Induction heating system with a flexible coil
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsMark Ulrich, David M. Bickel, Don Wiseman, Randall Baxter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for induction heating includes a power supply, and a controller, and an induction head. The induction head includes a flexible coiled, such as one formed with Litz wire. The head also includes a thermal insulator, for disposing between the head and the workpiece. The insulator reflects heat back to the workpiece, protecting the coil, but is transparent to inductive (E-M) energy. The power supply is a variable output frequency power supply, such as one having a resonant tank, to adapt to the inductance of the head.
Claims26
A system for induction heating comprising:
- a power supply;
- a controller, coupled to the power supply, whereby the controller controls the output of the power supply;
- and
- an induction head, coupled to the power supply, whereby the power supply provides current to the induction head, wherein the induction head is comprised of a flexible Litz coil disposed to induce current in a workpiece, and disposed near a flexible thermal insulator, wherein the insulator is disposed to insulate the head from heat from a workpiece;
- wherein the flexible coil is comprised of a wire that forms a loop in a first plane, and wherein the wire is flexible in at least a direction perpendicular to the first plane.
A system for induction heating comprising:
- a power supply;
- a controller, coupled to the power supply, whereby the controller controls the output of the power supply;
- and
- an induction head, coupled to the power supply, whereby the power supply provides current to the induction head, wherein the induction head is comprised of a flexible Litz coil disposed to induce current in a workpiece, and disposed near a flexible thermal insulator, wherein the insulator is disposed to insulate the head from heat from a workpiece, wherein the coil is capable of flexing open to at least 180°.
A system for induction heating comprising:
- a power supply;
- a controller, coupled to the power supply, whereby the controller controls the output of the power supply;
- an induction head, coupled to the power supply, whereby the power supply provides current to the induction head, wherein the induction head is comprised of a Litz wire coil that induces current in a workpiece and having at least one first segment of wire having a first length in a first direction and at least one second segment of wire having a shorter length in a second direction, other than the first direction, and wherein the induction head is flexible in the first direction.
A system for induction heating comprising:
- a power supply;
- a controller, coupled to the power supply, whereby the controller controls the output of the power supply;
- an induction head, coupled to the power supply, whereby the power supply provides current to the induction head, wherein the induction head is comprised of a flexible coil of Litz wire that induces current in the workpiece, including a wire that forms a loop in a first plane, and wherein the wire is flexible in at least a direction perpendicular to the first plane;
- and
- a blanket that lays in the first plane and has a workpiece side and an other side, and an interior therebetween, wherein the workpiece side includes an insulating material, and wherein the wire is disposed between the other side and the insulating material.
An induction heating head comprising a flexible coil disposed to induce energy in a workpiece and further disposed within a flexible thermal insulator, wherein the thermal insulator is a blanket that lays in the first plane and has a workpiece side and an other side, and an interior therebetween, wherein the workpiece side includes an insulating material, and wherein the is disposed in the interior between the other side and the insulating material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.