Device and method for removal of rust and paint

• US 6,794,622 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rpr Technologies AS
• Original Assignee: Jak. J. Alveberg AS
• Inventors: Alveberg, Bjorn Erik, Baann, Tom Arne
• Primary Examiner(s): Leung, Philip H.
• Application Number:
  US10/129,283
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 219/635, 219/645, 219/653, 219/665, 219/663, 134/17, 134/38
• US Class Current: 219/635
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 7/0071 by heating B08B7/0035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/168 by electrically heating air heaters using electric energy supply, the air being in direct contact with the heating medium, F24H3/0405
• CPC Class Codes: C23G 5/00 Cleaning or de-greasing metallic material by other methods; Apparatus for cleaning or de-greasing metallic material with organic solvents
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/101 for local heating of metal pieces

Abstract

A method and a device for the removal of rust and paint from a metal surface, wherein induction heat is used for heating the metal surface. The device includes an electrical power supply coupled to an induction coil. A wheel and a tachometer on the device measure the velocity of the device as the wheel rotates on the metal surface. A control unit regulates the power output of the electrical power supply based upon the measured velocity of the device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the removal of rust and paint from a metal surface by means of induction heat, the apparatus comprising:

an electrical power supply means;

an induction coil coupled to the power supply means;

a wheel which rotates on the metal surface as the apparatus is moved over the metal surface;

a tachometer which measures the amount of rotation of the wheel over time, and thus measures the velocity of the apparatus over the metal surface; and

a control unit to regulate the power output of the electrical power supply means;

wherein said control unit receives rotational measurement signals from said tachometer and regulates the power output of the electrical supply means by increasing the power output as the velocity of the apparatus over the metal surface increases, and decreasing the power output as the velocity of the apparatus over the metal surface decreases.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frequency and current strength of the induction coil is adjusted manually by means of the control unit in order to achieve a predetermined temperature and temperature profile in the metal surface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frequency and current strength of the induction coil is adjusted automatically by means of the control unit in order to achieve a predetermined temperature profile in the metal surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tachometer is a stroboscope tachometer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the position of the induction coil within the apparatus is adjustable relative to the metal surface.

6. A method for the removal of rust and paint from a metal surface comprising the steps of:

providing an induction heating apparatus comprising;

an electrical power supply means;

an induction coil coupled to the power supply means;

a wheel which rotates on the metal surface as the apparatus is moved over the metal surface;

a tachometer which measures the amount of rotation of the wheel over time, and thus measures the velocity of the apparatus over the metal surface; and

a control unit to regulate the power output of the electrical power supply means;

supplying rotational measurement signals from said tachometer to said control unit; and

regulating the power output of the electrical supply means by increasing the power output as the velocity of the apparatus over the metal surface increases, and decreasing the power output as the velocity of the apparatus over the metal surface decreases.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of manually adjusting the frequency and current strength of the induction coil by means of the control unit in order to achieve a predetermined temperature and temperature profile in the metal surface.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of automatically adjusting the frequency and current strength of the induction coil by means of the control unit in order to achieve a predetermined temperature and temperature profile in the metal surface.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of adjusting the position of the induction coil within the apparatus relative to the metal surface.