Induction heating systems and methods for producing an object having a varying hardness along the length of the object
View Patent ↗In one aspect, the invention relates to induction heating systems and methods for producing an object having a varying hardness along the length of the object. In some embodiments, the induction heating system comprises a radio frequency (RF) power source and a work coil electrically coupled to the RF power source, wherein the work coil is a helical conical coil.
1. A system for producing a brass cartridge case having a varying hardness along the length of the cartridge case, the system comprising:
a power source;
a work coil for receiving the brass cartridge case, the work coil being a helical conical coil that is electrically coupled to the power source;
a guide rail positioned within the work coil; and
a case shield positioned within the work coil,
wherein the guide rail and case shield are designed to assure the proper positioning of the cartridge case within the work coil during the heating process, and
wherein the case shield is in the form of a half pipe that covers only a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cartridge case when the cartridge case is accurately positioned in the work coil.