FORMING MACHINE

Abstract

A shaping machine comprising an induction coil for inductive heating, in particular melting, of a material, and a body substantially surrounding the induction coil, wherein the body substantially radially and/or axially surrounding the induction coil is a magnetic and/or magnetizable body.

Claims

1. A shaping machine comprising an induction coil for inductive heating, in particular melting, of a material, and a body substantially surrounding the induction coil, wherein the body substantially radially and/or axially surrounding the induction coil is a magnetic and/or magnetizable body.

2. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the magnetic and/or magnetizable body substantially radially surrounding the induction coil at at least one end of the induction coilpreferably at both ends of the induction coilhas an additional element which at least partiallypreferably completelyoverlaps the induction coil in a view along an axis of the induction coil.

3. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the additional element at least partially overlaps a central opening of the induction coil, which opening is present in the view along the axis.

4. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the additional element is in the form of an extension of the magnetic and/or magnetizable body.

5. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein the additional element is in the form of a peripherally extending web which faces inwardly from the magnetic and/or magnetizable body.

6. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 1 the magnetic and/or magnetizable body includes a ferromagnetic and/or paramagnetic material.

7. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body contains magnetic and/or magnetizable particles embedded in a non-magnetic matrix.

8. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the magnetic and/or magnetizable body is continuous.

9. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the magnetic and/or magnetizable body substantially radially surrounding the induction coil is of a substantially cylindrical basic shape.

10. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the magnetic and/or magnetizable body substantially axially surrounding the induction coil is of a substantially disk-shapedpreferably annularbasic shape.

11. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein the induction coil is substantially in the form of a helix.

12. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein there is provided a melting vessel separate from the shaping cavity for receiving the material to be heated and/or melted, the induction coil being arranged at said melting vessel.

13. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein the induction coil substantially surrounds the melting vesselpreferably substantially radially surrounds same.

14. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein the melting vessel is of a substantially cylindrical configuration.

15. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein the melting vessel has openings oriented exclusively in the axial direction of the induction coil.

16. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein the melting vessel is made from a ceramic materialpreferably monolithically.

17. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 12, wherein there is provided a slider for pushing the heated and/or molten material out of the melting vessel into the shaping cavity, preferably being moveable in an axial direction of the induction coil.

18. The shaping machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein there is provided a shaping cavity for the heated and/or molten material.

Description

[0035] Further advantages and details of the invention will be apparent from the Figures and the related description. In the Figures:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a shaping machine according to the invention,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows the view of FIG. 1, with the magnetic field being displayed,

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a further view illustrating the principle of the shaping machine according to the invention with shaping cavity,

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a view of an embodiment according to the invention along an axis of the induction coil, and

[0040] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment according to the invention, wherein the body axially surrounds the induction coil.

[0041] In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 it is possible to see firstly the melting vessel 9, the induction coil 2 and the surrounding magnetic and/or magnetizable body 5. They are oriented and arranged concentrically around a central axis X.

[0042] The directions along the axis X of the induction coil 2 are identified as axial and the directions perpendicular thereto are identified as radial.

[0043] In this embodiment the magnetic and/or magnetizable body 5 comprises three parts to simplify production. The material of the magnetic and/or magnetizable body 5 is a non-magnetic matrix 8 in which magnetic and/or magnetizable particles 7 are embedded (indicated in the drawing).

[0044] The magnetic and/or magnetizable particles 7 are shown as being of circular shape in the Figures for the sake of simplicity. In reality the particles 7 are chip-shaped.

[0045] Disposed within the melting vessel 9 is the material 3 (in this case a metal) which was inductively heated and is now in a molten state.

[0046] The melting vessel 9 has exclusively openings facing in the direction of the axis X. A slider 11 can be guided through one of those openings (from the right in the view in FIG. 1), by means of which slider the molten material 3 can be pushed out towards the left. Disposed there is the shaping cavity 4 (see FIG. 3), into which the molten material 3 is pushed under pressure. The material 3 is cooled in the shaping cavity 4 in such a way that a crystalline solid body is substantially formed.

[0047] References 12 and 13 denote further parts of the shaping machine 1. The melting vessel 9 is produced from a ceramic material to impart a high resistance to thermal loadings to the melting vessel 9. The further parts of the shaping machine 1 denoted by references 12 and 13 are however of a metallic material. The invention and in particular the additional elements 6 in the form of extensions guide the magnetic field in such a way that the metallic parts 12 and 13 experience lower electromagnetic and thereby thermal loadings (in comparison with a structure without the additional elements 6).

[0048] In this respect attention is directed to FIG. 2 showing the same embodiment as FIG. 1. In this case the references have been omitted for the sake of simplicity, but magnetic field lines are now shown to display the magnetic field which occurs due to the magnetic and/or magnetizable body 5 according to the invention. As already mentioned the magnetic and/or magnetizable body 5 guides the magnetic fields away from any metallic attachments and concentrates the magnetic field (and thus naturally also the electrical field) within the body and within the induction coil 2, which also means: within the melting vessel 9. That concentration of the electromagnetic field within the melting vessel 9 affords a higher electromagnetic energy density at the location of the material 3 which is to be heated and/or melted, with the desired effect that heating and/or melting takes place more effectively.

[0049] As already mentioned FIG. 3 shows a shaping machine 1 according to the invention with the shaping cavity 4. The technical configuration of the melting vessel 9, the induction coil 2 and the magnetic and/or magnetizable body 5 is similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0050] The mode of operation is similar, this applying in particular also to the slider 11.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a view of the magnetic and/or magnetizable body 5 along the central axis X which is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and is arranged in the center of the central opening. In this view the magnetic and/or magnetizable body 5 appears annular. The induction coil 2 is also shown in dotted form, the induction coil 2 however being completely covered (that is to say overlapped) by the additional element 6 of the magnetic and/or magnetizable body 5. That also applies for a small part of the central opening of the induction coil 2.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment wherein the body 5 axially surrounds the induction coil 2. As the displayed magnetic field lines show this also affords a concentration of the magnetic field within the melting vessel 9 and shielding in relation to external, axially arranged, further components, similarly to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0053] It is pointed out the axis X does not necessarily have to be straight, that is to say it can also be curved. The geometries of the melting vessel 9, the induction coil 2 and the magnetic and/or magnetizable body can then follow that curved geometry. Moreover however it is not even necessary for for example the melting vessel 9 to be cylindrical.