US 8,571,085 B2 · Induction furnace for the controllable melting of powder/granular materials

Abstract

An induction furnace includes a melting induction coil for inductively heating a pair of susceptors for melting particulate material falling freely in a free fall zone between the susceptors. A feeder having a rotatable hollow shaft with fingers extending therefrom breaks up the material, which falls onto a vibrating dispersion plate and then into the free fall zone. A preheating induction coil inductively heats a susceptor which radiates heat to particulate material moving over the dispersion plate. An adjustable gap between the feeder and dispersion plate controls material flow. A funnel collects falling molten material and directs it through a nozzle into a mold. Induction coils control melting within the funnel. One induction coil heats the nozzle and may be controlled to allow the nozzle to cool sufficiently to form a solid plug in the nozzle whereby molten material pools above the plug.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A furnace for use with particulate material, the furnace comprising:

a particle-feeding mechanism for feeding the particulate material;
a free fall heating zone below and in communication with the particle-feeding mechanism;
a free fall zone electromagnetic induction member;
a first susceptor adjacent the free fall zone and inductively heatable by the induction member whereby the first susceptor is positioned to transfer heat to the particulate material when the particulate material is freely falling in the free fall zone;
a thermal reflector bounding the free fall zone for reflecting heat radiated from the first susceptor;
a dispersion member having an upper surface above the free fall zone for dispersing the particulate material as it moves along the upper surface prior to entering the free fall zone;
a preheating electromagnetic induction member;
and
a preheating susceptor adjacent the dispersion member and inductively heatable by the preheating induction member whereby the preheating susceptor is positioned to transfer heat to the particulate material as it moves along the upper surface of the dispersion member.

6 more elements

A furnace for use with particulate material, the furnace comprising:

a particle-feeding mechanism for feeding the particulate material;
a free fall heating zone below and in communication with the particle-feeding mechanism;
a free fall zone electromagnetic induction member;
a first susceptor adjacent the free fall zone and inductively heatable by the induction member whereby the first susceptor is positioned to transfer heat to the particulate material when the particulate material is freely falling in the free fall zone;
a thermal reflector bounding the free fall zone for reflecting heat radiated from the first susceptor;
a funneling member which is below the free fall zone and comprises an inclined section having an inner surface positioned to receive the particulate material from the free fall zone and configured to direct flow of the material in a molten state;
a first collector electromagnetic induction member adjacent the funneling member and below the free fall zone electromagnetic induction member;
a first collector susceptor has a top;
the free fall zone has an upper boundary below the first susceptor;
and
the free fall zone has a lower boundary above the top of the first collector susceptor.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Induction furnace for the controllable melting of powder/granular materials

Life of this patent

Induction furnace for the controllable melting of powder/granular materials

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24