Abstract: The invention relates to a levitation melting process and an apparatus for producing castings comprising a ring-shaped element of a conductive material for introducing the casting of a molten batch into a casting mould. In the process, the ring-shaped element is introduced into the region of the alternating electromagnetic field between the induction coils in order to cast the molten batch, thereby initiating a targeted run-off of the melt into the casting mould by influencing the induced magnetic field.

Abstract: The invention relates to a levitation melting process and a device for producing castings with movable induction units. In this process, induction units are used in which the opposite ferrite poles with the induction coils are movable and move in opposite directions. In this way, the induction units for melting the batches can be arranged close together in order to increase the efficiency of the induced magnetic field. When casting the molten batch, the induced magnetic field is reduced by increasing the distance between the ferrite poles with the induction coils, thus preventing the melt from touching the ferrite poles or the induction coils.

Abstract: The invention relates to a levitation melting method and an apparatus for producing casting bodies with tilted induction units. During this method, induction units are employed in which the opposing ferrite poles with the induction coils are not arranged lying in one plane, but tilted at a determined angle to the levitation plane. In this way, an increase in efficiency of the induced magnetic field for melting the batches can be achieved with the induction units. The tilted arrangement increases the portion of the induced magnetic field that effectively contributes to the holding force of the field for levitation of the melt.

Abstract: A process for directional solidification of a cast part comprises energizing a primary inductive coil coupled to a chamber having a mold containing a material; energizing a primary inductive coil within the chamber to heat the mold via radiation from a susceptor, wherein the resultant electromagnetic field partially leaks through the susceptor coupled to the chamber between the primary inductive coil and the mold; determining a magnetic flux profile of the electromagnetic field; sensing a magnetic flux leakage past the susceptor within the chamber; generating a control field from a secondary compensation coil coupled to the chamber, wherein the control field controls the magnetic flux experienced by the cast part; and casting the material within the mold under the controlled degree of flux leakage.

Abstract: An electromagnetic induction furnace which is intended to melt at least one electrically conductive material, such as an oxide and/or a metal, and which includes at least one inductor having at least one turn and at least one cooling circuit suitable for cooling at least the inductor. Said furnace is characterized in that the heat-transfer fluid of at least one cooling circuit is supercritical CO2. The invention also relates to a method for operating the furnace and to the use thereof for melting a mixture of metals (steel, zirconium, etc.) with oxides (uranium UO2, zirconium, etc.), as well as concrete components, the mixture representing a corium.

Abstract: An apparatus for hardening a spring having a helical or beehive shape. The apparatus has a rotation support system and an induction heating system. The rotation support system is designed to support the spring while the spring is heated by the induction heating system. The induction heating system has an induction coil system having a coil system. The coil system has a spaced region designed to receive the spring and to heat the spring while the spring is supported on the rotation support system.

Abstract: An apparatus for levitation of an amount of conductive material including a coil for keeping the material in levitation using a varying electric current in the coil. The apparatus has two coils, a first coil and a second coil, both coils generating an alternating electromagnetic field during use, the alternating electric field of the first and the second coil counteracting each other. The first and second coils are positioned such that the conductive material kept in levitation between the first coil and the second coil is evaporated. A method for generating an amount of levitated conductive material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A reactor for heat treatment of a substrate having a process chamber within a substrate enclosing structure, and a support structure configured to position a substrate at a predetermined spacing between the upper part and the bottom part within the process chamber during processing. Streams of gas may lift the substrate from the support structure so that the substrate floats. A plurality of heating elements is associated with at least one of the upper part and the bottom part and are arranged to define heating zones. A controller controls the heating elements individually so that each heating zone is configured to have a predetermined temperature determined by the controller. The heating zones provide for a non-uniform heating laterally across the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for levitation of an amount of conductive material including a coil for keeping the material in levitation using a varying electric current in the coil. The apparatus has two coils, a first coil and a second coil, both coils generating an alternating electromagnetic field during use, the alternating electric field of the first and the second coil counteracting each other. The first and second coils are positioned such that the conductive material kept in levitation between the first coil and the second coil is evaporated. A method for generating an amount of levitated conductive material is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for depositing especially, crystalline layers onto one or more, especially, also crystalline substrates in a process chamber using reaction gases which are guided into said process chamber, where they undergo pyrolytic reaction. The device has a heatable support plate wherein at least one substrate holder lies loosely, especially rotationally, with its surface flush with the surroundings. A compensation plate which adjoins the at least one substrate holder, following the contours of the same, is provided on the support plate in order to keep the isothermal profile on the support plate as flat as possible.

Abstract: In an induction heating apparatus, in order to decrease the buoyancy exerted on an object to be heated which is made of a material having high electrical conductivity and low magnetic permeability, such as aluminum, an electrical conductor is provided between a heating coil and the object to be heated, thereby increasing the equivalent series resistance of the heating coil. Hence, the current of the heating coil, which is required for obtaining a desired heating output, is decreased, whereby the buoyancy of the object to be heated can be decreased. In addition, the electrical conductor is divided into two halves, and they are arranged in a circular arc form with a clearance provided therebetween and made close contact with the bottom face of a plate, whereby the temperature rise of the electrical conductor can be restricted.

Abstract: A substance 6 is located in a gradient magnetic field and held in a levitating state by a magnetic force produced by the gradient magnetic field. The substance 6 as such in the levitating state is heated and melted by ray or heat irradiation or by a resistance heater. Thereafter, the heating is stopped, and the substance 6 is cooled as such in the levitating state. Since the magnetic force realizes the microgravity field where the substance 6 is melted and cooled in the levitating state, the substance 6 is formed to an ideally spherical shape with an extremely smooth surface.

Abstract: A combined externally pressurized gas and magnetic bearing assembly (3) includes an externally pressurized gas bearing (9) and a magnetic bearing (8) that are integrated together so as to have component parts common to both of the externally pressurized gas bearing (9) and the magnetic bearing (8). The externally pressurized gas bearing (9) or the magnetic bearing (8) may be disposed within an axial extent of the magnetic bearing (8) or the externally pressurized gas bearing (9), respectively. A spindle device (1) utilizing the combined externally pressurized gas and magnetic bearing assembly (3) is also provided which includes a housing (2) for supporting a main shaft (4) rotatably through the combined externally pressurized gas and magnetic bearing assembly (3). This combined externally pressurized gas and magnetic bearing assembly (3) can be applied not only to the radial bearing, but also to the axial bearing.

Abstract: An automatic plate bending system using high frequency induction heating has many universal poles for bearing a steel plate, a member to be heated, by supporting it from below, the height positions of front end portions of the universal poles themselves being adjustable, and automatically moves a high frequency heating coil of a high frequency heating head above the steel plate, which is placed on the universal poles, along predetermined heating lines while retaining a constant clearance between the high frequency heating coil and the surface of the steel plate, whereby the steel plate is heated and automatically bent into a desired shape.

Abstract: A cooling water conduit extending through a segment of a crucible is curved inward in the portion around a molten metal tapping hole.

Abstract: An electromagnetic levitator is disclosed, comprising: a plurality of longitudinal sections formed from a conducting material and arranged around a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal sections are connected to a power source such that when the levitator is in operation, current flowing through adjacent longitudinal sections creates opposing magnetic fields. The levitator has first and second ends defining a levitation zone therebetween. When alternating current is passed through the conductors, a levitation tunnel is formed in the levitation zone, with the levitation tunnel having zero magnetic flux density along its center and non-zero magnetic flux density at all other points.

Abstract: At the front side of a wafer cassette fitted to a wafer feeding unit of a magnetic levitation wafer conveying device, a wafer stopper for preventing the wafer waiting in the wafer cassette from popping out is provided. The wafer supplied from the magnetic levitation conveying device is supplied into the reaction chamber by magnetic force, and is directly held in the reaction chamber by this magnetic force. Since the wafer stopper is positioned between the wafer cassette fitted in the wafer feeding unit and the starting end of the wafer conveying route, the wafer waiting in the wafer cassette next to the wafer to be conveyed is prevented from popping out together with the wafer to be conveyed. Moreover, the wafer conveyed by the magnetic force can be directly held in the reaction chamber in heated state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a levitation melting crucible which can facilitate penetration of magnetism into the crucible and which can prevent a molten metal from being contaminated by an insulating material. The levatation melting crucible comprises a cylindrical main body having a closed bottom, a plurality of slits defined vertically in the circumferential wall of the main body to open inward and outward at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction and an insulating material filled in each of the slits; wherein each slit is designed to have an inner opening width smaller than its outer opening width, with respect to the radius of the main body, for example, 1.5 A>B.

Abstract: In addition to a first driving device which moves only a lower crucible, and a first control device which controls the first driving device, a second driving device which changes the vertical relative position of an upper crucible and an induction coil, and a second control device which controls the second driving device are disposed, whereby the relative positions of the upper and lower crucibles and the induction coil can freely be changed. Consequently, the relative positions of the induction coil and the upper and lower crucibles can adequately be set in whole of the operation period from the initial operation stage to the final operation stage, in accordance with the position of a melting zone in the top portion of a material to be melted which grows as a result of continuously charging chips.

Abstract: A system for damping oscillatory and spinning motions induced in an electromagnetically levitated material. Two opposed field magnets are located orthogonally to the existing levitation coils for providing a DC quadrupole field (cusp field) around the material. The material used for generating the DC quadrupole field must be nonconducting to avoid eddy-current heating and of low magnetic permeability to avoid distorting the induction fields providing the levitation.