Induction heating system and method of output power control

• US 20060289492A1
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, Jeffrey R., Baxter, Randall G., Verhagen, Paul D., Beistle, Edward G., Veik, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,696,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/660
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/06 Control, e.g. of temperature, of power
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/101 for local heating of metal pieces

Abstract

A system and method for inductively heating a work piece. The induction heating system is coupleable to at least one temperature feedback device. The temperature feedback device is disposed within the induction heating system to provide a signal representative of the temperature of an induction heating system component. The induction heating system is operable to control the output of the induction heating system based on the temperature of the induction heating system component to protect the component from heat damage.

Claims

1. A power source, comprising:

a power source controller operable to direct the power source to produce a desired output to heat a work piece to a desired temperature, wherein the power source controller is operable to receive a signal representative of an operational parameter of the power source and is operable to limit the output of the power source to a level below the desired output to heat the work piece to the desired temperature when the signal representative of an operational parameter of the power source achieves a first threshold value.

2. The power source as recited in claim 1, wherein the power source controller is operable to deactivate the power source when the signal representative of an operational parameter of the power source achieves a second threshold value, the second threshold value being greater in value than the first threshold value.

3. The power source as recited in claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a temperature controller operable to provide a signal to direct the induction heating power source to produce the desired output to heat the work piece to the desired temperature, wherein the power source controller controls the output of the induction heating power source based on the signal from the temperature controller and the signal representative of an operational parameter of the power source.

4. The power source as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal representative of an operational parameter comprises a signal representative of temperature of a power source component.

5. The power source as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal representative of an operational parameter comprises a signal representative of a current flowing through the power source.

6. The power source as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal representative of an operational parameter data comprises a signal representative of output voltage of the power source.

7. The power source as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal representative of an operational parameter comprises a signal representative of output power of the power source.

8-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A power source, comprising:

a power source component;

a temperature feedback device configured to generate a signal representative of temperature of the power source component; and

a power source controller communicatively coupled to the temperature feedback device and the power source component, wherein the power source controller is configured to establish a desired output of the power source component based on the signal representative of temperature.

22. The power source as recited in claim 21, wherein the power source controller is configured to limit the desired output of the power source component to a defined output when the temperature rises to a defined temperature.

23. The power source as recited in claim 21, wherein the power source controller is configured to establish the desired output of the power source component based on another signal representative of temperature of a stationary work piece and a desired temperature of the stationary work piece.

24. The power source as recited in claim 21, wherein the power source component comprises a plurality of power source components, and each power source component has a temperature feedback device configured to transmit a signal representative of temperature of the respective power source component to the power source controller, and wherein the power source controller is configured to establish the desired output of each power source component based on the plurality of signals representative of temperature.

25. The power source as recited in claim 21, wherein the power source component comprises an inverter, or a rectifier, or an IGBT, or a solid state component, or a combination thereof.

26. The power source as recited in claim 21, wherein the power source controller is configured to control the power source based on a signal representative of an operational parameter of a liquid coolant.

27. The power source as recited in claim 26, wherein the power source controller is configured to at least limit output power of the power source if the signal representative of the operational parameter of the liquid coolant at least reaches a threshold.

28. The power source as recited in claim 27, wherein the signal representative of the operational parameter of the liquid coolant comprises a coolant temperature, and the threshold comprises a threshold coolant temperature.

29. The power source as recited in claim 27, wherein the signal representative of the operational parameter of the liquid coolant comprises a coolant flow rate, and the threshold comprises a threshold coolant flow rate.

30. A power source, comprising:

a power source controller configured to control the power source to produce an desired output to heat a stationary work piece to a target temperature, wherein the power source controller is configured to at least limit output of the power source to a level below the desired output if a power source component at least reaches or exceeds a first threshold operational value.

31. The power source as recited in claim 30, wherein the power source controller is configured to at least limit output of the power source to a suitable level below the desired output if a component of a system powered by the power source at least approaches or achieves a second threshold operational value.

32. The power source as recited in claim 31, wherein the second threshold operational value comprises a threshold coolant flow rate, or a threshold coolant temperature, or a combination thereof.

33. The power source as recited in claim 30, wherein the power source component comprises an inverter, or a rectifier, or an IGBT, or a solid state component, or a combination thereof.

34. The power source as recited in claim 33, wherein the first threshold operational value comprises a threshold temperature, or a threshold current, or a combination thereof.