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US 5,109,389 AGranted
Apparatus for generating an inductive heating field which interacts with metallic stock in a crucible
OwnerOtto Stenzelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for melting metallic stock as a crucible in which the metallic stock is received and melted, the stock in the crucible having an axis along which the force of gravity varies, and an inductive heating system which generates an inductive heating field having an inductive power density which varies along the axis. The inductive heating field interacts with the metallic stock in the crucible so that the radiation energy generated by the inductive heating field counteracts the hydrostatic pressure of the melt in the crucible.
Claims54
An inductive furnace comprising the following:
- a crucible adapted to receive and hold molten metallic stock at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined range of hydrostatic pressures, said crucible including an outer wall that is vertically segmented adjacent an area where said metallic stock is to be held;
- means for cooling said outer wall to a temperature below said predetermined temperature;
- and
- inductive coil means surrounding said crucible in a predetermined configuration for generating an inductive heating field having an inductive power density that varies dependent upon said hydrostatic pressures of said metallic stock.
1 more element
An inductive furnace comprising:
- a crucible adapted to receive metallic stock and to hold molten metallic stock at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined range of hydrostatic pressures, said crucible having an axis whereby the hydrostatic pressures in said molten metallic stock vary;
- and
- a coil surrounding said crucible and adapted for connection to an AC power supply, said coil having a winding density which varies along said axis so that said coil generates an inductive heating field having an inductive power density which varies with said hydrostatic pressures in said molten metallic stock along said axis, said inductive heating field interacting with said metallic stock in said crucible.
An inductive furnace comprising:
- a crucible adapted to receive metallic stock and to hold molten metallic stock at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined range of hydrostatic pressures, said crucible having an axis whereby the hydrostatic pressures in said molten metallic stock vary;
- a plurality of coils disposed in sequence around said crucible along said axis;
- means for supplying each of said coils with power of respectively different magnitudes so that each coil generates an inductive heating field having a respectively different inductive power density corresponding to said hydrostatic pressures in said molten metallic stock, said inductive heating fields each interacting with said metallic stock in said crucible.
A method for temperature maintenance of a melt comprising the steps of:
- containing metallic stock in a crucible, said crucible having an axis and said metallic stock, when melted, exhibiting hydrostatic pressures which vary along said axis;
- and
- inductively heating said metallic stock in said crucible by generating an inductive heating field having an inductive power density which varies along said axis so that the radiation pressures of said inductive heating field substantially counteracts said hydrostatic pressures.
A method for treating a melt during solidification comprising the steps of:
- containing said melt in a crucible;
- generating an alternating inductive heating field which interacts with said melt in said crucible, said alternating inductive heating field having a power density;
- and
- reducing said power density of said alternating inductive heating field to constantly temperature of said melt by electromagnetic forces during cooling of said melt until said melt reaches a temperature just below the solidification temperature of the melt;
- and
- permitting solidification of said melt to occur only when said temperature of said melt reaches said temperature just below said solidification temperature.
3 more elements
A method for treating a melt during solidification comprising the steps of:
- containing said melt in a crucible at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined range of hydrostatic pressures, said melt in said crucible having an axis whereby the hydrostatic pressures in said molten metal stock vary;
- generating an inductive heating field which interacts with said melt in said crucible, said inductive heating field having an inductive power density;
- and
- gradually decreasing said inductive power density of said inductive heating field along said axis so that said melt solidifies at a substantially constant solidification rate from a lowest point on said axis to a highest point on said axis.
1 more element
An inductive furnace comprising the following:
- a metallic crucible adapted to receive and hold metallic stock at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined range of hydrostatic pressures, said crucible including an outer wall that is vertically segmented adjacent an area where said metallic stock is to be held;
- means for cooling said outer wall to a temperature below said predetermined temperature;
- and
- inductive coil means surrounding said crucible in a predetermined configuration for generating an inductive heating field having an inductive power density that varies dependent upon said hydrostatic pressures of said metallic stock along an axis parallel to a coordinate of a force exerted by the earth's gravitational field and acting upon said crucible.
1 more element
An inductive furnace comprising the following:
- a metallic crucible adapted to receive and hold molten metallic stock at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined range of hydrostatic pressures, said crucible including an outer wall that is vertically segmented adjacent an area where said metallic stock is to be held;
- means for cooling said outer wall to a temperature below said predetermined temperature;
- and
- inductive coil means surrounding said crucible in a predetermined configuration for generating an inductive heating field having an inductive power density that varies dependent upon properties of the metallic stock.
1 more element
An inductive furnace comprising the following:
- a metallic crucible adapted to receive and hold molten metallic stock at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined range of hydrostatic pressures, said crucible including an outer wall that is vertically segmented adjacent an area where said metallic stock is to be held such that said metallic stock is in contact with at least a portion of said segmented area;
- means for cooling said outer wall to a temperature below said predetermined temperature;
- and
- inductive coil means surrounding said crucible in a predetermined configuration for generating an inductive heating field having an inductive power density that varies dependent upon said hydrostatic pressures of said metallic stock.
1 more element
An inductive furnace comprising the following:
- a metallic crucible adapted to receive and hold molten metallic stock at a predetermined temperature and within a predetermined range of hydrostatic pressures, said crucible including an outer wall having vertically arranged segments, and a floor at a lower end of said outer wall;
- a plurality of vertical slots defined between said segments, said vertical slots having a first width at a top portion thereof and a second width at a bottom portion thereof adjacent said floor, said first width being less than said second width;
- electrically non-conductive material separating said segments of said crucible from one another,
- means for cooling said outer wall to a temperature below said predetermined temperature;
- a plurality of slots formed in said floor;
- and
- inductive coil means surrounding said crucible in a predetermined configuration for generating an inductive heating field having an inductive power density that varies dependent upon said hydrostatic pressures of said metallic stock within said crucible.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.