System for gas purification in an induction vacuum furnace and method of making same

Abstract

A system and method for removing impurities in an induction furnace cooling system is disclosed. An induction furnace for heating a workpiece includes a chamber, an induction coil positioned in the chamber to provide for heating of the workpiece when a current is provided to the induction coil, and a cooling system fluidly coupled to an interior volume of the chamber, the cooling system including a heat exchanger, a blower fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger and configured to cause a gas to flow through the heat exchanger, and a filter assembly comprising a filtering device, the filter assembly fluidly coupled to the blower and configured to remove impurities from the gas flowing through the cooling system.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. §371(c) of prior-filed, co-pending, PCT application serial number PCT / US2013 / 039737, filed on May 6, 2013, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 694,869, filed Aug. 30, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Embodiments of the invention relate generally to induction furnaces for heating a workpiece in an inert atmosphere or vacuum and, more particularly, to a system for providing cooling to a workpiece in a uniform fashion, so as to reduce thermal stress in the workpiece.[0003]Conventional induction furnaces include an induction heating system and a chamber that contains a susceptor that is susceptible to induction heating, with the chamber enclosing an inert atmosphere or vacuum therein. An electromagnetic coil sits outside the susceptor and receives high frequency alternating current from a power su...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides an induction furnace that has a filter assembly to remove impurities during gas cooling of a workpiece. This improves the quality and efficiency of the heating and cooling process. The furnace includes a chamber, an induction coil, a cooling system, and a filter assembly with a filtering device to remove impurities from the gas flowing through the cooling system. The technical effects of the invention are improved quality of workpiece heating and cooling, reduced impurities, and improved efficiency of the cooling process.

Problems solved by technology

However, this rapid gas movement can disturb dirt, dust, oil vapor and other impurities in the system and can greatly impact components susceptible to such impurities.

Such contamination can negatively affect the quality and cleanliness of the parts inside the chamber / hotzone.

The higher the rate of movement of the gas, the higher the chances of part contamination.

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