Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Paul Verhagen

Jeffrey Robert Thomas

Kevin John Mlnarik

Randall G Baxter

Anthony VanBergen Salsich

Scott Stephen Liebert

Edward Gerard Beistle

Mark Andrew Ulrich

Tiffany Anne Carter

Paul William Garvey

Jack Robert Blundell

Michael C Dill

Anthony Van Bergen Salsich

Anders Olof Rostlund

Richard Charles Joyce

Adolph G Galinski

Christopher Nelli

Brian James Veik

Alan Dale Sherrill

Kevin McWithey

Jyi-Jiin Luo

Kevin Mcwithey

Kevin Mcwhitey

An induction heating system includes a power source and an induction head. The converter output is at a voltage that is not greater than the voltage applied to the coil. The induction head includes a housing that houses a conductive coil disposed to induce heat in a workpiece and the coil is wound to be tuned to the output power. The coil is wound in a stacked spiral pattern with at least two turns in each layer. A flux concentrator is disposed about the coil with a potting compound around the concentrator and coil. Spacers maintain a desired separation between the head and the workpiece. The coil is a tube carrying a coolant. The head includes a wear surface that prevents contact of the coil and the workpiece, and a thermal insulator between the coil and wear surface. A non-contact temperature sensor is mounted to the housing.

Induction heating head

Induction heating extension cables including control conductors are disclosed. An example cable assembly includes: a first plurality of conductors in a Litz cable arrangement; an outer protective layer configured to protect the plurality of conductors from physical damage; and a second plurality of conductors that are electrically isolated from the first plurality of conductors and are protected by the outer protective layer from physical damage.

Induction heating extension cables including control conductors

A device providing a temperature control and/or monitoring and a method for use of the device are disclosed. In the disclosed method and device, a controller receives a minimum temperature value and a maximum temperature value of a temperature range to be measured. The controller correlates a known output signal range of a temperature sensor to the temperature range to be measured. Further, the controller receives an output signal from the temperature sensor, and generates a measured temperature value based on the output signal of the temperature sensor.

Method and apparatus for measuring temperature within a given temperature range using a selected temperature sensor

An induction heating system includes an induction heating head assembly configured to move relative to a workpiece. The induction heating system may also include a temperature sensor assembly configured to detect a temperature of the workpiece and/or a travel sensor assembly configured to detect a position, movement, or direction of movement of the induction heating head assembly relative to the workpiece, and to transmit feedback signals to a controller configured to adjust the power provided to the induction heating head assembly by a power source based at least in part on the feedback signals. In certain embodiments, the induction heating system may also include a connection box configured to receive the feedback signals, to perform certain conversions of the feedback signals, and to provide the feedback signals to the power source. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the induction heating system may include an inductor stand assembly configured to hold the induction heating head assembly against the workpiece.

Induction heating system

Induction heating system connection box

An example cable assembly includes: a plurality of conductors in a Litz cable arrangement, in which each of the plurality of conductors is electrically insulated from each other over at least a portion of a length of the Litz cable arrangement; a first layer of insulation over the Litz cable arrangement; an inner dielectric jacket over the first layer of insulation; and an outer jacket over the inner dielectric jacket.

Resilient air-cooled induction heating cables

In some examples, an induction heating system includes an induction heating power supply and an induction heating tool configured to receive induction heating type power from the induction power supply through a modular transformer. In some examples, the modular transformer comprises a first coupler (e.g., a power receptacle) and a second coupler (e.g., a power insert) configured to couple together to complete the modular transformer, and/or decouple to separate the modular transformer. In some examples, the first coupler is in electrical communication with the induction heating power supply, and the second coupler is in electrical communication with the induction heating tool. When the first and second couplers are coupled together to complete the modular transformer, induction heating power flows through the modular transformer from the induction heating power supply to the induction heating tool.

Modular transformers and induction heating systems having modular transformers

Induction heating system temperature sensor assembly

A heating system includes a power source connected to a heater to heat a workpiece via the heater and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the first temperature measurement signal, the first temperature measurement signal corresponding to a first temperature of the workpiece. The controller is to turn on the power source to activate the heater to heat the workpiece, receive the second temperature measurement signal in response to heating the workpiece, the second temperature measurement signal corresponding to a second temperature of the workpiece. The controller calculates a change in temperature of the workpiece based on the first and second temperatures, and determines a physical characteristic of the workpiece based on the change in temperature.

Systems and methods to determine workpiece characteristics

Methods and apparatus for induction heating are disclosed. An example induction heating cable assembly includes: a first group of one or more cables extending substantially in parallel; a second group of one or more cables extending substantially in parallel, the first group of cables in parallel with the second group of cables; and an insulation layer configured to insulate the first group of cables and the second group of cables from electrical contact, the insulation layer configured to group the first group of cables, to group the second group of cables, and to extend between the first group and second groups of cables, in which the first group of cables, the second group of cables, and the insulation layer are conformable to enable conformance of the induction heating cable assembly to a workpiece to be heated via the induction heating cable assembly.

Induction heating methods and apparatus

Methods and apparatus for induction heating are disclosed. An example induction heating apparatus includes a first conductor and a second conductor, configured to be arranged in conformance with a workpiece while the conductors are not electrically connected in series, and a turn connector configured to: connect the first and second conductors in series to configure the first and second conductors as an inductor having a plurality of turns; and arranges portions of the first and second conductors located between the turn connector and the workpiece to be adjacent.

An example cable assembly includes: a plurality of conductors in a Litz cable arrangement; a layer of magnet wire insulation over the Litz cable arrangement; an inner silicone dielectric jacket over the layer of magnet wire insulation; and an outer silicone jacket over the inner silicone dielectric jacket.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Paul Verhagen