A vibropeening apparatus comprises a main frame, an enclosure receivable within the main frame, a rotary drive mechanism, and an article to be vibropeened. The enclosure defines an internal volume, the internal volume accommodating a vibropeening bed. The article is positioned within the internal volume, and the rotary drive mechanism is to configured to impart a rotary motion to the enclosure within the main frame.

A vibropeening apparatus comprises a main frame, an enclosure receivable within the main frame, a rotary drive mechanism, and an article to be vibropeened. The enclosure defines an internal volume, the internal volume accommodating a vibropeening bed. The article is positioned within the internal volume, and the rotary drive mechanism is to configured to impart a rotary motion to the enclosure within the main frame.

A fluid end having a longitudinal bore less than about 36 inches in diameter has an internal surface that is cold-worked to have compressive stresses of at least 15 ksi (103.42 MPa) beneath the metal surface up to about 40 mils (1.016 mm).

A curvature retaining device (1) includes two support points (25a) that can abut against one surface of a plate-shaped workpiece W, one or more pressing points (40a) that can abut against a position of the other surface of the plate-shaped workpiece (W) between the support points (25a), and forward/backward drive means (support unit (23) and pressing unit (33)) for moving at least either the support points (25a) or the pressing points (40a) forward to and backward from the other. Preferably, the two support points (25a) abut against the one surface of the plate-shaped workpiece (W) at a first distance (Ls), the two pressing points (40a) abut against the other surface of the plate-shaped workpiece (W) at second distance (Lp) shorter than the first distance (Ls), and a middle point of the first distance (Ls) and a middle point of the second distance (Lp) match with each other.

A curvature retaining device (1) includes two support points (25a) that can abut against one surface of a plate-shaped workpiece W, one or more pressing points (40a) that can abut against a position of the other surface of the plate-shaped workpiece (W) between the support points (25a), and forward/backward drive means (support unit (23) and pressing unit (33)) for moving at least either the support points (25a) or the pressing points (40a) forward to and backward from the other. Preferably, the two support points (25a) abut against the one surface of the plate-shaped workpiece (W) at a first distance (Ls), the two pressing points (40a) abut against the other surface of the plate-shaped workpiece (W) at second distance (Lp) shorter than the first distance (Ls), and a middle point of the first distance (Ls) and a middle point of the second distance (Lp) match with each other.

A method and apparatus for improving the fatigue and stress corrosion cracking performance of irregular surfaces, such as welds assemblies of components, using a positioning system, such as a robotic or CNC machine, to position a tool head for inducing compression along and into the surface of a workpiece to automatically follow the surface irregularities. The method and apparatus operates to follow a virtual control surface located below the actual surface of the workpiece thereby allowing the irregular topography surface to be uniformly processed with closed loop process control.

Provided are a highly-versatile plate-like-workpiece twisting and retaining apparatus, plate-like-workpiece twisting and retaining method, and plate-like-workpiece twisting and shaping method that can give a freely-chosen twisted shape or curved shape to a plate-like workpiece with a simple, highly-versatile configuration without having to prepare a die member and that can also be applied to an integral skin. A twisting and retaining apparatus includes at least two support points that are contactable with a first surface in a twisting range of a plate-like workpiece; a plurality of pressing points that are similarly contactable with a second surface in the twisting range and that flank a line connecting the at least two support points in plan view of the plate-like workpiece; and an advance-retract driving apparatus (support unit, pressing unit) that causes at least the support points or the pressing points to advance and retract in a thickness direction of the plate-like workpiece.

Provided are a highly-versatile plate-like-workpiece twisting and retaining apparatus, plate-like-workpiece twisting and retaining method, and plate-like-workpiece twisting and shaping method that can give a freely-chosen twisted shape or curved shape to a plate-like workpiece with a simple, highly-versatile configuration without having to prepare a die member and that can also be applied to an integral skin. A twisting and retaining apparatus includes at least two support points that are contactable with a first surface in a twisting range of a plate-like workpiece; a plurality of pressing points that are similarly contactable with a second surface in the twisting range and that flank a line connecting the at least two support points in plan view of the plate-like workpiece; and an advance-retract driving apparatus (support unit, pressing unit) that causes at least the support points or the pressing points to advance and retract in a thickness direction of the plate-like workpiece.

A peening device for treating a component includes a shot media propulsion source configured to propel a quantity of shot media. The device also includes a plurality of treatment enclosures each selectively coupleable to the shot media propulsion source. Each of the treatment enclosures has a shape complementary to a corresponding one of a plurality of portions of the component, such that each treatment enclosure and the corresponding portion cooperate to enclose the shot media.