Method and apparatus for hardening a surface of a component

Abstract

A method and apparatus for surface hardening parts is disclosed. To harden a surface of a part, a relative movement, or advancing motion, is established between the part and at least one sonotrode-like tool which is excited in the ultrasonic frequency range. The tool is aligned during the surface hardening in such a way to the surface of the part to be hardened that a tool axis running in the effective direction of the tool runs at an angle to the surface of the part to be hardened.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . A method for surface hardening of parts, specifically of gas turbine parts, wherein to harden a surface of a part a relative movement, or advancing motion, between the part and a sonotrode-like tool which is excited in an ultrasonic frequency range is established, wherein the tool in the surface hardening is aligned in such a way to the surface of the part to be hardened that a tool axis running in an effective direction of the tool runs at an angle to the surface of the part to be hardened. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the tool axis running in the effective direction of the tool runs at the angle to the surface of the part to be hardened and at an angle to a direction of the advancing motion between the part and the tool. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein during the surface hardening, the tool axis of the tool and the surface of the part, in a section in which a tool head is pressed onto the surface to be hardened, include an angle between 10° and 80°. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the angle is between 30° and 60°. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein during the surface hardening a tool head of the tool facing the part is pressed against the surface of the part to be hardened with a contact force. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the contact force is between 10 N and 100 N. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein during the surface hardening a force is introduced through the tool with a frequency of 15 kHz to 50 kHz. 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein during the surface hardening the relative movement between the part and the tool takes place with an advancing speed between 1 mm/s and 1,000 mm/s. 
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein during the surface hardening the part remains still and the tool is moved relative to the part in such a way that during an entire surface hardening process the angle between the tool axis and the surface to be hardened is approximately constant. 
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein during the surface hardening the tool is rotated about the tool axis. 
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein during the surface hardening vibrational forms of the tool are used whose effective direction does not run parallel to a direction of excitation of the tool. 
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein during the surface hardening an electrical voltage is applied between the part and the tool. 
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the surface of the part to be hardened is treated several times by the tool, specifically with different angles between the tool axis and the surface to be hardened and/or with different directions of movement between tool and the part. 
   
   
       32 . A device for surface hardening parts, specifically to perform the method according to  claim 19 , having the sonotrode-like tool excitable in the ultrasonic frequency range, wherein a tool head with which the tool is pressable against the surface of the part to be hardened, has a punctiform or linear or plane shape. 
   
   
       33 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein the tool head is armored, specifically by coating the tool head with titanium nitride. 
   
   
       34 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein the tool head of the tool is pressable with a contact force between 10 N and 100 N against the surface of the part to be hardened. 
   
   
       35 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein the tool is excitable with a frequency of 15 kHz to 50 kHz. 
   
   
       36 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein the tool is moveable at an advancing speed between 1 mm/s and 1,000 mm/s relative to the surface of the part to be hardened. 
   
   
       37 . A method for hardening a surface of a component of a gas turbine, comprising the steps of:
 relatively moving a sonotrode-like tool with respect to the component;   exciting the tool in an ultrasonic frequency range; and   aligning the tool with respect to the surface of the component such that a tool axis running in an effective direction of the tool is disposed at an angle to the surface.   
   
   
       38 . An apparatus for hardening a surface of a component of a gas turbine, comprising:
 a sonotrode-like tool, wherein the tool is excitable in an ultrasonic frequency range; and   a motion manipulator, wherein the tool is carried on the motion manipulator such that the tool is relatively moveable with respect to the component and is alignable with respect to the surface of the component such that a tool axis running in an effective direction of the tool is disposed at an angle to the surface.