Irregular (e.g., Camshaft, Etc.) Patents (Class 219/639)
  • Patent number: 11291086
    Abstract: A heating apparatus and a heating method are provided. The heating apparatus includes a coil configured to receive AC power to form a magnetic field that inductively heats a workpiece, a spray unit configured to spray cooling fluid including a liquid to the coil in a form of mist at least during a period in which the AC power is supplied to the coil. Alternatively, the spray unit may be configured to spray the cooling fluid in the form of mist to a heating target portion of the workpiece placed in the magnetic field at least during the period in which the AC power is supplied to the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: NETUREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Yasutake, Yoshimasa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10959297
    Abstract: A heating coil of a heat treatment apparatus is configured to inductively heat an elongated workpiece having a recessed lateral surface. The heating coil includes a base conductor and a projected conductor. A width of the projected conductor is narrower than a width of the base conductor. The projected conductor is arranged to project toward the recess from a position of the base conductor. The base conductor and the projected conductor are arranged to extend in a longitudinal direction of the workpiece. A heat treatment apparatus includes a cooling section and the heating coil. A heat treatment method uses the heating coil described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NETUREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Tanaka, Yutaka Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10493740
    Abstract: A device for compacting and consolidating a textile preform comprising continuous fibers impregnated with thermoplastic polymer, and a method for obtaining a part using such a device. The device comprises a die, an induction heating device and a cooling device to cool the die. The die includes a form comprising a cavity that corresponds to the shape of the part, which form extends depth-wise between an entry plane and a bottom and is inserted into a frame. The induction heating device comprises two inductors extending in hollows of the form, each forming a winding in a plan, substantially parallel to the entry plane of the cavity, and located between the entry plane and the bottom of the form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ROCTOOL
    Inventors: José Feigenblum, Alexandre Guichard
  • Patent number: 10264820
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a control component that regulates output of an electronic vaporizer used to simulate smoking. The control component manages power to a heating element. A power detect component collects a parameter of the heating element to determine actual power output thereof. The control component dynamically adjusts the power source based on the actual power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: EVOLV, LLC
    Inventors: John Bellinger, Brandon Ward
  • Patent number: 10187931
    Abstract: A machine for inductively hardening a workpiece has a stationary frame, a holder on the frame adapted to secure the workpiece in a workspace, and a control housing fixed on the frame and containing a transformer. A slide is movable on the frame relative to the workspace and carries an inductor juxtaposable with the workpiece in the workspace. A flexible high-current cable extends between the fixed transformer and the movable slide for feeding electricity from the transformer to the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: EMAG HOLDING GMBH
    Inventors: Harry Kroetz, Manuel Mueller
  • Patent number: 10112227
    Abstract: In certain embodiments described herein, a heated line forming system includes a heating coil system configured to produce a heated line on a surface of a metal part. The heated line forming system also includes an air knife cooling system configured to maintain a dry area for the heated line, and to direct a coolant (e.g., cooling water, liquified gases such as liquid argon, solidified gases such as carbon dioxide snow, and so forth) around the heated line via a spray mechanism such that the coolant does not flow or splash into the heated line on the metal part. In certain embodiments, the heated line forming system includes multiple induction coils arranged along a line and spaced a short distance apart, but which, when operated simultaneously together, form a heated line on a surface of a metal part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Adam N. Cuneo
  • Patent number: 9832819
    Abstract: The induction coil unit for heating a component that is rotationally symmetrical relative to an axis (7), in particular a tool holder (5), comprises a plurality of coils (19) arranged about the axis (7) of the tool holder (5) with pole elements, which are movable radially with respect to the axis (7), which are connected to one another by a common yoke ring (17). Upon excitation of the coils (19) with alternating current, the latter produce a magnetic flux running in the peripheral direction in the tool holder (5) for the inductive heating of the tool holder (5). The induction coil unit (1) can be moved in an oscillating manner by means of a drive (87) in the direction of the axis (7), the pole elements (21) moving in an oscillating manner along the tool holder (5). An induction coil unit of this type is in a position to heat a comparatively large region of the tool holder (5) despite a comparatively small energy requirement and comparatively small dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Franz Haimer Maschinebau KG
    Inventor: Franz Haimer
  • Patent number: 9622295
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for preventing deformation along the longitudinal axis of a workpiece passing through a scan inductor when the workpiece has at least one section with a cross section larger than the cross section of the remainder of the workpiece. An upper and lower pair of opposing jaws transition between opened and closed positions as the workpiece passes through the scan inductor so that deformation is minimized as the workpiece passes through the scan induction apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: RADYNE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerry G. Warner, Michael P. Dziubek
  • Patent number: 9278414
    Abstract: The induction coil unit for heating a sleeve section of a tool holder holding the shaft of a rotation tool in a receiver opening in press fit comprises two coil units, whose distance can be changed selectively through at least one slanted surface cam assembly. A magnetic flux concentrator assembly with several concentrator elements distributed in circumferential direction is associated with the coil unit adjacent to the free end of the sleeve section. The width of a pass through opening defined by the concentrator elements for the tool shaft is also changeable through a control cam, to which the concentrator elements are coupled through a slanted surface cam assembly. The two slanted surface cam assemblies are coupled amongst each other in a useful manner in order to simplify the operation of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: FRANZ HAIMER MASCHINENBAU KG
    Inventor: Franz Haimer
  • Patent number: 9273373
    Abstract: A heating apparatus, a heat treatment apparatus, and a heating method are provided. The heating apparatus includes a workpiece support on which a ring-shaped workpiece is placed, a rotary drive assembly, and a heater configured to heat the workpiece. The workpiece support includes a plurality of rotating rollers arranged in a circumferential direction. The rotary drive assembly is configured to rotate the plurality of rotating rollers to rotate the workpiece placed on the workpiece support along a ring shape of the workpiece. The heater includes a heating coil configured to induction-heat the workpiece on the workpiece support at a heating position, and an actuator configured to move the heating coil at the heating position relative to the workpiece to adjust a distance between the workpiece and the heating coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignees: NETUREN CO., LTD., NETUREN TAKUTO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Nakatsu, Hisaaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9167632
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: INDUCTOTHERM CORP.
    Inventors: Kuno Weiss, Oleg S. Fishman
  • Patent number: 9006623
    Abstract: A high-frequency induction hardening apparatus used for metal objects, including a heating coil holder (4) carrying a heating coil (40) for hardening a metal object (2), an eccentric rotor assemble housing a cam mechanism for allowing the heating coil to eccentrically rotate through the heating coil holder (4); and a pair of supporters (11), (12) for keeping the heating coil holder (4) in a desired position, the supporters (11), (12) limiting the movement of the heating coil holder (4) to a plane intersecting the axis (21) of the cam carried in an eccentric rotor mount (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Electronics Industry Co.
    Inventors: Takehiko Nagao, Noboru Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9000336
    Abstract: A device for hardening the surface of a workpiece, wherein an energy supply part and a working part each include a magnetic core, wherein the magnetic cores are at a small distance from each other such that electrical energy is transmitted contactlessly from the energy supply part of the inductor to the working part of the inductor, and wherein the working part includes a heating conductor branch for inductive heating of a section of the surface of the workpiece; a control instrument coupled to the inductor, wherein the control instrument displaces the working part relative to the surface to be hardened and relative to the energy supply part, and wherein the magnetic core of the working part is displaced relative to the magnetic core of the energy supply part; and an electrical energy supply connected to the energy supply part of the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: SMS Elotherm GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Dappen
  • Publication number: 20140374410
    Abstract: A single-shot inductor is provided to induction heat treat a complex workpiece that has an at least partially cylindrical component with its central axis coincident with the central axis of a circular component and connected at one end to the circular component with a diameter larger than the diameter of the at least partially cylindrical component. The single-shot inductor has a single crossover inductor section connected to the first ends of two longitudinal leg inductor sections with the second ends of the two longitudinal leg inductor sections connected to a collar inductor section that surrounds the entire circumference of the at least partially cylindrical component when the complex workpiece is loaded in the single-shot one-turn inductor for an induction heating application. Alternatively the single-shot inductor may have two collar inductor sections interconnected between two longitudinal leg inductor sections where one of the leg sections can accept a supply of alternating current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: William D. WEST, Valery I. RUDNEV
  • Patent number: 8829399
    Abstract: A method and device for heating or hardening at least an axial segment of a rotationally-symmetric surface of a work piece includes rotating the work piece about its rotational axis and moving a peripheral portion of an inductor along a longitudinal profile of the axial segment of the rotating work piece with a constant spacing between the peripheral portion and the axial segment. At least a portion of the movement of the peripheral portion is composed of a first vector component in the direction of the rotational axis and a second component extending perpendicularly to the first vector component. The peripheral portion has a length in the rotational axis direction that is less the length of the axial segment in the rotational axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Marco Burtchen, Michael Jung
  • Patent number: 8723088
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for induction heating a helical rotor of a progressing cavity pump in order to reduce the surface roughness of the rotor. In order to heat the rotor most evenly, it is desired to space the coil as closely around the rotor as possible. The invention provides a mechanism for threading the helical rotor through an induction coil having an interior diameter which is less than the major diameter of the rotor. The induction coil may include one loop and overlapping ends. The rotor to be heated is rotated about its longitudinal axis and advanced axially through the coil as it rotates. The axial speed and rotational speed are synchronized so that the rotor moves one pitch through the coil for each complete rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Kudu Industries Inc.
    Inventors: James Coulas, Robert A. R. Mills
  • Patent number: 8716636
    Abstract: An arrangement for induction hardening a part including a pair of separate inductors electrically isolated from each other and configured to substantially surround a part when brought into close juxtaposition with each other. The inductor sections are powered by respective secondary inductor loops brought into close juxtaposition with a primary inductor loop connected to an ac power source which induces an ac current in each inductor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventors: John C. Bollman, Richard J. Roth
  • Patent number: 8642932
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for automated induction hardening of crankshaft bearings while controlling the crankshaft TIR, in which one or more first bearings are hardened by induction heating and quenching, followed by measurement of the crankshaft TIR. The measured TIR is then evaluated and one or more second bearings are hardened using a second induction heating power profile and a second quench flow profile, at least one of which is selectively adjusted according to the measured crankshaft TIR. In this manner, the hardening of the second bearing(s) can counteract any bending or warpage caused by the first hardening process to control the resulting final TIR of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ajax Tocco Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald R. Akers, Robert John Madeira, Gary M. Campbell, Dennis McKinney, Richard McKelvey
  • Patent number: 8536498
    Abstract: An induction heating apparatus for heating a traveling metal plate includes an induction coil for surrounding the metal plate. The induction coil includes an upper induction coil for being located above the metal plate and a lower induction coil for being located below the metal plate. The upper and lower induction coils are spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the metal plate a constant distance across a transverse direction of the metal plate. Each of the upper induction coil and the lower induction coil is arranged obliquely at an edge area of the metal plate so as to form an oblique angle with the transverse direction of the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Hirota
  • Patent number: 8399815
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for hardening the concentric main bearing surfaces and orbital pin bearing surfaces of a crankshaft for an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes an inductor that is connected to a high frequency power source with a power controller to cause the power source to direct a given power to the inductor at given rotational heating positions of the crankshaft. A master controller creates output signals to control the power controller. The apparatus and method includes a first multi-surface hardening station with inductors for all of the main bearing surfaces, a second multi-surface hardening station with inductors for some of the orbital pins and a third multi-surface hardening station with inductors for the remaining orbital pins. Total indicator run out (TIR) is measured after the first station to adjust the heating process in the third station to produce a straight crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ajax Tocco Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald R. Akers, Robert John Madeira, Gary M. Campbell, Dennis McKinney, Richard McKelvey
  • Patent number: 8274022
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an induction heater and an induction heating method capable of heating by induction a work in which a gear portion and a shaft are integrated. An induction heater for a gear portion and a stepped shaft is arranged in such a manner that a first heating coil (annular coil) surrounds the gear portion and that a second heating coil (linear coil) faces the stepped shaft in an axial direction. Alternating currents of different frequencies are supplied to the first heating coil 1 and the second heating coil. Further, a part of the second heating coil is arranged so as to come opposite a boundary between the gear portion and the stepped shaft, thereby connecting a hardened pattern of the gear portion by the first heating coil and a hardened pattern of the stepped shaft by the second heating coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Electronics Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Minoue, Takehiko Nagao
  • Patent number: 8247749
    Abstract: Large, non-unitarily forged shaft workpieces such as a crankshaft have successive shaft features inductively heated and forged without cool down between each sectional forging process. The temperature profile along the axial length of the next section of the shaft workpiece to be inductively heated and forged is measured prior to heating, and the induced heat energy along the axial length of the next section is dynamically adjusted responsive to the measured temperature profile to achieve a required pre-forge temperature distribution along the axial length of the next section prior to forging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Inductoheat, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary A. Doyon, Douglas R. Brown, Don L. Loveless, Valery I. Rudnev
  • Patent number: 8222577
    Abstract: Method for treating a crank pin of a crank shaft. In the method hardness of the crank pin surface is measured and when the hardness is over a predetermined limit value, depth of the hard spot is measured. Heat treatment parameters are determined at least on the basis of the depth measurement and the hard spot is heat treated. During the heat treatment the hard spot is heated by an induction heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Reine Gustafsson, Sture Alm
  • Publication number: 20090308501
    Abstract: Improved induction coil apparatus and methods are presented for induction hardening undercut fillets of crankshafts or other workpiece recesses in which an active turn is energized for heating a journal area in the workpiece recess and one or more passive turns are translated toward undercut fillets once the coil assembly is moved toward the recess with coupling portions of the passive and active turns coupling energy from the active turn to the passive turn(s) for heating the undercut fillets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: AJAX TOCCO MAGNETHERMIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tom Illencik, Ronald R. Akers, Richard McKelvey
  • Patent number: 7501606
    Abstract: A device (1) for the induction hardening of components (2) which have a circular cross section, especially crankshafts, has two inductor half-shells (4, 5) arranged along a portion of the periphery of the component (2) to be hardened. At least one of the two inductor half-shells (4, 5) has only one inductor segment (6) through which current flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Alfing Kessler GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Zahn, Kurt Schmerek
  • Patent number: 7442906
    Abstract: In an induction heating coil for heating a shaft member having multiple steps, annular conductors are separately disposed in the axis direction, the annular conductors having inner diameters so as to form predetermined gaps with outer peripheries of heating portions of the shaft member, the lengths of annular conductors (1, 2, and 3) are set so that the areas of the respective heating portions are approximately equal to each other, and the annular conductors are connected to each other in series, so that the respective step shaft portions of the shaft member are uniformly heated. The annular conductors described above may be formed to have shapes in conformity with the shapes of the heating portions of the shaft member and may be formed to have a step shape corresponding to steps of the shaft member having different outer diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Neturen Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Tanaka, Takeshi Endoh, Yutaka Kiyosawa, Fumiaki Ikuta, Takashi Horino, Masayuki Komatsu, Jun Fujie, Takeshi Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20080041844
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for hardening the concentric main bearing surfaces and orbital pin bearing surfaces of a crankshaft for an internal combustion engine rotatable about the common center axis of the main bearing surfaces. The apparatus comprising an inductor for encircling each one of the surfaces to be hardened over at least a portion of the surface and riding on the surface where the inductors are connected to a high frequency power source with a power controller to cause the power source to direct a given power to the inductor at given rotational heating positions of the crankshaft. A quench chamber is associated with the inductor and has outlet orifices directed toward the surface encircled by the inductor. A supply of quenching liquid with a flow controller directs a given quantity of quench liquid against the surface after the surface has been inductively heated by the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: AJAX TOCCO MAGNETHERMIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: RONALD R. AKERS, ROBERT JOHN MADEIRA, GARY M. CAMPBELL, DENNIS McKINNEY, RICHARD McKELVEY
  • Publication number: 20080041845
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for automated induction hardening of crankshaft bearings while controlling the crankshaft TIR, in which one or more first bearings are hardened by induction heating and quenching, followed by measurement of the crankshaft TIR. The measured TIR is then evaluated and one or more second bearings are hardened using a second induction heating power profile and a second quench flow profile, at least one of which is selectively adjusted according to the measured crankshaft TIR. In this manner, the hardening of the second bearing(s) can counteract any bending or warpage caused by the first hardening process to control the resulting final TIR of the crankshaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: AJAX TOCCO MAGNETHERMIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: RONALD R. AKERS, ROBERT JOHN MADEIRA, GARY M. CAMPBELL, DENNIS McKINNEY, RICHARD McKELVEY
  • Publication number: 20070187394
    Abstract: A molten metal molding machine is provided with a heating cylinder, a linear motion member for successively feeding preheated metal rods into the heating cylinder from its rear end to successively push the metal rods toward a forward end of the heating cylinder, and a heater arranged on the heating cylinder such that the metal rods are gradually molten as they move through the heating cylinder from its rear end toward its forward end. The heating cylinder, the metal rods and a cylindrical forward end portion of the linear motion member are dimensioned such that a predetermined clearance is provided between an inner circumference of the heating cylinder and an outer circumference of each of the metal rods, the cylindrical forward end portion can enter the heating cylinder, and an outer circumference of the cylindrical forward end portion is slidable relative to the inner circumference of the heating cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: Toyo Machinery & Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiya Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 7145115
    Abstract: An apparatus for hardening cylindrical bearing locations on a shaft, in particular a crankshaft, in which transition radii to the adjacent shaft parts are of undercut design, is provided with a heating unit, which is connected to a power supply, and with an inductor. The inductor has two heating conductor arms, which are arranged at a distance from one another and each run in the peripheral direction of the bearing location that is to be hardened. Each of the two heating conductor arms is provided with an inner bearing-surface hardening branch and two outer radius hardening branches, the bearing-surface hardening branch in each case being mechanically connected to the radius hardening branches by current-carrying elements which bear the radius hardening branches. The mechanical connection is sufficiently elastic for the radius hardening branches to be displaceable relative to the bearing-surface hardening branch in the axial direction of the shaft that is to be hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Alfing Kessler GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Zahn, Ralph Gerbeth
  • Patent number: 7141768
    Abstract: A device for fastening surfaces together in an effective, efficient, and preferably reversible bond is disclosed. This device is particularly useful in the construction industry for fastening roll goods, such as wall coverings, or mill work, such as moldings, to surfaces, such as walls. The fastening device comprises a susceptor sheet, preferably having a thickness of no greater than about 2 mils, and a heat-activateable adhesive on at least one surface of the susceptor, wherein adhesive is placed on the substrate in a very carefully and specifically-defined manner. The fastening device is activated by induction heating, preferably by a hand-held induction tool. The method of fastening surfaces together utilizing the fastening device described above is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Nexicor, LLC
    Inventors: Adam G. Malofsky, Bernard M. Malofsky, William H. Mann
  • Patent number: 7084381
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein an apparatus and a method in which a workpiece is loaded into the apparatus and the apparatus then moves and positions the workpiece in a multitude of directions based upon the directions and controls supplied to the apparatus through either a computer and applets, a programmable controller and/or through manual intervention. The apparatus can move the workpiece linearly to a predetermined position, rotate the workpiece in a continuous motion, index the workpiece incrementally and/or do any combination of those movements. The apparatus can also control other components such as turning coolant and/or quench valves on and off as desired or powering working tools such as an induction hardening coil. The workpiece is loaded directly on the center of the apparatus movement and positioning device for increased capacity loading and precision movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventors: Ronald R Davids, Robert M Stone, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7034262
    Abstract: Bucket tip tenons requiring refurbishment are removed from the bucket tips by grinding. Groups of buckets are clamped on a rotatable table in positions adjacent an induction heating coil and a robotic welding arm, respectively. While one group is preheated, the other group of buckets is in a welding location, enabling the welding head on the robotic arm to sequentially apply weld buildup material to the bucket tips. After applying weld buildup material in multiple passes and sequentially to the bucket tips, the buckets are removed, stress-relieved and the weld buildup material machined to provide refurbished tenons. Upon removal of the buckets from the table, the table is rotated to locate the preheated buckets in welding locations and additional buckets are clamped to the table for preheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Todd Joseph Fischer, John Francis Nolan, Andrew John Tomko, Dennis William Roberts, Carter Steven Cook, David Roy Parker
  • Patent number: 7005620
    Abstract: A piston particularly adapted for heavy-duty diesel engine applications is fabricated from separate parts having circumferentially extending joining surfaces that are heated prior to bonding to an elevated temperature sufficient to enable bonding of the joining surfaces, and thereafter the joining surfaces brought into contact with one another and twisted to attain a permanent metallurgical weld at the interface of the joining surfaces. The piston has radially spaced walls which are both welded simultaneously. The weld joints may lie in the same or different planes. Once joined, and while still hot, the parts may be pulled apart slightly to reduce the wall thicknesses at the weld joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Carmo Ribeiro, Thomas Egerer, Randall Gaiser
  • Patent number: 6940056
    Abstract: A method of induction heat treatment of articles having curved outer surfaces, such as differential housings. The method employs a semi-rectangular induction coil that is adapted to provide a plurality of lateral magnetic fields that are used to induce currents in, and thereby provide heat to, a portion of the curved section of the article. The method and induction coil are particularly adapted to provide an induction hardening heat treatment of a curved heat treatment portion of a differential housing. The differential housing was cast from nodular iron. The induction-hardening heat treatment comprised heating the heat treatment portion of the differential housing above the austenite transition temperature and quenching to below the martensite transformation temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Christofis, Rex R. Corless, Rajendra G. Kumashi, William R. Miller, Jr., Norman Szalony, Ted Szczomak
  • Patent number: 6903317
    Abstract: An induction heating system and method of using the same are described. The system includes a locator system that eccentrically positions the central axis of the internal central void of the work piece with respect to the central axis of the locator system. The locator system also includes a rotation system that allows the work piece to be eccentrically rotated during the heat-treating process. In this manner, the lobe and heel portions of a cammed surface are substantially equidistant from the internal surfaces of an inductor so as to ensure substantially uniform heating of the external surfaces of the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventor: Michael R. Hammond
  • Patent number: 6867396
    Abstract: An apparatus for inductively heating a sleeve section, having a central holding opening for a shank of a rotary tool, of a tool holder that holds the shank in the holding opening in a press fit and releases it upon heating. The apparatus includes an induction coil arrangement with at least one induction coil, a generator that feeds the induction coil arrangement with electric current of periodically varying amplitude, and a yoke arrangement of magnetizable material, which concentrates the magnetic flux of the induction coil onto the sleeve section in a fashion distributed all around. The induction coil is axially offset from the tool holder axis of rotation, in particular substantially radially next to the axis of rotation, and does not wrap around the section. Furthermore, the induction coil includes a coil core, of magnetizable material, that is connected in a magnetically conducting fashion to the yoke arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Franz Haimer Maschinenbau KG
    Inventor: Franz Haimer
  • Patent number: 6734406
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving the mechanical properties, especially the hardness, of journal crosses for use in articulated shafts. According to the invention, a superficial area which is defined by the transition surfaces between two journals that are adjacent to each other in the peripheral direction and the superficial areas of the peripheral surfaces of the adjacent journals that point in the peripheral direction is induction-hardened in one method step and then quenched with cooling agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans Lindenthal, Andreas Asch
  • Patent number: 6727470
    Abstract: A heating system for railroad switches or other movable railroad structures that substantially eliminates protruding heater elements that may be damaged. The heater elements may cast into, enclosed within or received within recesses of a tie (including a metal or concrete tie), rail or other component. In one implementation, inductive heating is used to directly heat the rail, tie or other structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Fastrax Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Reichle
  • Patent number: 6664521
    Abstract: A thawing device for railway track points is constituted by connecting a heating coil (1a) wound around a floor plate (2) for heating the floor plate (2) by induction to an inverter device (5) for supplying high-frequency current to the heating coil (1a), via a connection cable (4); and providing a protection against magnetism (9, 10a-10c, 11a-11c , 12a, 12b) about the periphery of the heating coil (1a) and the connection cable (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., West Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Technos Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Kondo, Youji Uetani, Yoshiki Hama, Jun Iguchi, Harumi Tasaki, Atsushi Fujisawa, Sadatsugu Higashide
  • Patent number: 6638379
    Abstract: This invention relates to a procedure for hardening the bearing surfaces (H1,H2,H3,H4) of a shaft or axle, in particular a crankshaft (2) or camshaft, in which the bearing surfaces (H1-H4) to be hardened are hardened sequentially with the shaft or axle turning around their longitudinal axis (L) by means of a heating and quenching device (3), in which the distortion of the shaft or axle that arises in the area of the respective bearing surface (H1) during the course of hardening is determined, in which the shaft or axle is supported by at least one supporting device (9) during hardening of a bearing surface (H1-H6), which is placed against a previously hardened bearing surface (H1), and in which the setting of the supporting device (9) is regulated taking into account the distortion determined for the bearing surface (H1), against which the supporting device (9) is placed, and a device which enables hardening of crankshafts with a minimal distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Elotherm GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Schulte, Hans-Jürgen Leissner, Waldemar Gezarzick
  • Patent number: 6555800
    Abstract: In a process for the induction hardening of crankshafts with at least one connecting-rod pin and with at least two main bearings, in particular for the hardening of the at least one connecting-rod pin, by means of a contactlessly operating inductor, the crankshaft performs a rotational movement during the hardening of the at least one connecting-rod pin. The center axis of the at least one connecting-rod pin to be hardened is used as the axis for the rotational movement of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Alfing Kessler GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Zahn
  • Patent number: 6514455
    Abstract: Rotation of a plate cam arranged at almost the center position of a semi-open coil is performed by a motor, and induction heating of the periphery of the plate cam is performed by the semi-open coil during the rotation. The process results in uniform heating of the periphery of a workpiece of distorted shape. A detector of an angle of rotation to detect an angle of rotation of the plate cam and an electric power control part to control the electric power to be supplied to the semi-open coil according to the detection results of the detector of an angle of rotation, are provided so that the most outer end at the farthest position from the center of the plate cam is not excessively heated. A process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Electronics Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiyoshi Watanabe, Tatemi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6407372
    Abstract: To arbitrarily adjust the diameter of revolution when revolving an object without being associated with rotation by a simple structure. A bearing 322a is mounted to a bottom surface of a supporting plate 310 for supporting an object. First rotation sleeve 322c is rotatably provided inside the bearing 322a. A second rotation sleeve 322d is provided inside the first rotation sleeve 322c. The second rotation sleeve 322d is rotated at a fixed position by means of a rotation driving shaft 321. An inner peripheral surface of the first rotation sleeve 322c is inclined at a certain angle in one direction with respect to the center line of rotation. An outer peripheral surface of the second rotation sleeve 322d is inclined at a certain angle in one direction in correspondence with the inner peripheral surface of the first rotation sleeve 322c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Electronics Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatemi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6399928
    Abstract: An apparatus for hardening cylindrical bearing faces (L) of a shaft (K), wherein at least one of the transitional radii (R1, R2) to the adjoining shaft portions (W1, W2) is constructed recessed, includes a pair of inductive heating units (1, 2), which are each formed at least by one inductor (3, 4) having two spaced-out heating conductor branches (20, 22; 21, 23); an adjusting device (11, 12) for adjusting the inductors (3, 4) simultaneously from the radial direction (R) on to the bearing face (L) to be hardened and a second adjusting device (13, 14) for moving at least the inductor (3, 4) associated with the recessed radius R1, R2) after application to the bearing face (L) by a movement directed axis-parallel with the longitudinal axis (X) of the shaft (K) in the direction of the recessed transitional radius (R1, R2) until its outer heating conductor branch (20) has moved into the particular transitional radius (R1, R2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Elotherm GmbH
    Inventors: Waldemar Gezarzick, Ludwin Hackenberger, Hans-Jürgen Leisner
  • Patent number: 6362462
    Abstract: An first induction hardening coil assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a coil having a top surface, an underside surface, and an inner coil curvature disposed between the top surface and the underside surface. The inner coil curvature extends approximately 180 degrees around a coil axis. The coil further includes a first end section adjacent a first end of the inner coil curvature which extends between the top surface and the underside surface. A second end section adjacent a second end of the inner coil curvature extends between the top surface and the underside surface. A support arm is connected to the coil and is constructed and arranged for providing an electrical connection between the coil and a source of electrical current. The support arm includes a current-in portion connected to the underside surface adjacent the first end section and a current-out portion connected to the top surface at a location which is between the first and second end sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Contour Hardening, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil A. Merrell, John M. Storm
  • Patent number: 6274857
    Abstract: A multi-station induction heat treatment system is used for heat treating metal workpieces that have multiple generally cylindrical components whose axes are parallel to and offset from a common workpiece axis. The heat treatment system includes heat treatment stations that heat treat while the workpiece and inductor components are stationary. The system is particularly suited to the heat treatment of workpieces, such as crankshafts, that have an intervening non-symmetrically shaped component between two substantially cylindrically shaped components, some of which are not coaxial, that must be heat-treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Inductoheat, Inc.
    Inventors: Don L. Loveless, Valery I. Rudnev, Loran A. Lankford, Glenville C. Desmier
  • Patent number: 6259076
    Abstract: A method for simultaneously hardening a group of cams on a camshaft comprises first heating the group of cams at low power for at least one heating interval, then pausing the heating for a pause interval during which no power is applied to the group of cams, and then subsequently heating the group of cams at high power for one heating interval. The pause intervals, during which no power is applied to the group of cams, are sufficient as to allow heat stored in the cams to distribute uniformly throughout the cams. Each group of cams is hardened by a linear inductor and the regions of the camshafts that are not to be hardened are shielded by a cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Elotherm GmbH
    Inventors: Waldemar Gezarzick, Hans-Jürgen Leisner, Peter Schulte
  • Patent number: 6166360
    Abstract: This invention provides methods for rapidly heating a metal part of varying thickness. In general, the invention provides methods comprising heating the thicker section(s) of the part by induction heating and the thinner section(s) by resistance heating. Induction and resistance heating both quickly heat metals and because each is easily controlled individually, the part can be uniformly heated for hardening and tempering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Fluxtrol Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Ruffini, Sr., Valentin Nemkov
  • Patent number: 6160248
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for simultaneous peripheral electro-inductive hardening of bearing surfaces (2A, 3A) and transition A radii in crankshafts (1), comprising lifting pins (2, 3) arranged directly adjacent to each other and one behind the other with different angular positions on the plane perpendicular to the their axis of rotation (D), wherein inductors (8, 9) are provided which are placed on the lifting pins (2, 3) approximately in the same direction (C) thereof. A lifting pin (2, 3) is allocated to each inductor, which is arranged in such a way that it intersects the axial direction of the crankshaft (1). Said inductor comprises at least two inductor detents (8C, 8D, 9C, 9D) arranged parallel to each other. One inductor detent (8D, 9D) is arranged in an overlay area (4) of the lifting pins (2, 3) while the other inductor detent (8C, 9C) is arranged in an edge area of the lifting pin (2, 3) facing a cheek (5, 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Alfing Kessler GmbH
    Inventors: Adalbert Ottenwaelder, Harald Traub