INDUCTION HEATING SYSTEM AND THE LIKE WITH ON LINE MAINTENANCE

Abstract

 Applicable to generators for heating metals by induction and other which comprise power modules (11), the assembly being located within a case (1) with water inlets and outlets.
The modules (11) are mounted on plates (17) held in a telescopic guide (19). Furthermore, at least one connector (22) is included per module (11) from which there emerges the corresponding connector (23) such that by pulling the module (11) it is disconnected and extracted, it being replaced very quickly.
A communication system, a local personal computer (25), a remote personal computer (26) and a video camera (28) are provided to remotely control the operating parameters of the generator and to establish video conference between the local operator and a remote technician with transmission of data about the status of the generator, such that the former may show parts of the generator to the latter. It allows carrying out the repair in a minimum of time.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention refers to an online maintenance system for induction heating and similar installations providing local and/or remote control and verifying means of the various operating parameters of the induction heating system which is materialised in a generator.

[0002] Another object of the invention consists, on one hand, in providing the generator with means that facilitate and simplify the replacement of the main electronic components composing it and, on the other hand, to arrange a system of remote assistance allowing the operator of the generator to be guided in the maintenance and technical service works by a remote technician.

[0003] For this purpose, the invention allows to establish a videoconference between the local operator and a remote technician, in such a manner that the operator may show parts of the generator to the remote technician so that together with the aforementioned objects, repair and/or replacement of the main electronic components composing the generator is enormously facilitated by making the simultaneous transmission of data, sound and video.

[0004] Obviously, the invention is especially applicable in induction heating generators employed in multiple applications, as for example in the heating of metals for obtaining a change in the physical parameters of the metal, or for tempering a piece or parts thereof etc., but it may obviously also be applied in any electronic device requiring a constant and specialised maintenance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In prior art, generators for heating by induction based on the generation of a magnetic field of alternating current, have been very well known for carrying out the heating of metals.

[0006] The heating produced varies depending of the parameters of the generating current, this allowing to control said heating with great accuracy.

[0007] These equipments are very complex and require a constant and specialised maintenance.

[0008] Basically, the generators are provided with a series of power modules which, in the majority of the applications, are refrigerated by means of a water circuit for which purpose the power modules are arranged on water-refrigerated radiators. Furthermore, they are provided with the electrical power connection and communication connectors between modules. The whole assembly is located within a case that includes the water inlet and outlet connections as well as the electric power connection and the communication connectors. Furthermore, the various elements that enable the correct performance of the generator and which need not be commented for being very well known and for not contributing to a better understanding of the novelty of the invention being dealt with, are included in the case.

[0009] At the moment where any of the refrigerated modules suffers a damage, the repair and/or replacement thereof is very complex and needs to be carried out by specialised technicians in the majority of the cases, due to the high number of electronic components it comprises, this forcing that the specialised technicians must travel to the place where the generator is installed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] To overcome the aforementioned inconveniences, the invention provides improvements in generators for heating metals, of the type described in the preceding section, wherein one of the improvements resides in the fact that the power modules are mounted on different plates which are held to a telescopic guide, which in turn are supported at the frame of the case; wherein furthermore at least one connector for each module is included, from which at least one connector arranged in correspondence with the frame emerges. Due to the application, the connectors are for power.

[0011] Furthermore, when the power modules are refrigerated, each plate is provided with quick inlet and outlet connections of water to the refrigeration circuit.

[0012] This structure has the advantage that in the case of failure, the replacement of the module is carried out by pulling it, so that the telescopic guide is shifted and the module is disconnected from the connector at the frame. Furthermore, in the case that it is refrigerated by water, the water inlet and outlet conducts to the case are closed to allow the release of the quick water inlet and outlet connections to the module, and the module is replaced by a new one in the reverse order that has been described.

[0013] Thus, the number of operations to be carried out to replace the module are minimal, whereby the process of replacement thereof is considerably simplified, and therefore the time needed for replacing a possibly damaged plate is considerably reduced.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, at least one connector provided for each module at the frame, is a female connector and that of the module is a male connector.

[0015] The plates are arranged vertically and parallel to enhance refrigeration, for which purpose the telescopic guides are fixed parallel and horizontally to the frame.

[0016] Another improvement of the invention resides in the fact that a duly programmed and personal-computer based communication system being connected to the generator and to a local personal computer and/or to a remote personal computer, is provided to control the operating parameters of the generator, locally and/or remotely, and to test possible damages or malfunctions in real time.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the communications system comprises a console that is connected to a video camera, for establishing a direct-link videoconference (online: RS 232, basic telephone network, through local network or Internet) between a local operator and a remote technician such that the local operator may show the parts of the generator to the remote technician who additionally knows the operating parameters of the generator being transmitted through the communications system, so that he can request the local operator to make complementary measurements at the parts which he is showing by the camera, so as to find out the nature of the damage, there is no need for the specialist technician to travel to repair the generators. Due to the nature of the equipments, these travels involve in many occasions very long distances, as for example in the case of repairs in different countries where the specialist technicians stay. Thus, the described structure of the invention presents the great advantage that damage repairing can be carried out quickly and simply by the operator of the generator himself, guided by the remotely assisted specialist technician, so that time and costs for repairs are reduced to the maximum.

[0018] To achieve the whole of this functional character, the communication system comprises high and low frequency signal acquisition boards to display signals and waveforms as well as the status parameters of the generator, to the remote technician.

[0019] Furthermore, the communication system includes a high-speed data acquisition board comprising, among other elements, an oscilloscope for measuring the parameters.

[0020] It is also provided that the communication system comprises a low-speed data acquisition board being used for measuring the basic parameters such as the opening of the door, temperature, etc., the corresponding central processing unit connected to the communication line and which includes the corresponding software and hardware for establishing the videoconference by means of the camera and the corresponding audio devices.

[0021] To facilitate a better understanding of this description and being an integral part thereof, attached is a series of figures wherein the object of the invention has been represented with illustrative and non-limiting character.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1.- Shows a front elevation view of the improved generator of the invention without the access door to the inside of the case.

[0023] Figure 2.- Shows a view of the right side elevation of the improved generator, in which the outside protecting plate of the case has not been included.

[0024] Figure 3.- Shows a view of the left side elevation of the improved container, in which neither the outside protecting plate of the case nor the power modules have been included.

[0025] Figure 4.- Shows a schematic perspective view of the middle area of the generator case, in which the power modules provided on telescopic guides that facilitate replacement thereof, are included. In this figure, the modules are connected to the connectors of the frame, and thereby they are in an operating position.

[0026] Figure 5.- Shows a schematic perspective view being equivalent to the preceding figure, in which the modules are disconnected from the connectors of the frame, waiting for their replacement to be carried out.

[0027] Figure 6.- Shows a functional block diagram of a possible example of an embodiment of the means being included for maintaining the remote control of the different operating parameters of the generator, and for allowing the operator of the equipment to be guided by a remote specialist technician, for detecting and repairing damages.

[0028] Figure 7.- Shows a block diagram of the communications console.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Hereafter, a description of the invention will be made on the grounds of the aforementioned figures.

[0030] The generator is housed in a case 1 at whose frame 2 there are supported the different elements composing it, as for example the control panel 3, the corresponding differential 4, the power contactor 5, power supply transformer 6, ground connection 7, filters 8, protection contactors 9, protection fuses 10 for the three phases, etc. This part of the generator is not being described with more detail for not being the object of the invention and for being known.

[0031] Furthermore, the generator includes a series of power modules 11 which are refrigerated by radiators that are part of a water circuit.

[0032] To accomplish the water refrigerating circuit, the case 1 includes water inlet and outlet connections 13.

[0033] The modules are mounted on different plates 17 in which there is established a water refrigerating circuit, whose pipes 16 are provided with quick connectors 18-18'.

[0034] A module 11 may be constituted by one or more plates 17 such that each module 11 is fixed to a telescopic guide 19 supported at the frame 2, for which purpose at said frame 2 there are provided profiles 20 with an inverted U-shape to which the telescopic guides 19 are fixed by means of tabs 21.

[0035] As can be seen from figures 4 and 5, the telescopic guides 19 are arranged parallel and horizontally such that the plates 17 are arranged parallel and vertically, to facilitate refrigeration.

[0036] Furthermore, on the frame 2 there are provided female connectors 22 placed in correspondence with male connectors 23 that emerge with respect to the modules 11 to enable the correct connection thereof to the remaining elements composing the generator.

[0037] Thus, on the base of the description having been made, it will be easily understood that for carrying out the replacement of one of the modules 11, it is sufficient to pull it by extracting the telescopic guide 19, during which movement the disconnection of the connectors 22 and 23 takes place such that after disconnecting the quick connections 18-18' of the water refrigerating circuit, the complete extraction of the modules 11 is enabled, the replacement thereof being carried out in a reverse way to that what has been described. For this, the slidable section of the telescopic guide 19 is integral with the upper end of the plate 17.

[0038] Thus, replacement of the modules 11 is carried out in a minimum of time.

[0039] In an embodiment of the invention, the generator is connected to a duly programmed communication system 24 at which the measurement of the different parameters of the generator that are of interest, are received such as will be described hereafter.

[0040] The communication system 24 may be connected to a local personal computer 25 and to a remote personal computer 26 through the corresponding communication line 27 such that the operating parameters of the generator can be known remotely and locally.

[0041] Furthermore, the communication system 24 includes a console connected to a video camera 28 and to an audio system 32 so that a video conference is directly established between the operator of the generator and the remote specialist technician who can show parts of the generator to the specialist technician, who can in turn ask the former to make complementary measurements in addition to those he already knows through the communication system 24, whereby the specialist technician can detect the damage from a remote site and the operator of the generator may carry out the replacement of the damaged module 11 in a fast and simple manner or any other operation required, thereby when the generator breaks down or adjustment thereof is not correct, its repair is carried out in a minimum of time.

[0042] To achieve all this functional character, the communication system 24 comprises high and low frequency signal acquisition boards, so as to display signals and waveforms as well as parameters of the status of the generator, to the remote technician.

[0043] Further, the communication system 24 includes a high-speed data acquisition board 29 comprising, among other elements, an oscilloscope for carrying out the measurement of the parameters.

[0044] It is also provided that the communication system comprises a low-speed data acquisition board 30 being used for measuring the basic parameters such as the opening of the door, temperatures, etc. Obviously the communication system 24 includes the corresponding central processing unit 31 connected to the communication line 27 and which includes the necessary input software and hardware for establishing the videoconference by means of the camera 28 and the corresponding audio system 32.

Claims

1. SYSTEM FOR HEATING BY INDUCTION AND THE LIKE, WITH ONLINE MAINTENANCE, applicable in generators that include a series of power modules (11) located at a frame (2) of a case (1); wherein the different conventional elements enabling the correct operation of the generator are further included; characterised in that the power modules (11) are mounted on different plates (17) that are held to a telescopic guide (19) which is in turn supported on the frame (2) of the case (1), wherein furthermore there is included at least one connector (22) for each module (11) from one of the plates (17) of which emerges at least one connector (23) arranged in correspondence with the connector (22) of the frame; all this for carrying out the eventual replacement of each module (11) by pulling it for extracting and replacing it.

2. SYSTEM FOR HEATING BY INDUCTION AND THE LIKE, WITH ONLINE MAINTENANCE according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one connector (22) per module (11) provided on the frame (2), is a female connector and the connector of the module (11) is a male connector.

3. SYSTEM FOR HEATING BY INDUCTION AND THE LIKE, WITH ONLINE MAINTENANCE according to claim 1, characterised in that the plates (17) are arranged vertically and parallel, to enhance refrigeration.

4. SYSTEM FOR HEATING BY INDUCTION AND THE LIKE, WITH ONLINE MAINTENANCE according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the power modules (11) are refrigerated by water, for which purpose said power modules (11) are arranged on radiators (12) through which water is circulating, in which case the case (1) includes water outlet and inlet connections (13); and wherein each plate (17) includes quick connections (18 and 18') to the refrigerating circuit, so as to release the quick connections (18 and 18') after the water inlet and outlet conducts (13) to the case (1) have been closed, for replacing the power module (11).

5. SYSTEM FOR HEATING BY INDUCTION AND THE LIKE, WITH ONLINE MAINTENANCE according to claim 1, characterised in that there is provided a duly programmed and personal-computer based communication system (24), connected to the generator and to a local personal computer (25) and/or to a remote personal computer (26) so as to locally and/or remotely acquire the operating parameters of the generator.

6. SYSTEM FOR HEATING BY INDUCTION AND THE LIKE, WITH ONLINE MAINTENANCE according to claims 1 and 5, characterised in that the communication system (24) includes a console connected to a video camera (28) and audio device (32) for establishing a direct link videoconference between a local operator and a remote technician through the local personal computer (25) and the remote personal computer (26), such that the local operator may show parts of the generator to the remote technician.

7. SYSTEM FOR HEATING BY INDUCTION AND THE LIKE, WITH ONLINE MAINTENANCE according to claims 1 and 5, characterised in that the communication system (24) has high and low frequency signal acquisition boards (33) for displaying signals and waveforms as well as parameters of the status of the generator, to the remote technician.

8. SYSTEM FOR HEATING BY INDUCTION AND THE LIKE, WITH ONLINE MAINTENANCE according to claim 6, characterised in that, in addition to the video camera (28), the communication system (24) includes: a high speed data acquisition board (29) comprising, among other elements, an oscilloscope for measuring the parameters, with other low-speed data acquisition board (30) for measuring the basic parameters such as the opening of the door, temperature, a central processing unit (31) which is connected to the communication line (27) for establishing the videoconference by means of the camera (28) and the corresponding audio device (32) and for sending the different parameters of the generator to the local personal computer (25) and to the remote personal computer (26).

Drawing