US3121779A

US3121779A - Induction heating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3121779A
Application number: US144177A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert D Eckel; Arthur F Schaefer
Original assignee: Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp
Current assignee: Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp
Priority date: 1961-10-10
Filing date: 1961-10-10
Publication date: 1964-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1981-02-18

Description

R. D. ECKEL ETAL 3,121,779

INDUCTION HEATING APPARATUS Feb. 18, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10. 1961 1954 R. D. ECKEL ETAL 3,121,779

' INDUCTION HEATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 10. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1964 R. D. ECKEL ETAL INDUCTION HEATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 10, 1961 Feb. 18, 1964 R. p. ECKEL ETAL INQUCTION HEATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Q01. 10, 1961 United States Patent Filed Oct. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 144,177 Claims. (Cl. 219-10.67)

This invention relates to induction heating apparatus and, in particular, to induction heating apparatus for developing a substantially uniform temperature in extrusion billets.

Many different types and designs of induction heating equipment have been known and used in the prior art for effecting the heating of billets and ingots. The known equipment however has not proven to be satisfactory for developing a uniform temperature in billets of ferrous-base metals and alloys, that is, metals and alloys having one or more of nickel, iron and cobalt as the base thereof and other metals such as the refractory base metals which are designed to be hot extruded in glass lubricated dies or otherwise.

An object of this invention is to provide an induction heating apparatus for effecting a substantially uniform heating of metal billets.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in an induction heating apparatus for extrusion billets, for effecting an efiicient loading of the billet in an induction coil and to impart a predetermined oscillating motion to the billet in said coil to effect a substantially uniform heating thereof.

Otherobjects of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE -1 is a front elevational view with parts broken away of an induction heating apparatus embodying features of this invention illustrating the loading position;

FIGURE 2 is a view in elevation of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 illustrating the loaded position;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

2 FIG. 5 is a schematic isometric perspective view of certain of the components of the apparatus of, and in the same position as, that of FIGS. 1 and 4.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, this invention is illustrated by reference to an induction heating apparatus comprising a vertically disposed induction coil 12 having a cylindrical work receiving opening 13 therethrough, the coil 12 being carried on a platform 14 which is mounted on the upper end of a vertically extending supporting frame 16 formed of spaced vertical columns 13 and 2t} and a suitable cross or horizontal I beam 22 secured together, the

vertical columns

18 and 20 being disposed to be secured to a suitable supporting structure (not shown). The platform 14 has a circular opening 15 therein in alignment with the opening 13 of the coil 12 and is secured to a pair of spaced I beam sections 24 (see FIG. 4) which are carried on and secured to the upper surface of the cross beam 22. Vertical plates 26 and 28 (see FIG. 1) are secured to the ends of the spaced I beams sections 24 and across the flanges of the cross beam 22 to form supports for

bearing pillow blocks

30 and 32, respectively, in which a horizontal shaft 34 is mounted for rotation. A pair of ratchet wheels 36 and 3 8, having teeth 41) and 42, respectively, are mounted on the shaft 34 for

engaging chain drives

44 and 16, respectively, as will be referred to hereinafter. 1

3,121,779 Patented Feb. 18, 1964 Adacent the upper ends of

columns

18 and 20, a plu' rality of outwardly extending horizontal plate members 4 8'50-5254 and 565860'6 2, respectively, are disposed and secured thereto in spaced relation as by welding for providing supporting bases for receiving base plates 64 and '66, respectively, which are secured thereto as by Welding. Mounted on the spaced base plates 64 and 6'6 are supporting members 68- 69 and 7071, respectively, which have their bases bolted to such base plates, each of the supporting

members

69 and 71 carrying an outwardly extending flange member 7273 and 74-75 disposed to support bearing

pillow blocks

76 and 78, respectively, for receiving the ends of shafts 80* and 82, respectively. The mounting of the

pillow blocks

76 and 78 is reinforced as by means of the flange plates '84 and 86, respectively, being welded to the

respective plates

84 and 86 and notched portions of the sides of the associated supporting

flange members

72 and 74. A pair of

micro switch housings

88 and 90 are also carried on two adjacent surfaces of the pillow block 78 with the actuating

roller members

92 and 94 of such switches disposed to be selectively engaged by an actuating arm 96 carried on the end of the shaft 82 as will be referred to hereinafter.

intermediate the ends of vertical columns 13 and 20 a pair of outwardly extending horizontal plate members 98-19% and 102-404, respectively, are disposed and secured thereto in spaced relation as by welding for supporting base plates 1% and 168, respectively, on which are mounted supporting and reinforcing members and 112, respectively. A similar pair of plate members 114*116 and 1 1 8120 are disposed on and secured to columns 18 and 251, respectively, adjacent the lower ends thereof for supporting

base plates

122 and 124, respectively, which carry supporting

members

126 and 128, respectively.

:Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, horizontal plate members 13% and 132 are also secured to the under side of

plate members

116 and 120, respectively, and downwardly extending

base plates

134 and 136, respectively, are secured as by welding to the members and 132, respectively. Each of the

base plates

134 and 136 is reinforced by a flange rib member 138 which is secured as by welding to the back of each of the

base plates

134 and 136 and the under side of the horizontal plate members 131) and 132, respectively. The

base plates

134 and 136 thus provide supports on which bearing pillow blocks 141i and 142, respectively, are mounted for receiving a drive shaft 144 and on which a pair of spaced ratchet wheels 1'46 and 148 are mounted with the teeth thereof in engagement with the endless chain drives 44 and 4 5, respectively. The shaft 144 ext-ends outwardly from the assembly as shown in PEG. 5 and is disposed to be mechanically connected to a reversible drive motor (not shown) to actuate the chain drives 4 and 4 6.

In order to guard the

chain drives

44 and 46, a pair of U-shaped channel guard members 1511' and 152, respectively, are positioned on their sides to receive the front strand of such chain drives and are seated as shown in FIGS. v1-4 on the horizontal plate members 4-8 S 52-54--93-1tit111@116 and 5658-6fi-62 1152-104-118-1211, respectively, which are mounted in spaced relation on the columns 18 and 2t), respectively, the guards 151i and 152 being preferably welded to 150 and 152, respectively, and are preferably welded thereto to aid in the support thereof.

In order to support and position a billet 166 in position for entry into or discharge from the induction coil 12, a billet receiving housing 168 having shafts 8b and 82 secured to the sides thereof adjacent one end thereof is mounted with the ends of the shafts 811 and 82 disposed for pivotal movement in the bearing pillow blocks. 76 and 78, respectively. The housing 168 is formed of three

curved sections

170, 172 and 174 having outwardly extending flanges 176 178, 1811-182 and 1154-186, respectively, at the outer edges thereof and which are disposed to be connected, as by bolts through the adjacent flanges into circular shape with spaced rollers 188 disposed to be carried between the adjacent flanges as well as on the outer flanges of the assembly. When thus assembled, the housing 168 comprises about three-fourths of a cylinder with an open or slotted portion 190 extending lengthwise thereof in the upper side when the housing is in the horizontal position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The back edge of the lower section 172 as viewed in FIG. 1 carries a lip or flange 192 which projects inwardly of the housing 168 to serve as a stop when the billet 166 is received in the housing and as a support for the billet when the housing 168 is pivotally rotated to the vertical position as will be referred to hereinafter.

In order to support the housing 168 and to effect a pivotal movement thereof, the housing 168 is carried in a U-shaped frame 193 comprising

side plates

194 and 196 and a bottom plate 198 which are welded together with L-shaped blocks 2% and 262 secured as by welding to the upper edges of the

side plates

194 and 196, respectively.

Stud blocks

204 and 266 are welded to the sides of

sec tions

170 and 174, respectively, of the housing 168 and terminate in a step shoulder to seat on the blocks 2% and 202, respectively, and are removably secured thereto as by means of

stud bolts

208 and 210, respectively. Depending

arms

212 and 214 are secured to the

side plates

194 and 196, respectively, and to the

blocks

260 and 262, respectively, and extend downwardly therefrom a short distance as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4 to seat in

yoke members

216 and 218, respectively, the lower ends of

arms

212 and 214 being pivotally connected in such yoke members. The

yoke members

216 and 218 are mechanically connected to the ends of piston arms 22th and 222, respectively of

hydraulic piston assemblies

224 and 226, respectively, the lower ends of which are pivotally secured to clevises 228 and 230, respectively, mounted on suitable

fixed supports

232 and 234, respectively. It will be appreciated that only the piston assembly 224 is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 in the interest of clarity, the piston assembly 226 being shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It will also be appreciated that where the mass of the housing 168 and billet contained therein permits, only the assembly of the depending arm 212, yoke member 216, piston assembly 224 and support 232 need be employed, the omission of the arm 214, yoke member 218, piston assembly 226 and support 234 thus simplifying the construction.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, a vertically disposed ceramic stool or pedestal 236 is disposed to be in alignment with the billet receiving housing 168 when the housing is in the vertical position and with the work receiving opening in the induction coil 12. In order to actuate the stool 236 to effect a vertical movement thereof, the stool is connected to and disposed to be moved in response to movement of the

endless chain drives

44 and 46. Thus a frame member 238 formed of upper and lower spaced cross bars 240 and 242, respectively, and spaced side bars 244 (only one of which is shown in. FIG. 1) and a front and

rear face plate

246 and 248,

means of upper and

lower studs

254 and 256, respectively, to and as a part of the endless chain drives 44 and 46. In order to guide the frame 238 for free movement relative to the

guard members

156 and 152 in which one strand of the

endless chains

44 and 46, respectively, are mounted, a pair of

roller members

258 and 260 are mounted on each of the side bars 244 and are disposed to ride in the guard channels. The roller members 258 and 261) are slightly smaller than the channel formed in the guard members so that binding does not occur. An outwardly extending flange plate 262 is secured to the face plate 246 of the frame member 238 and carries a supporting plate 264 at the upper end thereof. A supporting base 266 to which the stool 236 is secured is disposed to be removably connected to the supporting plate 264 whereby different sized stools may be readily installed in the assembly. It is to be noted that the supporting face plate 264 is of a width to pass longitudinally through the slotted portion of the housing 166 when the housing is positioned in the vertical position and that the ceramic stool 236 is of a size to pass by the stop 192 into the interior of the housing 168 to seat against the end of the billet 166 and support the billet during movement thereof into and out of the induction coil 12 as will be referred to hereinafter.

Again referring to FIG. 4, it is seen that the rear face plate 248 of the frame member 233 has a sliding contact member 267 secured thereto disposed in alignment with the roller contact members 268, 271) and 272 of spaced

micro switch members

274, 276 and 278, respectively. The micro switch 274 is utilized to control the lower limit of movement of the frame member 238 and conse quently the lower positioning of the stool 236, whereas, the micro switches 2'76 and 278 are utilized to control a vertical oscillating movement of the frame member 238 and consequently the vertical oscillating movement of the billet 166 when the billet is positioned within the confines of the induction coil 12 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

In order to establish the limits of the oscillating movement of the billet 166 in the induction coil 12, the micro switch 278 is mounted on the horizontal I beam 22 in a fixed position to limit the upper movement of the frame member 238 and the billet 166 whereas the micro switch 276 is mounted on an adjustable cross bar 280 which is disposed (see FIGS. 1-4) with its ends releasably secured to vertical columns 18 and 21 Thus

vertical slots

282 and 234 are provided in columns 18 and 29, respectively, to receive

stud bolts

286 and 288, respectively, which extend through the slots into the ends of the cross bar 280 and which can be released for vertical adjustment of the cross bar 280 relative to such slots. The control systems actuated by the different micro switches for controlling the operation of the reversible motor (not shown) for effecting the operation of the

drive chains

44 and 46 and the operation of the

hydraulic rams

224 and 226 are not illustrated as they form no part of the present invention and different control systems may be used.

In order to eject the billet 166 from the housing 163 when the housing is in the horizontal position, a discharge pusher plate 290 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) carried by an arm 7 292 and disposed to be actuated by a suitable hydraulic respectively, are welded together and the welded assembly is secured between an upper and lower connecting

arm

250 and 252, respectively. The arms 251i and 252 extend beyond the side bars 244 and are connected as by piston assembly 294 is positioned to be actuated into seating engagement with the end of the billet 166 to move the billet over the rollers 188 and out of the housing. The pusher plate 291 is positioned relative to the horizontally disposed housing 168 so as to pass over the stop member 192 and pass through the slotted portion of the housing 163 while ejecting the billet and as the pusher plateis retracted from the housing.

Any suitable means may be employed for supplying the billet to and receiving the billet from the horizontally positioned housing 168. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a loading and unloading trough assembly 296 is illustrated disposed adjacent the end of the housing 168. The assembly 296 comprises a base member 298 having rollers (not shown) carried on the ends thereof disposed to ride in rails or tracks 3% and 362 formed from I beams and a carriage 304 mounted on the base member. .The carriage 304 carries a trough member 306 of a size to accommodate the billet 166 and a guide member 308 adjacent the trough, the guide member 308 carrying a slidable pusher member 31% having a pusher arm 312 which is disposed to be seated against the end of the billet to move the billet from the trough 366 into the horizontally positioned housing 168. The pusher member 310 is mechanically connected to a hydraulic piston assembly 3114 which is disposed to be operated to move the pusher member 310 lengthwise of the guide member 308 to eject the billet and to retract the guide member 308 so that the billet can be received in the trough 306. After the billet is ejected from the housing 168, the carriage 304 may be moved lengthwise on the rails 304i and 302 to a position tree of the frame 16 where the billet may be discharged from the trough 3136 to be further processed.

{The operation 1t? will next be described. Assuming that the billet receiving housing 168 is in the horizontal position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 for receiving a billet 166, a billet which has been preheated to a predetermined temperature is supplied to the trough 3G6 and the carriage 364 is moved to the loading position shown in PEG. 5. The hydraulic mechanism 314 is then actuated so that the arm 312 seats against the end of the preheated billet 11 66 and moves the billet lengthwise of the trough 3116 into the housing 168 where it rides on the rollers 188 and seats against the stop 192. It will be appreciated that the housing 168 may be actuated by a manual control of the

hydraulic mechanisms

224 and 226 to move between the horizontal and the vertical positions although usually all of the operations to be described will be controlled by suitable automatic control systems (not shown). Thus, micro switches 88 and 91 have their

contact members

92 and 94 disposed on the housing to be selectively engaged by the arm 96 depending upon whether the housing 186 is in the horizontal or the vertical position, respectively, the micro switches being disposed to be connected to suitable relays for establishing control circuits where the operation is to be controlled automatically. in this description the function of the micro switches 38 and 911 will not be described for it will be assumed that a manual control is utilized for effecting the operation necessary for positioning the housing 163 in the horizontal or vertical positions.

With the billet 166 seated in the housing 168, the hydraulic mechanisms 24 i and 226 are actuated to drive their pistons upwardly to eifect a rotation of the housing i163 about the shafts 8t and 82 until. the housing 168 is in a vertical position aligned with the opening 13 in the induction coil 12. In this position the billet 166 is seated against the stop 1192. With the housing 163 in the vertical position described, the drive motor (not shown) is energized to elfect a rotation of the shaft 144 to drive the ratchet wheels 1142 and 146 in a direction to drive the chain drives 44 and 46 to move the ceramic stool 236 vertically to a position where it engages the lower end of the vertically disposed billet 166 within the housing 16-8 so as to pick up the billet 166 and carry it vertically into the induction coil 12. As the stool 236 moves the billet '166 into the confines of induction coil 12, it is seen that the sliding contact member 267 carried on the support for the ceramic stool 2-36, passes over contact member 270 of the micro switch 276 and as the stool continues to be raised, engages the contact member 272 of the micro switch 278. The micro switch 278 is connected in a control circuit (not shown) to reverse the direction of operation of the drive motor for the shaft 144, it being noted that such micro switch 2'78 is positioned so as to limit the upward movement of the billet 166 in the coil 12. This limit of movement is usually about three inches from the upper end of the induction coil 12.

When the motor drive (not shown) is reversed, the direction of movement of the chain drives 44 and 46 is reversed to lower the billet 16.6 in the induction coil 12 a predetermined distance depending upon the location of the micro switch 276, the positioning of which has been described hereinbefore as being adjustable. Thus, as a sliding contact member 267 moves downwardly to a posi tion where it engages the contact member 270 of microswiteh 276, the stroke of movement of the billet 166 in the coil 12 is determined since the micro switch 276 is connected to again reverse the direction of the motor drive (not shown) to again effect an upward movement of the billet 166 in the coil 12. The positioning of the micro switch 276 depends upon the length of the billet 166 which is to be heated in the induction coil 12. The vertical oscillation thus imparted to the billet 166 in the coil 12 is continued until it has been determined that the temperature of the billet 166 has been raised to a predetermined temperature usually in the neighborhood of 2300" F. Such determination of temperature can be readily determined by scanning the sides of the billet 166 through the sight opening *15' as by means of a radiation pyrometer (not shown). When the temperature has thus been increased to the predetermined temperature desired in the billet 166, a suitable cutout (not shown) may be energized to deenergize the control eifected by the micro switch 276 so that the motor drive (not shown) is continued in a direction to drive the stool 236 downwardly to remove the billet 166 from the coil 12 and lower the billet into the vertical housing 163 to a position Where the end of the heated billet again seats on the stop 192. The downward stroke of the stool 236 is continued, however, until the sliding contact member 267 engages the contact member 268 of micro switch 274 to establish a circuit to stop the operation of the motor drive (not shown) whereby the stool 236 is clear of the housing 168.

The

hydraulic rams

224 and 226 are then actuated to retract their piston rods and thereby effect a pivotal movement of the housing 168 from the vertical position to the horizontal position shown in FllGS. 1, 4 and 5. With the carriage 3114- positioned so that the trough 306 is in alignment with the housing 168, the hydraulic mechanism 294 is actuated to drive the pusher plate 2% forwardly to seat against the end of the billet 166 and drive the billet from the housing 163 into the trough 306 after which the pusher plate 2% is retracted from the housing 163. The carriage 3124 may then be moved to a position where the billet may be discharged from the trough 3116 away from the apparatus 10 for further processing.

The apparatus of this invention makes it possible to effect a substantially uniform heating of a billet in an induction coil without encountering banding. It will be appreciated that the configurations of the windings of any induction coil determines the distribution of magnetic flux inside the coil and that the heating of the billet in the coil 12 is a function of the magnetic flux. 'If the vertical oscillation of the billet :166 within the coil 12 as previously described was not utilized but instead the billet was maintained stationary within the coil, it would be found that the temperature of the billet Would vary axially throughout the length of the billet depending upon the axial variation of the flux of the coil. This temperature banding effect Would be detrimental since, in particular Where billets of different sizes are used, the temperature lengthwise of the billet would no longer be even. However, by providing for the vertical oscillation of the billet within the coil 12, it is seen that each portion of the billet is subjected to the flux density through the length of the coil thereby eliminating the detrimental effects of the peaks and valleys of flux densities inherently encountered in any induction coil.

With the apparatus of this invention it is possible to utilize thesame induction coil 12 for developing predetermined temperatures in billets which vary in length from eight to twenty-six inches. In practice it has been found it is desirable to oscillate the billet in the induction coil at a speed of from twenty to thirty-six inches per minute in developing the uniform temperatures desired.

It will be appreciated that in order to utilize the apparatus with billets having different diameters it may be necessary to employ different sized housings 163 depending upon the diameter of the billet. For this reason, the housing 1-68 is releasably mounted in its supporting frame and different housings I63 can be readily substituted in the apparatus simply by releasing the stud screws 2% and 210 to permit the removal of a given housing and the substitution therefor of a different housing which is then secured by the stud screws 2% and 210 in an operative position.

Further, by using the

guards

150 and 152, the support for the stool 236 is maintained at all times in a substantially constant plane so as to align the stool 236 with the opening in the vertically disposed housing 163 and the opening in the induction coil 12 so that a vertically aligned movement can always be obtained.

it will be appreciated that a plurality of the apparatus may be assembled in banks with the carriage 3% serving more than one of the apparatus 10 so that as a billet 166 is being heated in one induction coil 12 a heated billet can be removed from another housing 168 and a continuous supply of heated billets can be obtained for further processing such as in an extrusion operation. Where a plurality of the apparatus it) are utilized, it will be appreciated that interlocking control systems are desirable and that the entire operation of such loading, heating and unloading can be effected automatically.

The apparatus of this invention makes it possible to heat billets to a uniform temperature in a minimum of time with the loading and unloading of the billets being effected efiiciently by the apparatus disclosed. The apparatus described can be readily reproduced by anyone skilled in the art, as such apparatus is formed of standard components.

We claim:

1. In an induction heating apparatus including a vertically disposed induction coil having an opening therein adapted to accommodate a billet to be heated therein, the combination comprising, an open-ended loader pivotally mounted beneath said induction coil and disposed to be actuated between a billet receiving and discharging horizontal position and a vertical position Where said loader is aligned with the opening in said induction coil, stop means carried at one end of said loader for receiving and maintaining the billet in said loader as said loader moves to the vertical position, billet support means disposed beneath said loader and in alignment therewith when said loader is in the vertical position, said support means being disposed to be moved into and out of supporting engagementwith an end of the billet when said loader and billet contained therein are in the vertical position, actuating means disposed to be operated to effect vertical move ment of said support means to engage and lift the billet from said loader into said induction coil and to lower the billet therefrom to seat against said stop means, and means disposed to control the vertical movement of said support means when the billet is within said induction coil to impart a predetermined vertical oscillation to the billet within said coil so that said coil can develop a substantially uniform heating of the billet.

2. In an induction heating apparatus including a vertically disposed induction coil having an opening therein adapted to accommodate a billet to be heated therein, the combination comprising, an open-ended loader pivotally mounted beneath said induction coil and disposed to be actuated between a billet receiving and discharging horizontal position and a vertical position where said loader is aligned with the opening in said induction coil, stop 8 means carried at one end of said loader for receiving and maintaining the billet in said loader as said loader moves to the vertical position, billet support means disposed beneath said loader and in alignment therewith when said loader is in the vertical position, said support means be ing disposed to be moved into and out of supporting engagement with an end of the billet when said loader and billet contained therein are in the vertical position, actuating means disposed to be operated to effect vertical movement of said support means to engage and lift the billet from said loader into said induction coil and to lower the billet therefrom to seat against said stop means, means disposed to control the vertical movement of said support means when the billet is within said induction coil to impart a predetermined vertical oscillation to the billet within said coil so that said coil can develop a substantially uniform heating of the billet, and billet removing means disposed in alignment with the billet when said loader is in the discharge horizontal position, said billet removing means being disposed for movement to engage and move the billet from said loader.

3. In an induction heating apparatus including a vertically disposed induction coil having an opening therein adapted to accommodate a billet to be heated therein, the combination comprising, an open-ended loader pivotally mounted beneath said induction coil and disposed to be actuated between a billet receiving and discharging horizontal position and a vertical position in alignment with the opening of said induction coil, spaced roller means carried by said loader for receiving a billet to facilitate the loading and unloading thereof when the loader is in the horizontal position, stop means carried at one end of said loader for receiving and maintaining a billet therein as said loader moves to the vertical position, said loader having a soltted opening through the side thereof and extending throughout the length thereof, a billet support means disposed beneath said loader in alignment therewith when said loader is in the vertical position, said support means being disposed to be moved into and out of supporting engagement with an end of the billet when said loader and billet contained therein are in the vertical position, said support means also being aligned with said slotted opening and being disposed to be moved lengthwise thereof to vertically move the billet from said loader into said induction coil and return the billet to said loader, actuating means disposed to be operated to effect said vertical movement of said support means, and means disposed to control said vertical move ment to impart a predetermined oscillation movement to the billet when positioned within said coil.

4. In an induction heating apparatus including a vertically disposed induction coil having an opening therein adapted to accommodate a billet to be heated therein, the combination comprising, an open-ended loader pivotally mounted beneath said induction coil and disposed to be actuated between a billet receiving and discharging horizontal position and a vertical position in alignment with the opening of said induction coil, spaced roller means carried by said loader for receiving a billet to facilitate the loading and unloading thereof when the loader is in the horizontal position, stop means carried at one end of said loader for receiving and maintaining a billet therein as said loader moves to the vertical position, said loader having a slotted opening through the side thereof and extending throughout the length thereof, a billet support means disposed beneath said ioa'der in alignment therewith when said loader is in the vertical position, said support means being disposed to be moved into and out of supporting engagement with an end of the billet when said loader and billet contained therein are in the vertical position, said support means also being aligned with said slotted opening and being disposed to be moved lengthwise thereof to vertically move the billet from said loader into said induction coil and return the billet to said loader, actuating means disposed to be operated to effect said vertical movement of said support means, means disposed to control said vertical movement to impart a predetermined oscillation movement to the billet "when positioned Within said coil, and billet removing means disposed in alignment With the billet when said loader is in said horizontal position, said removing means being disposed to be actuated to engage and move the billet from said loader.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 in which movement in said slotted opening to engage and move the billet over said spaced roller means to eject the billet from said horizontally positioned loader.

Referenees Cited in the tile of this patent said billet removing means is disposed for horizontal 10 2,671,160

UNITED STATES PATENTS SegsWorth Mar. 2,

Claims

1. IN AN INDUCTION HEATING APPARATUS INCLUDING A VERTICALLY DISPOSED INDUCTION COIL HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN ADAPTED TO ACCOMMODATE A BILLET TO BE HEATED THEREIN, THE MOUNTED BENEATH SAID INDUCTION COIL AND DISPOSED TO BE ACTUATED BETWEEN A BILLET RECEIVING AND DISCHARGING HORIZONTAL POSITION AND A VERTICAL POSITION WHERE SAID LOADER IS ALIGNED WITH THE OPENING IN SAID INDUCTION COIL, STOP MEANS CARRIED AT ONE END OF SAID LOADER AS SAID LOADER MOVES TO THE VERTICAL POSITION, BILLET SUPPORT MEANS DISPOSED BENEATH SAID LOADER AND IN ALIGNMENT THEREWITH WHEN SAID LOADER IS IN THE VERTICAL POSITION, SAID SUPPORT MEANS BEING DISPOSED TO BE MOVED INTO AND OUT OF SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT WITH AN END OF THE BILLET WHEN SAID LOADER AND BILLET CONTAINED THEREIN ARE IN THE VERTICAL POSITION, ACTUATING MEANS DISPOSED TO BE OPERATED TO EFFECT VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO ENGAGE AND LIFT THE BILLET