Temperature controller of electromagnetic induction heater and its start system

• US 6,046,442 A
• Filed: 09/11/1998
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Seta Giken, Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Seta Giken
• Inventors: Uchihori, Yoshitaka, Kawamura, Yasuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeffery, John A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PWU, JEFFREY C
• Application Number:
  US09/043,372
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 219/663, 219/664, 219/665, 219/667, 219/630, 219/676, 219/628, 219/629, 219/482
• US Class Current: 219/667
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1913 delivering a series of pulses
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/20 with sensing elements having variation of electric or magnetic properties with change of temperature G05D23/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/06 Control, e.g. of temperature, of power
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/108 for heating a fluid

Abstract

The present invention relates to a temperature controller used for an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus provided with a heating element made of magnetic material, and prepared in a fluid passage. A coil is prepared in the perimeter of the heating element and a high frequency electric current generator for the coil. The temperature controller comprises an electric current detection unit measuring the electric current flowing from the high frequency electric current generator to the coil and detecting that the temperature of magnetic material forming the heating element reaches in the vicinity of the magnetic transformation temperature, and an electric current restrictive unit limiting the electric current flowing to the coil based on the electric current detection unit. When the temperature of the heating element reaches in the vicinity of the magnetic transformation temperature, the electric current detection unit detects the rising electric current and the electric current restrictive unit limits the further rising electric current.

Claims

1. A temperature controller used for an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus provided with a heating element made of magnetic material and prepared in a fluid passage, a coil prepared in a perimeter of the heating element and a high frequency electric current generator for the coil, said electromagnetic induction heating apparatus having a magnetic transformation temperature where a degree of magnetism decreases when temperature of a magnetic material of the heating element becomes high,

said temperature controller, comprising:

an electric current detection device measuring an electric current flowing from the high frequency electric current generator to the coil and detecting that a temperature of magnetic material forming the heating element having a temperature reaching in the vicinity of the magnetic transformation temperature; and

an electric current restrictive device limiting the electric current flowing to the coil based on said electric current detection device.

2. The temperature controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric current restrictive device outputs the high frequency electric current generator down when the electric current flowing through the coil reaches a required value and outputs the high frequency electric current generator up when the heating element is cooled.

3. The temperature controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric current restrictive device maintains a required value of an electric current when a value of an electric current flowing through the coil reaches the required value.

4. A temperature controller used for an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus provided with a heating element made of magnetic material and prepared in a fluid passage, a coil prepared in a perimeter of the heating element and a high frequency electric current generator for the coil, said electromagnetic induction heating apparatus having a magnetic transformation temperature where a degree of magnetism decreases when temperature of a magnetic material of the heating element becomes high,

said temperature controller, comprising:

a temperature regulator measuring a fluid temperature at the side of outlet of the fluid passage and outputting an instruction corresponding to a difference between the measured temperature and a required temperature so that the measured temperature can coincide with the required temperature;

an electric current controlling device controlling an output of the high frequency electric current generator based on said instruction from said temperature regulator;

an electric current restrictive device measuring an electric current flowing from the high frequency electric current generator to the coil and detecting that a temperature of magnetic material forming the heating element having a temperature reaching in the vicinity of the magnetic transformation temperature; and

an electric current restrictive device outputting an instruction of limiting the electric current flowing through the coil to said electric current controlling device based on said electric current detection device to take precedence of the instruction of the temperature regulator.

5. The temperature controller as claimed in claim 4, wherein said electric current restrictive device outputs an instruction toward said electric current controlling device during a required time when an electric current detection device detects an electric current exceeding a required value, said instruction is making an output of the high frequency electric current generator down.

6. A temperature controller used for an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus provided with a heating element made of magnetic material and prepared in a fluid passage, a coil prepared in a perimeter of the heating element and a high frequency electric current generator for the coil, said electromagnetic induction heating apparatus having a magnetic transformation temperature where a degree of magnetism decreases when temperature of a magnetic material of the heating element becomes high,

said temperature controller, comprising:

a temperature regulator measuring a fluid temperature at the side of outlet of the fluid passage and outputting an instruction corresponding to a difference between the measured temperature and a required temperature so that the measured temperature can coincide with the required temperature;

an electric current detection device measuring an electric current flowing from the high frequency electric current generator to the coil and detecting a temperature of magnetic material forming the heating element reaches approximately the magnetic transformation temperature;

an electric current controlling device controlling an output of the high frequency electric current generator based on said instruction from said temperature regulator or said electric current detection device; and

an electric current restrictive device connected with said temperature regulator, said electric current detection device and said electric current controlling device output to an instruction for limiting the electric current flowing through the coil to said electric current controlling device based on said electric current detection device to take precedence of the instruction of the temperature regulator.

7. The temperature controller as claimed in claim 6, wherein said electric current restrictive device has a comparator outputting an instruction for limiting the electric current flowing through the coil to said electric current controlling device based on said electric current detection device to take precedence of the instruction of the temperature regulator.

8. A method of starting an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus provided with a heating element made of magnetic material and prepared in a fluid passage, a coil prepared in a perimeter of the heating element, a high frequency electric current generator for the coil and a temperature regulator for measuring a fluid temperature at the side of outlet of the fluid passage and adjusting an output of the high frequency electric current generator, said electromagnetic induction heating apparatus having a magnetic transformation temperature where a degree of magnetism decreases when temperature of a magnetic material of the heating element becomes high,

said method comprising:

filling the fluid passage with a fluid to keep the heating element in the static fluid;

flowing the electric current from the high frequency electric current generator to the coil to set a required temperature in the temperature regulator;

preheating the heating element and the fluid with limiting the electric current and taking precedence of an instruction of the temperature regulator when a temperature of the magnetic material forming the heating element reaches a temperature in the vicinity of a magnetic transformation and the electric current flowing through the coil increases; and

starting the electromagnetic induction heating apparatus to flow out the fluid from the fluid passage.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein, in said preheating, an output of the high frequency electric current generator is made down when the electric current flowing through the coil reaches a required value and the output of the high frequency electric current generator is made up again when the heating element is cooled, and the electric current are limited by a repetition of these functions.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein, in said preheating, an electric current is limited so that a required value of an electric current may be maintained when a value of an electric current flowing through the coil reaches on the required value.

11. A temperature controller for use in an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus having a heating element, comprising:

an electric current detection device detecting a rise in temperature in the vicinity of a magnetic transformation temperature of a magnetic material forming the heating element where a degree of magnetism decreases when temperature of a magnetic material of the heating element becomes high; and

an electric current restrictive device limiting the electric current flowing to a coil based on the electric current detection device.

12. A method of controlling the temperature in an electromagnetic induction heating apparatus having a heating element, comprising:

detecting a rise in temperature in the vicinity of a magnetic transformation temperature of a magnetic material forming the heating element where a degree of magnetism decreases when temperature of a magnetic material of the heating element becomes high; and

limiting the electric current flowing to a coil based on the electric current detection device.