Method for magnetic flux compensation in a directional solidification furnace utilizing an actuated secondary coil

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906096-B2
Application number	US-202016781403-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2020
Priority date	Oct 30, 2017
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A process for directional solidification of a cast part comprises energizing a primary inductive coil coupled to a chamber having a mold containing a material; generating an electromagnetic field with the primary inductive coil within the chamber, wherein said electromagnetic field is partially attenuated by a susceptor coupled to said chamber between said primary inductive coil and said mold; determining a magnetic flux profile of the electromagnetic field after it passes through the susceptor; sensing a component of the magnetic flux in the interior of the susceptor proximate the mold; positioning a mobile secondary compensation coil within the chamber; generating a control field from a secondary compensation coil, wherein said control field controls said magnetic flux; and casting the material within the mold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An induction furnace assembly comprising:
a chamber having a mold;
a primary inductive coil coupled to said chamber;
a susceptor surrounding said chamber between said primary inductive coil and said mold; and
at least one secondary compensation coil being mobile with respect to said chamber between said susceptor and said mold; said at least one secondary compensation coil configured to be positioned and to generate a control field configured to modify a magnetic flux past said susceptor from said primary induction coil.

2. The induction furnace assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller coupled to at least one flux sensor located within said chamber, wherein said controller is configured to generate a control signal responsive to an input from at least one of a flux sensor and a flux set point.

3. The induction furnace assembly according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a power amplifier coupled to said controller and said at least one secondary compensation coil, wherein said power amplifier generates electrical power responsive to said control signal to said at least one secondary compensation coil to generate said control field.

4. The induction furnace assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said magnetic flux is sensed by at least one flux sensor at a predetermined location within said chamber.

5. The induction furnace assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator coupled to the at least one secondary compensation coil, said actuator configured to position said at least one secondary compensation coil relative to the mold and susceptor.

6. The induction furnace assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one secondary compensation coil is coupled to a control system configured to control material casting.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp
• Raytheon Tech Corp

Inventors

• Rebbecchi Thomas Anthony
• Mantese Joseph V
• Breneman Ryan C
• Boyne Andrew
• Marcin John Joseph
• Davis Dustin W
• Furrer David Ulrich
• Auxier James Tilsley

Classifications

• F27B14/14

  Arrangements of heating devices · CPC title

• F27B14/061

  Induction furnaces · CPC title

• B22D27/045 Primary

  Directionally solidified castings · CPC title

• F27B2014/066

  Construction of the induction furnace · CPC title

• B22D27/02

  Use of electric or magnetic effects {(for continuous casting B22D11/015, B22D11/11)} · CPC title