A composite laser heat treatment system and method

Abstract

This invention discloses a composite laser heat treatment system and method. Utilizing the advantages of rapid laser heating, it significantly improves upon the slow heating characteristic of traditional heat treatment processes, enhancing heating uniformity and efficiency. The system includes a housing comprising a bottom wall, side walls, and a top wall. The side walls surround the bottom wall, and the top wall covers the side walls. The bottom wall, side walls, and top wall are connected to form a closed housing. A laser heating module is mounted on the top wall, with its laser emission direction directed towards the object being heated. An auxiliary heating source is mounted on the side wall. During heat treatment, the laser heating module emits laser light to heat the object. Once the object reaches a set temperature, the laser heating module shuts off, and the auxiliary heating source activates to maintain the temperature of the object.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of heat treatment technology, and specifically to a composite laser heat treatment system and method. Background Technology

[0002] Heat treatment is a thermal processing technique that involves heating, holding, and cooling materials to obtain desired microstructure and properties. Heat treatment furnaces are widely used heating equipment in heat treatment. Most heat treatment furnaces use electric heating, operating on the principle of heating materials by passing an electric current through heating elements arranged within the furnace chamber. Existing heat treatment furnaces often employ resistance wires or heating lamps, distributing these wires or heat pipes inside the chamber to heat the materials to the specified temperature through thermal radiation and heat exchange. Current heat treatment systems primarily utilize air heat conduction and thermal radiation for heating, resulting in a low heating rate. Increasing the heating rate requires increasing electrical power, leading to increased energy consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the problems in the prior art, this invention provides a composite laser heat treatment system and method that leverages the advantages of rapid laser heating to significantly improve the slow heating process in traditional heat treatment, thereby enhancing heating uniformity and efficiency.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a composite laser heat treatment system, including a housing. The housing includes a bottom wall, side walls, and a top wall. The side walls surround the bottom wall, and the top wall covers the side walls. The bottom wall, side walls, and top wall are connected to form a closed housing. A laser heating module is provided on the top wall, and the laser emission direction of the laser heating module is directed towards the object being heated. An auxiliary heating source is provided on the side wall. When the object being heated is subjected to heat treatment, the laser heating module can emit laser light to heat the object. When the object reaches a set temperature, the laser heating module is turned off, and the auxiliary heating source is activated to maintain the temperature of the object.

[0005] Furthermore, the top wall has a herringbone structure, and the laser heating module includes multiple laser sources arranged in an array, which are arranged in an array inside the herringbone structure.

[0006] Furthermore, the laser heating module also includes a protective window, which is disposed over the laser source.

[0007] Furthermore, the laser heating module also includes a cooling plate, the laser source is mounted on the cooling plate, and the cooling plate is mounted on the top wall.

[0008] Furthermore, the laser source includes a semiconductor laser source, a CO2 laser source, a YAG laser source, or a fiber laser source.

[0009] Furthermore, the bottom wall is provided with a bottom tray for placing the object to be heated, and the bottom tray is provided with a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the object to be heated.

[0010] Furthermore, the bottom tray is movably connected to the bottom wall, the side wall has an inlet and outlet, and a door is movably provided at the inlet and outlet.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes a controller, the laser heating module is equipped with an angle adjuster, the angle adjuster is used to adjust the laser irradiation angle, and the temperature sensor, the laser heating module, the auxiliary heating source and the angle adjuster are all communicatively connected to the controller.

[0012] Furthermore, the auxiliary heating source includes a resistance wire or a heating lamp.

[0013] The present invention also provides a heat treatment method based on the above-mentioned composite laser heat treatment system, comprising: when the object to be heated is subjected to heat treatment, a laser heating module emits a laser to heat the object; when the object reaches a set temperature, the laser heating module is turned off, and an auxiliary heating source is activated to keep the object warm.

[0014] Compared with existing technologies, this invention forms a closed box by connecting the bottom wall, side walls, and top wall. A laser heating module is installed on the top wall, and auxiliary heating sources are installed on the side walls. When the object to be heated is subjected to heat treatment, the laser heating module emits a laser to heat the object. Using laser as the main heating source, it leverages the high energy density, precise controllability, and non-contact heating characteristics of laser heating to achieve rapid heating and improve heating uniformity and efficiency. It exhibits significant advantages in control precision, processing quality, and energy efficiency. The laser beam has strong directionality, and the spot size and heating time can be precisely controlled, achieving localized and selective heating, minimizing heat input, and reducing the heat-affected zone. The heating temperature and heating time can be precisely controlled, and the laser can be quickly shut off during heating to control the cooling rate, easily achieving deep supercooling control. The energy of laser heating is transferred through the beam, avoiding contamination or stress caused by physical contact, allowing it to work in special environments and effectively protecting the integrity of the heated object. Laser heating has a high energy conversion rate, fast thermal response speed, and high energy efficiency. The laser only directs energy to the target area and does not radiate residual heat into the environment, avoiding the waste heat generated by traditional heating methods. Compared to traditional heat treatment furnaces, laser heating is faster, the equipment is smaller, requires no preheating, saving factory space and energy. Laser energy is more concentrated, eliminating waste heat and extending equipment lifespan. Furthermore, the use of auxiliary heating sources for heat preservation enhances the heat treatment effect and meets the process requirements. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the laser source structure of the present invention; Among them, 1 is the housing, 11 is the top wall, 12 is the side wall, 13 is the bottom wall, 14 is the bottom tray, 2 is the laser heating module, 21 is the protective window, 22 is the laser source, 23 is the cooling plate, 3 is the auxiliary heating source, 4 is the temperature sensor, and 5 is the object being heated. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The present invention will be further explained and described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this application. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0017] This invention provides a composite laser heat treatment system, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 1The device includes a housing 1, which includes a bottom wall 13, side walls 12, and a top wall 11. The side walls 12 are arranged along the bottom wall 13, and the top wall 11 covers the side walls 12. The bottom wall 13, side walls 12, and top wall 11 are connected to form a closed housing 1. The top wall 11 is equipped with a laser heating module 2, and the laser emission direction of the laser heating module 2 is directly facing the object being heated 5. The side wall 12 is equipped with an auxiliary heating source 3. When the object being heated 5 is heat-treated, the laser heating module 2 can emit laser to heat the object being heated 5. When the object being heated 5 reaches the set temperature, the laser heating module 2 is turned off, and the auxiliary heating source 3 is turned on to keep the object being heated 5 warm.

[0018] This invention forms a closed box 1 by connecting a bottom wall 13, side walls 12, and a top wall 11. The box 1 can also be equipped with an insulation layer and filled with insulation material to improve insulation performance. The shape of the box 1 in this embodiment can be square, columnar, or other shapes. This embodiment does not specifically limit the shape of the box 1. A laser heating module 2 is set on the top wall 11, and an auxiliary heating source 3 is set on the side wall 12. When the object to be heated 5 is heat-treated, the laser heating module 2 emits a laser to heat the object 5. Using a laser as the main heating source, the high energy density, precise controllability, and non-contact heating characteristics of laser heating are utilized to achieve rapid heating and improve heating uniformity and efficiency. It shows significant advantages in terms of control precision, processing quality, and energy efficiency. The laser beam has strong directionality, and the spot size and heating time can be precisely controlled to achieve local and selective heating, minimize heat input, and reduce the heat-affected zone. The heating temperature and heating time can be precisely controlled, and the laser can be quickly shut off during the heating process to control the cooling rate, making it easy to achieve deep supercooling control. Laser heating energy is transferred through a laser beam, avoiding contamination or stress caused by physical contact. It can operate in special environments and effectively protects the integrity of the heated object. Laser heating boasts high energy conversion efficiency, fast thermal response, and high energy efficiency. The laser directs energy only towards the target area, preventing waste heat radiation into the environment and avoiding the waste heat generated by traditional heating methods. Compared to traditional heat treatment furnaces, laser heating is faster, the equipment is smaller, requires no preheating, saving factory space and energy. Laser energy is more concentrated, with no waste heat, and the equipment has a longer lifespan. Furthermore, the auxiliary heating source 3 provides insulation, improving the heat treatment effect and meeting the process requirements.

[0019] Specifically, the top wall 11 has a herringbone structure, see [reference needed]. Figure 2 The laser heating module 2 includes multiple laser sources 22 arranged in an array. The laser sources 22 are arranged in an array inside the herringbone structure, that is, the multiple laser sources 22 are arranged at an angle to the bottom wall 13. This allows the laser sources 22 to uniformly cover the heated object 5, improving heating uniformity. The herringbone angle can be 90°~160°, and the specific angle should be selected according to the actual situation to ensure uniform laser irradiation.

[0020] Preferably, the laser heating module 2 further includes a protective window 21, which covers the laser source 22. The protective window 21 can be made of materials with high light transmittance such as acrylic, polycarbonate, or optical glass, which can effectively protect the laser heating module 2.

[0021] Preferably, the laser heating module 2 further includes a cooling plate 23, with the laser source 22 mounted on the cooling plate 23, which is mounted on the top wall 11. The cooling plate 23 dissipates heat from the laser heating module 2, ensuring stability and safety. The cooling plate 23 can be made of aluminum, copper, or fins, depending on the heat dissipation requirements.

[0022] The laser source 22 in this embodiment includes a semiconductor laser source, a CO2 laser source, a YAG laser source, or a fiber laser source. CO2 lasers are suitable for non-metallic or oxidizing materials, such as ceramics, polymers, and cast iron, and have high atmospheric transmittance, making them suitable for large-area heating. YAG lasers, or solid-state lasers, are suitable for surface treatment of metallic materials. Fiber lasers offer high beam quality and high electro-optic efficiency, and are widely used in precision quenching and cladding. Semiconductor laser sources include VCSEL lasers and EEL lasers. VCSEL lasers are vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, and EEL lasers are edge-emitting lasers. Semiconductor lasers offer good beam quality, small divergence angle, low power consumption, high energy efficiency, excellent high-temperature stability, ease of integration and arraying, high reliability, and long lifespan. Of course, the laser source 22 can also be a Fabry-Perot laser, a distributed feedback laser, an electro-absorption modulated laser, etc., which are not specifically limited here.

[0023] Preferably, the bottom wall 13 is provided with a bottom tray 14 for placing the object to be heated 5, and the bottom tray 14 is provided with a temperature sensor 4 for detecting the temperature of the object to be heated 5. The temperature sensor 4 can be a contact temperature sensor or a photoelectric temperature sensor, etc.

[0024] Preferably, the bottom tray 14 is movably connected to the bottom wall 13, and the side wall 12 has an inlet and outlet, with a door movably installed at the inlet and outlet. The inlet and outlet can be used as an inlet and outlet for picking up and putting down the heated object 5, or as an inlet and outlet for the bottom tray 14. The bottom tray 14 can be equipped with slide rails or pulleys, etc., so that the heated object 5 can be picked up and put down by pulling out the bottom tray 14, which facilitates the entry and exit of materials.

[0025] This embodiment of the invention also includes a controller. The laser heating module 2 is equipped with an angle adjuster, and multiple laser sources 22 can each be equipped with an angle adjuster to adjust the laser irradiation angle, ensuring uniform laser irradiation of the heated object 5. The temperature sensor 4, laser heating module 2, auxiliary heating source 3, and angle adjusters are all communicatively connected to the controller. Multiple laser sources 22 can also be individually controlled and connected to the controller, allowing the controller to control different laser sources 22 to turn on or off, achieving different temperature heating zones or localized heating. The temperature sensor 4 can collect the temperature of the heated object 5 in real time and feed it back to the controller. Based on the feedback temperature information, the controller controls the laser heating module 2's startup, shutdown, power, angle adjustment, and control of different area laser sources 22, as well as the auxiliary heating source 3's startup, shutdown, and power adjustment. This embodiment of the invention also includes a power supply to power the entire system and may also include interactive devices such as a display screen to facilitate interactive operation and viewing of relevant work information by staff. The auxiliary heating source 3 includes a resistance wire or heating lamp tube, providing auxiliary heating and heat preservation, achieving rapid heating and heat preservation effects in the heat treatment system, saving costs and increasing efficiency.

[0026] This invention also provides a heat treatment method based on the above-mentioned composite laser heat treatment system, comprising: when the object to be heated 5 is subjected to heat treatment, the laser heating module 2 emits a laser to heat the object to be heated 5; when the object to be heated 5 reaches the set temperature, the laser heating module 2 is turned off, and the auxiliary heating source 3 is activated to keep the object to be heated 5 warm.

[0027] More specifically, when the heated object 5 undergoes heat treatment, the controller controls the laser heating module 2 to turn on, and the laser source 22 uniformly irradiates the surface of the heated object 5 or controls the laser source 22 at a specific location to turn on for localized heat treatment. The temperature sensor 4 collects the temperature of the heated object 5 in real time and feeds it back to the controller. Based on the feedback temperature information, the controller controls the laser heating module 2 to start, stop, adjust its power and angle, and control the laser sources 22 in different areas. If heat preservation is required when the heated object 5 reaches the set temperature, the laser heating module 2 can be turned off, and the auxiliary heating source 3 can be started and its power adjusted to preserve the heated object 5. This invention combines the advantages of rapid laser heating, significantly improving the slow heating problem in traditional heat treatment processes, enhancing heating uniformity and efficiency. Furthermore, through intelligent control, it achieves localized and diversified controlled heating, meeting different heat treatment needs and is suitable for various heat treatment scenarios, rapid heating, drying, and surface treatment.

[0028] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A composite laser heat treatment system, characterized in that, The enclosure includes a box (1), which includes a bottom wall (13), a side wall (12), and a top wall (11). The side wall (12) surrounds the bottom wall (13), and the top wall (11) covers the side wall (12). The bottom wall (13), the side wall (12), and the top wall (11) are connected to form a closed enclosure (1). The top wall (11) is provided with a laser heating module (2). The laser emission direction of the laser heating module (2) is directed towards the object being heated (5). The side wall (12) is provided with an auxiliary heating source (3). When the object being heated (5) is heat-treated, the laser heating module (2) can emit a laser to heat the object being heated (5). When the object being heated (5) reaches the set temperature, the laser heating module (2) is turned off, and the auxiliary heating source (3) is turned on to keep the object being heated (5) warm.

2. The composite laser heat treatment system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top wall (11) has a herringbone structure, and the laser heating module (2) includes multiple laser sources (22) arranged in an array, which are arranged in an array inside the herringbone structure.

3. The composite laser heat treatment system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The laser heating module (2) also includes a protective window (21), which covers the laser source (22).

4. The composite laser heat treatment system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The laser heating module (2) also includes a cooling plate (23), the laser source (22) is mounted on the cooling plate (23), and the cooling plate (23) is mounted on the top wall (11).

5. A composite laser heat treatment system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The laser source (22) includes a semiconductor laser source, a CO2 laser source, a YAG laser source, or a fiber laser source.

6. A composite laser heat treatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The bottom wall (13) is provided with a bottom tray (14), which is used to place the object to be heated (5). The bottom tray (14) is provided with a temperature sensor (4), which is used to detect the temperature of the object to be heated (5).

7. The composite laser heat treatment system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The bottom tray (14) is movably connected to the bottom wall (13), and the side wall (12) has an inlet and outlet, with a door movably provided at the inlet and outlet.

8. A composite laser heat treatment system according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a controller. The laser heating module (2) is equipped with an angle adjuster. The angle adjuster is used to adjust the laser irradiation angle. The temperature sensor (4), the laser heating module (2), the auxiliary heating source (3) and the angle adjuster are all communicatively connected to the controller.

9. A composite laser heat treatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The auxiliary heating source (3) includes a resistance wire or a heating lamp.

10. A heat treatment method, based on a composite laser heat treatment system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, include: When the heated object (5) is subjected to heat treatment, the laser heating module (2) emits a laser to heat the heated object (5). When the heated object (5) reaches the set temperature, the laser heating module (2) is turned off and the auxiliary heating source (3) is turned on to keep the heated object (5) warm.

Images