Reduced-distortion hybrid induction heating/welding assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016105933-A1
Application number	US-201514879716-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 9, 2015
Priority date	Oct 14, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In certain embodiments, inductive heating is added to a metal working process, such as a welding process, by an induction heating head. The induction heating head may be adapted specifically for this purpose, and may include one or more coils to direct and place the inductive energy, protective structures, and so forth. Productivity of a welding process may be improved by the application of heat from the induction heating head. The heating is in addition to heat from a welding arc, and may facilitate application of welding wire electrode materials into narrow grooves and gaps, as well as make the processes more amenable to the use of certain compositions of welding wire, shielding gasses, flux materials, and so forth. In addition, distortion and stresses are reduced by the application of the induction heating energy in addition to the welding arc source.

First claim

1 . A hybrid induction heating/welding assembly comprising:
a metal working tool configured to perform a metal working process on at least one workpiece, wherein the metal working process generates a metal working heat profile in the at least one workpiece; and at least one induction heating coil configured to apply induction heat to the at least one workpiece, wherein the induction heat generates an induction heat profile in the at least one workpiece; wherein the metal working heat profile and the induction heat profile combine to generate a combined heat profile in the at least one workpiece, wherein the combined heat profile produces substantially no distortion in the at least one workpiece.

2 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 1 , comprising control circuitry configured to estimate the metal working heat profile and the induction heat profile in the at least one workpiece, to estimate the combined heat profile based on the estimated metal working heat profile and induction heat profile, and to control a relative positioning of the metal working tool, the at least one induction heating coil, or both, to minimize the distortion in the at least one workpiece.

3 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the relative positioning of the metal working tool, the at least one induction heating coil, or both, by transmitting control signals to at least one robotic manipulator.

4 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to estimate the metal working heat profile and the induction heat profile in the at least one workpiece based at least in part on feedback from one or more sensors.

5 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 4 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more position-detecting sensors configured to detect relative positions of the metal working tool or the at least one induction heating coil relative to the at least one workpiece, one or more temperature sensors configured to detect temperatures proximate the at least one workpiece, or a combination thereof.

6 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one workpiece comprises two workpieces that form a narrow gap.

7 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one workpiece comprises two workpieces that form a T-fillet joint together.

8 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one workpiece comprises two workpieces that form a butt joint together.

9 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metal working tool comprises a welding torch.

10 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metal working tool comprising a plasma cutting torch.

11 . A hybrid induction heating/welding assembly comprising:
a protective outer housing; a metal working tool configured to perform a metal working process on at least one workpiece, wherein the metal forming tool is at least partially enclosed within the protective outer housing, and wherein the metal working process generates a metal working heat profile in the at least one workpiece; and at least one induction heating coil configured to apply induction heat to the at least one workpiece, wherein the at least one induction heating coil is at least partially enclosed within the protective outer housing, and wherein the induction heat generates an induction heat profile in the at least one workpiece; wherein the metal working heat profile and the induction heat profile combine to generate a combined heat profile in the at least one workpiece, wherein the combined heat profile produces substantially no distortion in the at least one workpiece.

12 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 11 , comprising control circuitry configured to estimate the metal working heat profile and the induction heat profile in the at least one workpiece, to estimate the combined heat profile based on the estimated metal working heat profile and induction heat profile, and to control a relative positioning of the metal working tool, the at least one induction heating coil, or both, to minimize the distortion in the at least one workpiece.

13 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the relative positioning of the metal working tool, the at least one induction heating coil, or both, by transmitting control signals to at least one robotic manipulator.

14 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry estimate the metal working heat profile and the induction heat profile in the at least one workpiece based at least in part on feedback from one or more sensors.

15 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more position-detecting sensors configured to detect relative positions of the metal working tool or the at least one induction heating coil relative to the at least one workpiece, one or more temperature sensors configured to detect temperatures proximate the at least one workpiece, or a combination thereof.

16 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one workpiece comprises two workpieces that form a narrow gap.

17 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one workpiece comprises two workpieces that form a T-fillet joint together.

18 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least one workpiece comprises two workpieces that form a butt joint together.

19 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 11 , wherein the metal working tool comprises a welding torch.

20 . The hybrid induction heating/welding assembly of claim 11 , wherein the metal working tool comprising a plasma cutting torch.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Jones Jerald Edward
• Rhoades Valerie Lisa
• Holverson Todd Earl
• Cuneo Adam Nathan
• Mann Mark Dietrich

Classifications

• B23K10/00

  Welding or cutting by means of a plasma · CPC title

• B23K9/173

  and of a consumable electrode · CPC title

• B23K13/02

  Seam welding · CPC title

• B23K9/16

  making use of shielding gas · CPC title

• B23K9/321

  Protecting means · CPC title