IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,595,524
Granted Patent B2
US 12,595,524 · App. 18/091,468 · Granted Apr 7, 2026

Induction hardening system

Inventors: Gerhard Wagner (Prichsenstadt, DE); Fred Menig (Sulzthal, DE); Martina Sticht (Sennfeld, DE); Michael Wendel (Bremen, DE)
Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
C21D1/42C21D1/18C21D9/40H05B6/101H05B2206/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,595,524
App. No.
18/091,468
Granted
Apr 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An induction hardening system for inductively hardening a component includes a first inductor group with at least two inductors configured to heat a region to be hardened on the component, a drive unit configured to move the component along the at least two inductors, and a generator. The at least two inductors are electrically energized by the generator, and the generator is configured to send a current of a same frequency and a same strength to the at least two inductors of the first inductor group.

Claims (48)

1 . An induction hardening system for inductively hardening a component, the induction hardening system comprising:

at least one inductor group including a first inductor group having at least two inductors configured to heat a region to be hardened on the component,

a drive unit configured to rotate the component along the at least two inductors, and

a generator,

wherein the at least two inductors of the first inductor group are electrically connected to the generator in parallel,

wherein the generator is configured to send a current of a same frequency and a same strength to the at least two inductors of the first inductor group, and

wherein the at least two inductors of the first inductor group include a first inductor and a second inductor opposing the first inductor across a space configured to receive the component while being induction hardened.

2 . The induction hardening system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first inductor is a straight inductor and the second inductor is a curved inductor.

3 . A system comprising:

an induction hardening system according to claim 1 , and

the component mounted in the space,

wherein the component is ring-shaped and has a diameter.

4 . The induction hardening system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the inductors of the at least one inductor group together cover less than ¼ of a total surface area of the component.

5 . The induction hardening system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the inductors of the at least one inductor group together cover less than 1/10 of a total surface area of the component.

6 . The induction hardening system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the inductors of the at least one inductor group together cover less than 1/20 of a total surface area of the component.

7 . The induction hardening system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the component is a ring, a gear, a roller, a journal, or a bush.

8 . The system according to claim 3 ,

wherein a line on which the diameter lies passes through the first inductor and the second inductor.

9 . The system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the first inductor is spaced from the component by a first distance and the second component is spaced from the component by a second distance different than the first distance.

10 . The system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the first inductor is structurally different than the second inductor.

11 . The system according to claim 3 ,

wherein the first inductor is a straight inductor and the second inductor is a curved inductor.

12 . The induction hardening system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first inductor is spaced from the component by a first distance, and

wherein the second inductor is spaced from the component by a second distance different than the first distance.

13 . An induction hardening system for inductively hardening a component, the induction hardening system comprising:

at least one inductor group including a first inductor group having at least two inductors configured to heat a region to be hardened on the component,

a drive unit configured to rotate the component along the at least two inductors, and

a generator,

wherein the at least two inductors of the first inductor group are electrically energized by the generator,

wherein the generator is configured to send a current of a same frequency and a same strength to the at least two inductors of the first inductor group, and

wherein the at least two inductors of the first inductor group are uniformly distributed around a circumference of the component.

14 . An induction hardening system for inductively hardening a component, the induction hardening system comprising:

at least one inductor group including a first inductor group having at least two inductors configured to heat a region to be hardened on the component,

a drive unit configured to rotate the component along the at least two inductors, and

a generator,

wherein the at least two inductors of the first inductor group are electrically energized by the generator,

wherein the generator is configured to send a current of a same frequency and a same strength to the at least two inductors of the first inductor group,

wherein the at least two inductors of the first inductor group are connected to the generator in series,

wherein the first inductor of the at least two inductors of the first inductor group is spaced from the component by a first distance, and

wherein a the second inductor of the at least two inductors of the first inductor group is spaced from the component by a second distance different than the first distance.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2023
From: WAGNER, GERHARD; MENIG, FRED; STICHT, MARTINA; WENDEL, MICHAEL
To: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
Reel/Frame 062714/0763 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 102022200322.5 · Jan 13, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230220506A1 · Jul 13, 2023
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