Abstract: The present invention relates to a clamping device for compression clamping of one or more semiconductor devices and associated semiconductor components with a desired compression force equally distributed across the opposing surfaces of the devices and associated components. The semiconductor devices and components are located between opposing jaws that are joined together by at least two tie rods, which compressively load the opposing jaws to apply the desired compression force to the semiconductor devices and components. The desired compression force is first achieved in even distribution between independent clamp pressure set point assemblies and the first jaw, where each of the independent clamp pressure set point assemblies is associated with one of the tie rods.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for induction heating of a workpiece. The workpiece is moved through an inductor to inductively heat treat the workpiece with electric power of varying frequency and duty cycle or amplitude control to control the magnitude of electric power as the frequency changes. Alternatively the workpiece may be stationary and the inductor can be moved along the workpiece, or combined and coordinated movement of both the workpiece and inductor can be used.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for induction heating of a workpiece. The workpiece is moved through an inductor to inductively heat treat the workpiece with electric power of varying frequency and duty cycle or amplitude control to control the magnitude of electric power as the frequency changes. Alternatively the workpiece may be stationary and the inductor can be moved along the workpiece, or combined and coordinated movement of both the workpiece and inductor can be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process wherein an intermediate form of titanium, namely titanium sponge, is produced by reduction of a feedstock of titanium in a reactant liquid bath, where the feedstock, titanium tetrachloride, is reduced by molten magnesium to titanium sponge, and the reactant liquid bath is inductively stirred during the reduction process. The reduction process with induced stirring is performed in an electric induction cold crucible, with or without a liner. Subsequent purification and melting of the titanium sponge can be accomplished in the electric induction cold crucible so that purified titanium can be supplied from the cold crucible.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for gradient induction heating or melting of a workpiece with a plurality of induction coils, each of the plurality of induction coils is connected to a power supply that may have a tuning capacitor connected across the input of an inverter. The plurality of induction coils are sequentially disposed around the workpiece. The inverter has a pulse width modulated ac power output that may be in synchronous control with the pulse width modulated ac power outputs of the other power supplies via a control line between the controllers of all power supplies.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for forming a two-metal flat bonded article. A flat metal sheet in solid form is placed in the indention of a heat resistant plate. A second heat resistant plate is placed over the flat metal sheet in the indentation to form a flat metal sheet enclosure. The flat metal sheet enclosure is placed in a U-shaped inductor assembly embedded with a solenoidal induction coil. Supply of alternating current to the solenoidal induction coil inductively heats the flat metal sheet after which the sheet is withdrawn from the inductor assembly. The second heat resistant plate is removed and a bond metal in liquid form is placed over the top surface of the flat metal sheet in the indentation so that the two-metal flat bonded article is formed as the bond metal solidifies.

Abstract: A current fed inverter with duty cycle regulation of dc current to the input of the inverter is provided to increase the magnitude of inverter output power while operating a resonant load at resonant frequency. The regulator duty cycle period is synchronized to the period of the output current of the inverter so that there are two regulator periods for each single output current period of the inverter. Duty cycle regulation may be provided by a single pulse in the regulator period, or a series of pulses in the regulator period. Output power magnitude greater than that available at full duty cycle can be provided by operating the inverter at off resonance. Multiple current fed inverters may be connected to individual coil sections around a crucible and selectively interconnected for a heating or melting mode, or a stir mode.

Abstract: An impeder for use in an electric induction welding process is provided. Optionally the impeder does not require internal forced cooling. In embodiments using internal forced cooling a high efficiency cooling system is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for gradient induction heating or melting of a workpiece with a plurality of induction coils, each of the plurality of induction coils is connected to a power supply that may have a tuning capacitor connected across the input of an inverter. The plurality of induction coils are sequentially disposed around the workpiece. The inverter has a pulse width modulated ac power output that may be in synchronous control with the pulse width modulated ac power outputs of the other power supplies via a control line between the controllers of all power supplies.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for supporting a billet inside an induction coil while the billet is being heated by electric induction. Two or more rails of a heat resistant ceramic material provide a curvilinear surface on which the billet can slide into and out of the coil and sit on during the heating process. Rail position adjustment means may be provided for moving the rails to accommodate billets of various sizes.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for inductively heating a workpiece to a desired cross sectional temperature. At least one pair of coils form a transverse flux inductor. The workpiece is located between the pair of opposing coils, which are oriented across the cross section of the workpiece. Each coil comprises a plurality of coil sections. The distance between one or more opposing coil sections is adapted to achieve the desired cross sectional induction heating temperature profile in the workpiece. Alternatively the distance between all opposing coil sections are equidistant from each other, and one or more flux concentrators, moveable at least in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the workpiece, can be used to achieve the desired cross sectional induction heating temperature profile in the workpiece.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for inductively heating a workpiece by transverse flux induction. The apparatus comprises a pair of identical coils, each of which includes a reversed head section bent to the opposite side of the workpiece. The assembled pair of coils is configured to effectively form a generally O-shaped coil arrangement on opposing sides of the workpiece. Combination electrically conductive and magnetic compensators, passive or active/passive, are also provided for use with transverse flux inductors.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for controlling the heating or melting of an electrically conductive material. Power is selectively directed between coil sections surrounding different zones of the material by changing the output frequency of the power supply to the coil sections. Coil sections include at least one active coil section, which is connected to the output of the power supply, and at least one passive coil section, which is not connected to the power supply, but is connected in parallel with a tuning capacitor so that the at least one passive coil section operates at a resonant frequency and the output frequency of the power supply is changed so that the induced power in the at least one passive coil section changes as the frequency is changed.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for scan induction heating of a workpiece. The workpiece is moved through an inductor to inductively heat treat features of the workpiece with electric power of varying frequency and duty cycle to control the magnitude of electric power as the frequency changes. Alternatively the inductor is moved along the workpiece to inductively heat treat features of the workpiece with electric power of varying frequency and duty cycle to control the magnitude of electric power as the frequency changes, or a combination of simultaneous inductor and workpiece movement may be used.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pump has a supply section and a magnetic force pumping section wherein flow of an electrically conductive material through the supply section is opposite to the flow of the material in the magnetic force pumping section in some examples. Multiple coils surround the supply and magnetic force pumping sections. Current flowing through the multiple coils creates magnetic fields that magnetically couple with a magnetic material disposed between the supply and magnetic force pumping sections so that the fields penetrate the electrically conductive material in the magnetic force pumping section substantially perpendicular to the desired flow direction which maximizes the magnitudes of magnetic forces applied to the electrically conductive material.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pump has a supply section and a magnetic force pumping section wherein flow of a electrically conductive material through the supply section is opposite to the flow of the material in the magnetic force pumping section in some examples. Multiple coils surround the supply and magnetic force pumping sections. Current flowing through the multiple coils creates magnetic fields that magnetically couple with a magnetic material disposed between the supply and magnetic force pumping sections so that the fields penetrate the electrically conductive material in the magnetic force pumping section substantially perpendicular to the desired flow direction which maximizes the magnitudes of magnetic forces applied to the electrically conductive material.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for scan induction heating of a workpiece. The workpiece is moved through an inductor to inductively heat treat features of the workpiece with electric power of varying frequency and duty cycle to control the magnitude of electric power as the frequency changes.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for bonding of materials by induction heating of an electrically conductive material upon which a second material is bonded. The electrically conductive material is induction heated between a first induction heating plate, and the combination of a frame and a second induction heating plate that is disposed within the frame. The second induction heating plate is removed from the surface of the electrically conductive sheet, while the frame continues to hold the electrically conductive sheet flat, and the second material, in liquid form, is poured into the interior opening of the frame in which the second induction heating plate was originally placed. The liquid material solidifies and bonds to the electrically conductive sheet to produce a bonded product.

Abstract: A molten material can be heated, melted and directly solidified in a single vessel. Induction heating and melting of the molten material is achieved by magnetically coupling the field produced by current flow in a plurality of induction coils surrounding the vessel with either the molten material in the vessel, or a susceptor surrounding molten material in the vessel. Current flow is selectively removed from the plurality of induction coils, and a cooling medium surrounding the vessel, such as water flowing through hollow induction coils, solidifies the molten metal into a highly purified crystalline solid.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for multi-frequency induction heating of a workpiece. Switching devices are used to selectively add, remove or reconfigure capacitive elements in the circuit to change the circuit's resonant frequency, and consequently, the frequency of induction heating or melting power transfer from the power supply to the load.