Adjustable transverse inductors for inductively heating strips or slabs
AssigneeInductotherm Corp.
InventorsMichel Fontaine, Philippe Weber, Benjamin Michel, Jean Lovens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transverse flux electric induction heating apparatus is provided with a pair of transverse flux inductor assemblies where the inductor in each one of the pair of assemblies is formed from a pair of continuous flexible cables disposed within movable roll channels in roll assemblies that are used to adjust the transverse length of the inductor across the edge-to-edge transverse of a workpiece moving between the inductor in each one of the pair of assemblies and/or to adjust the pole pitch between transverse inductor lengths of each inductor in the pair of assemblies.
Claims20
A transverse flux induction heating apparatus for inductively heating a workpiece positioned between a pair of transverse flux inductor assemblies, each one of the pair of transverse flux inductor assemblies comprising:
- a pair of flexible electric cables forming a transverse pair of electrical conductors, each one of the pair of flexible electric cables having an opposing transverse ends extending beyond an opposing transverse edges of the workpiece;
- a pair of separate moveable cable joiner assemblies disposed near to each of the opposing transverse ends of the pair of flexible electric cables, the pair of separate moveable cable joiner assemblies each having a joiner roll channel in which the pair of flexible electric cables are disposed to join an adjacent opposing transverse ends of the pair of flexible electric cables together;
- and
- a pair of separate moveable cable separator assemblies disposed near to each of the opposing transverse ends of each of the pair of flexible electric cables inward of the pair of separate moveable cable joiner assemblies, each of the pair of separate moveable cable separators assembles having a separator roll channel in which the pair of flexible electric cables are disposed to change a separation distance between the pair of flexible electric cables.
A method of electric induction heating of a workpiece, the method comprising:
- passing the workpiece between a pair of transverse flux inductor assemblies, each one of the pair of transverse flux inductor assemblies having a transverse inductor formed from a transverse pair of continuous flexible cables;
- and
- selectively changing a transverse length of the transverse inductor in each one of the pair of transverse flux inductor assemblies by selectively moving in a transverse direction a pair of separate flexible cable separator assemblies disposed near to each one of the opposing transverse ends of the transverse pair of continuous flexible cables and a pair of separate flexible cable joiner assemblies disposed outward of the pair of separate flexible cable separator assembles in which the pair of flexible cables are disposed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.