阅读说明：本技术 感应器及相应的维护方法 (Inductor and corresponding maintenance method ) 是由 朱塞佩·马斯卡内拉 恩受·吉吉安特 于 2020-02-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种感应器,该感应器通过电磁感应加热导电体,该感应器包括在内部中空的感应体(19),该感应体适于产生电磁场,该感应体的内端面限定沿纵向方向穿过的容纳座(20)。(An inductor for heating an electric conductor by electromagnetic induction, comprising an inductor body (19) hollow inside and adapted to generate an electromagnetic field, the inner end face of the inductor body defining a housing seat (20) passing through in a longitudinal direction.)

1. An inductor that heats an electrically conductive body (12) by electromagnetic induction, the inductor comprising: an inductor (19), said inductor (19) being provided with a coil (14) adapted to generate an electromagnetic field inside it; an insulator (21) of tubular shape, said insulator (21) being arranged, during use, in a housing seat (20) of said coil (14) and defining a transmission channel (11) for said electrical conductor (12); and a containing body (13), said containing body (13) being configured to contain said inductive body (19) and said insulating body (21), provided with holes (13a, 13b) coinciding with said transmission channel (11), characterized in that said insulating body (21) is removable from said inductive body (19); and comprising a front head (24) and a rear head (25), said front head (24) and said rear head (25) being positioned respectively on a front end face (10a) and a rear end face (10b) of said containing body (13), said front head (24) and said rear head (25) being provided with passage holes (24a, 25b) aligned with said transmission channels (11), wherein said front head (24a) and said rear head (25a) are removable and said front head (24a) and said rear head (25a) are configured to be assembled onto said containing body (13) and disassembled from said containing body (13) to allow insertion and extraction of said insulator (21) into said containing seat (20) from said containing seat (20).

2. An inductor according to claim 1, characterized in that the insulator (21) consists of a tubular body made of refractory material.

3. An inductor according to claim 1, characterized in that the insulator (21) consists of a tubular body made of basalt material.

4. The inductor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of the holes (13a, 13b) of the containing body (13) is greater than the external cross section of the insulating body (21) and the cross section of the passage holes (24a, 25a) is smaller than the internal cross section of the insulating body (21) to ensure the correct positioning of the insulating body (21) inside the containing body (13).

5. The inductor according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an insertion device (23) arranged between the inner surface of the inductor body (19) and an outer surface of the insulator body (21), wherein the insertion device (23) is configured to thermally isolate the inductor body (19) and to protect the insulator body (21) from mechanical stresses generated at least in a radial direction.

6. An inductor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a radial gap (22), said radial gap (22) extending between the inner surface of the housing seat (20) and the outer surface of the insulator (21) along a partial or whole longitudinal development of the inductor body (19) and/or of the insulator (21).

7. The inductor according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one gap (27, 28), the at least one gap (27, 28) extending between at least one of the front head (24) or the rear head (28) and the respective front end (19a) or rear end (19b) of the inductor body (19).

8. The inductor according to claim 7, characterized in that the inductor comprises an insert device (29), the insert device (29) being arranged in the at least one gap (27, 28) and being configured to provide thermal isolation and to absorb mechanical stresses and thermal expansions of the insulator (21) in the longitudinal direction.

9. The inductor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coil (14) and the insulator (21) are provided with respective thermal and mechanical coupling means which allow a mutually stable coupling of the coil (14) and the insulator (21), defining an induction assembly (30) which can be handled and moved as one piece.

10. The inductor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the containing body (13) comprises an upper hole (36), the upper hole (36) having a cross section adapted to allow the passage of the coil (14) through the upper hole (36).

11. Method of maintaining an inductor (10) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of:

-disassembling the inductor (10) by removing the front head (24) and the rear head (25) from the containment body (13);

-removing at least said insulator (21) from said containing body (13);

-performing at least one of a maintenance operation on the coil (14) or replacing the insulator (21);

-reassembling the inductor (10) by reinserting the insulator (21) that has been removed or inserting a new insulator (21) in the containment body (13); and

-repositioning and attaching the front head (24) and the rear head (25) to the containing body (13).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that said assembly operation of said inductor (10) comprises inserting said insulator (21) in said housing seat (20) and coupling said insulator (21) with said coil (14) by means of thermal and mechanical coupling means.

13. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that it provides for removing the coil (14) together with the insulator (21) inserted therein, wherein the coil (14) and the insulator (21) are mutually coupled with respective thermal and mechanical coupling means and define an integrally processable assembly (30).

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that it provides for the removal of the assembly (30) defined by the coil (14) and the insulator (21) in a vertical direction through an upper hole (36) of the containing body (13).

15. Method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that it provides to retain the coil (14) inside the containing body (13) and to carry out inspection and maintenance operations on the coil (14) through the upper hole (36) of the containing body (13).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an inductor for heating an electric conductor by electromagnetic induction. The invention also relates to a maintenance method of the inductor.

Background

It is known that in the metallurgical and steel industries, the heating step of a metal element being worked (for example a bar, a billet or a billet) is performed mainly using rapid heating devices using induction systems.

It is well known that induction heating utilizes the principle of electromagnetic induction to heat conductive materials by the joule effect.

Induction furnaces are well known and comprise a containment body in which there is a coil powered by an alternating current of suitable frequency. The coil may consist of a tube wound in a spiral, which tube may be associated with a cooling system, and the alternating current circulating in the coil generates an alternating magnetic field, which in turn induces an electric current in the electrically conductive metallic material affected by the magnetic field.

It is also known that induction heating modes can provide longitudinal flow induction or lateral flow induction.

In known induction furnaces, the coil is usually embedded in an insulating material, which is usually a refractory material, such as for example refractory cement.

The presence of the insulating material serves to thermally protect the coil and prevent the billet or billet (which may be hot) at high temperatures from damaging the coil.

The insulating material also acts to isolate sound and damp vibrations experienced by the helix of the coil when subjected to the passage of high frequency alternating current.

It is also known that the insulating material acts as a mechanical protection of the coil, protecting it from possible impacts or shocks in transit through the billet or billet of the inductor.

Inductors known in the art may also provide a front diaphragm or front face, for example of metal and typically of copper.

These end faces serve as guides for inserting the billet or billet into the inductor and may also protect the insulating material from accidental impact of the end of the billet or billet at the entrance or exit.

These prior art inductors are known to be made in one piece, i.e. the insulating material, the coil and the end faces are attached together in one piece.

In particular, the production of a one-piece inductor provides for the insertion of the coil and the end faces into a centering die, in which the insulating material is subsequently cast.

Once the insulating material has cured, the monolithic piece is positioned in a containing body, typically made of polyester glass (for example GPO 3).

During the operating cycle, the insulating material is subjected to repeated temperature variations, as each heated billet passes in succession.

These changes in temperature result in the formation of cracks in the insulating material, and the insulating material is therefore susceptible to wear.

In the prior art, such wear of the insulating material may be further accelerated by the impact of the blank being processed, which in the worst case may result in the blank becoming stuck or even melting in the transport channel.

In addition, when a high frequency alternating current is passed through the coil, the vibration of the coil may further accelerate the abrasion of the insulating material.

Because of these and other drawbacks, known monolithic inductors require the repair of the insulating material after a certain number of operating cycles.

Maintenance and repair operations are cumbersome as they require the removal of the inductor from the processing equipment and its transport to dedicated equipment where, if possible, the insulation is removed and the coil is recovered, followed by a new insulation casting and the addition of a new end face.

Furthermore, in the known solutions, in the event of problems or faults in the coil, the whole monolithic inductor must be replaced, since the spiral cannot be accessed unless the refractory material embedding the inductor breaks.

It is also known that after the repair of the insulation material, a drying cycle and operation is required to reuse the inductor in the processing equipment, further increasing maintenance costs and time.

Due to these extremely cumbersome operations, in some cases, it may take a long time for the inductor to be disassembled from the production line to be reassembled.

Document US 4,532,398 describes an inductor comprising a coil, an outer housing and an inner through-passage for a member to be heated. The outer shell area closest to the coil consists of a layer of elastic composite material cast around the coil, with a cement shell on the outside. The coil is lined with a refractory lining which can be made into a prefabricated ceramic pipe. The solution described in US 4,532,398 does not allow to replace the refractory lining directly in the production plant or to carry out maintenance operations on it.

Other known inductors are described, for example, in FR-A-2495752, US-A-2018/359816, US-A-5425048 and US-A-2006/000826. These inductors have the disadvantages described above.

Therefore, there is a need to develop new sensors that overcome or at least limit the disadvantages of the prior art.

It is an object of the present invention to develop an inductor which needs to facilitate maintenance operations in terms of time and cost.

It is another object of the present invention to develop an inductor that requires maintenance operations that can be performed while leaving the inductor in production equipment, thereby reducing costs associated with transportation to specific equipment.

It is another object of the present invention to increase the useful life of the inductor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inductor which allows maintenance operations to be carried out also on the coil and directly in the production plant, to prevent possible malfunctioning thereof.

The applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

The present invention relates to embodiments of an inductor for heating an electrical conductor by electromagnetic induction.

The invention may in particular relate to inductors for metal articles, for example obtained by casting, and possibly subjected to subsequent treatments, such as billets or briquettes.

In some embodiments, the inductor comprises a containing body inside which the inductor body is contained, the containing body having a tubular shape defining a transmission channel through which, during use, the electrical conductor or the metallic article to be heated is made to pass.

The induction body includes a coil configured to generate an alternating magnetic field within the induction body, the alternating magnetic field adapted to heat a metal article passing therethrough.

The inner surface of the inductor body or the inner surface of the spiral of the coil defines a receptacle arranged through the longitudinal direction of the inductor body.

In some embodiments, the inductor further comprises an insulator having a tubular shape and a hollow interior, the insulator being adapted for thermal isolation of the coil.

According to one aspect of the invention, the insulator is configured to be inserted into and removed from the receptacle so that the insulator can be replaced or to allow access to the coil around it.

Advantageously, this allows the insulator to be removed and repaired when it reaches a worn or inefficient state without having to remove the entire inductor.

The inner surface of the insulator defines a transmission channel adapted for passage of an electrical conductor during use.

According to a further embodiment, the inductor further comprises a front head and a rear head positioned on respective opposite end faces of the inductor and provided with holes coinciding with and aligned with the transmission channels. The header is removable and is configured to be assembled and disassembled to allow insertion/removal of the insulator into/from the receiving seat.

According to some embodiments, there may be a gap separating the insulator from other components of the inductor (e.g., the inductor body) in a radial direction relative to the axis of the transmission channel and in a longitudinal or axial direction relative to the axis of the transmission channel.

In some embodiments, there are insert means in one or more of these voids that serve to thermally isolate and/or mechanically protect the various components of the inductor (particularly the inductor body and the insulator) from longitudinal and/or radial shock, vibration or stress.

In some embodiments of the invention, the insulator and the insertion device may be inserted into and removed from the inductor, or removed from the containment body, as desired.

According to some embodiments, the coil is configured to be removable from the housing of the inductor.

According to a possible embodiment, the coil and the insulator are provided with respective thermal and mechanical coupling means which allow a removable mutual coupling and define an integrally disposable assembly to be inserted into and/or removed from the inductor body.

Advantageously, therefore, the inductor of the invention can be completely dismantled and repaired in the field, i.e. without the need to completely remove the inductor from the equipment and send it to a specific site for maintenance and repair operations of the insulating material.

According to some embodiments, the inductor body comprises an at least partially removable upper wall to allow removal and/or insertion of the assembly defined by the coil and the insulator coupled to each other.

This solution allows maintenance operations to be carried out without having to remove the inductor from the production line, thus significantly reducing the time and costs in terms of machine downtime and movement, which are generally required in the known inductors of the prior art.

The invention also relates to a method for maintaining an inductor of the above-mentioned type.

The method comprises the following steps:

-disassembling the inductor by removing the front and rear heads from the containment body;

-removing at least the insulator from the containment body;

-performing at least one of a maintenance operation on the coil, or replacing the insulator;

-assembling the inductor by reinserting at least one insulator into the containment body; and

-repositioning the front and rear heads and attaching them to the containment body.

According to some embodiments, the method may provide that the inductor is turned off before the inductor is disassembled and the head is removed, the inductor may be cooled, and the inductor is re-turned on after the head is repositioned.

In some embodiments, the step of disassembling may include removing only the insulator from the receptacle.

In some embodiments, the assembling step includes inserting the insulator into the receptacle.

If only removal/insertion of the insulator is sufficient, the method provides for moving the insulator in the axial direction, through the transverse bore of the containment body, in order to remove and position the closure head associated with the containment body in a suitable manner.

In some embodiments, the at least one maintenance operation includes replacing the insulator with a new insulator.

Advantageously, the maintenance method of the invention thus allows all or most of the maintenance operations to be performed in situ.

In particular, the method allows to perform in situ repair operations of the insulating material, for example by removing a damaged insulator and replacing it with a new one.

This characteristic allows to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art insulating materials that maintenance and repair operations are very cumbersome in terms of cost and time.

This feature also allows at least a portion of the drying operation of the insulation material to be performed directly on the insulation prior to insertion of a new inductor, further reducing maintenance time.

In some embodiments, it is also possible to provide an insulator specifically designed and manufactured with suitable materials so that no drying operation is required before insertion into the housing seat.

According to a further embodiment, the maintenance method provides for removing the coil together with the insulator inserted therein, wherein the coil and the insulator are coupled with respective thermal and mechanical coupling means and define an integrally processable assembly.

According to these embodiments, the method provides for removing the coil insulator assembly through the upper bore of the receiving body.

In this way, the inductor can be serviced without having to remove it from the production line.

Drawings

These and other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a side view of an inductor according to some embodiments of the present invention;

figure 1a is a cross-sectional view of a blank and part of an inductor according to some embodiments of the invention;

figure 2 is a front view of an inductor according to some embodiments of the present invention;

figure 3 is a side view of an inductor according to some embodiments of the invention;

figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of an inductor according to some embodiments of the invention;

4a, 4b, 4c are enlarged views with respect to the box in FIG. 4, showing a variant of the inductor according to some embodiments of the invention;

figure 5 is a view of two parts of an inductor according to a possible variant of the invention; and

figure 6 is an exploded view of some components of an inductor according to other embodiments of the invention.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It should be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be readily incorporated into other embodiments without further recitation.

Detailed Description

Reference now will be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of illustration of the invention and should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, can be used on or in conjunction with other embodiments to yield yet a further embodiment. It is to be understood that the invention is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an inductor 10, the inductor 10 being adapted to inductively heat a conductive metal body in transit.

The inductor 10 comprises a transmission channel 11 made through the inductor, which transmission channel 11 extends along a transmission axis X and in which the metal body to be heated passes during use.

The inductor 10 may be of a type suitable for generating longitudinal magnetic flow or transverse magnetic flow.

For example, in the embodiment described with reference to fig. 1. The inductor 10 may be of a type suitable for generating a longitudinal flow, i.e. the field lines extend along the transmission axis X parallel to the longitudinal direction of the transmission channel 11.

Thus, the inductor 10 can be oriented in a longitudinal direction, defining a front end face 10a on the side where the conductive metal body enters the inductor 10 and a rear end face 10b on the side where the conductive metal body exits the inductor 10, as illustrated by way of example in fig. 3.

The transmission channel 11 has such dimensions as to allow the metal body to pass through, i.e. the cross section of the transmission channel 11 is larger than the cross section of the conductive metal body.

In some embodiments, the invention may relate to an inductor 10 for a billet, in which case the conductive metal body is a billet.

The invention may also relate to the treatment of billets, bars, ingots or any other equivalent or similar metal product.

By way of explanation, fig. 1a shows the blank 12, although the blank 12 is not a suitable part of the inductor 10.

According to some embodiments, inductor 10 comprises a containment body 13, inside which containment body 13 an inductor body 19 is arranged, adapted to generate an electromagnetic field therethrough.

According to some embodiments, the inductor 19 comprises a coil 14.

In some embodiments, the coil 14 is made of an electrically conductive material and is configured to be powered by an alternating current of a suitable frequency (possibly a high frequency) and to generate an electromagnetic field within the coil 14.

In some embodiments, the coil 14 is made of an electrically conductive material as a hollow tube within which a cooling liquid flows.

In some embodiments, the coil 14 is made of an electrically conductive material as an elongated body having a constant cross-section.

In some embodiments, the intermediate portion of the coil 14 is wound in a spiral around the transmission channel 11, defining a plurality of spirals 14a, while the two terminal portions 14b, 14c are directed towards the respective holes 13a, 13b of the containing body 13.

The terminal portions 14b, 14c each have a terminal 14d, 14e for connection to a power supply.

In some embodiments, the power supply is adapted to provide alternating current, possibly high frequency alternating current, to the coil 14.

When the power supply is activated, an alternating induction magnetic field is generated inside the coil 14 and thus inside the transfer channel 11, which in turn induces an induction current in the blank 12 being transferred, thereby generating thermal energy by the joule effect.

In some embodiments, a converter for converting direct current to alternating current may be provided.

According to some embodiments, the coil 14 may be connected to a flange or positioning element adapted to be attached to the containing body 13, to ensure a stable positioning of the coil 14 within the containing body 13.

In the embodiment described with reference to fig. 4, the intermediate portion of the coil 14 may be embedded in a bonding material 18, the bonding material 18 being typically, but not limited to, a refractory cement.

The bonding material 18 serves to thermally isolate the spiral 14a from heat generated by the blank in transit, to dampen vibrations experienced by the spiral 14a when powered by high frequency alternating current, and to provide sound insulation.

The coil 14 embedded in the adhesive material 18 thus defines an inductor 19, hollow inside, suitable for generating an alternating magnetic field inside it.

According to a possible variant, such as that described with reference to fig. 5, the coil 14 itself defines the inductor 19.

According to some embodiments, the spirals 14a may be attached and clamped to each other by an attachment member 31.

According to some embodiments, the attachment member 31 may comprise a rod 32 or other oblong element arranged to be in contact with an outwardly facing surface of the spiral 14a, attached to the spiral 14a by a removable attachment element 33, such as a screw, pin, or the like.

For example, two or more rods (four in the case shown) may be provided, positioned spaced apart from each other around the coil 14, so as to ensure a firm mutual positioning of the spirals 14a over their entire perimeter and for their entire extension.

According to this solution, the coil 14 is not integrated into the refractory material or cement.

This solution allows to minimize the concrete parts and therefore the wear problems associated with them and therefore to increase the service life of the inductor 10.

According to another embodiment, the coil 14 may be isolated by coating with tape and insulating varnish, or by a resin coating process with a heat-resistant material.

In any case, the spiral 14a is visible from the outside of the coil 14, facilitating inspection and verification of the state of the active part of the inductor 10, for example through the upper aperture 36.

These embodiments make it possible to check and possibly replace the coil 14 by predicting and/or preventing possible electrical faults due to insulation faults or possible overcurrents which may be harmful to the converter devices connected upstream of the coil 14.

According to some embodiments, the upper bore 36 may have a passage cross-section adapted to allow the coil 14 to pass through in a vertical direction.

The inner surface of the inductor body 19 or of the spiral 14a defines a housing seat 20, the housing seat 20 extending longitudinally through the inductor 10 and having a cross section greater than that of the transmission channel 11, as shown by way of example in fig. 1a and 5.

In some embodiments, the containing body 13 is configured to contain inside it the different components of the inductor 10 and the inductor body 19, and may be made in one piece or in several elements connected to each other.

The containing body 13 may have a box-like shape, defined by a front end face 10a and a rear end face 10b and by respective side walls 34a, 34b arranged facing each other and connected between the two end faces 10a, 10 b.

The containing body 13 may also comprise an upper wall 35 and a lower wall 37.

In some embodiments, the containing body 13 may comprise anchoring means 15 suitable for anchoring the inductor 10 to the ground.

In some embodiments, the containing body 13 may comprise a plurality of covering plates 16 for the purpose of thermal and/or electrical insulation and/or acoustic insulation and/or protection.

In some embodiments, inside the containing body 13 there is a cooling system 17 or a part of the cooling system 17 configured to cool the coil 14 and comprising, for example, a circuit for cooling liquid, pipes, one or more inlet valves 17a and one or more discharge valves 17 b.

In some embodiments, the containing body 13 has two holes 13a, 13b on two opposite end faces 10a, 10b, coinciding with the containing seats 20.

According to some embodiments, the inductor 10 according to the invention comprises an insulator 21, the insulator 21 being hollow inside and adapted to be inserted into the housing seat 20 of the inductor body 19 or of the coil 14 and to be extracted from the housing seat 20, and the inner surface of the insulator 21 defining the walls of the transmission channel 11.

In the embodiments described, for example, with reference to fig. 1, 1a, 5 and 6, the insulator 21 can be configured as a hollow tubular body having an outer cross section smaller than the cross section of the housing seat 20 and an inner cross section larger than the cross section of the blank 12 in transit.

The insulator 21 is made as a separate component, separate from the coil 14 and the inductor 19, independent of the coil 14 and the inductor 19, and insertable in a housing seat 20 defined by the coil 14 and the inductor 19.

According to some embodiments, the cross section of the holes 13a, 13b of the containing body 13 is greater than the outer cross section of the insulating body 21, so as to allow the passage of the insulating body 21 when inserting into or removing from the containing seat 20.

In the embodiment described by fig. 4, the insulator 21 can have a longitudinal development coinciding with that of the housing seat 20, in such a way as to position itself between the blank 12 and the coil 14 in transit along the entire longitudinal development of the inductor body 19.

The front end 21a and the rear end 21b of the insulator 21 may be located near the front end face 10a and the rear end face 10b of the inductor 10, respectively.

In some embodiments, the insulator 21 is configured for thermal isolation of the inductor 19, for example to protect the coil 14 of the inductor 19 from heat generated during use, during transport of the blank 12 through the inductor 10.

In some embodiments, the insulator 21 is made of a refractory material, such as refractory cement.

According to other embodiments, it may be provided that the insulator 21 is made of a basalt material which is completely waterproof and mechanically resistant.

The impermeability of the basalt material at any temperature makes the insulation 21 made of basalt material suitable for use immediately after installation without the need for a long drying process, or "dry out", which is generally required when the blank 12 or, in general, the passage tube of a metal product, is made of refractory cement.

Furthermore, the use of basalt material allows the inductor 10 to be used even near descaling lines (descaling lines) because basalt material naturally resists residual water carried into the inductor 10 by the billet 12.

The possibility of removing the insulator 21 independently of the coil 14 means that, after a certain number of working cycles, when the insulating material is damaged and worn, it is sufficient to replace only the insulator 21 in order to re-operate the inductor 10.

According to a variant embodiment, the coil 14 and the insulator 21 are provided with respective thermal and mechanical coupling means which allow a firm but removable mutual coupling, defining an inductive assembly 30 which can be handled and moved as one piece.

These characteristics allow to significantly speed up the maintenance times of the inductor 10 compared to the monolithic inductors of the prior art, where it is necessary to remove the inductor from the process equipment and the whole formed by the coil and the refractory cement in order to cure the insulating material.

This feature also allows for a reduction in maintenance costs of the inductor 10 and of the equipment in which the inductor 10 is used, since there is no need to stop the equipment for a long time during maintenance operations of the inductor 10.

In some embodiments, the outer wall of the insulator 21 may be provided with projections, guides, lugs, flanges having a supporting and self-centering function in any region of the longitudinal extension.

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 4b, the insulator 21 may have, for example, on the terminal end, an abutment flange 21c, which abutment flange 21c corresponds, for example, to the front end face 10a, configured to abut itself on the end of the inductor body 19.

In some embodiments, such as described by fig. 4c, the inductor body 19 may be provided with protrusions, guides, projections, flanges having a supporting and centering function.

According to some embodiments, it may be provided that the adhesive material 18 is shaped so as to define a guide portion 19c corresponding to the front end face 10a, which guide portion 19c is adapted to cooperate with the insulator 21 to hold the insulator in place.

According to some embodiments, inductor 10 includes an insert 23 disposed between inductor body 19 or coil 14 and insulator 21.

Advantageously, the first insertion means 23 can be made of a material suitable to allow the free radial deformation of the tubular insulator 21 due to thermal effects and not to interfere with the inductor 19 or the coil 14 which may be cast into the adhesive material 18.

The first insertion device 23 may also be configured to act as a thermal insulator for the inductor body 19.

In some embodiments, the first insertion means 23 may also be adapted to absorb mechanical stresses in the radial direction (e.g. vibrations from the spiral 14a of the coil 14 when powered), which mechanical stresses are therefore not released onto the insulator 21.

In some embodiments, the first insertion device 23 may be an insulating fabric.

According to the embodiment described with reference to fig. 4a, 4b, 4c, the first insertion means 23 may be inserted into the radial gap 22.

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, the radial gap 22 extends between the inner surface of the housing seat 20 and the outer surface of the insulator 21 along a part or the whole extension of the longitudinal extension of the inductor body 19 and the insulator 21.

Thanks to the radial gap 22, the material of which the insulator 21 is made does not come into direct contact with the inductor 19 and/or the spiral 14 a.

This property means that deformations and/or vibrations of the spiral 14a in the longitudinal direction due to thermal effects and/or high-frequency magnetic fields do not directly influence the insulator 21.

This has the effect of reducing wear of the insulator 21 and extending the useful life of the insulator 21, thereby reducing the need for maintenance operations.

The presence of the gap 22, together with the interposition of means 23, allows to absorb the mechanical stresses of the coil 14 and of the insulator 21.

The inductor 10 according to the invention further comprises a front head 24 and a rear head 25 applied on the front end face 10a and on the rear end face 10b, respectively, in correspondence of the respective holes 13a, 13b of the containing body 13.

The headers 24, 25 have passage holes 24a, 25a corresponding to the front end 21a and the rear end 21b of the insulator 21, respectively.

In some embodiments, the passage holes 24a, 25a are coincident and aligned with the transfer passage 11, allowing the billet 12 to pass through the inductor 10.

According to some embodiments, the passage holes 24a, 25a have a section smaller than the internal section of the insulator 21, in order to ensure the correct positioning of the insulator 21 inside the containing body 13.

In some embodiments, the headers 24, 25 are made of copper.

In some embodiments, the heads 24, 25 have suitable attachment means (for example holes for attaching screws or bolts) to be easily mounted on the respective end faces 10a, 10b of the containing body 13 and removed from the respective end faces 10a, 10b of the containing body 13, so as to allow the insertion or extraction of the insulator 21 into or from the containing seat 20.

In some embodiments, the headers 24, 25 protect and support the insulator 21 inserted into the inductor 10.

In the embodiment depicted in fig. 4, 4a, 4b, 4c, two gaps are also provided, in particular a front gap 27 and a rear gap 28.

In some embodiments, a front gap 27 extends longitudinally between the front head 24 and the front end 21a of the insulator 21, while a rear gap 28 extends longitudinally between the rear head 25 and the rear end 21b of the insulator 21.

The presence of the gaps 27, 28 allows to keep the insulator 21 aligned with the inductor 19 or the coil 14 even in the presence of axial and/or longitudinal thermal expansion.

The gaps 27, 28 also allow preventing expansion in the longitudinal direction of the insulating body 21 from damaging the end sockets 24, 25 or the receiving body 13.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in fig. 4a, 4c, 4b, the front gap 27 can also extend between the front end 19a of the inductor 19 or coil 14 and the front head 24.

Similarly, a back gap 28 may also extend between the back end 19b of the inductor body 19 and the back head 25.

In these embodiments, the front gap 27 and the rear gap 28 allow to maintain the alignment of the inductor body 19 within the inductor 10 and prevent expansion in the longitudinal direction of the inductor body 19 from damaging the end caps 24, 25 or the receiving body 13.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in fig. 4a, 4b, 4c, the second insertion device 29 is arranged in the front gap 27 and/or the rear gap 28.

The second insertion means 29 may be made of a material suitable to allow axial thermal expansion of the insulator 21 while maintaining alignment with the inductor body 19.

According to some embodiments, the second insertion device 29 may be made of a refractory material.

According to further embodiments, the second insertion means 29 may also be configured to absorb mechanical stresses or vibrations of the inductor 19, for example from the insulator 21 and/or from the spiral 14a of the coil 14 when powered.

In the embodiment described by fig. 1, the second insertion device 29 can have an annular shape corresponding to the cross section of the insulator 21 and/or of the transmission channel 11.

According to some embodiments, as can be seen for example in fig. 6, the containing body 13 comprises an upper hole 36, the upper hole 36 having a section suitable for allowing the passage of the coil 14.

According to some embodiments, it may be provided that the upper wall 35 is removable and that the upper hole 36 is defined by the upper edges of the respective end face 10a, 10b and side wall 34a, 34 b.

According to a possible variant, it can be provided that the upper hole 36 is made in the upper wall 35 and that there are closing means suitable for closing the upper hole 36 during normal use of the inductor 10.

The invention also relates to a method for maintaining an inductor 10 according to the invention.

The maintenance method provides the following steps:

-turning off the inductor 10;

disassembling the inductor 10 by removing the front head 24 and the rear head 25 from the containment body 13;

-removing at least the insulator 21 from the containment body 13;

performing at least one of a maintenance operation of the coil 14 or replacing the insulator 21;

reassembling the inductor 10 by reinserting at least one insulator 21, which may be a previously removed insulator 21 or a new insulator 21, into the containing body 13;

repositioning the front head 24 and the rear head 25 and attaching them to the containing body 13; and

turn on and restart the inductor 10.

In some embodiments, the maintenance operation may provide for replacement of all or some of the components of inductor 10, such as, for example, insulator 21, first insertion device 23, and/or second insertion device 29, without removing inductor 10 from the production facility.

In some embodiments, the maintenance operation includes replacing the damaged component with a new component.

In some embodiments, the maintenance operation includes repairing the damaged components and reinserting them.

In some embodiments, the maintenance operation includes cleaning slag on the component or receptacle 20 that is generated during the treatment cycle and remains on the inner and/or outer walls of the inductor 10.

In some embodiments, the maintenance operation includes a maintenance operation on the cooling system 17, such as, for example, replacing a cooling liquid.

According to some embodiments, the step of disassembling the inductor 10 further comprises the steps of:

removing the heads 24, 25;

-removing the second insertion device 29;

-removing the insulator 21 from the housing seat 20; and

removing the first insertion means 23 from the housing seat 20.

The steps of assembling inductor 10 may provide for the following steps:

positioning the first insertion means 23 on the inner wall of the housing seat 20;

inserting the insulator 21 into the housing seat 20;

inserting second insertion means 29 in front and/or in rear of the insulator 21 and/or in front and/or in rear of the inductor 19; and

attaching the heads 24, 25 to the containing body 13 of the inductor 10 using suitable attachment means.

Advantageously, the method according to an embodiment of the present invention provides that the inductor 10 can be disassembled and reassembled directly in situ in a processing apparatus without having to be removed.

This feature has the advantage that the system does not have to be stopped for a long time to perform maintenance operations on the inductor 10.

According to further embodiments, the maintenance method may provide for removing the coil 14 together with the insulator 21 inserted therein, wherein the coil 14 and the insulator 21 are coupled with respective thermal and mechanical coupling means and define an integrally processable assembly 30.

According to some embodiments, the method may provide for removing the assembly 30 consisting of the coil 14 and the insulator 21 through the upper hole 36 of the containing body 13.

According to a possible solution, the method may provide for removing at least a portion of the upper wall 35 of the containing body 13, or for removing closing means possibly provided on the upper wall, to make the upper hole 36 accessible.

According to a further embodiment, the method may also provide for retaining the coil 14 inside the containing body 13 and performing an inspection operation thereon through the upper hole 36.

According to some embodiments, the method may provide that removing the component 30 or inspecting/maintaining at least one of the coils 14 through the upper aperture 36 is performed directly with the inductor 10 installed in the production line.

In some embodiments, drying of the insulator 21 before the insulator 21 can be used at the high operating temperatures of the inductor 10 is provided.

Advantageously, according to some embodiments of the invention, a drying step may be performed before the insulator 21 is inserted into the inductor 10. This feature significantly simplifies maintenance operations compared to a monolithic inductor, since only the insulator 21 can be dried, rather than the entire monolith.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, insulator 21 may be made of a material that does not require drying prior to use in inductor 10.

Furthermore, there is an advantage in that wear or damage to one component of the inductor 10 does not require replacement of the entire inductor 10, resulting in significant cost savings.

It is clear that modifications of parts and/or additions of parts may be made to the inductor 10 and the method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of inductor 10 and method, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.