JP-2026075066-A - Method for identifying the properties of granular media

JP2026075066AJP 2026075066 AJP2026075066 AJP 2026075066AJP-2026075066-A

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a media classification sensor that can determine the particle size and material of granular media used in a shot peening machine without contact. [Solution] The present invention provides a method for detecting the characteristics of granular media, which involves providing a wire coil wound around a media supply tube containing the granular media. The driver is configured to supply alternating current to the wire coil and maintain a constant voltage. A table showing the known characteristics of inductance and impedance for granular media of known materials and specific particle sizes has been prepared in advance. With the granular media held in the wire coil, the driver applies an alternating current, measures the inductance and impedance of the wire coil, and compares the obtained measured values based on the table to determine the material and particle size of the granular media. [Selection Diagram] Figure 2

Inventors

ジャック・シャンパイン
マーク・イングラム
ケネス・デラッキ

Assignees

エレクトロニクスインク

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251010
Priority Date: 20241021

Claims (15)

The process involves preparing a wire coil wound around a media supply tube for containing granular media, The process involves preparing a driver that passes alternating current through the aforementioned wire coil and maintains the voltage, A step of preparing a table listing known characteristics of inductance and impedance for media made of a predetermined material and of a specific particle size, The steps include holding the granular media within the wire coil, The process of passing the alternating current through the wire coil in the presence of the granular media, A step of measuring the inductance of the granular media in the wire coil, A step of comparing the measured inductance of the granular media in the wire coil with the table and determining the particle size of the granular media in the wire coil, A step of measuring the impedance of the granular media, comparing the measured impedance of the granular media in the wire coil with the table, and determining the material of the granular media in the wire coil. A method for identifying the properties of granular media containing [a specific substance].
A method for identifying the characteristics of granular media according to claim 1, wherein the inductance of the granular media within the wire coil is determined by measuring the change in the oscillation frequency of the alternating current when the granular media is present within the wire coil.
The method for identifying the characteristics of granular media according to claim 2, wherein the impedance of the granular media within the wire coil is determined by measuring the change in current required to maintain a constant voltage with respect to the alternating current within the wire coil.
The media supply tube includes a pair of pole pieces for guiding a magnetic field through the media supply tube. The method for identifying the properties of granular media according to claim 3, wherein the pole piece guides a magnetic field at various levels to control the flow of granular media through the wire coil.
A method for identifying the characteristics of granular media according to claim 4, wherein the flow of the granular media is stopped by the pole piece and the granular media is held within the wire coil.
A method for identifying the characteristics of granular media according to claim 1, comprising the step of preparing various granular media of specific particle size and material properties, and holding each granular media in the media supply tube to create a table listing the impedance and inductance of each granular media.
A method for identifying the characteristics of a granular media according to claim 6, comprising comparing the saved list with the impedance and inductance of the granular media measured after the list was generated.
A step of preparing a wire coil wound around a media supply tube that contains granular media so that the granular media flows inside the media supply tube, The steps include providing a pair of pole pieces on the downstream side of the wire coil, A step of holding various granular media of known material and known particle size within the wire coil, The process involves preparing a driver for driving alternating current in the aforementioned wire coil, The process of passing the alternating current through the wire coil while each granular media is present within the wire coil, A step of determining the inductance of the wire coil in the presence of the granular media by measuring the change in the natural frequency of the alternating current while each granular media is present in the wire coil, The steps include: measuring the current flowing through the wire coil in order to maintain a predetermined voltage while the granular media is present in the wire coil, and determining the impedance of the wire coil in the presence of each granular media; A step of recording the inductance and impedance values when each of the granular media is present in the wire coil, The process involves holding different granular media within the wire coil, measuring the shift in the natural frequency of the alternating current when different granular media are present within the wire coil to determine the inductance when the different granular media are held within the wire coil, and measuring the current required to maintain a predetermined voltage when the different granular media are present within the wire coil to determine the impedance of the wire coil. A method for determining the properties of granular media, comprising the step of determining the particle size and material of different granular media by comparing the inductance and impedance values determined when the different granular media are held in the wire coil with the inductance and impedance values of the granular media.
A method for identifying the characteristics of granular media according to claim 8, comprising repeatedly flowing different granular media through the conductive coil, comparing the impedance and inductance values of the different granular media with values corresponding to the particle size and material of the different granular media, and determining whether the inductance and impedance values fall within a predetermined range for the different granular media.
A method for identifying the characteristics of a granular media according to claim 9, wherein the controller adjusts the peening parameters in response to changes in the impedance and inductance values of the different granular media to obtain a desired peening intensity.
A method for identifying the characteristics of a granular media according to claim 8, wherein a user inputs information about the different granular media, and a controller verifies whether the information corresponds to the characteristics of the different granular media based on the impedance and inductance values of the different granular media.
A step of preparing a wire coil wound around the media supply pipe in order to contain the granular media flowing inside the media supply pipe, The steps include providing a pair of pole pieces on the downstream side of the wire coil, A step of holding various granular media having known materials and known particle sizes inside the wire coil, The process involves preparing a driver for driving alternating current in the aforementioned wire coil, The process of passing the alternating current through the wire coil while each granular media is present within the wire coil, A step of determining the inductance of the wire coil in the presence of each of the granular media, A step of determining the impedance of the wire coil in the presence of each granular media, A step of recording the inductance and impedance values when each of the granular media is present in the wire coil, The process involves holding different granular media within the wire coil, measuring the shift in the natural frequency of the alternating current when the different granular media are present within the wire coil to determine the inductance when the different granular media are held within the wire coil, and measuring the current required to maintain a predetermined voltage when the different granular media are present within the wire coil to determine the impedance of the wire coil. A method for identifying the characteristics of granular media, comprising the step of determining the particle size and material of each of the different granular media by comparing the inductance and impedance values determined when the different granular media are held in the wire coil with the inductance and impedance values of each of the granular media.
A method for identifying the characteristics of granular media according to claim 12, comprising repeatedly flowing different granular media through the conductive coil, comparing the impedance and inductance values of the different granular media with values corresponding to the particle size and material of the different granular media, and determining whether the inductance and impedance values fall within a predetermined range for the different granular media.
A method for identifying the characteristics of a granular media according to claim 13, wherein the controller adjusts the peening parameters in response to changes in the impedance and inductance values of the different granular media in order to obtain a desired peening intensity.
A method for identifying the characteristics of a granular media according to claim 12, wherein a user inputs information about the different granular media, and a controller verifies whether the information corresponds to the characteristics of the different granular media based on the impedance and inductance values of the different granular media.

Description

This invention relates to a method for determining the properties of granular media, and more specifically, to a method for easily determining the properties of granular media used in surface treatment of metal parts, such as shot peening. This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/592,623, filed October 24, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Shot peening is a useful surface treatment process for metal parts, improving their fatigue life and strength. During the peening process, the parts being treated are exposed to a flow of granular media. To consistently peen parts as expected, the media used for peening must be consistent. This consistency requires maintaining parameters such as the air pressure used to transport the media, a constant media flow rate (measured in pounds per minute), and other factors. A crucial factor that is often overlooked is the media itself. Generally, a specific media is selected depending on the application. Initially, if all peening parameters are set to the correct values, the process will function as intended when peening is started with the selected media. However, with repeated use, the media itself may not remain identical; as it continues to be used, it degrades to a smaller size, potentially making it impossible to achieve the desired peening results. The intensity of peening depends on the mass and velocity of the shot (kinetic energy = 1/2 × M × V² ). Therefore, if the media size deteriorates and becomes smaller due to repeated peening, the intensity of peening may decrease to an unacceptable level. In addition to media deterioration, there is also the possibility that the operator of the peening machine may mistakenly start peening with inappropriate media. If the media deteriorates over time or inappropriate media is loaded, the operator may experience disappointing and unexpected results throughout the peening process. In the current system, the peening process must be stopped to inspect the media. Operators must remove a representative sample of the media from the peening machine and inspect it using a separate device. This inspection is time-consuming and requires additional effort, making frequent media inspection undesirable. Therefore, there is a need for a method that automatically verifies whether the media used for peening is suitable or whether it has deteriorated to the point of being unusable for the desired peening results. This is a perspective view of a media supply pipe containing a sensor, showing the pole piece of a magnetic valve extending through it.Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the media supply tube and sensor.Figures 1 and 2 show the sensors from an external perspective view of the media supply tube.Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the opening that guides the media flowing through the magnetic valve of the sensor.This is the overall circuit diagram of the controller connected to the coil inside the sensor.This graph shows the relationship between inductance and media particle size.This graph plots the impedance against media particle size for each type of media. Formula 1 Formula 2 The following embodiments describe the detailed features and advantages of the present invention, which are sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to understand and implement the technical aspects of the invention, and which, through the disclosures, claims, and drawings herein, will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The following describes an embodiment of the light source substrate having the branched layout structure of the present invention, with reference to the relevant drawings. For clarity and ease of explanation using the drawings, the dimensions and proportions of each component in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced. Figure 1 shows a schematic of the media classification sensor 10, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing its internal structure. The media classification sensor 10 is part of a media supply system including a magnetic valve 14, which has a pole piece 16 extending into a media supply pipe 18 that supplies media to the shot peening machine. It is well known in the field of shot peening that the pole piece 16 is a conductor that conducts magnetic force at various levels to control the flow of media. The valve 14 can completely stop the flow of media passing through it. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the outside of the media supply tube of the sensor shown in Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the opening that guides the granular media flowing through the magnetic valve of the sensor in Figure 3. Directly above the pole piece 16 is a bobbin 28, around which a wire coil 34 is wound. The bobbin 28 is inserted into the media supply tube 18. The bobbin 28 has a circular upper opening 40, and the outer diameter of the bobbin 28 is smaller than the inner diameter of the media supply tube 18 in which the bobbin 28 is