Electric Induction Heat Treatment of Continuous Longitudinally-Oriented Workpieces

A method of inductively heat treating a plurality of longitudinally-oriented continuous workpieces, 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 a plurality of longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps;
• establishing a transverse magnetic flux across the width of each one of the plurality of longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps;
• and
• moving each one of the plurality of longitudinally-oriented continuous workpieces perpendicularly to the transverse magnetic flux through each one of the plurality of longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gaps.

An electric induction heat treatment apparatus for heat treatment of a longitudinally-oriented continuous workpiece, the electric induction heat treatment apparatus comprising:

• a series magnetic loop circuit formed from an open-box rectangular ferromagnetic material having an adjustable-width longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap for insertion of the longitudinally-oriented continuous workpiece as the longitudinally-oriented continuous workpiece moves through the adjustable-width longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap, the adjustable-width longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap having a gap width to establish a transverse magnetic flux within the adjustable width longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap perpendicularly oriented to the length of the longitudinally-oriented continuous workpiece moving through the adjustable-width longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap;
• a pair of inductors, each one of the pair of inductors positioned around the open-box rectangular ferromagnetic material adjacent to an opposing side of the adjustable-width longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap;
• and
• at least one alternating current power supply connected to the pair of inductors.

A method of inductively heat treating a longitudinally-oriented continuous workpiece, 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 an adjustable-width longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap;
• establishing a transverse magnetic flux across the width of the adjustable-width longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap;
• and
• moving the longitudinally-oriented continuous workpiece perpendicularly to the transverse magnetic flux through the adjustable-width longitudinally-oriented workpiece through-gap.