TW201908681A - Railless support of billets within electric induction heating coils - Google Patents

Abstract

A railless billet electric induction heating apparatus and method is provided where billets are continuously or statically heated by induction by moving the billets without billet support rails through an induction coil supplied with alternating current power when the billets are in direct sliding contact with the interior surface of a clay graphite billet slider disposed within the induction coil. The clay graphite billet slider can also provide thermal insulation between the induction coil and the clay graphite billet slider to eliminate the requirement for a separate induction coil refractory.

Description

Trackless support for blanks in electrically inductive heating coils

The present invention relates to trackless bearings for blanks in an electrical induction coil for inductively heating a blank for further processing in various industrial processes including forging the blank into articles of manufacture.

A billet composed of at least partially electromagnetically conductive material may be inductively preheated to, for example, a high temperature in the range of 900 ° C to 1300 ° C and above for use in forging, flat forging, rolling, extrusion Subsequent thermal processing in the process of drawing and drawing. Inductive preheating of the blank can be accomplished by placing the blank in an induction coil from an alternating current supply suitable for the power source. A refractory material is placed between the induction coil and the blank to maintain the induced heat in the blank and to protect the induction coil from high temperature radiation and convective heat damage from the blank in the induction coil.

British Patent Application No. GB 892 447 A recognizes certain problems in allowing a blank to be placed on a refractory material in an induction coil and discloses a solution for using a track in the coil for sliding the heated blank through the coil. As indicated in GB 892447 A, further improvements in the art result in problems with uncooled orbits with rails with internal intense pressure fluid cooling. The contribution of GB 892447 A to this technology is partially embedded in the trajectory of the refractory material, which keeps the billet from the surface of the refractory material but the track is still subjected to some kind of fouling accumulated in the orbit due to the hot billet sliding over the rail. influences. Therefore, the purpose of the refractory is thermal control and the purpose of the track is to provide efficient movement of the blank through the induction coil.

U.S. Patent No. 7,528,351 B2 further teaches a technique having an adjustable track that can be formed from a ceramic material such as yttrium aluminum oxynitride.

1(a) through 1(d) are schematic cross-sectional views of a typical billet electrical induction heating system constructed in the prior art. In the prior art billet induction heating system of Fig. 1(a), the cylindrical blank 90 is seated on the open partial cylindrical stainless steel strip blank support 102 as it passes through the billet induction heating coil 94a. The blank support 102 separates the blank from the refractory material 106 and the stainless steel liner 104 having the profile gap 104a. The blank induction heating coil 94a is separated from the refractory material 106 by a glass ribbon insulation layer 108. In the prior art billet induction heating system of Fig. 1(b), the cylindrical blank 90 is seated on the blank support rails 96a and 96b as it passes through the billet induction heating coil 94b. The support rails 96a and 96b are partially embedded in the refractory lining 202 surrounded by the refractory felt 204 and the glass ribbon 206. In the prior art billet induction heating system of Fig. 1(c), the rectangular blank 92 is seated on the blank support rails 98a and 98b as it passes through the billet induction heating coil 94c. The abutment rails 98a and 98b each have an adjustable range around the outer circumference of the blank by means of adjustable supports 98a' and 98b'. The abutment track is located on the inner circumference of the refractory lining 402 surrounded by the refractory felt 404. Glass ribbon 406 separates the refractory felt from coil 94c. In the prior art billet induction heating system of Fig. 1(d), the seat blank 90 is partially embedded in the rails 96a and 96b in the refractory material 302 as it passes through the billet induction heating coil 94d. The configuration in Figure 1 (d) is similar to an embodiment disclosed in GB 892447 A. In these four prior art embodiments, the blank is supported by a longitudinal rail or semi-circular stainless steel support as it passes through the billet induction heating coil, such as "Conduction and induction heating" (author EJ Davis; p. 236 To page 241; further elaborated by Peter Peregrinus Ltd. (1990), London, UK.

Prior art unstructured railless blank support blank electric induction heating system, the railless blank support blank electric induction heating system provides increased productivity of billet heating rate and billet slip material, which is in an electric induction heating system It can have a sufficiently long life in terms of the number of heated billets before being replaced due to blank wear.

One object of the present invention is to provide a billet heating rate that increases productivity and a billet runner material that has a sufficiently long life in terms of the number of billets that can be heated prior to replacement due to billet wear.

In one aspect, the invention is a clay graphite blank slide for moving a blank through an induction coil supplied by an alternating current, wherein the blank is seated on the clay graphite blank slide.

In another aspect, the invention is a trackless blank electrically inductive heating system having an induction coil powered by an alternating current source and a clay graphite blank slider disposed in the induction coil. The clay graphite blank runner is electrically isolated from the induction coil and an inner surface region of the clay graphite blank slider forms a blank slider surface for moving a blank seated on the inner surface region of the clay graphite blank slider The induction coil is passed through the induction coil to statically or continuously heat the billet to a target temperature.

In another aspect, the invention is a thermal processing program system having an induction coil powered by an alternating current source and a clay graphite blank slider disposed in the induction coil. The clay graphite blank runner is electrically isolated from the induction coil and an inner surface region of the clay graphite blank slider forms a blank slider surface for moving a blank seated on the inner surface region of the clay graphite blank slider The induction coil is passed through the induction coil to statically or continuously heat the billet to a target temperature. A thermal processing apparatus is provided for receiving the heated blank to form a thermally processed article.

In another aspect, the invention is a method of forming a billet electrical induction heating system by: providing an induction coil connected to an alternating current source; inserting a clay graphite blank slider into the induction coil, wherein the clay graphite blank The slider has an inner blank through opening having an inner slider surface for sliding a blank seated on the inner through surface through the induction coil; and the clay graphite slider inserted into the induction coil and the induction coil Electrically isolated.

In another aspect, the invention is a method of thermally processing a billet to heat it to a target temperature for hot working by operating a clay graphite blank disposed in an induction coil connected to an alternating current. Moving the blank from the inlet of the clay graphite blank slide on the inner surface of the clay graphite blank slide to move the blank while statically or continuously inductively heating the blank through the induction coil to The hot working target temperature is to form a heated billet at an exit of the induction coil; the heated billet is transferred from the outlet of the induction coil to a thermal processing apparatus; and the heated billet is thermally processed in the thermal processing apparatus To form a manufactured article.

In another aspect, the invention is a trackless billet electrical induction heating system having an induction coil powered by an alternating current and a refractory material in the induction coil. A clay graphite blank carrier is provided for moving a blank disposed in the clay graphite blank carrier through the induction coil in sliding contact with the refractory material.

The above and other aspects of the present invention are set forth in the specification and the accompanying claims.

Related application cross reference

The present application claims the priority and interest of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. The entire contents of both of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

An example of a billet electrical induction heating system 10 of the present invention utilizing a clay graphite blank slide is shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b). In each of the figures, a blank runner 12 is disposed between the induction heating coil 14 and an internal passage of the blank slide through which the blank 90 is inductively heated to a target temperature. The induction coil is connected to the AC power source 16 in a suitable manner, and the AC power source 16 inductively heats the blank passing through the internal passage of the induction coil.

The clay graphite blank slide of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(b) may be in the shape of an open ended hollow straight cylinder to conform to an induction coil having an internal shape of a similar open volume.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the inductive coil may be one or more individual coils of any type that may be supplied with AC power from one or more power supplies, including a solenoid inductive coil or a channel inductive coil. Depending on the circumstances, the induction coil can be cooled by the fluid, for example by flowing a liquid or gas through an internal passageway as is known in the art.

The billet heating program can be a continuous mode heating procedure in which the billet is moved through the coil at a continuous steady state (or variable) speed while in sliding contact with the inner surface of the clay graphite blank slider; or a progressive mode heating procedure in which the billet is continuous The steady state (or variable) speed is sequentially moved through the plurality of coils while in sliding contact with the surface of the clay graphite blank slider in each of the plurality of coils. Alternatively, the blank heating procedure can be a static mode heating procedure in which the blank is moved into the interior of the induction coil in sliding contact with the inner surface of the clay graphite blank slider to a static billet heating position in the coil for induction heating to The target temperature, and after reaching the target heating temperature, moves the heated blank out of the interior of the induction coil in sliding contact with the inner surface of the clay graphite slider.

Suitable blank moving devices known in the art can be used to move the blank along the inductive heating coil while in sliding contact with the interior surface of the clay graphite blank slider of the present invention, such as for feeding the blank to a clay graphite blank slide. A tractor or transporter on the inside surface. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the axial length of the induction coil and the clay graphite blank slide may be sufficiently long that a plurality of blanks may be placed back-to-back with the external tractor or conveyor in the induction coil in the clay graphite blank slider On the upper slide, the external tractor or transporter pushes a plurality of back-to-back blanks across the induction coil on the clay graphite blank slide.

Preferably, a spacer annular volume 18 is provided along the axial length X _{L of} the induction coil and the clay graphite blank slider to separate the inwardly facing surface of the induction coil from the outwardly facing surface of the clay graphite blank slider to prevent coiling Arcing or other damage to the coil. Where provided, the spacer annular volume can be unfilled air volume or filled with an electrically insulating material, a thermally insulating material, or an electrically and thermally insulating material (for example, laminated mica paper). In other embodiments of the invention, there may be no spacer annular volume to separate the coil from the slider; however, a shorter service life of the inductive billet heating system may result in this configuration.

A slider material mounting apparatus can be provided in certain embodiments of the present invention to provide replacement of a worn clay graphite blank slider without disassembling the billet electrical induction heating system.

Although the clay graphite blank slides of Figures 2(a) and 2(b) are in the shape of an open-ended hollow straight cylinder to conform to the internal shape of the open volume of the induction coil, in other examples of the invention, clay graphite The inner surface, the outer surface, or both the inner and outer surfaces of the blank slide may be shaped to accommodate the shape of the blank that will be in sliding contact with the hollow interior surface of the clay graphite blank slide or the open interior volume of the induction coil. A combination of shape or shape and nature of the blank and coil. For example, a clay graphite hollow rectangular tube can be provided in an application wherein the blank has a rectangular transverse cross-sectional shape.

Preferably, the heat transfer of the clay graphite slide material used in the blank slide of the present invention is not more than 15 W/(m•C), depending on the weight of the typical billet heated by induction, from the power source to the induction coil. The applied output frequency and the target heating temperature of the blank, which would, for example, preferably, but not exclusively, require a clay graphite blank slide having a wall thickness in the range of 10 mm to 30 mm. If the clay graphite slide material used for the blank slide does not exceed 15 W/(m•C), the clay graphite blank slide will also be provided without additional refractory material for the billet induction heating system. Effective thermal control.

Table 1 illustrates an example of selected improvements of Examples 1, 2, and 3 of the billet electrical induction heating system of the present invention relative to prior art rail blank electrical induction heating systems. The billet electrical induction heating system of the present invention utilizes a structure similar to that of Figure 2 (a) and the clay graphite blank slide of the clay graphite blank slide of the embodiment of the invention in Fig. 2(b). Table 1

Table 1 heating system and program parameters are as follows.

Diameter, length and weight are properties of an exemplary blank.

The line voltage, current, and power are electrical parameters that are input to the (inverter) power supply that supplies AC power to the induction coil.

The output voltage, inverter current, and output frequency are electrical parameters from the output of the (inverter) power supply that supplies AC power to the induction coil.

The induction coils used in all the examples (Induction Heater Company, part number HFAC000577) are identical and match the transformer (with a ratio of 20:04) with the example billet heated to a target temperature of 1250 °C. The inverter load induction coil of the capacitor (71.92 microfarads) is the same. The target temperature of the heated billet is defined for a particular application and may be, for example, the surface temperature or profile average temperature of the heated billet.

In all examples, time/PC is the time spent per block (blank) and mm/sec is the rate at which each of the example blanks travels through the induction coil to achieve a target temperature of 1250 °C.

A prior art track induction heating system utilizing a double blank track slide having tracks spaced from one another about the inner circumference of the refractory material is similar to the track induction heating system shown in Figure 1 (d) except that the track is positioned in the refractory material. It is partially embedded on the inner circumference instead of as shown in Fig. 1(d). The track is cooled internally by the circulating water system.

According to the examples in Table 1, it will be appreciated that the billet electrical induction heating system of the present invention having a clay graphite blank slide results in an improved billet heating input measured as billet kg/input energy kW-hours (kg/kW-hr). Energy, the improved billet heating input energy is calculated as follows. In Example 1 of the present invention and prior art track heating system, the 50 mm diameter blank weight was 4.8 kg. In Example 1 of the present invention, the input coil power is 68.667 kW, which achieves a billet target temperature of 1250 ° C in 80 seconds, which results in the following calculated energy consumption.

.

In the prior art track heating system, the input coil power was 63.198 kW, which reached a billet target temperature of 1250 ° C in 95 seconds, which resulted in the following calculated energy consumption.

.

Thus, comparing the energy efficiencies of the prior art examples of Table 1 of the present invention with the prior art examples of Table 1 (where the example blanks have the same properties), the result of the prior art example of 2.88 is 3.15 (rounded) Significant productivity, which is an increased energy efficiency of about 10% of the increased productivity of the electrically inductive billet heating system of the present invention relative to the prior art rail heating system of 1.094 (3.15/2.88).

Using the billet electrical induction heating system of the present invention, the energy of 1 kW-hr (on average) for heating the billet produces about 3.15 kg of heated billet material (such as steel billets), compared to prior art tracks. The billet heating system produced approximately 2.88 kg of heated steel, which represents an increase of approximately 10% in the yield of heated steel using the same energy consumption. In addition, using the same induction coil, the billet induction heating system of the present invention requires about 0.317 compared to about 0.347 kW-hr (1/2.88 = 0.347 kW-hr/kg) per kg of steel of the prior art track blank heating system. kW-hr to heat 1 kg of steel (1/3.15 kW-hr/kg), which represents a large amount of energy savings and an improvement in the energy efficiency of induction heating of the billet.

Additionally, the clay graphite blank slide material of the present invention exhibits improved wear characteristics relative to known prior art equipment for moving the blank through the billet induction heating system, which reduces the need for replacement or maintenance of the billet induction heating system.

Another embodiment of a billet electrical induction heating system 20 utilizing a clay graphite blank slide of the present invention is shown in Figures 3(a) and 3(b). In this embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the clay graphite blank slide 12e can be completed after a specified amount of blank wear is caused on the inner surface area by moving the blank in sliding contact with the inner surface area 22 of the clay graphite blank slide. Rotate to (X _L ). The axial rotation of the blank slide moves the wear slide surface area 22 out of the normal sliding surface path of the blank on the inner surface of the clay graphite blank slide such that the unworn inner surface area 23 of the blank slide is replaced by wear Internal surface area. In Figure 3 (a), in the radial position of the _{P. 1} through 22 by wear of internal surface area clay graphite billet rotation of the slider 12e to move clockwise by 90 ° (b) The radial position P in FIG. 3 ₂ providing an unworn interior surface area in a normal sliding surface path of the blank passing through the induction coil in the blank induction heating apparatus of the present invention.

In order to minimize the applied force and torsion required to achieve rotation of the clay graphite blank slider without damaging the induction coil, in some embodiments of the invention, the inner conductive surface 14' of the induction coil 14 and the coil facing The annular spacer volume 18 between the outer surfaces 12' of the clay graphite blank slider 12 may be filled with mica paper or other electrically insulating material exhibiting low friction surface roughness and sliding surface properties to impart conductive coil windings and A rotating sliding surface that promotes axial rotation of the clay graphite blank slider without damaging the induction coil provides high temperature dielectric protection.

In other embodiments of the invention in which the clay graphite blank slider can be replaced without disassembling the billet electrical induction heating system, the inner conductive surface 14' of the induction coil 14 and the outer surface of the coil-oriented clay graphite blank slider 12 The annular spacer volume 18 between 12' may be filled with mica paper or other electrically insulating material exhibiting low friction surface roughness and sliding surface properties to impart conductive coil windings and promote clay graphite blank sliders along the blank slider The axial length and the rotational sliding surface of the induction coil move provide high temperature dielectric protection so that the replaceable clay graphite blank slider can be inserted into or removed from the induction coil.

In certain embodiments of the invention in which a clay graphite blank slide is used in a shape other than a generally hollow inner cylinder (for example, for moving a rectangular workpiece (blank) or hollow tube and having a non-cylindrical In the case of a generally shaped workpiece (blank), longitudinal, axial or otherwise rotation of an existing clay graphite blank slide suitable for the shape of the blank slide is made such that the unworn area of the blank slide is selected as The surface is in sliding contact with the surface as the blank moves across the induction coil on the surface.

Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which the clay graphite blank runner 12a is formed as an open-ended semi-cylindrical clay graphite blank slide. In other examples of the invention, an open-ended partial cylindrical clay graphite blank slip that is larger or smaller than a half (half) cylinder in shape may be used, as may be desired for a particular application.

Figures 5(a) and 5(b) illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which a clay graphite blank slide is used for each individual blank 90a (a blank to be heated), 90b (in heating) Part (or complete) exposure of the clay material of the clay material in the form of a billet in the process) and 90c (previously heated billet), the part (or complete) of the exposed clay material billet carrier delivers individual billets to the induction coil The inside of 14 is removed from the inside of the induction coil after heating. In this non-limiting example, each blank carrier is formed from the U-shaped longitudinal length of the clay graphite material 12b and the front and rear ends of each blank container are opposite longitudinal ends of the U-shaped longitudinal length attached to the clay graphite material. A semi-circular disc 12c is formed, wherein the clay graphite blank carrier is more generally referred to as a closed-end partial hollow cylinder. In this embodiment of the invention, the clay graphite blank carrier can be moved through the induction coil by sliding of the clay graphite blank carrier disposed on the refractory material in the induction coil of the blank induction heating system of the present invention.

In certain embodiments of the invention, an in-line (or otherwise configured) multi-coil electrical induction heating system having a clay graphite blank slide is used to produce a billet that is heated to a target temperature at the exit end of the line. A clay graphite blank slide at or near the exit end of the wire in the coil of the multi-coil system will experience a clay graphite blank slip than at the inlet end of the wire at or near the inlet end of the wire Faster blank wear, as the blank is progressively heated to a higher temperature as the blank moves from the inlet end to the outlet end of the wire, and the surface temperature of the blank heats up, as the blank slides against the present invention The greater the wear of the clay graphite blank slide.

In addition to the axially rotating clay graphite blank slider as illustrated in Figures 3(a) and 3(b), at least at the outlet end of the wire in the induction coil or near the outlet end of the wire, A replaceable clay graphite blank slide is disposed in at least some of the induction coils such that at the outlet end of the coil at or near the exit end of the wire there is an entry at or near the entrance end of the line in the coil The end of the clay graphic blank slides the large worn clay graphite blank slides can be periodically interchanged to balance the life wear cycles of all of the blank slides in the multi-coil induction heating system of the present invention.

Optionally, in certain embodiments of the present invention, the clay graphite blank slide may form one or more protrusions or profiled ridges on the inner surface area of the blank slide, the blank sliding over the inner surface area Contact to conform to the shape of the blank or to enhance the billet heating characteristics in a particular application.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a billet electrical induction heating system having a clay graphite blank slide can be combined with a thermal processing apparatus for thermally processing a heated billet in a billet electrical induction heating system to form The article is manufactured or further processed to form an intermediate product of the article of manufacture. Thermal processing equipment includes, but is not limited to, forging, rolling, extruding, and drawing equipment known in the art for thermally processing billets that are heated in the billet electrical induction heating system of the present invention.

The term "clay graphite" slider material as used herein preferably refers to a blank slider material composition comprising: between 30% and 40% by weight of carbon (C); between 8 weights Between 5% and 12% by weight of lanthanum carbide (SiC); between 15% and 25% by weight of cerium oxide (SiO ₂ ); and between 10% and 20% by weight of aluminum oxide ( Al ₂ O ₃ ). The carbon in the stated range was found to provide superior billet wear.

In addition, the blank slider material composition may also contain: trace oxides, preferably not more than 6% by weight in total, usually formed from oxides of iron, boron, sodium and potassium; magnesium, cobalt and chromium compounds, A total of no more than 2% by weight; and an element (free) 矽, which is not more than 1% by weight.

A clay graphite blank slip material having a shape suitable for the application of a particular electrically inductive billet heating system can be produced, for example, from a billet slip material composition in an extrusion or injection molding process.

In the above description, for the purposes of illustration and description One or more other examples or embodiments may be practiced without some of the details in the specific details. The specific embodiments described are not intended to limit the invention but to illustrate the invention.

References throughout the specification to "an example or embodiment", "example or embodiment", "one or more instances or embodiments" or "different examples or embodiments" means, by way of example, Specific features are included in the practice of the invention. In the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single instance, an embodiment, a figure, or a description thereof for the purpose of simplifying the disclosure and the understanding of various inventive aspects.

The invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments and examples. Equivalents, alternatives, and modifications are possible and are within the scope of the invention.

10‧‧‧Blank electric induction heating system

12‧‧‧Blank Slides/Clay Graphite Blanks

12'‧‧‧ outer surface

12a‧‧‧Clay graphite blank slide

12b‧‧‧Clay graphite material

12c‧‧‧Semicircular disc

12e‧‧‧Clay graphite blank slider

14‧‧‧Induction heating coil

14'‧‧‧Internal conductive surface

16‧‧‧AC power supply

18‧‧‧ annular spacer volume

20‧‧‧Blank electric induction heating system

22‧‧‧Internal surface area/wearing slider surface area

23‧‧‧Unweared internal surface area

90‧‧‧Cylinder billet/blank

90a‧‧‧ Billets

90b‧‧‧ Billets

90c‧‧‧bills

94a‧‧‧Blank induction heating coil

94b‧‧‧Blank induction heating coil

94c‧‧‧Blank induction heating coil/coil

94d‧‧‧Blank induction heating coil

96a‧‧‧Blank support track/support track/track

96b‧‧‧Blank support track/support track/track

98a‧‧‧Blank support track/support track

98a’‧‧‧ Adjustable support

98b‧‧‧Blank support track/support track

98b’‧‧‧Adjustable stand

102‧‧‧Opened partial cylindrical stainless steel strip blank support/blank support

104‧‧‧Stainless steel lining

104a‧‧‧ section clearance

106‧‧‧Refractory materials

108‧‧‧glass strip insulation

202‧‧‧Refractory lining

204‧‧‧Refractory felt

206‧‧‧glass ribbon

302‧‧‧Refractory

402‧‧‧Refractory lining

404‧‧‧Refractory felt

406‧‧‧glass ribbon

A-A‧‧‧ line

B-B‧‧‧ line

C-C‧‧‧ line

D-D‧‧‧ line

P ₁ ‧‧‧ radial position

P ₂ ‧‧‧ radial position

X _L ‧‧‧ axial length / longitudinal axial

For purposes of illustrating the present invention, the present invention is shown in a preferred form of the invention; however, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise configuration and instrument shown.

1(a) through 1(d) are schematic cross-sectional views of a typical prior art billet electrical induction heating system.

2(a) is a transverse cross-sectional elevational view of an example of the billet electric induction heating system of the present invention taken through line AA of FIG. 2(b), and the example of the billet electric induction heating system of the present invention has Example blanks and induction coils in clay graphite blank slides and slides.

Figure 2(b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional elevational view of the billet electrical induction heating system of Figure 2(a) taken through line B-B of Figure 2(a).

3(a) and 3(b) are alternative transverse cross-sectional elevation views of another example of a billet electrical induction heating system of the present invention having a clay graphite blank slide, wherein the blank slide can surround the longitudinal direction of the slider The axis rotates.

4 is a transverse cross-sectional elevational view of another example of a billet electrical induction heating system of the present invention having a clay graphite blank slide, wherein the clay graphite blank slide is in the shape of an open partial cylindrical outer casing.

Figure 5 (a) is a transverse cross-sectional elevational view of another example of the billet electrical induction heating system of the present invention taken through line CC of Figure 5 (b), wherein the clay graphite blank slider of each blank moves through Induction coil.

Figure 5 (b) is a longitudinal section elevation view of the billet electric induction heating system of Figure 5 (a) taken through line DD of Figure 5 (a), the billet electric induction heating system of Figure 5 (a) Having a blank disposed in a clay graphite blank slide inserted into the induction coil; a heated blank after exiting the induction coil; and segmented to enter one of the induction coils after heating the blank in the induction coil Blanks.

Claims (22)

A clay graphite blank slide for moving a blank through at least one induction coil supplied with an alternating current, wherein the blank is seated on the clay graphite blank slider as it moves through the at least one induction coil. A clay graphite blank slide according to claim 1, wherein the clay graphite blank slide comprises an open-ended hollow cylinder, an open-ended partial cylinder or an open-ended hollow rectangular tube disposed in the at least one induction coil. [Claim 1] The clay graphite blank slide of claim 1, wherein the at least one induction coil comprises a solenoid induction coil, and the clay graphite blank slide comprises an open ended hollow cylinder disposed in the at least one induction coil, the open end portion Cylindrical or open-ended hollow rectangular tube. The clay graphite blank slide of any one of 2 or 3, wherein the clay graphite blank slide comprises a slip composition having at least: between 30% and 40% by weight of carbon (C); Between 8 and 12% by weight of cerium carbide (SiC); between 15% and 25% by weight of cerium oxide (SiO ₂ ); and between 10% and 20% by weight Alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ). The clay graphite blank slide of claim 4, wherein the slip composition further comprises: one or more oxides totaling no more than 6% by weight of the slip composition, preferably selected from the group consisting of iron, boron, and sodium And an oxide of potassium; one or more magnesium, cobalt and chromium compounds, the total of which does not exceed 2% by weight of the composition of the slider; and the elemental cerium which does not exceed 1% by weight of the composition of the slider. A trackless billet electric induction heating system comprising: at least one induction coil; at least one alternating current power source coupled to the at least one induction coil; and a clay graphite blank slider disposed in each of the at least one induction coil The clay graphite blank slider is electrically isolated from the at least one induction coil, the inner surface area of the clay graphite blank slider forming a blank slider surface for seating on the inner surface area of the clay graphite blank slider The blank moves through the at least one induction coil to statically or continuously heat the blank to a target temperature. The trackless billet electric induction heating system of claim 6, wherein the clay graphite billet slip is formed of a slip composition having at least: between 30% and 40% by weight of carbon (C); Between 8 wt% and 12 wt% of lanthanum carbide (SiC); between 15 wt% and 25 wt% of cerium oxide (SiO ₂ ); and between 10% and 20% by weight Alumina (Al ₂ O ₃ ). A trackless billet electrical induction heating system according to claim 7 wherein the slider composition further comprises: one or more oxides totaling no more than 6% by weight of the slider composition, preferably selected from the group consisting of iron, boron, An oxide of sodium and potassium; one or more magnesium, cobalt and chromium compounds in a total amount not exceeding 2% by weight of the composition of the slider; and an elemental cerium which does not exceed 1% by weight of the composition of the slider. A trackless billet electrical induction heating system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein an annular spacer volume is disposed between the surface of the at least one induction coil facing the slider and the surface of the clay graphite blank slider facing the coil. A trackless billet electrical induction heating system according to claim 9 further comprising a sliding surface material in the annular spacer volume for surrounding the clay graphite blank slide member without moving the at least one induction coil The axial longitudinal axis of the blank slide rotates. A trackless billet electrical induction heating system according to claim 9 further comprising a sliding surface material in the annular spacer volume for inserting or removing the clay graphite blank slider disposed in the at least one induction coil, or The annular spacer volume includes a sliding surface material for rotating the clay graphite blank slide about an axial longitudinal axis of the clay graphite blank slide without moving the at least one induction coil. The trackless billet electric induction heating system of claim 9, wherein the at least one induction coil comprises a plurality of induction coils in an in-line multi-coil induction heating system, and the clay graphite blank in each of the plurality of induction coils The slider further includes a sliding surface material in the annular spacer volume for rotating the clay graphite blank slider about its axial longitudinal axis, or including a sliding surface material for insertion or removal in the annular spacer volume The clay graphite blank slider is disposed in each of the plurality of induction coils. A trackless billet electrical induction heating system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the clay graphite blank slide provides thermal insulation between the at least one induction coil and the clay graphite blank slide. A trackless billet electrical induction heating system according to claim 13 wherein the slider composition has a heat transfer value of no more than 15 W/m•C. A thermal processing program system comprising: a trackless billet electrical induction heating system, comprising: at least one induction coil; at least one alternating current power source coupled to the at least one induction coil; and a clay graphite blank slider disposed at the at least In each of the induction coils, the clay graphite blank slider is electrically isolated from the at least one induction coil, the inner surface area of the clay graphite blank slider forming a blank slider surface for seating on the clay graphite blank Moving the blank on the inner surface area of the slider through the at least one induction coil to statically or continuously heat the blank to a target hot working temperature to form a heated blank at the exit from the at least one induction coil; A processing apparatus for receiving the heated blank to form a thermally processed article. A hot work program system according to claim 15 wherein the thermal processing apparatus comprises a hot forging apparatus. A method of forming a billet electrical induction heating system, the method comprising: providing at least one induction coil coupled to at least one alternating current power source; inserting a clay graphite blank slider into each of the at least one induction coil The clay graphite blank slide has an inner blank through opening having an inner slider surface for sliding a blank seated on the inner slider surface through the at least one induction coil; and inserting into the at least one induction coil The clay graphite slider is electrically isolated from the at least one induction coil. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming the clay graphite blank slide from a composition having at least: between 30% and 40% by weight of carbon (C); between 8% by weight to 12% by weight of lanthanum carbide (SiC); between 15% and 25% by weight of cerium oxide (SiO ₂ ); and between 10% by weight and 20% by weight of aluminum oxide (Al ₂ O ₃ ). The method of claim 18, wherein the composition is further formed by one or more oxides totaling no more than 6% by weight of the slip composition, preferably selected from the group consisting of iron, boron, sodium, and potassium. An oxide; one or more magnesium, cobalt and chromium compounds, which do not exceed 2% by weight in total; and an elemental cerium which does not exceed 1% by weight of the composition of the slider. A method of thermally processing a billet to heat it to a target temperature for hot working, the method comprising: passing a clay graphite billet slip disposed in at least one induction coil supplied with an alternating current, by causing the billet to be in the clay graphite billet The inner surface of the slider slides from the inlet of the at least one induction coil to move the blank, while the blank passing through the at least one induction coil is inductively or continuously induced to the hot working target temperature to be at the at least one induction Forming a heated blank at the exit of the coil; transferring the heated blank from the outlet of the at least one induction coil to a thermal processing apparatus; and thermally processing the heated blank in the thermal processing apparatus to form a fabricated article. The method of claim 20, wherein the thermal processing apparatus comprises a hot forging apparatus. A trackless billet electric induction heating system, comprising: at least one induction coil; at least one alternating current power source connected to the at least one induction coil; a refractory material located in the at least one induction coil; and a clay graphite blank carrier, A blank for moving in the clay graphite blank carrier is moved through the at least one induction coil in sliding contact with the refractory material.