Patent ID: 8872058
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A laser shock hardening apparatus comprising: a laser irradiation device including a laser oscillator and an optical device for directing a laser beam, emitted from the laser oscillator, to the surface of a workpiece; a driving device configured to move the laser irradiation device relative to the workpiece along the surface of the workpiece; a liquid jet nozzle, provided at the laser exit of the laser irradiation device, for jetting a liquid transparent to the wavelength of the irradiating laser coaxially with the laser beam so as to cover an irradiation portion of the surface of the workpiece with the liquid; and a fixing means configured to fix the laser irradiation device in a position where the workpiece, exposed in an atmospheric environment, is positioned in a higher position than the laser irradiation device; wherein the laser irradiation device irradiates the laser beam intermittently to the irradiation portion on the surface of the workpiece, while irradiation points on the surface of the workpiece are kept covered with the liquid jetted from the jet nozzle coaxially with the laser beam, thereby shock-hardening the surface of the workpiece.