Ceramic die for induction heating work cells
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMarc R. Matsen, Paul S. Gregg, Howard Martinson, Robert Snyder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A die for use in an induction heating workcell incorporates segments of the induction coil in spaced array within a cast ceramic or phenolic body. A peripheral compression frame, typically of phenolic, surrounds the die body and applies a compressive load to the body through lateral and transverse reinforcing rods that are cast into the body. Matched dies close to trap heat in a workpiece at the center of the induction coil.
Claims13
A die for use in a forming apparatus that uses inductive heating, the die comprising:
- (a) a cast phenolic or cast ceramic die body having a forming surface, the die body not being susceptible to inductive heating;
- (b) a plurality of lateral and transverse reinforcing rods extending through the die body in separate planes, the reinforcing rods being formed of a material that is not susceptible to inductive heating;
- (c) a peripheral compression frame around sides of the die body for imparting a compressive force to the die body through the reinforcing rods;
- and
- (d) induction coil segments embedded within the die body adjacent the forming surface.
A ceramic die for use in an induction heating press, comprising:
- (a) a cast ceramic die body defining a forming surface;
- (b) means for holding the die body in compression to assure close dimensional tolerance of the forming surface;
- (c) a plurality of copper tubes cast into the die body to define a regular array adjacent the forming surface, the tubes being interconnectable to define an induction coil such that the magnetic field produced in the coil is substantially spatially uniform to induce substantially uniform heating in a susceptor on the forming surface.
A die set for an induction heating process, comprising:
- (a) matching upper and lower dies formed from a cast, thermally insulating, ceramic material that has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, thermal shock resistance, and compression strength suitable for forming operations, each die being generally rectangular defining a longitudinal length and transverse width and having a mating surface for seating with the other die, the dies able to close together along the mating surfaces to seat and to define an internal cavity having a width and a forming surface, the cavity being designed to receive a workpiece;
- (b) a plurality of substantially straight copper tubes cast into each die adjacent the forming surface in a regular spaced array, the tubes being electrically connectable together to form an induction coil adapted for uniformly heating a workpiece on the forming surface of the cavity;
- (c) a plurality of reinforcing rods made from material not susceptible to inductive heating cast into each die in transverse and longitudinal sets separated from the cavity by the tubes;
- and
- (d) a peripheral compression frame surrounding each die and receiving the reinforcing rods with tensioners to apply a compressive load to the die, the load assuring close dimensional tolerance of the forming surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.