INDUCTION HEATING SYSTEM TEMPERATURE SENSOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20150334781A1
• Filed: 05/16/2014
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Verhagen, Paul David, Garvey, Paul William, Beistle, Edward G., Liebert, Scott Stephen, Mlnarik, Kevin John, Carter, Tiffany Anne
• Granted Patent: US 11,076,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 1/42 Induction heating
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/08 for tubular bodies or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/027 making use of sensor-related data, e.g. for identification of sensor parts or optical elements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/102 the metal pieces being rotated while induction heated
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. An induction heating system comprising:

an induction heating device configured to move relative to a workpiece, to generate induction heat, and to direct the induction heat to the workpiece; and

a temperature sensor assembly configured to detect a temperature of the workpiece at a plurality of different wavelengths within a range of approximately 1.0 micrometers and approximately 5.0 micrometers, and to transmit a feedback signal relating to the detected temperature to a controller that controls a power source providing power to the induction heating device.

2. The induction heating system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor assembly is configured to detect the temperature of the workpiece at a plurality of different wavelengths within a range of approximately 2.0 micrometers and approximately 2.4 micrometers.

3. The induction heating system of claim 1, comprising the controller, wherein the controller is configured to adjust an amount of power provided by the power source to the induction heating device based at least in part on the feedback signal.

4. The induction heating system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to automatically detect when the temperature sensor assembly is communicatively coupled to the controller, and to automatically adjust control of the power source based on the detection of the temperature sensor assembly.

5. The induction heating system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor assembly detects the temperature of the workpiece without contacting the workpiece.

6. The induction heating system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor assembly comprises an infrared temperature sensor.

7. The induction heating system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor assembly comprises a protective window disposed near an axial end of the temperature sensor assembly along a path of detection of the temperature sensor assembly.

8. The induction heating system of claim 7, wherein the protective window is comprised of an infrared transparent material.

9. The induction heating system of claim 7, wherein the protective window is comprised of quartz.

10. The induction heating system of claim 7, wherein the protective window is mounted directly to the axial end of the temperature sensor assembly.

11. The induction heating system of claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor assembly comprises an air cup disposed near an axial end of the temperature sensor assembly and configured to receive air.

12. The induction heating system of claim 11, wherein the air cup comprises one or more openings extending through an outer wall of the air cup and configured to allow escape of the received air from within the air cup.

13. The induction heating system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor assembly is removably detachable from a housing of the induction heating device.

14. The induction heating system of claim 13, wherein a position of the temperature sensor assembly relative to the housing is adjustable.

15. The induction heating system of claim 13, wherein an angular orientation of the temperature sensor assembly relative to the housing is adjustable.

16. The induction heating system of claim 13, wherein the temperature sensor assembly is a first temperature sensor assembly, and the induction heating system comprises a second temperature sensor assembly.

17. The induction heating system of claim 16, wherein the first and second temperature sensor assemblies are removably detachable from opposite sides of the housing.

18. The induction heating system of claim 16, wherein the first and second temperature sensor assemblies are removably detachable from a same side of the housing.

19. A system comprising:

a temperature sensor assembly configured to detect a temperature of a workpiece, and to transmit a feedback signal relating to the detected temperature to a controller that controls a power source providing power to an induction heating head, wherein the temperature sensor assembly is configured to detect the temperature at a plurality of wavelengths relating to a plurality of surface emissivities, and to transmit the feedback signal relating to the detected temperature without compensation for a surface emissivity of the workpiece.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the temperature sensor assembly is configured to detect the temperature of the workpiece at a plurality of different wavelengths within a range of approximately 2.0 micrometers and approximately 2.4 micrometers.

21. The system of claim 19, comprising the controller, wherein the controller is configured to adjust an amount of power provided by the power source to the induction heating head based at least in part on the feedback signal.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to automatically detect when the temperature sensor assembly is communicatively coupled to the controller, and to automatically adjust control of the power source based on the detection of the temperature sensor assembly.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the temperature sensor assembly detects the temperature of the workpiece without contacting the workpiece.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the temperature sensor assembly comprises an infrared temperature sensor.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the temperature sensor assembly comprises a protective window disposed near an axial end of the temperature sensor assembly along a path of detection of the temperature sensor assembly.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the protective window is comprised of an infrared transparent material.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the protective window is comprised of quartz.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the protective window is mounted directly to the axial end of the temperature sensor assembly.