Transverse flux induction heating device for heating flat product
AssigneeAjax Tocco Magnethermic Corporation
InventorDavid Lazor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An induction heating apparatus and method of use wherein the apparatus includes two poles, each pole having a pair of spaced apart coils wherein at least one of a spacing between the poles and the pole pitch is adjustable to control the power density transferred to a workpiece across its width. In some embodiments, movable flux shields are also adjusted to control power density transferred along edge portions of the workpiece.
Claims24
A transverse flux induction coil assembly for induction heating at least a portion of an associated flat workpiece traveling along a process direction relative to the transverse flux electric induction coil assembly, the associated workpiece having opposite first and second workpiece sides and first and second workpiece edges, the induction heating apparatus comprising:
- a first planar coil and a second planar coil arranged in a first common plane spaced from and facing the first workpiece side and extending between the first and second workpiece edges and electrically coupled in series;
- wherein the first planar coil and the second planar coil are co-planarly spaced apart and at least one of the first planar coil and second planar coil is movable within the first common plane to change the spacing therebetween;
- wherein the first planar coil has a first outgoing leg and a first return leg within the first common plane;
- wherein the second planar coil has a second outgoing leg and a second return leg within the first common plane;
- wherein a first one of the first outgoing leg and the first return leg is a first center leg that is closest to the second planar coil;
- wherein a first one of the second outgoing leg and the second return leg is a second center leg that is closest to the first planar coil;
- and
- the first and second center legs are configured to conduct current in the same direction.
A transverse flux induction coil assembly for induction heating at least a portion of an associated flat workpiece traveling along a process direction relative to the transverse flux electric induction coil assembly, the associated workpiece having opposite first and second workpiece sides and first and second workpiece edges, the induction heating apparatus comprising:
- a first planar coil and a second planar coil arranged in a first common plane spaced from and facing the first workpiece side and extending between the first and second workpiece edges and electrically coupled in series;
- wherein at least one of the first planar coil and the second planar coil is adjustable to change a pitch of the coil;
- wherein the first planar coil has a first outgoing leg and a first return leg within the common plane;
- wherein the second planar coil has a second outgoing leg and a second return leg within the common plane;
- wherein a first one of the first outgoing leg and the first return leg is a first center leg that is closest to the second planar coil;
- wherein a first one of the second outgoing leg and the second return leg is a second center leg that is closest to the first planar coil;
- and
- the first and second center legs are configured to conduct current in the same direction;
- and,
- at least one flux shield spaced from and disposed between the first common plane and the first workpiece side facing at least one of the first and second workpiece edges, wherein the at least one flux shield is movable in a transverse direction of the associated workpiece.
A method of inductively heating an associated strip workpiece comprising:
- supplying current to a transverse flux electric induction coil assembly for induction heating at least a portion of the associated strip workpiece traveling along a process direction relative to the transverse flux electric induction coil assembly, the associated workpiece having opposite first and second workpiece sides and first and second workpiece edges, the induction heating apparatus comprising:
- a first planar coil and a second planar coil arranged in a first common plane spaced from and facing the first workpiece side and extending between the first and second workpiece edges and electrically coupled in series;
- wherein the first planar coil and the second planar coil are co-planarly spaced apart and at least one of the first planar coil and second planar coil is movable within the common plane to change the spacing therebetween;
- and
- adjusting the spacing between the first and second coil;
- wherein the first planar coil has a first outgoing leg and a first return leg within the common plane;
- wherein the second planar coil has a second outgoing leg and a second return leg within the common plane;
- wherein a first one of the first outgoing leg and the first return leg is a first center leg that is closest to the second planar coil;
- wherein a first one of the second outgoing leg and the second return leg is a second center leg that is closest to the first planar coil;
- and
- the first and second center legs are configured to conduct current in the same direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.