Valve seat induction heating apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An induction heating apparatus for heat treating the valve seats for a plurality of engine component designs comprising:
- conveyor means for moving the engine component designs along a horizontal conveyor line, said conveyor line including a single predetermined heat treating station;
a plurality of inductor means, each of said inductor means corresponding to one of said plurality of engine component designs and including at least one inductor coil for heat treating the valve seats of the corresponding engine component design;
first means for selectively locating each of said inductor means at a transfer position adjacent to and spaced from said heat treating station in response to a corresponding engine component design presented at said heat treating station by said conveyor means;
second means operable transverse to the conveyor line for selectively moving said inductor means from said transfer position to an operative heat treating position with respect to the valve seats of such corresponding design; and
, power supply means selectively connected to said inductor means at the heat treating station for energizing the inductor coil thereof at the heat treating position.
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Abstract
An induction heating apparatus for inductively heating the valve seats of a family of engine component designs includes a plurality of rotatably mounted inductors which are selectively indexed and cycled in accordance with the component design presented at the heat treating station.
14 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An induction heating apparatus for heat treating the valve seats for a plurality of engine component designs comprising:
- conveyor means for moving the engine component designs along a horizontal conveyor line, said conveyor line including a single predetermined heat treating station;
a plurality of inductor means, each of said inductor means corresponding to one of said plurality of engine component designs and including at least one inductor coil for heat treating the valve seats of the corresponding engine component design;
first means for selectively locating each of said inductor means at a transfer position adjacent to and spaced from said heat treating station in response to a corresponding engine component design presented at said heat treating station by said conveyor means;
second means operable transverse to the conveyor line for selectively moving said inductor means from said transfer position to an operative heat treating position with respect to the valve seats of such corresponding design; and
, power supply means selectively connected to said inductor means at the heat treating station for energizing the inductor coil thereof at the heat treating position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- conveyor means for moving the engine component designs along a horizontal conveyor line, said conveyor line including a single predetermined heat treating station;
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14. An apparatus for inductively heating a selected workpiece found at a workstation and comprising:
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transformer means having a first coupling coil connected to a power supply; carrier means movable with respect to said transformer means; a second coupling coil slidably receivable with respect to said first coupling coil and supported by said carrier means; an inductor electrically connected to said second coupling coil and particularly corresponding to said selected workpiece; means for locating said carrier means with respect to said transformer means in response to said selected workpiece found at said workstation and with said second coupling coil axially aligned with said first coupling coil; means for axially moving said second coupling coil with respect to said first coupling coil between a first position wherein said coupling coils are axially spaced and a second position wherein an electrical coupling is established therebetween; means for cojointly moving said first coupling coil and said second coupling coil along a predetermined path to a heating position with said inductor in heating relationship with said selected workpiece; means for energizing said transformer means with the power supply when said inductor is in said heating position to thereby energize said inductor through said electrical coupling and thereby inductively heat the workpiece.
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15. A heat treating unit for inductor hardening the valve seat of a plurality of engine component designs successively located at a heat treating station comprising:
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support means; first actuator means for moving said support means between a first position remote from said heat treating station and a second position adjacent said heat treating station; carrier means rotatably supported on said support means for rotation about an axis; a plurality of inductor means supported on said carrier means and circumferentially spaced about said axis, each of said inductor means corresponding to one of said engine component designs; second actuator means for rotating said carrier means about said axis in response to the engine component design located at said workstation, and to locate a corresponding one of said inductor means adjacent said workstation; third actuator means independently operatively connected between said carrier means and each of said inductor means for independently moving said corresponding one of said inductor means at said second position of said supporting means between a first position spaced from said valve seat of said engine component and a second position in heat treating relationship therewith; and
power supply means for energizing the inductor means located in the heat treating relationship with the valve seat to inductively heat said valve seat to a predetermined elevated temperature.
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16. A method of inductively heating at a single heat treating station the valve seats of a plurality of engine component designs traveling along a conveyor path, comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying in advance of said heat treating station the design for a discrete engine component traversing the conveyor path; (b) providing a plurality of inductor means including a proper inductor means adapted for inductively heating each design of said plurality of engine component designs; (c) selecting in response to the identifying of step (a) said proper inductor means; (d) moving said proper inductor means into heat treating relationship with said discrete engine component at said heat treating station; and
,(e) inductively heating said discrete engine component with said proper inductor means at said heat treating station. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification