Induction Heated Extrusion Melter

Abstract

The Induction Heated Extrusion Melter is an invention for melting plastic and metal in an extrusion process. It is a component and is to be integrated into an apparatus. The operating temperature of the Induction Heated Extrusion Melter is in excess of two thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, it can melt many types thermoplastics and metals. The Induction Heated Extrusion Melter could melt metals such as, but not limited to, aluminum, brass or lead and plastics of various shapes and sizes. It could be used in additive manufacturing machines, where shapes are made by adding layers of molten material. It could also be used as part of an extrusion apparatus that extrude long continuous shapes.

Claims

1. The Induction Heated Extrusion Melter is an invention that is used to extrude melted plastics or metals. It uses an external regulated electric current to induce an electromagnetic field in a conductive coil to inductively heat a ferrous metal chamber that is partially encased in insulation. The temperature of the chamber has the potential to reach in excess of two thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Which is hot enough melt all know plastics and some metals. Plastic or metal is fed into one end and is melted in the heated ferrous metal chamber. The feeding action from the incoming plastic or metal will force the melted plastic or metal to extrude out the opposite end.

Description

DESCRIPTION

[0016] FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of the open coil melter 6. The entry point for feedstock is the input tube 2. The heat chamber 1 and entry chamber 2 (reference FIG. 3) are encased in the inner insulation 3. The coil 4 wraps around the inner insulation.

[0017] FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective view of the insulation encased melter 7. The entry point for feedstock is the entry chamber 2. The heat chamber 1 and entry chamber 2 (reference FIG. 4) are encased in the inner insulation 3. The coil 4 wraps around the inner insulation 3. The assembly is encased inside the outer insulation 5. The encased melter 7 is the open-coil melter 6 with an outer insulation 5.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a cutaway mid-section view of the open-coil melter 6. The inner most components are the heat chamber 1 and entry chamber 2. Feedstock enters through the entry chamber, passes into the heat chamber 1 and exits out the opposite end of heat chamber 1. The heat chamber 1 and entry chamber 2 are encased in the inner insulation 3. Then the coil 4 wraps around the inner insulation 3.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a cutaway mid-section view of the encased melter 7. The inner most components are the heat chamber 1 and entry chamber 2. Feedstock enters through the entry chamber 2, passes into the heat chamber 1 and exits out the opposite end of heat chamber 1. The heat chamber 1 and entry chamber 2 are encased in the inner insulation 3. Then the coil 4 wraps around the inner insulation 3. The assembly is then encased inside the outer insulation 5.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a cutaway mid-section axonometric view of the open-coil melter 6. The inner most components are the heat chamber 1 and entry chamber 2. The heat chamber 1 and entry chamber 2 are encased in the inner insulation 3. Then the coil 4 wraps around the inner insulation 3.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a cutaway mid-section axonometric view of the encased melter 7. The inner most components are the heat chamber 1 and entry chamber 2. The heat chamber 1 and entry chamber 2 are encased in the inner insulation 3. Then the coil 4 wraps around the inner insulation 3. The assembly is then encased inside the outer insulation 5.

OPERATION

[0022] In operation, the open-coil melter 6 and encased melter 7 are the same. The only difference is how each are integrated and mounted into various apparatus. When describing the operation, it will apply to both the open-coil melter 6 and encased melter 7.

[0023] (1) The coil 4 will be connected to a regulated power source. In high temperature applications, a hollow coil is recommended and it will also be connected to a circulating liquid cooling system.

[0024] (2) When the coil 4 is powered and energized, it creates an electromagnetic field. The heat chamber 1 reacts to the electromagnetic field and increase temperature. Depending on the electrical current, electrical frequency and the material composition of the heat chamber 1, this will affect the temperature of the heat chamber 1.

[0025] (3) When the heat chamber 1 is above the melting temperature of the feedstock, the feed stock will enter the heat chamber 1 from the entry chamber 2. The feed rate will depend on the feed force and the feedstock physical properties.

[0026] (4) After the feedstock has reach the melting temperature and desired viscosity, it is forced out by the incoming feedstock. The rate of the extrusion is based on the feed rate and physical properties of the feedstock.