A heating apparatus for induction heating is disclosed. The heating apparatus may comprise a bearing ring, at least one bearing element disposed in the bearing ring, and a braze material adjacent to the at least one bearing element and the bearing ring. The heating apparatus may additionally comprise an inductor positioned radially adjacent to at least a portion of the bearing ring. A current source may be electrically coupled to the inductor. A bearing orienting member may also abut a surface of the at least one bearing element. The bearing orienting member may orient a surface of the at least one bearing element. A heating method is also disclosed.

An induction coil assembly includes an annular member extending from a first end to a second end, and extending about a longitudinal axis; a first leg extending from the first end of the annular member, and including a first electrical connection portion and a first axial portion; and a second leg extending from the second end of the annular member, and including a second electrical connection portion and a second axial portion. An internal surface of the annular member defines a first fluid passage through the annular member. An internal surface of the first leg defines a second fluid passage through the first leg. An internal surface of the second leg defines a third fluid passage through the second leg. The second fluid passage is in fluid communication with the third fluid passage via the first fluid passage.

A heating and cooling device including: an airtight processing chamber openable to load a member-to-be-processed in the airtight processing chamber; a transfer apparatus to adjust a distance between the member-to-be-processed and a cooling unit that cools the member-to-be-processed, by moving the member-to-be-processed and/or the cooling unit; an induction heating apparatus to heat the member-to-be-processed, including a induction heating coil; a cooling apparatus to cool the member-to-be-processed by cooling the cooling unit; a temperature sensor to determine a temperature of the member-to-be-processed; and a controller to control the induction heating apparatus and the cooling apparatus based on the temperature determined by the temperature sensor.

A heating apparatus for induction heating is disclosed. The heating apparatus may comprise a bearing ring, at least one bearing element disposed in the bearing ring, and a braze material adjacent to the at least one bearing element and the bearing ring. The heating apparatus may additionally comprise an inductor positioned radially adjacent to at least a portion of the bearing ring. A current source may be electrically coupled to the inductor. A bearing orienting member may also abut a surface of the at least one bearing element. The bearing orienting member may orient a surface of the at least one bearing element. A heating method is also disclosed.

A method for manufacturing an induction coil assembly is disclosed. The method includes preparing a Computer Aided Design (CAD) model of an induction coil. The method further includes communicating the CAD model of the induction coil with a Three Dimensional (3D) printing machine The method further includes operating the 3D printing machine to deposit a plurality of layers of copper material one above other to manufacture the induction coil corresponding to the CAD model. The method further includes forming at least one hole in an annular member of the induction coil to receive a coolant and at least one hole in a first leg and a second leg to discharge the coolant.

A soldering iron system with automatic variable temperature control comprising a hand piece or robot arm including a soldering cartridge having a soldering tip, a coil that generates a magnetic field, and a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the soldering tip; a variable power supply for delivering variable power to the coil to heat the soldering tip; a processor including associated circuits for accepting a set temperature input and the sensed temperature of the soldering tip, and providing a control signal to control the variable power supply to deliver a suitable power to the coil to keep the temperature of the soldering tip at a substantially constant level of the set temperature input.

A system for joining articles includes a joining unit; a positioning unit coupled to the joining unit, the positioning unit positioning the joining unit; a vision system obtaining an image of an item to be joined on a workpiece; a controller for processing the image and controlling a position of the joining unit relative to the item to be joined in response to the image; and a temperature probe for monitoring a temperature; wherein the controller adjusts the position of the joining unit in response to the temperature.

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

An example method of joining a first substrate with a second substrate includes applying a filler material between respective portions of the first substrate and the second substrate, the filler material including an electrically conducting and/or magnetic material, wherein the filler material and the respective portions define a joint; applying an alternating magnetic field to the joint to heat the electrically conducting material to a reaction temperature; in response to heating the electrically conducting material to the reaction temperature, energizing the joint using energy released from the electrically conducting material; cooling the joint to join the first substrate with the second substrate.

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