Patent ID: 7148448
Filing Date: 2006-12-12
Classification: B23K,C21D

Abstract:
1. A system for laser shock peening a workpiece having a confinement fluid film thereover, comprising: a peening laser for projecting a pulsed laser beam at a target site on said fluid film atop said workpiece, wherein said peening laser includes an optically pumped laser rod and a Q-switch for generating said pulsed beam at a pulse repetition rate, said peening laser further including a driver for said Q-switch; a monitor to monitor said film at said target site, said monitor including a probe laser for projecting a probe laser beam at said target site and an optical detector optically aligned with said target site for detecting reflection of said probe beam therefrom; a controller operatively coupled to said peening laser and detector for initiating said pulsed laser beam in response to quality of said monitored film, said controller being operatively coupled to said Q-switch for emitting said pulsed beam in response to the quality of said monitored film, said controller being configured to enable said driver when said detector detects that quality of said film is normal and to disable said driver when said detector detects that quality of said film is abnormal; a master clock for producing a clock signal to effect said pulse rate; and a logical AND gate operatively coupled to said detector and said Q-switch driver for enabling said driver when said detector produces a relatively high voltage and disabling said driver when said detector produces a relatively low voltage.