Induction furnace havng a modular induction coil assembly

An induction furnace comprising:

• (a) means for holding a material to be heated by said furnace comprising a crucible having a predetermined shape;
• (b) an induction coil assembly surrounding said crucible and having a central axis, a preselected axial length and a predetermined inner diameter, said induction coil assembly comprising an induction coil, an upper yoke, a lower yoke, and a plurality of intermediate yokes spaced apart from each other, said induction coil being wound around the crucible and defining a periphery of said induction furnace, said intermediate yokes being arranged to extend around substantially all of the periphery defined by said induction coil, said upper and lower yokes being axially separated from each other and electromagnetically coupled together by said plurality of intermediate yokes;
• and
• (c) a module-support assembly surrounding and radially supporting said induction coil assembly, said module-support assembly having upright members and shaft members to allow each of said plurality of intermediate yokes to be separately removed from said induction coil assembly while the others remain in place and to allow the induction coil assembly to be removed in its entirety from said furnace.