METHOD OF IDENTIFYING AND REMOVING AGGREGATE
An aggregate-removal method includes placing a metallic article in a tank of fluid, a piece of aggregate being lodged in a feature of the metallic article, and treating the metallic article with sound waves to dislodge the lodged aggregate from the metallic article. An aggregate-identification method includes applying a fluorescent penetrant solution to a metallic article, exposing the metallic article to UV light, and identifying fluorescing aggregate lodged in a feature of the metallic article.
1 . An aggregate-removal method comprising:
placing a metallic article in a tank of fluid, a piece of aggregate being lodged in a feature of the metallic article; and
treating the metallic article with sound waves to dislodge the lodged aggregate from the metallic article.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sound waves comprise a frequency between about 20-138 kHz.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating the metallic article with sound waves comprises generating ultrasonic sound waves with a transducer.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the generating ultrasonic sound waves with the transducer comprises generating a single frequency of ultrasonic sound waves.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the generating ultrasonic sound waves with the transducer comprises generating a sweep of sound waves from about 20 kHz to about 138 kHz.
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the generating ultrasonic sound waves with the transducer comprises generating multiple frequencies simultaneously.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating the metallic article with sound waves comprises generating sound waves with a frequency generally in the range of the natural frequency of the metallic article.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating the metallic article with sound waves comprises generating sound waves with a frequency generally in the range of a harmonic frequency of the metallic article.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating the metallic article with sound waves comprises generating sound waves with a frequency generally in the range of the natural frequency of the piece of aggregate.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating the metallic article with sound waves comprises generating sound waves with a frequency generally in the range of a harmonic frequency of the piece of aggregate.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises a solvent.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises water.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic article is heated prior to the placing the metallic article in the tank of fluid.
14 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:
removing the metallic article from the tank of fluid;
inspecting the metallic article to determine if the piece of aggregate has been removed by the treating; and
responsive to a determination that the piece of aggregate has not been removed by the treating, repeating the treating step.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the repeating the treating step comprises treating the metallic article with sound waves having a different frequency than the original treating step.
16 . An aggregate identification method comprising:
applying a fluorescent penetrant solution to a metallic article;
exposing the metallic article to UV light; and
identifying fluorescing aggregate lodged in a feature of the metallic article.
17 . The method of claim 16 , comprising cleaning the metallic article prior to the applying the fluorescent penetrant solution.
18 . The method of claim 16 , comprising removing excess fluorescent penetrant solution from the metallic article and applying a developer solution.
19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising removing the developer solution and the penetrant fluorescent solution after the identifying.
20 . The method of claim 16 , comprising treating the metallic article with an ultrasonic cleaning process after the identifying.