Heating apparatus for induction ladle and vacuum furnaces

Abstract

An induction heating furnace is disclosed comprising an induction coil assembly and a ladle having a metallic shell that supports a crucible holding metal to be heated by the furnace. The ladle is readily separated from the induction coil assembly so that the heated metal may be conveniently and reliably moved among operational stations. The induction coil assembly has a preselected length which is less than the length of the shell. The induction coil assembly surrounds, but does not touch the shell and generates an electromagnetic induction field. The induction coil assembly comprises a coil, upper and lower yokes and an intermediate yoke coextensive with the coil. The upper and lower yokes are separated from each other and electromagnetically coupled together by the intermediate yoke. The upper, lower and intermediate yokes each comprise stacked laminates formed of sheets of ferrous material.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.