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WO2025188229A1 - Système de moulage à chauffage inductif - Google Patents

Système de moulage à chauffage inductif

Info

Publication number
WO2025188229A1
WO2025188229A1 PCT/SE2025/050207 SE2025050207W WO2025188229A1 WO 2025188229 A1 WO2025188229 A1 WO 2025188229A1 SE 2025050207 W SE2025050207 W SE 2025050207W WO 2025188229 A1 WO2025188229 A1 WO 2025188229A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
molding tool
electrically conductive
inductor unit
coil
heat generation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/SE2025/050207
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2025188229A8 (fr
Inventor
Kenneth FROGNER
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
COREBON AB
Original Assignee
COREBON AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by COREBON AB filed Critical COREBON AB
Publication of WO2025188229A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025188229A1/fr
Publication of WO2025188229A8 publication Critical patent/WO2025188229A8/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/02—Induction heating
    • H05B6/10—Induction heating apparatus, other than furnaces, for specific applications
    • H05B6/105—Induction heating apparatus, other than furnaces, for specific applications using a susceptor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C33/00—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
    • B29C33/02—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor with incorporated heating or cooling means
    • B29C33/06—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor with incorporated heating or cooling means using radiation, e.g. electro-magnetic waves, induction heating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C43/00—Compression moulding, i.e. applying external pressure to flow the moulding material; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C43/32—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C43/52—Heating or cooling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C45/17—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C45/72—Heating or cooling
    • B29C45/73—Heating or cooling of the mould
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/02—Induction heating
    • H05B6/06—Control, e.g. of temperature, of power
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/02—Induction heating
    • H05B6/10—Induction heating apparatus, other than furnaces, for specific applications
    • H05B6/14—Tools, e.g. nozzles, rollers, calenders
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/02—Induction heating
    • H05B6/36—Coil arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to a system for uniform temperature generation in an article or part to be formed by molding.
  • a common problem associated with manufacturing of articles to be formed by molding are long cycle times, large energy consumption and/or expensive customization for each individual molding tool design.
  • the articles formed are often left with areas that are either overheated or insufficiently heated. This is particularly problematic when forming fiber composite parts in which fibers and a matrix material, typically a thermoset or thermoplastic binder, are being molded through a curing or consolidation process. Overheated areas on the formed articles, often referred to as hot spots, may result in poor material quality in the articles.
  • the poor quality may be detrimental to the overall function of the composite part.
  • insufficiently heated areas of the formed article may result in equally detrimental effects.
  • An object of the present invention is to solve or at least mitigate the problems related to prior art. This object is achieved by means of the technique set forth in the appended independent claims; preferred embodiments being defined in the related dependent claims.
  • a system for uniform temperature generation in an article or part to be formed by molding.
  • the system includes a molding tool comprising an electrically conductive element, and a heat generation means.
  • the system includes an inductor unit comprising at least one coil wound such that a current flowing in each winding of the at least one coil is directed alternatingly in a positive and negative direction with respect to an adjacent winding of the at least one coil.
  • the inductor unit is configured to induce a current in the molding tool.
  • the electrically conductive element is configured to electrically bypass current induced in the molding tool by the inductor unit, at an interface between the electrically conductive element and the heat generation means.
  • the electrically conductive element is coated or plated on the heat generation means, or vice versa. This may be beneficial in cases where there is no pressure applied on the molding tool, and where proper electrical and thermal contact between the electrically conductive element and the heat generation means is to be ensured. It is also beneficial for easy handling, as well as to keep the thermal mass to a minimum. Furthermore, it enables a more sophisticated heating pattern, which is beneficial to achieve a uniform temperature on the molding surface when the molding tool varies in thickness.
  • the electrically conductive element and the heat generation means are assembled from separate parts. Consequently, the molding tool can have unlimited shapes since the choice, amount and shape of the electrically conductive element and the heat generation means can be tailored to a certain application. This can be beneficial to be able to reuse certain parts of a tool when a number of similar molding tools are being used. It may also be beneficial to mitigate thermal distortion due to the combination of materials with different thermal expansion coefficients.
  • the at least one coil of the inductor unit comprises wires that are electrically insulated from the molding tool.
  • the wires are litz wires. Litz wires are beneficial due to their flexibility and low losses at high frequencies. Moreover, they ensure a good efficiency in the system.
  • the at least one coil is embedded in an embedding material.
  • the embedding material is an electrically insulated material, or a material with an electrical resistivity high enough to prevent significant currents from being induced, resulting in undesired heat losses. This is beneficial in that the inductor unit can be used in several different locations.
  • the inductor unit further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive parts and a plurality of soft magnetic parts.
  • the conductive parts of the inductor unit contribute to the amplification of current to be induced in the heat generation means of the molding tool.
  • the soft magnetic material is beneficial in that it contributes to the efficiency and performance of the inductor unit.
  • the soft magnetic material also shields electromagnetic fields from heating undesired objects such as a press in cases where the molding tool is to be used in a press.
  • the at least one coil is arranged in each of the electrically conductive parts of the inductor unit. This further contributes to the efficient heat generation in the molding tool by amplifying the current induced in the heating arrangement. It has a number of advantages, such as improvement of the heating pattern, and robustness to withstand mechanical loading when a press is used.
  • the electrically conductive parts are arranged alternatingly in parallel with each other, separated by the soft magnetic parts of the inductor unit. This is advantageous in that the current can be further concentrated. Moreover, it provides the ability to separately activate versus deactivate certain areas of the inductor unit and thereby contribute to controlled heating of the molding tool.
  • the electrically conductive parts are preferably insulated from each other as well as from the molding tool and other electrically conductive objects to avoid short circuit.
  • the inductor unit comprises a cooling channel provided in each electrically conductive part or in an adjacent element which is in thermal contact with the electrically conductive parts and/or the soft magnetic parts.
  • the system further comprises a thermal insulation arranged between the molding tool and the inductor unit to avoid undesired cooling power from being lost to the inductor unit.
  • the inductor unit is preferably used to cool the molding tool through conduction.
  • the thickness and properties of the thermal insulation may be selected as a trade-off between cool rate and power loss since there is a continuous conductive cooling effect on the molding tool.
  • the molding tool further comprises a cooling channel in the electrically conductive element and/or the heat generation means. This provides efficient cooling directly in the molding tool.
  • the design further allows for high processing temperatures of the molding tool, given the temperature rating of the thermal insulation.
  • the system further comprises a cooling plate.
  • the cooling plate comprises at least one cooling channel. This is beneficial in that no intrusion needs to be made in the molding tool. In this case, the heat generation characteristics of the molding tool, i.e. the heat generating means and the electrically conductive element is rather transferred to the cooling plate.
  • the heat generation means has a relative permeability > 10. The power generation and thereby the efficiency increases with increased permeability, and further on increases the difference in power generation in the electrically conductive element, thus reducing the edge effect.
  • the heat generation means is a magnetic element and/or an element having a resistivity which is higher than the resistivity of the electrically conductive element. This causes a difference in power generation compared to in the electrically conductive element, thus reducing the edge effect. Further on, high electrical resistivity and high magnetic permeability of a metal object generally increases the efficiency of the system.
  • the resistivity of the heat generation means is at least two times higher than the resistivity of the electrically conductive element.
  • the resistivity of the heat generation means is at least three times higher, and more preferably at least four times higher than the resistivity of the electrically conductive element.
  • a system for uniform temperature generation in an article or part to be formed by molding.
  • the system includes a molding tool, wherein said molding tool optionally comprises a heat generation means.
  • the system includes an inductor unit comprising at least one coil wound such that a current flowing in each winding of the at least one coil is directed alternatingly in a positive and negative direction with respect to an adjacent winding of the at least one coil.
  • the inductor unit is configured to induce a current in the molding tool.
  • the inductor unit further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive parts and a plurality of soft magnetic parts and where the at least one coil is arranged of the electrically conductive parts of the inductor unit.
  • the electrically conductive parts are arranged alternatingly in parallel with each other, separated by the soft magnetic parts of the inductor unit.
  • the inductor unit further comprises a cooling channel provided in each electrically conductive part or in an adjacent element which is in thermal contact with the electrically conductive parts and/or the soft magnetic parts.
  • system further comprises a thermal insulation arranged between the molding tool and the inductor unit, preferably wherein the inductor unit is used to cool the molding tool through conduction.
  • the electrically conductive element is made from extrusion.
  • the system(s) as described above are adaptable to different sizes of molding tools. At the same time, they exhibits a rather short cycle time as compared to conventional techniques used, thanks to the ingenious arrangement of electrically conductive elements and heat generation means in relation to the powerful inductor unit.
  • Figs. 2-7 are cross-section views of the system according to different embodiments.
  • Figs 8-9 are zoomed in cross-section views of an inductor unit according to different embodiments.
  • Figs 13-15 are rear views of a molding tool having coating patterns according to different embodiments.
  • Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the system
  • a system 1 for uniform temperature generation in an article to be formed by molding is shown.
  • the system 1 may also be referred to as a heating arrangement system, or simply a heating arrangement.
  • the system 1 includes a molding tool 10, and an inductor unit 20 provided for inductively heating the molding tool 10.
  • the molding tool 10 and the inductor unit 20 are preferably manufactured separately.
  • a processing means 50 may be included in the system for actuating the inductor unit 20, such as by applying an alternating or direct current to the inductor unit 20.
  • the inductor unit 20 may be in operative communication with the processing means 50.
  • more than one inductor unit may be controlled by one or a group of processing means.
  • the molding tool 10 may also be in operative communication with the processing means 50, for instance with the purpose of measuring temperature or other properties or for cooling the molding tool 10 after a molding cycle has been performed.
  • the processing means 50 may be external to the system 1.
  • the processing means 50 may be a frequency converter or the like.
  • the processing means may further include a chiller, signal transmitters etc.
  • An overall purpose with the system 1 is to efficiently form articles in the molding tool 10, where temperature distribution is uniform during forming so that the article is homogenously heated.
  • the articles to be formed by the molding tool 10 are indirectly heated by the inductor unit 20.
  • the molding tool 10 is heated by the inductor unit 20, whereby the material, which is in contact with the molding tool 10 is heated indirectly by the inductor unit 20.
  • the material to be formed may be a composite material, such as a fiber composite material, carbon fiber thermoplastic (woven or non-woven and/or semipreg or prepreg formats) or thermoplastic composite materials such as PEEK, PEKK and PAEK, preferably fiber composite material.
  • the material to be formed may also be carbon fiber laminates, blanks, or organosheets.
  • the inductor unit 20 includes a support structure (not shown), which keeps all the elements of the inductor unit 20 in place at the same time contributes to a robustness of the system 1.
  • the electrical conductor 11 is preferably a non-magnetic material made of e.g. aluminium, copper, tungsten or a material coated or plated with such a metal.
  • the electrical conductor 11 may be arranged on top of the heat generator 12 in the molding tool 10, opposite to the inductor unit 20.
  • Fig. 2A schematically illustrates the electrical conductor 11 as a layer having substantially the same thickness throughout a molding tool 10 body.
  • Fig. 2B illustrates the electrical conductor 11 as a layer having different thickness at the edges with respect to a center portion of the molding tool 10.
  • the heat generator 12 may be described as a magnetic element 12.
  • the heat generator 12 may be an element 12 having a resistivity that is higher than the resistivity of the electrical conductor 11.
  • the heat generator 12 may be made of a combination of the magnetic material and the highly resistive element 12.
  • the highly resistive element 12 may be either magnetic or non-magnetic, such as ferritic steel versus austenitic steel.
  • the heat generator 12 has a resistivity that is at least two times higher than the one of the electrical conductor 11, preferably three times higher, and more preferably four times higher.
  • the relative permeability of the heat generator 12 is preferably above 10.
  • One property differentiating the generator 12 from the electrically conductor 11 is the amount of heat generation obtained from a high frequency current. Within reasonable limits, the heat generation increases with increasing resistivity as well as with increased magnetic permeability. Thus, the product of the magnetic permeability and the electrical resistivity should be higher in the generator than in the electrical conductor.
  • the heat generator 12 may be in the form of a steel or nickel plate.
  • the electrical conductor 11 is integrated in the heat generator
  • the molding tool 10 may be built up in layers by different materials, such as a first layer of steel, a second layer of copper and a third layer of steel.
  • the first and second layers act as the main features for heating the mold, whereas the third layer acts as a molding surface that is to be in contact with the material to be formed in the molding tool 10.
  • the first layer is aluminium
  • the second layer is highly resistive nonmagnetic titanium or steel
  • the third layer is highly resistive magnetic ferritic steel.
  • a combination of a magnetic and/or high resisitivty material and nonmagnetic, high conductivity material is beneficial for the efficiency of the molding tool 10.
  • the magnetic and/or high resisitivty material may be represented by a steel sheet whereas the non-magnetic, high conductivity material is represented by an aluminium mold.
  • the magnetic and/or high resisitivty material may be represented by a steel/nickel mold having the high conductivity material as a copper plating.
  • the molding tools 10 may be used with double sided tooling in a press, for example in compression molding or resin transfer molding. They may alternatively be used as a single sided tooling solution for vacuum molding, bladder molding or autoclave processing.
  • the solution has advantages for processing of for example thermoplastic as well as thermoset composite parts.
  • a coil 21 is folded in a way that resembles a serpentine road which curves back and forth on itself.
  • the coil 21 is arranged in a meander-like pattern in the inductor unit, such that an alternating electric current flowing through the coil 21 is to its major extent directed in, altematingly, opposite directions over the outer surface of the molding tool 10, following the meander-like pattern.
  • the direction of the current is represented by arrows.
  • Another example of coils 21 folded in a meander-like pattern is shown in Fig. 11, where two coils follow the same pattern, offset from each other.
  • the inductor design may also feature a more two- dimensional (2D) pattern, shown in Fig. 12, showing yet another example of a meanderlike pattern of a coil 21.
  • an alternating electric current flowing through the coil 21 is to its major extent directed in, altematingly, opposite directions over the outer surface of the mold, following the meander-like pattern. This is particularly advantageous when the heating in the different directions may be performed independently, enabling compensation of for example for higher cooling along the edges.
  • the inductor unit 20 may include coil figurations such as those illustrated in Figs 10-12.
  • a purpose of the inductor unit 20, and particularly its coil(s) 21, is to induce a current in the molding tool 10, and in particular in the heat generation means 12 of the molding tool 10.
  • the at least one coil 21 is preferably in operative communication with the at least one processing means 50 described in relation to Fig. 1 above.
  • the coil(s) 21 of the inductor unit 20 include(s) wires that are electrically insulated from the molding tool 10, and from the heat generator 12 in particular.
  • the wires are litz wires.
  • the wires may also be copper tubes or similar.
  • the coil(s) 21 is/are preferably embedded in an embedding material 22.
  • the embedding material 22 is an electrically insulated material such as a fiber composite, a polymer, or a cement based or ceramic material.
  • the embedding material 22 has soft magnetic properties.
  • Currents induced in the heat generator 12 by the inductor unit 20 are transferred through conduction into the electrical conductor 11 and concentrated therein. Instead of creating unwanted edge effects, causing undesired hot spots, the current is going in the electrical conductor 11 with only minor heat generation therein, thus the molding tool 10 is heated evenly.
  • the conduction of currents in the electrical conductor 11 may also be referred to as a bypassing of the current.
  • the electrical conductor 11 of the molding tool 10 is configured to electrically bypass the current induced in the molding tool 10 by the inductor unit 20.
  • the bypassing of the current occurs at an interface between the electrical conductor 11 and the heat generator 12.
  • the interface may also be described as a boundary between the electrical conductor 11 and the heat generator 12, i.e. where the electrical conductor 11 and the heat generator 12 meet or intersect each other.
  • the system 1 includes a thermal insulation 30 which is arranged between the molding tool 10 and the inductor unit 20, see Figs 2-7.
  • the molding tool 10 may further include a cooling device.
  • This cooling device may be arranged either in the inductor unit 20 or in the molding tool 10.
  • the cooling device may be integrated in the molding tool 10 or in a separate cooling plate 40 arranged below the molding tool 10. Cooling may be performed through gas or liquid media or a combination through cooling channels in the electrical conductor 11 and/or in the heat generator 12.
  • the molding tool 10 may be moved to a separate cooling station after the molding process has been performed.
  • the whole press may be filled with water so that the molding tool 10 is temporarily sunk into a water bath for cooling.
  • the inductor unit 20 shown in Figs 5-7 is built up by several wires 21 wound around an electrically conductive part 23, such as copper or aluminium.
  • the electrically conductive parts 23 may be referred to as extenders, i.e. longitudinally extending elements of which only a cross-section is shown in the drawings.
  • the extenders 23 face the molding tool 10, and in particular the heat generator 12, on all other sides surrounded by the soft magnetic material 24. This way, induced currents are forced to travel on the side of the extenders 23 facing the molding tool 10/heat generator 12 to heat it up.
  • a thermal insulation 30 is facultatively arranged between the heat generator 12 of the molding tool 10 and the inductor unit 20 in the embodiments illustrated in Figs 5-7.
  • the thermal insulation 30 between the extenders 23 and the soft magnetic element 24 and the molding tool 10/heat generator 12 is preferably used to prevent short circuits within the inductor unit 20 and create a continuous conductive cooling effect on the molding tool 10 as long as the temperature of the molding tool 10 exceeds that of the extenders 23.
  • the concentration of heat in certain areas of the tool 10 may need fine tuning, which can be achieved by coating the electrical conductor 11 with a certain coating pattern.
  • the coating can be performed through plating, thermal spraying, laser cladding, CVD, PVD, adhesion bonding, as well as high energy rate methods such as fusion through electromagnetic or explosion processes.
  • the molding tools 10 may have different thicknesses and/or thermal load in different regions of the mold.
  • a non-uniform heat generation is beneficial. This can be achieved for example by having different coils 21 that can control the power generation of each zone independently from each other. Another option, which may be combined with the independent control of coils, is to control the heat generation by tailoring the molding tool 10 material and/or coating at different parts of the molding tool 10, see example in Fig. 2B.
  • Yet another option is to use a larger number of materials for the coating, with a range of different properties, or a material that can be locally tailored, for example through doping, heat treatment bridging, or a mix of two material with different properties, mixed in different fractions at each location.
  • a method of producing an article or part to be formed by inductive molding in any of the systems 1 as described above may be performed as follows. First, a molding tool 10 and an inductor unit 20 are provided. Next, the inductor unit 20 is arranged on a back side of the molding tool 10, facing away from a molding surface on which the article or part is to be formed.
  • the processing means 50 may be actuated to provide a current flow through the coil(s) 21 of the inductor unit 20. Subsequently, the currents are electromagnetically induced in the highly resistive or magnetic element 12 of the molding tool 10. As a result, the electrical conductor 11 is inductively heated. Thanks to the electrical conductor’s 11 ability of bypassing the current, the current is evenly spread out over the entire body of the electrical conductor 11 and thus provides a uniform heating of the molding tool surface which is in contact with the material of the article or part to be produced.
  • the molding tool 10 may be arranged in a press, autoclave, or vacuum bagged. After molding has been performed, an optional cooling step may be performed, using a cooling plate or any of the integrated features described above in the form of cooling channels in the molding tool 10 and/or the inductor unit 20.
  • All systems 1 including the molding tool 10 and the induction unit 20 as have been described above contribute to the mitigation of hot spots from boundary effects which are typically associated with induction heating, with the purpose of providing a uniform heating of the molding tool 10 and the article or part to be produced therein.
  • the technique involves electrically bypassing the current induced by the inductor unit 20 in the heat generator 12 of the molding tool 10 by means of the electrical conductor 11.
  • the bypassing of the current occurs at the interface, also referred to as boundary, between the electrical conductor 11 and the heat generator 12 in the molding tool 10, whether the boundary represents an entire layer, a spot, a line, a specific pattern or the like.
  • the system 1 includes a molding tool 10, wherein said molding tool 10 optionally comprises a heat generation means 12.
  • the molding tool 10 does not comprise an electrically conductive element 11.
  • the system 1 may further comprise an inductor unit 20 comprising at least one coil 21, wherein said coil 21 may be wound in a manner such that a current flowing in each winding of the at least one coil 21 is directed alternatingly in a positive and negative direction with respect to an adjacent winding of the at least one coil 21, wherein the inductor unit 20 is configured to induce a current in the molding tool 10.
  • adjacent may refer to any position as long as it is in proximity.
  • the inductor unit 20 further comprises a plurality of electrically conductive parts 23, as defined previously, and a plurality of soft magnetic parts 24, as defined previously, and where the at least one coil 21 may be arranged in each of the electrically conductive parts 23 of the inductor unit 20.
  • the electrically conductive parts 23 may be arranged alternatingly in parallel with each other, separated by the soft magnetic parts 24 of the inductor unit 20.
  • the electrically conductive element may be made from extrusion, wherein extrusion is as understood by the skilled person in the technical field.
  • the inductor unit is equipped with vacuum seals or completely contained inside of a vacuum chamber. Vacuum enhances the quality of a composite part by reducing the void content or may allow a lower consolidation pressure to be used with maintained part quality.
  • the inductor unit and molding tool may also be contained inside of a pressurized chamber, often referred to as an autoclave.
  • Cooling channels within the electrically conductive parts are preferably cooled with a cooling media coming alternatingly from each side of the tool, this is particularly beneficial for large tools to avoid a thermal gradient along the length or width of the molding tool due to increased temperature of the cooling media.
  • the cooling channels may be connected to a manifold for uniform distribution of the cooling media.
  • the thermal insulation 30 may be designed with a sophisticated pattern of cutouts or other design features, including material with varying thermal properties along the insulation unit to tailor it for a desired cooling behavior. In this way, yet one more opportunity to control the temperature heating and cooling pattern is achieved.
  • a number of coils may be installed to be able to control the heating pattern accurately, one particularly interesting separate coil may be installed around the perimeter of the molding tool to be able to compensate for effects related to increased cooling power along the edge, but also larger thermal mass due to the design of the molding tool, typically with a surrounding wall around a cavity, alternatively some kind of frame to contain the material of the part being produced.
  • the generator material may be selected to have a certain Curie temperature where it becomes non-magnetic. With a relatively thin coating, typically 10-1000 micrometers, the heating will more or less stopped when reaching that temperature since the skin depth will increase, and the properties of the electrical conductor will be dominating. Yet another option is to have a first high resistivity non-magnetic coating on the electrically conductive element, then a magnetic coating outermost. If the outermost layer is exposed to a magnetic field, from for example a direct current, then it may be forced to saturate, i.e. the magnetic properties are changing so that the heat generation is changed, typically reduced.
  • the system(s) according to the present invention comprise a temperaturecycles plate that quickly heats up to over 450 °C, with fast, controllable cooling for efficient composite processing, featuring exceptional temperature uniformity and low thermal mass. Heat rates exceeding 600 °C/min and cool rate of 200 °C/min for precise, efficient thermal cycling.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de génération de température uniforme dans un article ou une pièce à former par moulage. Le système (1) comprend un outil de moulage (10) avec un élément électroconducteur (11) et un moyen de génération de chaleur (12) ; et une unité d'induction (20) comprenant au moins une bobine (21) enroulée de telle sorte qu'un courant circulant dans chaque enroulement de la ou des bobines (21) est dirigé alternativement dans une direction positive et négative par rapport à un enroulement adjacent de la ou des bobines (21). L'unité d'induction (20) est configurée pour induire un courant dans l'outil de moulage (10). En outre, l'élément électroconducteur (11) est conçu pour contourner électriquement le courant induit dans l'outil de moulage (10) par l'unité d'induction (20), au niveau d'une interface entre l'élément électroconducteur (11) et le moyen de génération de chaleur (12).
PCT/SE2025/050207 2024-03-04 2025-03-04 Système de moulage à chauffage inductif Pending WO2025188229A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE2450255-1 2024-03-04
SE2450255 2024-03-04

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2025188229A1 true WO2025188229A1 (fr) 2025-09-12
WO2025188229A8 WO2025188229A8 (fr) 2025-10-02

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
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Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3493994A (en) * 1964-06-25 1970-02-10 Davidson Rubber Co Induction heated slush molding apparatus
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EP4122685B1 (fr) * 2021-07-23 2023-12-27 Corebon AB Outil de moulage, son procédé de fabrication et procédé de production d'une pièce composite dans ledit outil

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US3493994A (en) * 1964-06-25 1970-02-10 Davidson Rubber Co Induction heated slush molding apparatus
JPH07223269A (ja) * 1994-02-10 1995-08-22 Mazda Motor Corp 樹脂成形品の製造方法およびその装置
US20120025428A1 (en) * 2008-02-26 2012-02-02 Roctool Device for transforming materials by induction heating
EP2938473B1 (fr) * 2012-12-27 2019-02-06 TCTech Sweden AB Dispositif et procédé pour chauffer un moule ou un outil de gaufrage
US20160119981A1 (en) * 2013-05-30 2016-04-28 Corebon Ab Heater apparatus and controllable heating process
US20170095986A1 (en) * 2013-12-31 2017-04-06 Roctool Device for heating a mold
EP4122685B1 (fr) * 2021-07-23 2023-12-27 Corebon AB Outil de moulage, son procédé de fabrication et procédé de production d'une pièce composite dans ledit outil

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