SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE STRENGTH OF RAILCAR COMPONENTS
A method and system for increasing a transportation component's resistance to failure comprising shot-peening at least one area of the component to create a compressive surface layer on the component.
1 . A method of improving a rail transportation component's resistance to failure comprising the step of shot-peening at least one area of the component to create a compressive surface layer on the component in areas of mechanical high stress.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one area is an area of stress arising from a tension applied to the component when performing its intended purpose.
3 . The method of claim 1 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar bolster.
4 . The method of claim 1 , where the rail transportation component is a mass transit bolster.
5 . The method of claim 1 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar side frame.
6 . The method of claim 1 , where the rail transportation component is a mass transit side frame.
7 . The method of claim 1 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar coupler head.
8 . The method of claim 1 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar coupler yoke.
9 . The method of claim 1 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar wheel.
10 . The method of claim 1 , where the step of shot-peening comprises the steps of applying at least two applications of a shot-peening media wherein the media used in each application has different characteristics.
11 . A shot-peening system for shot-peening one or more areas of interest on a rail transportation component, the system comprising:
a conveyor for transporting a rail transportation component along a path through a shot-peening area;
a part-handling robot located in the shot-peening area, the part-handling robot adapted to grasp a rail transportation component and present the rail transportation component in one or more orientations to a shot-peening device; and
a shot-peening device located in the shot-peening area, the shot-peening device equipped with a shot-emitting mechanism for impacting the rail transportation component with shot media.
12 . The system of claim 11 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar bolster.
13 . The system of claim 11 , where the rail transportation component is a mass transit bolster.
14 . The system of claim 11 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar side frame.
15 . The system of claim 11 , where the rail transportation component is a mass transit side frame.
16 . The system of claim 11 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar coupler head.
17 . The system of claim 11 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar coupler yoke.
18 . The system of claim 11 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar wheel.
19 . The shot-peening system of claim 11 , wherein the shot-emitting device is a multi-axis robot.
20 . The shot-peening system of claim 11 , wherein the shot-emitting mechanism is an air blast system or a spinning centrifugal blast wheel.
21 . The shot-peening system of claim 11 , additionally comprising shot-peening media, wherein the shot-peening media comprises at least two varieties of shot-peening media, each with different performance characteristics.
22 . A shot-peening system for shot-peening one or more areas of interest on a rail transportation component, the system comprising:
a conveyor for transporting a rail transportation component along a path through a shot-peening area, the conveyor including a plurality of individual carriers that travel along a track through a shot-peening area, each carrier equipped with rotatable rail transportation component retaining elements and means for rotating a retained component for presentation to a shot-peening device; and
at least one shot-peening device located in the shot-peening area, the shot-peening device equipped with a shot-emitting mechanism for impacting the rail transportation component with shot media.
23 . The shot-peening system of claim 22 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar bolster.
24 . The shot-peening system of claim 22 , where the rail transportation component is a mass transit bolster.
25 . The shot-peening system of claim 22 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar side frame.
26 . The shot-peening system of claim 22 , where the rail transportation component is a mass transit side frame.
27 . The shot-peening system of claim 22 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar coupler head.
28 . The shot-peening system of claim 22 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar coupler yoke.
29 . The shot-peening system of claim 22 , where the rail transportation component is a railcar wheel.
30 . The shot-peening system of claim 22 , wherein the means for rotating a retained rail transportation component is an electric motor.
31 . The shot-peening system of claim 22 , wherein the means for rotating a retained rail transportation component includes one or more trip arms on the carrier and one or more trip dogs located along the path of travel of the conveyor.
33 . The shot-peening system of claim 22 , additionally comprising shot-peening media, wherein the shot peening media comprises at least two varieties of shot-peening media, each with different performance characteristics.