Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
An apparatus for heating the elongated, generally cylindrical surface of the internal elongated bore of a gun barrel by combined induction and resistance heating preparatory to quench hardening of said cylindrical surface, said surface having a given diameter and a given length between first and second axially spaced ends, said apparatus comprising: an elongated, generally cylindrical inductor having first and second ends and an outer surface with a selected diameter only slightly smaller than said given diameter and a selected axial length at least as great as said given axial length; a first electrical connector means for electrically connecting said first end of said inductor with the first end of said cylindrical surface of said gun barrel; a second electrical connector means for electrically connecting said second end of said inductor with the second end of said cylindrical surface of said gun barrel; means for centering said outer surface of said inductor within said cylindrical surface of said gun barrrel; and one of said electrical connecting means including an electrical circuit between said barrel and said inductor, which electrical circuit includes means for creating a high frequency alternating current flow in a path including said inductor and said gun barrel in electrical series whereby combined induction and resistance heating of said gun barrel is concentrated adjacent said cylindrical surface of said bore.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
222 words
An apparatus for heating the elongated, generally cylindrical surface of the internal elongated bore of a gun barrel by combined induction and resistance heating preparatory to quench hardening of said cylindrical surface, said surface having a given diameter and a given length between first and second axially spaced ends, said apparatus comprising: an elongated, generally cylindrical inductor having first and second ends and an outer surface with a selected diameter only slightly smaller than said given diameter and a selected axial length at least as great as said given axial length; a first electrical connector means for electrically connecting said first end of said inductor with the first end of said cylindrical surface of said gun barrel; a second electrical connector means for electrically connecting said second end of said inductor with the second end of said cylindrical surface of said gun barrel; means for centering said outer surface of said inductor within said cylindrical surface of said gun barrrel; and one of said electrical connecting means including an electrical circuit between said barrel and said inductor, which electrical circuit includes means for creating a high frequency alternating current flow in a path including said inductor and said gun barrel in electrical series whereby combined induction and resistance heating of said gun barrel is concentrated adjacent said cylindrical surface of said bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said alternating current creating means includes means for creating an alternating current having a frequency greater than about 10 K hertz.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said inductor includes an internal passageway extending between said first and second ends of said inductor and means for conducting a coolant through said passageway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the ratio of said given diameter to the difference between said given diameter and said selected diameter is in the general range of about 2-3.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said given diameter is in the general range of 0.20-0.80 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said inductor includes an internal passageway extending between said first and second ends of said inductor and means for conducting a coolant through said passageway.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the ratio of said given diameter to the difference between said given diameter and said selected diameter is in the general range of about 2-3.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said given diamter is in the general range of 0.20- 0.80 inches.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for heating the elongated, generally cylindrical surface of the internal elongated bore of a gun barrel preparatory to quench hardening of said cylindrical surface, said surface having a given diameter and a given axial length between first and second axially spaced ends, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a generally cylindrical inductor having first and second ends and an outer surface with a selected diameter only slightly smaller than said given diameter and a selected axial length at least as great as said given axial length; b. positioning said inductor within said bore with said outer surface spaced from and facing said surface of said gun barrel; c. connecting said gun barrel and said inductor into an electrical series circuit; and, d. passing a high frequency alternating current through said electrical series circuit.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for heating the elongated, generally cylindrical surface of the internal elongated bore of a gun barrel preparatory to quench hardening of said cylindrical surface, said surface having a given diameter and a given axial length between first and second axially spaced ends, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a generally cylindrical inductor having first and second ends and an outer surface with a selected diameter only slightly smaller than said given diameter and a selected axial length at least as great as said given axial length; b. positioning said inductor within said bore with said outer surface spaced from and facing said surface of said gun barrel; c. connecting said gun barrel and said inductor into an electrical series circuit; and, d. passing a high frequency alternating current through said electrical series circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 9 wherein said high frequency alternating current has a frequency greater than about 10 K hertz.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
226 words
An apparatus for heating the elongated, generally cylindrical surface of the internal surface of an elongated bore by combined induction and resistance heating preparatory to quench hardening of said cylindrical surface, said surface having a given diameter in the general range of 0.20-0.80 inch and a given length between first and second axially spaced ends, said apparatus comprising: an elongated, generally cylindrical inductor having first and second ends an an outer surface with a selected diameter only slightly smaller than said given diameter and a selected axial length at least as great as said given axial length; a first electrical connector means for electrically connecting said first end of said inductor with the first end of said cylindrical surface of said bore surface; a second electrical connector means for electrically connecting said second end of said inductor with the second end of said cylindrical surface of said bore surface; means for centering said outer surface of said inductor within said cylindrical surface of said bore; and one of said electrical connecting means including an electrical circuit between said bore surface and said inductor, which electrical circuit includes means for creating a high frequency alternating current flow in a path including said inductor and said bore surface in electrical series whereby combined induction and resistance heating of said bore surface is concentrated adjacent said cylindrical bore surface.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
226 words
An apparatus for heating the elongated, generally cylindrical surface of the internal surface of an elongated bore by combined induction and resistance heating preparatory to quench hardening of said cylindrical surface, said surface having a given diameter in the general range of 0.20-0.80 inch and a given length between first and second axially spaced ends, said apparatus comprising: an elongated, generally cylindrical inductor having first and second ends an an outer surface with a selected diameter only slightly smaller than said given diameter and a selected axial length at least as great as said given axial length; a first electrical connector means for electrically connecting said first end of said inductor with the first end of said cylindrical surface of said bore surface; a second electrical connector means for electrically connecting said second end of said inductor with the second end of said cylindrical surface of said bore surface; means for centering said outer surface of said inductor within said cylindrical surface of said bore; and one of said electrical connecting means including an electrical circuit between said bore surface and said inductor, which electrical circuit includes means for creating a high frequency alternating current flow in a path including said inductor and said bore surface in electrical series whereby combined induction and resistance heating of said bore surface is concentrated adjacent said cylindrical bore surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said alternating current creating means includes means for creating an alternating current having a frequency greater than about 10 K hertz.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the ratio of said given diameter to the difference between said given diameter and said selected diameter is in the general range of 2-3.