Support for induction heated workpieces

• US 4,496,818 A
• Filed: 01/12/1984
• Issued: 01/29/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Michael G., Brittin, Craig E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Philip H.
• Application Number:
  US06/570,194
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 219/10.67, 219/10.57, 219/10.43, 219/9.5, 219/10.49 R, 219/7.5, 219/85 A, 219/85 R
• US Class Current: 219/635
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 1/0012 Brazing heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 1/002 Soldering by means of induction heating

Abstract

Heat exchanger cores comprising an assembly of elongated vertical and horizontal parts are brazed by induction heating in a vacuum chamber where the magnetic heating field is disposed at an angle to the vertical and horizontal planes for uniform heating. Steel supports for strength and durability are used to hold the cores in the vacuum chamber. A pair of elongated steel fixtures engage opposite sides of each heater core, the fixtures having recesses at their outboard surfaces. A rectangular frame having a pair of support rods is held by brackets within the chamber to orient the plane of the frame parallel to the magnetic field to minimize electrical heating of the frame. The recesses in the fixtures engage the support rods of the frame in a manner to hold the vertical parts in a vertical plane and to prevent rotation of the core by action of the magnetic field on the core.

Claims

1. In an induction heating system for heating an assembly of elongated vertical and horizontal parts within a chamber utilizing a magnetic field disposed at an angle to the vertical and horizontal planes, means for supporting the assembly within the chamber comprising

a generally rectangular steel frame including a pair of support rods,

means for supporting the frame within the chamber with the plane of the frame parallel to the magnetic field to minimize inductive heating of the frame, and

a pair of elongated fixtures for gripping opposite sides of the assembly, and recess means in each fixture for cooperatively engaging a support rod to support the assembly within the chamber.

2. In an induction heating system for heating an assembly of elongated vertical and horizontal parts within a chamber utilizing a magnetic field disposed at an angle to the vertical and horizontal planes, means for supporting the assembly within the chamber comprising

a generally rectangular steel frame including a pair of support rods,

means for supporting the frame within the chamber with the plane of the frame parallel to the magnetic field to minimize inductive heating of the frame, and

a pair of elongated fixtures for gripping opposite sides of the assembly, the fixtures having inboard portions conforming to the sides of the assembly, each fixture having an outboard portion with a plurality of recesses for interchangeably engaging either of the support rods to support the assembly within the chamber.

3. In an induction heating system for heating an assembly of elongated vertical and horizontal parts within a chamber utilizing a magnetic field disposed at an angle to the vertical and horizontal planes, the field creating a force tending to rotate the assembly, means for supporting the assembly within the chamber comprising

a generally rectangular steel frame including a pair of support rods coupled by a pair of connecting rails,

means for supporting the frame within the chamber with the plane of the frame parallel to the magnetic field to minimize inductive heating of the frame, and

a pair of elongated fixtures for gripping opposite sides of the assembly, means for securing the fixtures to the assembly and recess means in each fixture for cooperatively engaging a support rod to support the assembly within the chamber and to oppose rotation of the assembly.

4. In an induction heating system for heating assemblies of elongated vertical and horizontal parts within a chamber utilizing a magnetic field disposed at an angle to the vertical and horizontal planes, the field creating a force tending to rotate the assemblies, means for supporting the assemblies within the chamber comprising

a generally rectangular steel frame including a pair of support rods, the support rods being sufficiently long to hold the assemblies in side-by-side relation,

means for supporting the frame within the chamber with the plane of the frame parallel to the magnetic field to minimize inductive heating of the frame, and

a pair of elongated fixtures releasably secured to opposite sides of each assembly, and recess means in each fixture for cooperatively engaging a support rod to support the assembly against rotation within the chamber, whereby a plurality of assemblies are supported by the frame within the chamber.