Induction heating platen for hot metal working

A heating platen for use with a press, comprising:

• a castable ceramic plate having a channel at an upper surface thereof, the channel having an approximately sinusoidal shape in order to maximize area coverage of said upper surface of said ceramic plate, said ceramic plate being capable of withstanding compressive forces of approximately 5000 psi at temperatures of approximately 1700.degree. F.;
• a trough mounted within the channel, said trough being open at its upper lengthwise side, said trough being an electrical conductor, said trough comprising lengthwise segments, said segments having a plastic coating in order to provide electrical insulation from each other;
• a top plate, said top plate being an electrical conductor;
• an electrical power source;
• a tube mounted within said trough, said tube electrically connected to said power source, said tube conducting cooling fluid therethrough in order to minimize increase in the elctrical resistivity of said tube due to heating of the same, said tube conducting a low frequency electrical current to heat said top plate by means of electromagnetic induction such that a temperature of approximately 1800.degree. F. can be attained within approximately 25 minutes;
• a ceramic inlay mounted in the channel and covering said tube and said trough, said inlay electrically insulating said tube and said trough from said top plate;
• a steel base plate supporting said ceramic plate;
• an electrical insulator mounted between said trough and said tube, said electrical insulator composed of silicone rubber and ceramic cement material;
• a filler mounted between said ceramic plate and said tube, said filler being composed at least partly of silicone rubber.