Ajax Tocco Magnethermic Corporation

Richard McKelvey

Ronald R Akers

Robert John Madeira

Gary M Campbell

Dennis McKinney

Tom Illencik

David A Lazor

Michael Faber

Anthony Dellapenna

Induction heating apparatus and methods are presented for pipe end heating using a solenoid coil to heat a controlled length of a pipe workpiece by adjusting the relative positions of the solenoid coil with a flux diverter positioned relative to the pipe end to divert flux from the coil to control inductive heating of the pipe workpiece end.

Pipe heating apparatus and methods for uniform end heating and controlled heating length

Systems and methods are presented for automated induction hardening of crankshaft bearings while controlling the crankshaft TIR, in which one or more first bearings are hardened by induction heating and quenching, followed by measurement of the crankshaft TIR. The measured TIR is then evaluated and one or more second bearings are hardened using a second induction heating power profile and a second quench flow profile, at least one of which is selectively adjusted according to the measured crankshaft TIR. In this manner, the hardening of the second bearing(s) can counteract any bending or warpage caused by the first hardening process to control the resulting final TIR of the crankshaft.

System and method for crankshaft hardening

Improved induction heating methods are presented for induction hardening undercut fillets of crankshafts or other workpiece recesses or undercuts in which an active turn is energized to induce current in a passive turn translated toward a workpiece undercut for heating the undercut.

Undercut crankshaft hardening coil

An apparatus and method for hardening the concentric main bearing surfaces and orbital pin bearing surfaces of a crankshaft for an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes an inductor that is connected to a high frequency power source with a power controller to cause the power source to direct a given power to the inductor at given rotational heating positions of the crankshaft. A master controller creates output signals to control the power controller. The apparatus and method includes a first multi-surface hardening station with inductors for all of the main bearing surfaces, a second multi-surface hardening station with inductors for some of the orbital pins and a third multi-surface hardening station with inductors for the remaining orbital pins. Total indicator run out (TIR) is measured after the first station to adjust the heating process in the third station to produce a straight crankshaft.

Apparatus and method for hardening bearing surfaces of a crankshaft

Improved induction coil apparatus and methods are presented for induction hardening undercut fillets of crankshafts or other workpiece recesses in which an active turn is energized for heating a journal area in the workpiece recess and one or more passive turns are translated toward undercut fillets once the coil assembly is moved toward the recess with coupling portions of the passive and active turns coupling energy from the active turn to the passive turn(s) for heating the undercut fillets.

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Albertville, AL, United States of America

Richard McKelvey