3m Innovative Properties Company

David G Miller

Robert J Boettcher

Larry R Lappi

Richard F Miller

An induction heating apparatus and method for heating a substantially continuous first bondline defined by a length of thermally responsive bonding material positioned between a first member and a second member. The first member or second member is made of an electrically conductive material or positioned adjacent an electrically conductive material. The inductive heating apparatus includes a flexible, reshapeable cable assembly operably positionable adjacent the first member along the first bondline. The flexible, reshapeable cable assembly is capable of being manually shaped to a first shape of the first bondline, and is capable of being manually re-shaped to a second shape of a second bondline different than the first shape of the first bondline. An alternating current power supply is electrically coupled to the flexible, reshapeable cable assembly. When the alternating current power supply is activated the reshapeable cable assembly operates to inductively heat the electrically conductive material for conductive heating of the thermally responsive bonding material substantially uniformly along the first bondline.

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Warren, OH, United States of America

David G Miller