Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A compacting process wherein a metal bar is progressively heated, by induction heating means, while applying axial pressure thereto to cause radial enlargement of the heated portion of the bar, comprising the steps of: providing induction heating and constant axial pressure to a first undeformed Portion of said bar to produce initial radial enlargement thereof, said induction heating being applied to said bar from an inner source closely adjacent the surface thereof; relatively moving said bar and inner source, in an axial direction; inductively heating the portion of said bar thus initially enlarged, from an outer source adjacent said first source but spaced radially outwardly therefrom, while continuing application of said axial pressure, whereby said bar is further enlarged radially; and relatively moving said bar and outer source in unison with said inner source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A compacting process wherein a metal bar is progressively heated, by induction heating means, while applying axial pressure thereto to cause radial enlargement of the heated portion of the bar, comprising the steps of: providing induction heating and constant axial pressure to a first undeformed Portion of said bar to produce initial radial enlargement thereof, said induction heating being applied to said bar from an inner source closely adjacent the surface thereof; relatively moving said bar and inner source, in an axial direction; inductively heating the portion of said bar thus initially enlarged, from an outer source adjacent said first source but spaced radially outwardly therefrom, while continuing application of said axial pressure, whereby said bar is further enlarged radially; and relatively moving said bar and outer source in unison with said inner source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 including the step of positioning an anvil against an end of said rod adjacent said undeformed portion and inductively preheating said anvil from said outer source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said inductive heating steps are performed by establishing inductive heating fields of nonrotational symmetry about said bar and relatively rotating said fields and said bar about an axis coinciding with the axis of said bar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 1 including the steps of establishing and maintaining the frequency of said induction heating so related to the diameter of said bar that the average penetration depth of the induced currents in said bar is substantially less than the diameter of said bar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 1 including further inductively heating said bar from second inner and outer sources axially spaced from said first-named sources with both said outer sources between said inner sources, said moving step being performed by moving said first sources and said second sources axially apart.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for compacting an elongated metal bar comprising: means for axially guiding said bar; at least one movable plunger for applying axial pressure to an end of said bar; induction heating means having an inner inductor adjacent the surface of said bar and an outer inductor axially adjacent but radially outward therefrom; said inductors being movable, in unison, axially of said bar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for compacting an elongated metal bar comprising: means for axially guiding said bar; at least one movable plunger for applying axial pressure to an end of said bar; induction heating means having an inner inductor adjacent the surface of said bar and an outer inductor axially adjacent but radially outward therefrom; said inductors being movable, in unison, axially of said bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including a second movable plunger for applying axial pressure to the other end of said bar; a second of said induction heating means, both said induction heating means being between said plungers and arranged with their outer inductors between their inner inductors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including an anvil against the other end of said bar, said anvil and plunger being rotatable about the axis of said bar, said induction heating means providing an induction field of non-rotational symmetry.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said induction heating means provides an induction field of non-rotational symmetry and is rotatable about the axis of said bar.