Including Induction Furnace Detail Patents (Class 373/59)
  • Patent number: 7113535
    Abstract: A continuous- or intermittent-melt induction furnace useful for heating and/or melting semi-conductor or other materials includes an induction coil, a susceptor switchable between open and closed electric circuit modes, and a crucible. The susceptor is inductively or resistively heated in the closed circuit mode and transfers heat to material in the melting cavity to make it susceptible to inductive heating. The susceptor is then switched to the open circuit mode and the susceptible material is directly inductively heated to melt remaining solid material. A cone-shaped flow guide in the melting cavity improves molten material flow to improve the ability to draw small-particle material into the melt and increase crucible life due to improved heat uniformity. A trap passage communicating with the melting cavity and an exit opening in the crucible allows the flow of material through the exit opening to be controlled by pressure differentials on either side of the trap passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: AJAX Tocco Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony M. Tenzek, David A. Lazor
  • Patent number: 6848275
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device for melting or refining glass or glass ceramics. According to the invention, such a device is provided with the following characteristics: a channel which is arranged in an essentially horizontal manner and which is provided with an inlet and an outlet for the glass melt; and an HF coil for coupling HF energy into the melt is allocated to the channel. The channel is made of a plurality of metal pipes in a similar way to a skull pot. Said pipes can be connected to a cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Schott Glas
    Inventors: Uwe Kolberg, Hildegard Römer, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Günter Weidmann
  • Patent number: 6414982
    Abstract: A high-frequency device for melting and refining inorganic compounds having a high-frequency oscillation system and a crucible. The high-frequency system includes an induction coil looping around the crucible and at least two oscillator circuits connectable in parallel to the induction coil and providing redundant high frequency energy. Each self-exciting oscillator includes one of the capacitors and the induction coil. The device may further include a power supply, a control cabinet having operating units, and a process control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Schott Glas
    Inventors: Guido Räke, Michael Kohl, Hildegard Römer, Wolfgang Schmidtbauer, Werner Kiefer
  • Patent number: 6385230
    Abstract: A homogeneous electrode of reactive metal alloy comprises an ingot with an axially disposed core made from one induction melted heat of the reactive metal alloy and having a diameter “d” and a length “L” and a body having an outer diameter at least 2 times “d” and a length “L”. The ingot body is disposed about the core, and comprises a plurality of induction melted heats of the reactive metal alloy to provide an electrode of the required size. The electrode also includes features for receiving electrical current for arc remelting of the reactive metal alloy to produce a large homogeneous ingot. Remelting may be conducted under vacuum or controlled atmosphere conditions, as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Floswerve Manage Company
    Inventor: D. Scott Reed
  • Patent number: 6304590
    Abstract: An increased diameter wire is formed by drawing a feed wire through a cooled nozzle located in a cooled crucible, and through a liquid metal bath contained within the crucible. Liquid metal freezes onto the feed wire as it passes through the bath, thereby increasing the diameter of the feed wire to form an increased diameter wire product. The invention is particularly suited to forming a wire from a metal composition that would undesirably react with refractory apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Consarc Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond J. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6052403
    Abstract: An inductor is used to generate an electromagnetic AC field at a pipe-in-pipe discharge element of a metallurgical vessel. The inductor has at least two cooling fluid regions for the flow of cooling fluid therethrough. First supply and drain lines are connected to a first of the cooling fluid regions for supplying the first cooling fluid thereto. Second supply and drain lines are connected to a second region. The second cooling fluid is different than the first cooling fluid so that separate regions can be separately cooled with different cooling fluids having different properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Didier Werke AG
    Inventors: Raimund Bruckner, Daniel Grimm
  • Patent number: 6049560
    Abstract: An inductively heated drain tube fashioned of high temperature, electrically conducting materials is disclosed. An inductor surrounds the drain tube. The inductor and drain tube are cast within a refractory material. The drain tube is then placed in communication with the side of a bath of molten materials. When power is supplied to the inductor, the inductor couples with the drain tube, heating the drain tube and allowing it to act as a drain for high temperature molten materials. When power is removed from the inductor, a flow of cooling liquid through the inductor cools the drain tube, solidifying the molten materials and stopping their flow through the drain tube. The refractory material encases the inductor, acting as a thermal barrier and preventing damage from molten materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Charles John Freeman
  • Patent number: 5901169
    Abstract: Molten matter is discharged from a cold crucible induction melting furnace provided with a furnace body disposed within a high-frequency coil for heating the furnace body. A metallic discharging nozzle extends downwardly from an inner bottom portion of the furnace body and can be electrically insulated from the furnace body. A high-frequency coil for heating the discharging nozzle is disposed around the nozzle. An electric circuit for removing high-frequency noise generated from the high-frequency coil for heating the furnace body is disposed in the high-frequency coil for heating the nozzle. High reliability and high controllability can be achieved without electric short-circuits between the furnace body and the nozzle and noise interference between the high-frequency coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4797524
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the regeneration of active carbon comprising particularly:a hopper for introducing the active carbon;a reactor (7) delimited by an elongated shaped sheath;a continuous Archimedes screw (10) situated inside the reactor to transport the active carbon to be regenerated;structure for heating by resistances (8), arranged inside the sheath of the reactor;structure situated above the unload end of the reactor (19) and in communication with the reactor, particularly for removing the gases;a coffer into which the Arichmedes screw unloads;structure for communication with the reactor and situated on the one hand close to the input of the reactor and on the other hand along the reactor to regulate the pressure inside the reactor and to inject steam.This apparatus for regenerating active carbon enables the powder active carbon to be regenerated efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventors: Jacques Moret, Jean-Maurice Fosset, Jacques Couturier, Noel Viard