Abstract: A master inductor circuit is connected to an alternating current power source and a passive inductor circuit are assembled as a separable split inductor assembly to form at least one pair of a master heating inductor and a passive heating inductor where the master and passive inductor circuits are electromagnetically coupled without physical connection. A bearing component can be brought into the presence of the magnetic flux field created by the master and passive heating inductors to simultaneously induction heat one or more bearing features on the bearing component with subsequent quenching down austenitized bearing features on the bearing component.

Abstract: A double-sided flat inductor assembly is provided for simultaneous induction heating of two separate workpieces positioned on opposing sides of the double-sided flat inductor assembly. An extraction assembly is provided for rapid removal of the inductor assembly after completion of the simultaneous induction heating of the two separate workpieces which eliminates the necessity of using flexible electrical cables and allows improved performance of an induction system including increased reliability.

Abstract: A railless billet electric induction heating apparatus and method is provided where billets are continuously or statically heated by induction by moving the billets without billet support rails through an induction coil supplied with alternating current power when the billets are in direct sliding contact with the interior surface of a clay graphite billet slider disposed within the induction coil. The clay graphite billet slider can also provide thermal insulation between the induction coil and the clay graphite billet slider to eliminate the requirement for a separate induction coil refractory.

Abstract: An induction coil with inner and outer coil segments joined together by a transition segment is arranged so that the outer coil segment generally inductively heat treats an annular outer region of a workpiece positioned under the coil, the inner coil segment generally inductively heat treats an annular inner region of the workpiece, and the transition segment traverses at least a portion of the width of the overall annular region of the workpiece to be heat treated. Relative arrangement of inner, outer and transition coil segments provides for controlled induction heat treatment across the overall annular region such as the gear teeth region of an intersecting axes or non-intersecting and non-parallel axes gear.

Abstract: A double-sided flat inductor assembly is provided for simultaneous induction heating of two separate workpieces positioned on opposing sides of the double-sided flat inductor assembly. A double-sided flat inductor extraction assembly is provided for rapid removal of the inductor assembly after completion of the simultaneous induction heating of the two separate workpieces eliminating a necessity of using flexible electrical cables and allowing improved performance of an induction system including increased reliability.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for inductively heating workpieces with varying characteristics in the same induction coil while selectively controlling the induced heat temperature distribution profile of each workpiece with one or more flux compensators inserted into the induction coil along with the workpiece to be inductively heated.

Abstract: A single shot inductor is provided to induction heat treat closely spaced multiple eccentric cylindrical components arranged along the longitudinal axis of a workpiece. The single shot inductor has multiple planar arcuate single turn coil sections separated from each other by an axial coil section so that each of the multiple planar arcuate single turn coil sections sequentially heat treats the closely spaced multiple eccentric cylindrical components inserted within the single shot inductor.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for inductively heat treating a circular surface of annular workpieces where at least one inductor pair is used to perform a scan induction heat treatment of the circular surface. Controlled movement of the inductors and application of quenchant is provided particularly at the initial and final heat treatment locations on the circular surface to enhance metallurgical uniformity of the annular workpiece at these locations. In combination with controlled movement of the inductors, a simultaneous power-frequency control scheme can be applied to the inductors during the heat treatment process with the apparatus.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for multi-frequency induction heat treatment of workpieces including gears. High frequency power is applied to an induction coil that surrounds the workpiece so that a high frequency magnetic field couples with the workpiece to inductively heat the workpiece. A C-core inductor is coupled to a coil that has low frequency power applied to it. The workpiece is inserted in a gap in the C-core inductor magnetic circuit so that it experiences low frequency Joule effect heating when the low frequency current is applied to the coil coupled with the C-core inductor. Alternatively the workpiece may be inserted around the C-core inductor when the workpiece has an opening.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for inductively heat treating a circular surface of annular workpieces where at least one inductor pair is used to perform a scan induction heat treatment of the circular surface. Controlled movement of the inductors and application of quenchant is provided particularly at the initial and final heat treatment locations on the circular surface to enhance metallurgical uniformity of the annular workpiece at these locations. In combination with controlled movement of the inductors, a simultaneous power-frequency control scheme can be applied to the inductors during the heat treatment process.

Abstract: A cylindrical workpiece is mounted between opposing friction and non-friction guide rails and pushed through an induction coil arrangement by a pusher element positioned relative to the workpiece so that the pusher element introduces a force that moves the workpiece linearly forward within the induction coil arrangement between the two guide rails and rotationally by kinetic friction of the workpiece with the friction rail.

Abstract: A magnetic flux concentrator is used to control the end heating of a tubular material in an electric induction heat treatment process. The magnetic flux concentrator may consist of fixed elements, or a combination of fixed and moveable elements to accommodate end heating of tubular materials having different dimensions or material properties.

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.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for induction heating of one or more components of a complex-shaped workpiece. The component is positioned within an opening formed by opposing pairs of arcuate coil structures formed in opposing inductor segments. One inductor segment is formed from electrically isolated inner and outer active inductor segments connected to one or more power supplies, while the other inductor segment is formed from electrically isolated inner and outer passive inductor segments that are magnetically coupled with respective inner and outer active inductor segments. Changing the output electrical parameters of the one or more power supplies controls the induction hardening along the transverse width of the workpiece with optional flux concentrators between opposing pairs of arcuate coil structures.

Abstract: A magnetic flux concentrator is used to control the end heating of a tubular material in an electric induction heat treatment process. The magnetic flux concentrator may consist of fixed elements, or a combination of fixed and moveable elements to accommodate end heating of tubular materials having different dimensions or material properties.

Abstract: A magnetic flux concentrator is used to control the end heating of a tubular material in an electric induction heat treatment process. The magnetic flux concentrator may consist of fixed elements, or a combination of fixed and moveable elements to accommodate end heating of tubular materials having different dimensions or material properties.

Abstract: A magnetic flux concentrator is used to control the end heating of a tubular material in an electric induction heat treatment process. The magnetic flux concentrator may consist of fixed elements, or a combination of fixed and moveable elements to accommodate end heating of tubular materials having different dimensions or material properties.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for multi-frequency induction heat treatment of workpieces including gears. High frequency power is applied to an induction coil that surrounds the workpiece so that a high frequency magnetic field couples with the workpiece to inductively heat the workpiece. A C-core inductor is coupled to a coil that has low frequency power applied to it. The workpiece is inserted in a gap in the C-core inductor magnetic circuit so that it experiences low frequency Joule effect heating when the low frequency current is applied to the coil coupled with the C-core inductor. Alternatively the workpiece may be inserted around the C-core inductor when the workpiece has an opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for multi-frequency induction heat treatment of workpieces including gears. High frequency power is applied to an induction coil that surrounds the workpiece so that a high frequency magnetic field couples with the workpiece to inductively heat the workpiece. A C-core inductor is coupled to a coil that has low frequency power applied to it. The workpiece is inserted in a gap in the C-core inductor magnetic circuit so that it experiences low frequency Joule effect heating when the low frequency current is applied to the coil coupled with the C-core inductor. Alternatively the workpiece may be inserted around the C-core inductor when the workpiece has an opening.