A temperature test tool and method for an inductive heating element

Abstract

The patent discloses a temperature test tool and method for an inductive heating element, comprising a clamping mechanism, which is internally provided with a mounting cavity for accommodating the inductive heating element, and is provided with a support part in the mounting cavity for supporting the inductive heating element in a heat conduction reducing manner; a positioning mechanism connected with the clamping mechanism for accurately positioning the pose of the clamping mechanism in a test space, compatible with both contact and non-contact temperature measurement technologies, and capable of effectively obtaining temperature data of multiple points of the element, thereby significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of the test.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This patent relates to the field of electromagnetic induction heating performance testing technology, specifically to a temperature testing fixture and method for an induction heating element. Background Technology

[0002] Electromagnetic induction heating technology is a non-contact heating method that utilizes an alternating magnetic field to generate eddy currents and hysteresis losses within a magnetic conductor, thereby rapidly raising its temperature. Due to its high efficiency, cleanliness, and ease of control, this technology is widely used in new tobacco products and other fields. In such applications, sheet-like or specifically shaped induction heating elements are typically embedded inside the cigarette to achieve heating from the inside out. This not only improves thermal energy utilization but also prevents tobacco substances from scattering during cigarette removal. However, this non-contact and embedded nature presents a significant challenge to the accurate monitoring of the heating element's operating temperature. The control circuit of the heating device cannot directly acquire the element's temperature signal through wires; therefore, developing a reliable external temperature measurement solution has become a key research focus and a major challenge in this technological field.

[0003] Currently, the temperature measurement solutions commonly tried in the industry mainly include two categories: contact temperature measurement and non-contact temperature measurement. However, both have obvious limitations: Contact temperature measurement (such as thermocouples) faces the challenge of positioning: When using thermocouples, the sensor probe needs to be inserted into the cigarette and contact the surface of the heating element. However, the lack of dedicated positioning and clamping fixtures makes it impossible to achieve accurate and repeatable positioning of the thermocouple's measuring end in a confined space. Each installation deviation directly introduces significant measurement errors, resulting in low reliability and poor repeatability of experimental data. Furthermore, single-point contact measurement cannot simultaneously acquire the temperature at multiple locations on the heating element, making it difficult to reflect the overall temperature distribution and thus masking potential problems such as localized overheating or uneven heating. Non-contact temperature measurement (such as infrared thermal imagers) faces the challenge of physical obstruction: Because the induction heating element is completely encapsulated inside the cigarette, the infrared thermal imager's detection light cannot directly illuminate the surface of the element under test, rendering this intuitive temperature field measurement method completely unusable. The inability to perform infrared thermometry also means losing an important means of cross-validating and comparing results with those from contact thermometry.

[0004] In summary, existing technologies lack a dedicated device capable of simultaneously addressing the issues of "precise sensor positioning," "compatibility with multi-point and multi-form temperature measurement," and "high repeatability of the measurement process." Therefore, there is an urgent need to design an integrated fixture and positioning structure to overcome these technical bottlenecks and provide accurate and reliable data support for in-depth research and product optimization in electromagnetic induction heating technology. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this patent is to provide a temperature testing fixture and method for inductive heating elements, addressing the problems of inaccurate sensor positioning, limited temperature measurement methods, and poor measurement repeatability in existing technologies. This invention achieves stable clamping and precise spatial orientation control of the inductive heating element through a combination of a clamping mechanism with a thermally isolated structure and a multi-axis precision positioning mechanism. This not only simultaneously supports both contact and non-contact temperature measurement technologies but also effectively acquires temperature data from multiple points on the element, thereby significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of the test.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this patent adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A temperature testing fixture for an inductive heating element includes: a clamping mechanism having an internal mounting cavity for accommodating the inductive heating element, the mounting cavity having a support portion for supporting the inductive heating element in a way that reduces heat conduction; and a positioning mechanism connected to the clamping mechanism for accurately positioning the clamping mechanism in the test space.

[0008] Furthermore, the clamping mechanism includes a separable base and a cover.

[0009] Furthermore, the support is provided on the inner wall of the base and / or the cover.

[0010] Furthermore, the support is configured to support the inductive heating element in a point contact or line contact manner.

[0011] Furthermore, the base includes a first support section.

[0012] Furthermore, the cover includes a second support portion.

[0013] Furthermore, the first support part and the second support part are hollow rectangular platforms that cooperate with each other, and together they are interlocked to form a square groove structure.

[0014] Furthermore, the clamping mechanism has at least one observation window.

[0015] Furthermore, the observation window is directly facing the main heating area of ​​the inductive heating element.

[0016] Furthermore, the clamping mechanism is also equipped with a clamping block, which is used to press and fix the measuring end of the temperature sensor onto the surface of the inductive heating element.

[0017] Furthermore, the clamping mechanism is made of special engineering plastics or ceramic materials that are resistant to high temperatures and have low thermal conductivity.

[0018] Furthermore, the positioning mechanism is a three-axis motion platform, comprising a first motion module, a second motion module, and a third motion module, wherein at least one motion module is equipped with a fine-tuning mechanism and / or a position locking mechanism.

[0019] Furthermore, an adjustable limit block is provided on the first motion module used for horizontal forward and backward movement.

[0020] A method for testing the temperature distribution of an induction heating element, wherein the induction heating element is clamped using any of the above-mentioned temperature testing fixtures, and its main heating area is in a thermally isolated state;

[0021] The positioning mechanism is used to precisely locate it at the test position;

[0022] Temperature distribution data of the inductive heating element can be obtained simultaneously or selectively through contact temperature measurement and non-contact infrared temperature measurement through the observation window.

[0023] This patent provides a temperature testing fixture and method for an inductive heating element, which has the following advantages compared to the prior art:

[0024] First, the internal thermal isolation structure of the clamping mechanism (such as the design of local support sections and hollow areas) reliably fixes the inductive heating element while minimizing its contact area with the fixture body. This effectively blocks the heat conduction path, ensuring the authenticity and accuracy of the data collected by the temperature sensor and avoiding measurement distortion caused by heat absorption by the fixture. Second, the multi-axis precision positioning mechanism provides the clamping mechanism with precise movement and positioning capabilities in three-dimensional space, and has locking and hard limit functions. This fundamentally solves the positioning consistency problem in repeated testing, ensuring high repeatability of experimental data. Furthermore, the specially designed observation window and wire channel on the clamping mechanism cleverly achieve compatibility and support for both non-contact infrared temperature measurement and contact thermocouple temperature measurement technologies. This allows for the acquisition of multi-point temperatures and the overall temperature field distribution of the heating element in a single clamping operation, greatly expanding testing functions and application scenarios.

[0025] In summary, this tooling, with its core structural features of "heat insulation, precise positioning, and multi-functional compatibility," constitutes a high-precision, highly repeatable, and fully functional temperature testing solution. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The above content of this patent and the following detailed embodiments will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are merely examples of the claimed technical solution.

[0027] Figure 1 Exploded view of the fitting diagram of the cover and base;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the base;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the cover.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the clamping mechanism assembly.

[0031] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the clamping mechanism;

[0032] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the first motion module;

[0033] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the second motion module;

[0034] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the third motion module;

[0035] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the complete assembly of the test fixture;

[0036] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the overall test system.

[0037] The reference numerals in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0038] Clamping mechanism: 100

[0039] Base: 110

[0040] Top cover: 120

[0041] Mounting cavity: 150

[0042] First insulation section: 111

[0043] Second insulation section: 121

[0044] Conductor channel: 112

[0045] Clamping block: 130

[0046] Mounting base: 140

[0047] Induction heating element: 300

[0048] Lead wire: 400

[0049] Infrared thermal imager: 500

[0050] Test magnetic field generator: 600

[0051] Positioning mechanism: 200

[0052] First motion module: 210

[0053] Adjustable limit block: 211

[0054] Second motion module: 220

[0055] Third motion module: 230 Detailed Implementation

[0056] The detailed features and advantages of this patent are described below in the specific embodiments. The content is sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art to understand the technical content of this patent and implement it accordingly. Based on the specification, claims and drawings disclosed in this specification, a person skilled in the art can easily understand the related objectives and advantages of this patent.

[0057] This specification also uses several compound terms to describe devices, components, equipment, etc. that include more than one function, or to assign additional functions to a corresponding device, component, equipment, etc. Those skilled in the art will understand that such compound terms can be implemented by a single or multiple devices, components, equipment, etc., as long as they are reasonable under the interpretation rules of this patent terminology.

[0058] It should be noted that in this specification, similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and interpreted in subsequent figures. In this specification and claims, several terms will be used, and unless otherwise indicated, these terms will be defined as having the following meanings:

[0059] The terms “comprising” or “having” have the same meaning as “containing”, and also include other forms of the term, such as the gerund and singular forms in English, meaning including but not limited to, and not intended to exclude, for example, other elements, components, integers or steps.

[0060] All other terms used herein for special definition are intended to have the general meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in particular, meaning that one of ordinary skill in the art, upon reading the claims, specification and drawings of this patent, can directly and without doubt determine how the technical solution of this patent can be implemented.

[0061] Even if there are incomplete descriptions, omissions, or ambiguities in the grammar, words, punctuation, graphics, symbols, etc. of the claims, specification, and drawings of this patent, a person skilled in the art can still arrive at the only correct understanding by reading the claims, specification, and drawings as a whole without extensive reasoning or experimentation, and effectively exclude various incorrect interpretations that are not aimed at achieving the purpose of this patent.

[0062] Those skilled in the art would first choose to read the claims, specification, and drawings of this patent to reasonably interpret the terms; secondly, they would choose to refer to the relevant definitions in other documents published by the applicant before the filing date to reasonably interpret the terms; thirdly, they would choose the references cited in this patent to reasonably interpret the terms; and finally, they would choose to combine the technical dictionaries, technical manuals, reference books, textbooks, national or industry technical standards, etc., commonly used by those skilled in the art to reasonably interpret the terms.

[0063] All references cited in this application are incorporated herein by way of quotation, to the extent that they do not contradict the disclosure herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that products (apparatus, components, devices, compounds, compositions, materials, etc.) and methods (processes, steps, conditions, parameters, equipment, and test methods, equipment, etc.) not specifically described herein can be applied to the implementation of the inventions fully disclosed herein without the need for excessive experimentation. This patent is intended to cover all functional equivalents known in the art of the methods, apparatus, apparatus components, materials, processes, and techniques specifically described herein. All cited references include:

[0064] The following publications are included: Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers (11th edition and other editions prior to the filing date of this application), published by McGraw-Hill, Inc.; DeGarmo's Materials and Processes in Manufacturing (13th edition and other editions prior to the filing date of this application), published by Wiley; Oberg's Machine Handbook (32nd edition and other editions prior to the filing date of this application), published by IndustrialPress Inc.; Cheng Daxian's Mechanical Design Handbook (6th edition and other editions prior to the filing date of this application), published by Chemical Industry Press; and Wen Bangchun's Modern Mechanical Design Handbook (6th edition and other editions prior to the filing date of this application), published by Machinery Industry Press.

[0065] This invention aims to provide a temperature testing fixture for inductive heating elements, which comprises two main components: a clamping mechanism and a positioning mechanism. The clamping mechanism is the functional module directly responsible for supporting, fixing, and thermally isolating the inductive heating element. It has an internal mounting cavity for accommodating the inductive heating element and integrates a thermal insulation structure. This structure ensures that the inductive heating element is reliably clamped while its core heating area is effectively thermally isolated from the main body of the clamping mechanism, thereby minimizing heat conduction to the fixture body and ensuring the accuracy of temperature measurement. Specifically:

[0066] See Figure 1 The diagram illustrates the assembly of the cover and base. The base 110 and cover 120 are separable and can be joined together to form the mounting cavity 150. Since the induction heating element 300 can reach temperatures of 300-400℃ during operation, this places stringent requirements on the clamping mechanism 100, particularly its base 110 and cover 120, regarding high-temperature resistance and low thermal conductivity. Firstly, to ensure the tooling remains structurally stable and does not deform or degrade under long-term high-temperature conditions, the materials used for the base 110 and cover 120 must possess excellent high-temperature resistance. Secondly, to minimize the heat dissipation of the induction heating element 300 to the clamping body through conduction and avoid interference with temperature measurement accuracy, the materials should also have the lowest possible thermal conductivity. Based on these dual requirements, this invention preferably uses a series of special engineering plastics with comprehensive properties such as high-temperature resistance, machinability, and low thermal conductivity to manufacture the base 110 and cover 120. Specific materials that can be selected include, but are not limited to, polyimide, polyamide-imide, polybenzimidazole, thermoplastic polyimide, and polyetheretherketone. These materials can maintain their mechanical strength and dimensional stability within the stated operating temperature range, while their inherent low thermal conductivity effectively suppresses heat conduction pathways from the material itself. Furthermore, as alternatives, inorganic non-metallic materials such as ceramics or tempered glass are also viable choices, as they also possess heat resistance and low thermal conductivity.

[0067] See Figure 1 The base 110 and the cover 120 are mainly connected and fixed by a mechanical structure, forming a clamping body with an internal mounting cavity. Specifically, the base 110 and the cover 120 can be fastened with screws: threaded holes are provided at corresponding positions on the cover 120 and the base 110, and high-temperature resistant screws are used for connection. This method of connection is reliable and facilitates repeated disassembly and assembly. Alternatively, they can be connected by snap-fit: matching snap-fits and slots are designed on the mating edges of the base 110 and the cover 120 to achieve quick engagement and disassembly, improving operational efficiency. Hinged connection: one end of the base 110 and the cover 120 are connected by a hinge shaft, and the other end is fixed by a latch, making opening and closing operations more convenient, especially suitable for scenarios that require frequent replacement of test components.

[0068] Preferably, the base 110 and the cover 120 are interlocking semi-cylindrical structures. The shapes of the base 110 and the cover 120 can also be flexibly selected according to the shape of the induction heating element 300 and the testing requirements.

[0069] See Figures 2-3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the base 110 and the cover 120. The base 110 has a first heat-insulating portion 111 extending inward from its main body along the mounting cavity 150, and the cover 120 has a second heat-insulating portion 121 extending inward along the mounting cavity 150. The thermal insulation structure is achieved by the first heat-insulating portion 111 and the second heat-insulating portion 121, respectively formed on the base 110 and the cover 120, cooperating with each other. Together, they clamp and define the position of the inductive heating element 300 from both the upper and lower sides. Alternatively, the thermal insulation structure can be provided only on a single main body of the base 110 or the cover 120. This mechanism can be integrated into either the base 110 or the cover 120, as long as it ensures that the main body of the inductive heating element 300 can be stably suspended within the mounting cavity 150 after it is placed. The following will use... Figures 2-3 Taking the relative fit embodiment shown as an example, various specific fit configurations of the first heat insulation part 111 and the second heat insulation part 121 will be described in detail.

[0070] When the cover 120 and the base 110 are closed, the first heat insulation part 111 and the second heat insulation part 121 also interlock, and are configured to clamp the edge of the induction heating element 300 only in line contact. Furthermore, to further improve the heat insulation effect, a pad made of high-performance heat insulation material can be added or embedded on the direct contact surface between the first heat insulation part 111 and / or the second heat insulation part 121 and the induction heating element 300. This pad is preferably made of aerogel, ceramic fiber paper, or high-silica glass fiber cloth, serving as an additional thermal barrier that significantly slows the rate of heat conduction to the clamp body. Preferably, a wire channel 112 is provided at the end of the base 110 away from the induction heating element 300. This wire channel 112 is preferably located at the central axis of the base 110, and its aperture allows multiple thermocouple leads 400 to pass smoothly through while minimizing structural weakening and external hot airflow interference caused by the opening. This design enables centralized management of the leads, avoiding messy tangling of wires in the test space, which is both aesthetically pleasing and safe. Secondly, the fixed lead path ensures that the leads will not be accidentally pulled during the movement and positioning of the fixture, protecting the fragile solder joints and maintaining the stability of the measurement circuit.

[0071] See Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the overall assembly of the clamping mechanism, which also includes a clamping block 130 and a fixing base 140. The clamping block 130 is installed at the wire channel 112 of the base 110. It can clamp and fix the lead wire 400 of the contact temperature sensor (such as a thermocouple). By adjusting the clamping force of the clamping block 130, it can ensure that the contact pressure between the sensor measuring end and the surface of the induction heating element 300 is stable and reliable, avoiding measurement errors caused by poor contact, and effectively manage the cable path to prevent it from loosening or interfering with other components during testing. The fixing base 140 serves as the key mechanical interface between the clamping mechanism 100 and the positioning mechanism 200. It is usually located at the bottom of the base 110 and is rigidly connected to the motion module of the positioning mechanism 200 through a standard or customized connection structure (such as mounting holes, slots, or flanges). The design of the mounting base 140 ensures that the clamping mechanism 100 can be securely mounted on the positioning mechanism 200 and accurately transmits the motion and positioning accuracy provided by the positioning mechanism 200 to the entire clamping mechanism 100 and the clamped induction heating element 300.

[0072] To accommodate different temperature measurement technologies, the clamping mechanism is also designed with a dedicated functional interface to adapt to non-contact temperature measurement tools. An observation window is provided on the cover and / or base, aligned with the internal cutout area, allowing the lens of a non-contact temperature measurement tool (such as an infrared thermal imager) to directly illuminate the surface of the suspended induction heating element for non-contact temperature measurement. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, the clamping mechanism also includes a wire channel and clamping blocks to guide and clamp the wires of contact temperature sensors such as thermocouples, ensuring stable contact between the measuring end and the measuring point of the induction heating element.

[0073] The positioning mechanism 200 is mechanically connected to the clamping mechanism 100, enabling it to drive and precisely position the clamping mechanism (along with its internal inductive heating element) in the three-dimensional test space. This ensures that the element can be accurately and repeatedly moved to the same preset position during each test. Specifically, the positioning mechanism is a multi-axis precision motion platform, mainly comprising motion modules, adjustment units, and limiting devices. The motion modules include three linear motion modules: a first motion module 210, a second motion module 220, and a third motion module 230, which respectively control the movement of the clamping mechanism 100 in the horizontal direction (defined as the X-axis), the forward / backward direction (defined as the Y-axis), and the vertical direction (defined as the Z-axis). These motion modules employ high-precision mechanical components, such as precision lead screws, as drive mechanisms, and are paired with cross ball guides or cross roller guides as guide mechanisms to ensure smooth movement and high positioning accuracy. These modules can utilize precision lead screws, cross ball / roller guides, and other precision mechanical components to achieve positioning accuracy. The alignment unit integrates a fine-tuning mechanism (such as a micrometer) on at least one motion axis for performing precise position calibration. Simultaneously, each motion axis is equipped with a position locking mechanism to securely lock it after alignment, preventing displacement during testing. Since the clamping mechanism 100 and the induction heating element 300 need to be fed into and removed from the test magnetic field generator 600 as a whole during testing, this process requires a large stroke in the X-axis direction. Therefore, the first motion module 210 is constructed as a long-stroke linear module. In a preferred embodiment, this module employs a combination of a dovetail structure and manual drive. The dovetail structure, with its excellent rigidity and self-locking characteristics, ensures that the clamping mechanism 100 maintains extremely high positional stability even during long-stroke movements, preventing drift or wobbling, thus ensuring a smooth and reliable process of entering and exiting the test magnetic field generator 600. To further address the accuracy issue in repeated measurements, an adjustable limit block 211 is provided at the moving end of the first motion module 210 (i.e., the end closest to the test magnetic field). The adjustable limit block 211 is mounted on the module base via a precision mechanism such as a threaded fine-tuning mechanism. Its position can be precisely set and ultimately fixed by a locking mechanism. The core function of the adjustable limit block 211 is to provide a physical hard limit. When the first motion module 210 drives the clamping mechanism 100 to move towards the test magnetic field generator 600, the clamping mechanism 100 or its fixed base 140 will finally reliably contact the adjustable limit block 211, and the movement will be immediately terminated. This design ensures that the final position of the inductive heating element 300 is unique and constant each time it enters the test magnetic field, fundamentally eliminating repeatability errors caused by operational or system gaps, and is a key hard guarantee for achieving high repeatability measurement accuracy.

[0074] The second motion module (Y-axis) preferably uses a cross-ball guided manual slide, and integrates a fine-tuning mechanism (such as a micrometer for precise adjustment) and a locking mechanism. Its overall structure is similar to that of the first motion module. The third motion module (Z-axis) preferably uses a precision cross-roll guided manual displacement stage, and integrates a fine-tuning mechanism (such as a micrometer for precise adjustment) and a locking mechanism.

[0075] Through the coordinated operation of the aforementioned components, the positioning mechanism 200 can achieve micron-level positioning accuracy. In one specific embodiment, the parallelism accuracy of the X-axis and Y-axis motion modules can reach 40 μm, and the linear accuracy of the Z-axis motion module can reach 30 μm.

[0076] The positioning process for testing inductive heating elements is as follows:

[0077] - Initially move the clamping mechanism to the vicinity of the test area.

[0078] - Operate the second and third motion modules and use their fine-tuning mechanisms to perform precise position calibration until the sensing heating element reaches the preset test pose in the Y and Z axis directions.

[0079] - After calibration, the Y-axis and Z-axis are immediately locked securely by their respective locking mechanisms to prevent displacement during subsequent testing.

[0080] - Drive the first motion module to make the clamping mechanism smoothly enter the test magnetic field along the X-axis until its fixed seat contacts the preset adjustable limit block. At this time, the induction heating element is accurately and repeatedly positioned in the unique test position.

[0081] Thermocouple temperature measurement process

[0082] In a specific embodiment employing thermocouple temperature measurement, the base 110 and cover 120 of the clamping mechanism 100 are preferably made of polybenzimidazole (PBI) material, with a tubular main body having a semi-circular cross-section. To clamp a rectangular induction heating element 300 with dimensions of 12mm × 5mm, square groove platforms with dimensions of 12.2mm × 5.2mm are respectively machined on the mating surfaces of the base 110 and cover 120, forming the first heat insulation part 111 and the second heat insulation part 121. After the induction heating element 300 is placed into the mating groove, the element can be securely fixed by closing the cover 120 and pressing it tightly. To achieve thermal insulation, a replaceable heat insulation pad made of aerogel material can also be lined inside the square groove platform in contact with the induction heating element 300 to significantly reduce the conduction of heat to the PBI clamp body. During installation, the measuring end of the thermocouple is pre-positioned to contact the measuring point of the induction heating element 300. The thermocouple leads are then guided to the wire channel 112 at the end of the base 110. Finally, the thermocouple leads 400 are pressed and fixed by tightening the clamping block 130 mounted on the base 110, ensuring reliable contact between the measuring end and the element surface and a stable signal, thereby achieving high-precision real-time temperature measurement of the induction heating element 300.

[0083] Infrared temperature measurement process

[0084] See Figure 10 In a specific embodiment employing non-contact infrared temperature measurement, the clamping mechanism 100 is designed to provide an unobstructed observation path for the infrared thermal imager 500, enabling it to directly irradiate and measure the temperature distribution on the surface of the inductive heating element 300.

[0085] To achieve this objective, the cover 120 of the clamping mechanism 100 is specially designed in this embodiment. One or more observation windows are provided on the cover 120, directly opposite the main heating area of ​​the inductive heating element 300, to ensure that the infrared thermal imager's field of view completely covers the target temperature measurement area.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment, the observation window is not kept open but enclosed by an infrared translucent sheet. This translucent sheet is made of a high-temperature resistant material with high transmittance to the mid- and far-infrared bands, such as sapphire glass, zinc selenide crystal, or special infrared quartz glass. Enclosing the transparent observation window creates a seal, effectively preventing external airflow disturbances and dust from entering the clamping mechanism and affecting temperature measurement accuracy. It also maintains the operating temperature and, in conjunction with the aerogel insulation pad, maintains a 300° circumferential thermal isolation environment for the inductive heating element, preventing excessive heat loss due to the opening.

[0087] The operating procedure for infrared thermometry is as follows:

[0088] As mentioned above, the induction heating element 300 is installed and fixed in the square slot platform of the clamping mechanism 100.

[0089] The positioning mechanism 200 precisely positions the clamping mechanism 100, so that the induction heating element 300 is located inside the test magnetic field generator 600.

[0090] Turn on the infrared thermal imager 500 and point its lens at the observation window. Infrared radiation passes through the infrared transmissive film and is received by the thermal imager.

[0091] The infrared thermal imager can acquire and display the temperature field distribution image of the surface of the inductive heating element 300 in real time. By moving the clamping mechanism, for example by finely adjusting the Y and Z axes through the positioning mechanism, or by utilizing the multiple observation windows designed on the clamp, temperature distribution data of different areas of the element can be easily obtained.

[0092] Comparison and compatibility with thermocouple temperature measurement:

[0093] The advantage of this embodiment lies in the fact that the design of the observation window is fully compatible with the aforementioned thermocouple temperature measurement structure. When a comparative verification of the two temperature measurement technologies is required, it can be done as follows:

[0094] When clamping the induction heating element 300, the thermocouple leads 400 are simultaneously installed and fixed by the clamping block 130. During the same test, the infrared thermal imager 500 performs non-contact temperature measurement through the observation window, while the thermocouple performs contact single-point temperature measurement. The data from both can be collected simultaneously for mutual verification and analysis of the temperature uniformity of the element surface. This embodiment successfully introduces infrared temperature measurement technology into the internal temperature test of electromagnetic induction heating elements by adding a dedicated observation window, solving the problem in the prior art that the infrared thermal imager cannot irradiate the surface of the element under test, and forming an effective complement and verification with the thermocouple temperature measurement scheme.

[0095] Temperature testing method for induction heating elements

[0096] Step 1: Test Preparation and Component Installation

[0097] First, a clamping mechanism 100 is selected or manufactured to match the shape and size of the inductive heating element 300 to be tested. The base 110 and cover 120 of the clamping mechanism 100 are preferably made of special engineering plastics with high temperature resistance and low thermal conductivity, such as polybenzimidazole (PBI).

[0098] Thermocouple Installation: If contact temperature measurement is required, pre-position the measuring ends of one or more thermocouples at predetermined temperature measuring points on the induction heating element 300. Then, place the induction heating element 300 into the square slot platform (first heat insulation part 111) of the base 110. Lead the thermocouple leads out from the wire channel 112 at the end of the base 110. Finally, close the cover 120, so that the square slot platform (second heat insulation part 121) and the base together press and fix the induction heating element 300, and tighten the clamping block 130 to press the thermocouple leads to ensure reliable contact between the measuring ends and the element surface.

[0099] Infrared temperature measurement preparation: An observation window is provided on the cover 120, which is directly facing the main heating area of ​​the inductive heating element 300, and can be encapsulated with a high-temperature resistant infrared light-transmitting sheet such as sapphire glass. This structure ensures an effective observation path for the infrared thermal imager, eliminating the need for additional installation steps.

[0100] Step 2: Precisely locate the test position

[0101] The clamping mechanism 100 with the installed components is fixed onto the positioning mechanism 200. The following precise positioning sequence is executed via this three-axis precision motion platform:

[0102] Coarse adjustment and focusing: Manually drive the second motion module 220 (Y-axis) and the third motion module 230 (Z-axis) to roughly move the clamping mechanism 100 to the center of the field of view in front of the test magnetic field generator 600. Then, use the micrometer (fine adjustment mechanism) integrated on the Y and Z axis slides for fine adjustment until the sensing heating element 300 is clearly focused in the infrared thermal imager and located at the predetermined position in the image. After adjustment, immediately lock the Y and Z axis position locking mechanism to prevent displacement during subsequent operations.

[0103] Hard-limit positioning and repeatability guarantee: The first motion module 210 (X-axis) is driven to smoothly move the clamping mechanism 100 into the test magnetic field along the dovetail guide rail. When the fixed seat 140 of the clamping mechanism 100 makes reliable contact with the adjustable limit block 211 preset at the end of the X-axis, the movement is immediately terminated. This "physical hard-limit" mechanism ensures that the final depth of the induction heating element 300 into the magnetic field is unique and constant in each test, fundamentally guaranteeing extremely high repeatability of the test conditions.

[0104] Step 3: Perform temperature measurement and data acquisition

[0105] After induction heating occurs, temperature data can be collected synchronously using one or more of the following methods, depending on the testing objective:

[0106] Contact-based single-point / multi-point temperature measurement: A temperature recorder records the temperature data at the contact point between the installed thermocouple and the component in real time. This method is suitable for obtaining precise temperature-time curves at specific points.

[0107] Non-contact full-field temperature measurement: Activate the infrared thermal imager and allow it to directly image the surface of the inductive heating element 300 through the observation window. This method can instantly acquire an image of the temperature field distribution across the entire element surface, providing a clear visual display of the temperature field.

[0108] Comparative testing and data fusion: To verify data accuracy or conduct in-depth analysis, the two temperature measurements mentioned above can be performed simultaneously. By comparing and fusing the single-point time-series data collected by thermocouples with the full-field spatial distribution data collected by infrared thermal imagers, the thermal performance of components can be comprehensively and thoroughly evaluated.

[0109] Step 4: Test End and Reset

[0110] After the test is completed, drive the first motion module 210 to remove the clamping mechanism 100 from the test magnetic field. Then release the Y and Z axis locking mechanisms to prepare for the next test.

[0111] Industrial application

[0112] This patent provides a temperature testing fixture and method for an inductive heating element, which has the following advantages compared to the prior art:

[0113] First, the internal thermal isolation structure of the clamping mechanism (such as the design of local support sections and hollow areas) reliably fixes the inductive heating element while minimizing its contact area with the fixture body. This effectively blocks the heat conduction path, ensuring the authenticity and accuracy of the data collected by the temperature sensor and avoiding measurement distortion caused by heat absorption by the fixture. Second, the multi-axis precision positioning mechanism provides the clamping mechanism with precise movement and positioning capabilities in three-dimensional space, and has locking and hard limit functions. This fundamentally solves the positioning consistency problem in repeated testing, ensuring high repeatability of experimental data. Furthermore, the specially designed observation window and wire channel on the clamping mechanism cleverly achieve compatibility and support for both non-contact infrared temperature measurement and contact thermocouple temperature measurement technologies. This allows for the acquisition of multi-point temperatures and the overall temperature field distribution of the heating element in a single clamping operation, greatly expanding testing functions and application scenarios.

[0114] In summary, this tooling, with its core structural features of "heat insulation, precise positioning, and multi-functional compatibility," constitutes a high-precision, highly repeatable, and fully functional temperature testing solution.

[0115] The terminology and expressions used herein are for descriptive purposes only and this patent should not be limited to these terms and expressions. The use of these terms and expressions does not imply the exclusion of any illustrative and descriptive equivalent features (or parts thereof), and it should be recognized that various possible modifications should also be included within the scope of the claims. Other modifications, variations, and substitutions may also exist. Accordingly, the claims should be considered to cover all such equivalents.

[0116] Similarly, it should be noted that although this patent has been described with reference to the specific embodiments described above, those skilled in the art should recognize that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate this patent, and various equivalent changes or substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of this patent. Therefore, any changes or modifications to the above embodiments within the essential spirit of this patent will fall within the scope of the claims of this patent.

Claims

1. A temperature testing fixture for an inductive heating element, characterized in that, include: The clamping mechanism has an internal mounting cavity for accommodating the inductive heating element, and the mounting cavity has a support portion for supporting the inductive heating element in a way that reduces heat conduction; The clamping mechanism includes a separable base and a cover. The base extends inward from the main body along the inner wall of the mounting cavity with a first support portion. The cover extends inward along the inner wall of the mounting cavity with a second support portion. The first support portion and the second support portion engage with each other when the base and the cover are closed, and together support the inductive heating element from the upper and lower sides. The first support and the second support are configured to support the inductive heating element in a point contact or line contact manner, such that the main body of the inductive heating element is suspended inside the mounting cavity; A positioning mechanism, connected to the clamping mechanism, is used to accurately position the clamping mechanism in the test space; The base has a wire channel at the end away from the inductive heating element for the lead wire of the contact temperature sensor to pass through; The clamping mechanism is also provided with a clamping block, which is installed at the wire channel to press and fix the lead wire of the contact temperature sensor so that the measuring end of the contact temperature sensor is pressed and fixed to the surface of the inductive heating element. The clamping mechanism further includes a fixed base, which is disposed at the bottom of the base and serves as a mechanical interface between the clamping mechanism and the positioning mechanism. The fixed base is rigidly connected to the positioning mechanism through a connecting structure. The clamping mechanism has at least one observation window, which faces the main heating area of ​​the inductive heating element. The observation window is used for temperature measurement by a non-contact temperature measuring device.

2. The temperature testing fixture for the inductive heating element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first support part and the second support part are hollow rectangular platforms that cooperate with each other and are interlocked to form a square groove structure.

3. The temperature testing fixture for the inductive heating element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping mechanism is made of special engineering plastics or ceramic materials that are resistant to high temperatures and have low thermal conductivity.

4. The temperature testing fixture for the inductive heating element according to claim 3, characterized in that, The positioning mechanism is a three-axis motion platform, comprising a first motion module, a second motion module, and a third motion module, wherein at least one motion module is equipped with a fine-tuning mechanism and / or a position locking mechanism.

5. The temperature testing fixture for the inductive heating element according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first motion module used for horizontal forward and backward movement is equipped with an adjustable limit block.

6. A method for testing the temperature distribution of an inductive heating element, characterized in that, The inductive heating element is clamped using the temperature testing fixture of any one of claims 1 to 5, and its main heating area is in a thermally isolated state. The positioning mechanism is used to position it at the test location; The temperature distribution data of the inductive heating element can be obtained synchronously or selectively through contact temperature measurement and / or non-contact temperature measurement.

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