Patent ID: 7805972

Claim:
An apparatus for inducing compressive residual stresses in the surface of blading members mounted on a rotor comprising: a pivot point; a first caliper arm having an anterior surface, an interior surface, a first end, and a second end, said interior face of said second end comprises a socket for receiving a burnishing element and a first burnishing element disposed therein; a second caliper arm having an anterior surface, an interior surface, a first end, and a second end, said interior surface of said second end comprises a socket for receiving a burnishing element and a second burnishing element disposed therein; wherein said anterior surface of said first caliper arm and said second caliper arm are shaped to facilitate the insertion of each said caliper arm between the blading member being burnished and adjacent blading members and said interior surfaces of said first caliper arm and said second caliper arm having a variable contour that conforms to the surface contours of the blading member being treated; wherein said first caliper arm and said second caliper arm are pivotally connected to said pivot point such that said first burnishing element and said second burnishing element are in opposition to one another; means for providing fluid to said sockets of said first and said second caliper arms to hydrostatically support said first burnishing element and the second burnishing element; and an actuator for moving said first caliper arm and said second caliper arm in rotational proximity to one another about the pivot point thereby permitting the impingement of the blading member being treated between said first burnishing element and the second burnishing element.