System and method for induction shrink fitting
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsJoseph Swiderski, Guy Beaulieu, Parham Zabeti, Pierre-Luc Lachance
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An induction heating system can be adapted for shrink fitting a plurality of different assemblies. A plurality of tooling units associated to respective ones of the assemblies, each one having an appropriately configured induction coil and holder, can be provided. A computer can be used to control the delivery of electrical power to the induction coil in accordance with a heating recipe, and can be provided with an input device for inputting an assembly identifier allowing the computer to operate the control based on the right heating recipe.
Claims17
An induction heating system for shrink fitting a plurality of different assemblies, each assembly having a corresponding female part and male part configured for interference fitting within the female part, the system comprising:
- a plurality of tooling units associated to respective ones of the assemblies, each tooling unit including an induction coil configured for induction heating the corresponding female part when in a heating position and supplied with electrical power, and a holder supporting the induction coil, the holder configured for engagement with the corresponding female part in a manner to hold the induction coil in the heating position when engaged;
- a power supply configured for generating the electrical power;
- power cables configured for selectively connecting and disconnecting the power supply to any one of the tooling units;
- and
- a computer having:
- a processor and non-transitory memory readable by the processor,
- an input device configured for inputting an assembly identifier associated to a respective one of the assemblies into the non-transitory memory, each assembly identifier associating the corresponding assembly to a corresponding heating recipe, the heating recipe including a heating rate setpoint, and
- a function, stored in the non-transitory memory and executable by the processor, configured to:
- receive a temperature signal representing a temperature associated with the assembly identifier, and
- control an amplitude of the electrical power in accordance with the heating recipe and as a function of the temperature signal.
A computer program product stored in a non-transitory memory and executable by a processor to:
- receive an assembly identifier associated to one of a plurality of assemblies, each assembly having a female part and a male part,
- receive a temperature signal representing a temperature associated with the assembly identifier, and
- control an amplitude of electrical power delivered to an induction coil located in a heating position relative the corresponding female part, said controlling an amplitude being in accordance with a heating recipe, the heating recipe based on the assembly identifier, a function of the temperature signal, and including a heating rate setpoint.
An induction heating system for shrink fitting a plurality of different assemblies, each assembly having a corresponding female part and male part configured for interference fitting within the female part, the system comprising:
- a plurality of tooling units associated to respective ones of the assemblies, each tooling unit including an induction coil configured for induction heating the corresponding female part when in a heating position and supplied with electrical power, and a holder supporting the induction coil, the holder configured for engagement with the corresponding female part in a manner to hold the induction coil in the heating position when engaged;
- a power supply configured for generating the electrical power;
- power cables configured for selectively connecting and disconnecting the power supply to any one of the tooling units;
- and
- a computer having:
- a processor and non-transitory memory readable by the processor,
- an input device configured for inputting an assembly identifier associated to a respective one of the assemblies into the non-transitory memory, each assembly identifier associating the corresponding assembly to a corresponding heating recipe, the heating recipe including a heating rate setpoint,
- a function, stored in the non-transitory memory and executable by the processor, to control an amplitude of the electrical power in accordance with the heating recipe;
- and
- wherein each one of the tooling units further comprises a temperature sensor secured to the holder, the temperature sensor configured for monitoring the temperature of the corresponding female part in response to said induction heating when in the heating position, and transmitting a signal indicative of said temperature to the computer, the function in the computer further configured to adapt the amplitude of the electrical power as a function of the signal indicative of the temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.