Abstract: Large steel ingot casting is accomplished with a top suspended induction heating device supplied with variable power and variable frequency from a power source. By the induction heating and stirring provided by the top suspended induction heating device, metal solidification advances progressively upwards from bottom to top, and the upper molten metal in a riser part compensates for shrinkage of the lower solidified metal in the main part. Inclusions are selectively moved out of the molten metal by a variable electromagnetic stirring force and the formation of casting defects is suppressed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for life cycle wear monitoring of a consumable refractory in an electric induction furnace used for heating and melting materials by accumulating laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface periodically over the refractory's life cycle while the furnace is utilized in a foundry environment and processing the accumulated imaging data for comparative analysis with previous laser imaging data of the refractory's inner surface.

Abstract: A sealed tilt pour electric induction furnace and furnace system is provided for supplying a reactive molten material from the furnace to a reactive molten material processing apparatus without exposing the reactive molten material to the ambient environment. The rotating component of a rotary union is connected to the furnace's enclosed furnace pour spout and rotates simultaneously with the tilt pour furnace about a common horizontally oriented rotational axis to supply the reactive molten material to the reactive molten material processing apparatus connected to the stationary component of the rotary union.

Abstract: An electric induction furnace for melting and holding a reactive metal or alloy is provided with an upper furnace vessel, an induction coil positioned below the upper furnace vessel, and a melt-containing vessel positioned inside the induction coil with a gap between the outside surface of the melt-containing vessel and the inside surface of the induction coil that can be used to circulate a cooling fluid for cooling the wall of the melt-containing vessel to inhibit leakage of the reactive metal or alloy melt from the vessel. The melt-containing vessel can be integrated with a cooling system for cooling the melt-containing vessel. The melt-containing vessel, induction coil and cooling system can be provided as modular components to facilitate servicing of the melt-containing vessel, the induction coil and the cooling system.

Abstract: A clean cell environment for a continuous roll-over electric induction batch casting furnace system is provided where each combination of batch charge, for example an ingot, induction melting (ingot-melt) process and mold-pour process are performed in a clean cell environment and each combination ingot-melt and mold-pour process is traceable as to the identity of the specific ingot, or other charge form (composition) and the mold (fabrication identifier).

Abstract: A batch charge conveying system is provided for multiple electric induction furnaces where each one of the multiple furnaces has a separate charge conveying apparatus. An assembled batch charge is loaded on a single assembled batch charge transport apparatus that selectively delivers the assembled batch charge to a separate charge conveying apparatus associated with one of the multiple electric induction furnaces.

Abstract: A transverse flux electric induction heating apparatus is provided with a pair of transverse flux inductor assemblies where the inductor in each one of the pair of assemblies is formed from a pair of continuous flexible cables disposed within movable roll channels in roll assemblies that are used to adjust the transverse length of the inductor across the edge-to-edge transverse of a workpiece moving between the inductor in each one of the pair of assemblies and/or to adjust the pole pitch between transverse inductor lengths of each inductor in the pair of assemblies.

Abstract: An electric induction system and method is provided for induction heating and melting of basalt charge for the production of molten process basalt that can be used for molten basalt processes that produce basalt articles of manufacture including cast basalt articles and continuous basalt casting processes for producing basalt articles such as fibers and filaments.

Abstract: An electric induction furnace for heating and melting electrically conductive materials is provided with a lining wear detection system that can detect replaceable furnace lining wear when the furnace is properly operated and maintained. In some embodiments of the invention the lining wear detection system utilizes an electrically conductive wire assemblage embedded in a wire assemblage refractory disposed between the replaceable lining and the furnace's induction coil.

Abstract: An electric induction furnace for heating and melting electrically conductive materials is provided with a lining wear detection system that can detect replaceable furnace lining wear when the furnace is properly operated and maintained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric channel inductor assembly. A nonremovable, hollow and nonmagnetic channel mold is used to form the one or more flow channels of the electric channel inductor assembly for electromagnetic circulation of a molten metal composition. A heated fluid medium is circulated in the hollow interior of the channel mold after the mold is situated in the inductor assembly to heat treat the refractory surrounding the exterior walls of the mold. After heat treatment a liquid is supplied to the hollow interior of the mold to chemically dissolve the channel mold prior to circulation of the molten metal composition.

Abstract: A rectangular sheet heating inductor or a multi-turn inductor is provided for induction heat treatment of a strip or slab material that may require a change in the interior opening of the inductor to allow an abnormal region of the material to pass through the interior opening and/or to allow a change in a dimension of the inductor to achieve impedance load matching with a material having variable electromagnetic properties such as a multiphase steel.

Abstract: A molten metal holding and pouring box with a rectangular-shaped upper section and a pyramidal-shaped lower section provides a relatively constant flow of molten metal being poured from the box through each of two bottom nozzles into two separate foundry molds at the same time. The two bottom nozzles are contained in a unitary dual nozzle assembly that facilitates replacement as required by wear, or a change in location of the sprue cups in the two separate foundry molds being filled with molten metal.

Abstract: A variable width transverse flux electric inductor has a fixed powered coil section and associated box-like moveable passive coil sections that electromagnetically couple with magnetic flux generated by current flowing through the fixed powered section. The passive coil sections can be transversely moved across the workpiece to accommodate induction heating of workpieces having different widths or track movement of the workpiece. Alternatively the fixed powered coil section and associated moveable coil sections may be connected to each other through flexible connections, sliding contacts or other means, such as clamps, so that an electrical connection can be maintained between both in any relative position.

Abstract: A method is provided for the detection of melt adjacent to the exterior of a bushing in an induction channel furnace. An electrically conductive mesh is disposed around the exterior surface of the bushing facing a refractory that separates the bushing from a channel in which molten metal (melt) flows. The mesh is connected to a grounded voltage source so that when an electrically conductive melt at ground potential in the channel breaches the refractory and penetrates the electrically conductive mesh an electrical circuit is completed through the melt and the grounded voltage source.

Abstract: A method of pouring molten metal from a molten metal holding and pouring box with a rectangular-shaped upper section and a pyramidal-shaped lower section provides a relatively constant flow of molten metal being poured from the box through each of two bottom nozzles into two separate foundry molds at the same time.

Abstract: An electric induction rail heater is provided for selectively adjusting the heated temperatures in a rail's head, web and foot sections after fabrication of the rail. Alternatively, the rail heater can be used for heating the opposing ends of two rails that are to be welded together. The electric induction rail heater is a transverse flux electric inductor that can be provided with or without magnetic cores.

Abstract: A fluid latent heat absorption electric induction heater is provided for raising the temperature of a fluid supplied to a fluid-driven turbine in a turbine-driven electric power generation system. The fluid latent heat absorption electric induction heater alternatively transfers heat to the fluid by induced susceptor heating, or a combination of inductor Joule heating and induced susceptor heating. The fluid may be water-steam for powering a steam-driven turbine or another fluid used in a phase change system for driving a fluid-driven turbine in a turbine-driven electric power generation system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of clamping a semiconductor assembly with a desired compression force equally distributed across the opposing surfaces of the devices and associated components of the semiconductor assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for the detection of melt adjacent to the exterior of a bushing in an induction channel furnace. An electrically conductive mesh is disposed around the exterior surface of the bushing facing a refractory that separates the bushing from a channel in which molten metal (melt) flows. The mesh is connected to a grounded voltage source so that when an electrically conductive melt at ground potential in the channel breaches the refractory and penetrates the electrically conductive mesh an electrical circuit is completed through the melt and the grounded voltage source.