Transverse Flux Electric Induction Heat Treatment of a Discrete Workpiece in a Gap of a Magnetic Circuit

A method of inductively heat treating at least one discrete workpiece having a longitudinal central axis, the method comprising the steps of:

• supplying alternating current power to a series magnetic loop circuit formed from an open-box rectangular ferromagnetic material having at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps;
• establishing a transverse magnetic flux across the width of each one of the at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps;
• and
• moving each one of the at least one discrete workpieces with the longitudinal axis perpendicular or parallel to the transverse magnetic flux through each one of the at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps.

An electric induction heat treatment apparatus for heat treatment of at least one discrete planarly-oriented workpiece having a planar surface, the electric induction heat treatment apparatus comprising:

• a series magnetic loop circuit formed from an open-box rectangular ferromagnetic;
• at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap formed in the open-box rectangular ferromagnetic through which the at least one discrete planarly-oriented workpiece passes through;
• a plurality of inductors, each one of the plurality of inductors positioned around the open-box rectangular ferromagnetic material adjacent to a side of each one of the at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap;
• at least one alternating current power supply connected to each of the plurality of inductors to establish a transverse magnetic flux in each one of the at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap;
• and
• a discrete workpiece transport system for positioning the planar surface of each of the at least one planarly-oriented workpieces perpendicular to the transverse magnetic flux as each of the at least one discrete planarly-oriented workpieces passes through one of the at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap.

A method of inductively heat treating at least one discrete planarly-oriented workpiece having a planar surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• supplying alternating current power to a series magnetic loop circuit formed from an open-box rectangular ferromagnetic material having at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps;
• establishing a transverse magnetic flux across the width of each one of the at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps;
• and
• moving each one of the at least one discrete planarly-oriented workpieces with the planar surface perpendicular the transverse magnetic flux through each one of the at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps.

An electric induction heat treatment apparatus for heat treatment of at least one discrete workpiece having at least two components with a longitudinal axis, the electric induction heat treatment apparatus comprising:

• a series magnetic loop circuit formed from an open-box rectangular ferromagnetic;
• at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap formed in the open-box rectangular ferromagnetic through which the at least one discrete workpiece passes through;
• a plurality of inductors, each one of the plurality of inductors positioned around the open-box rectangular ferromagnetic material adjacent to a side of each one of the at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps;
• at least one alternating current power supply connected to each of the plurality of inductors to establish a transverse magnetic flux in each one of the at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap;
• and
• a discrete workpiece transport system for positioning the central longitudinal axis of the at least two components of the at least one discrete workpiece perpendicular to the transverse magnetic flux as each of the at least one discrete planar workpieces passes through the longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap to braze weld the at least two components together.

A method of inductively heat treating at least one discrete planar workpiece having at least two components with a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of:

• supplying alternating current power to a series magnetic loop circuit formed from an open-box rectangular ferromagnetic material having at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps;
• establishing a transverse magnetic flux across the width of each one of the at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps;
• and
• moving each one of the at least one discrete workpieces with the longitudinal axis of the at least one discrete workpiece perpendicular to the transverse magnetic flux through each one of the at least one longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps.