Handheld induction heater

Abstract

The utility model relates to a handheld induction heater, which comprises a shell, and is characterized in that a control circuit board and a programmable circuit board are arranged in the shell; the handheld heating part comprises a supporting pipe and a heating coil, the supporting pipe is arranged outside the shell, the heating coil is exposed out of the free end of the supporting pipe, and wire harnesses at the two ends of the heating coil penetrate through the supporting pipe to be electrically connected with the control circuit board; the cooling part comprises a cooling liquid tank, a circulating pipe and a pump pressure mechanism, the cooling liquid tank and the pump pressure mechanism are installed in the shell, and the pump pressure mechanism is configured to enable cooling liquid in the cooling liquid tank to flow in the circulating pipe; at least part of the circulating pipe is located in the supporting pipe, and at least part of the circulating pipe is located on the control circuit board. According to the scheme, the portability of the induction heater is improved, convenience is provided for high-place operation, and meanwhile the operation efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of induction heating technology, and in particular to handheld induction heaters. Background Technology

[0002] During our research on practical activities in port enterprises, we found that there are numerous welding and localized heating operations in port facilities. Traditional welding involves open flames and requires a relatively long heating time. This is not only cumbersome and inefficient, but also poses significant safety risks, such as fire hazards. Furthermore, prolonged high-temperature operations may cause some degree of pollution to the surrounding environment, which is detrimental to environmental protection.

[0003] In related technologies, the water cooling system of induction heaters includes a combination of external and internal circulation. This method is not conducive to the overall movement of the induction heater, and the induction coil is fixed. If high-altitude operations are required, it is even more difficult to move the induction heater. As a result, current induction heaters have the problems of being inconvenient to carry and having low operating efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a handheld induction heater to address the problems of inconvenience and low efficiency of induction heaters in related technologies.

[0005] The handheld induction heater provided in this application includes:

[0006] The housing contains a control circuit board and a programmable circuit board.

[0007] The handheld heating element includes a support tube and a heating coil. The support tube is disposed outside the housing, and the heating coil is exposed at the free end of the support tube. The wires at both ends of the heating coil pass through the support tube and are electrically connected to the control circuit board.

[0008] The cooling unit includes a coolant tank, a circulation pipe, and a pump mechanism. The coolant tank and the pump mechanism are installed within the housing. The pump mechanism is configured to allow coolant in the coolant tank to flow within the circulation pipe. At least a portion of the circulation pipe is located within the support pipe, and at least a portion of the circulation pipe is located at the control circuit board.

[0009] In one embodiment, the support tube has a preset length;

[0010] The support tube is a flexible tube or a corrugated tube, and the end of the support tube is disposed through the side wall of the housing.

[0011] In one embodiment, the cooling unit further includes a liquid level sensor disposed in the coolant tank and electrically or communicatively connected to the programmable circuit board.

[0012] In one embodiment, the housing has an opening;

[0013] The handheld induction heater also includes a cover that fits over the opening of the housing. A sensor is provided between the cover and the housing to trigger the sensor when the cover is opened. The sensor is electrically or communicatively connected to the programmable circuit board.

[0014] In one embodiment, the handheld induction heater further includes a rectification and voltage regulation module electrically connected to the control circuit board. The rectification and voltage regulation module is configured to convert external AC power into DC power and to adjust the heating power of the heating coil.

[0015] In one embodiment, the control circuit board includes a ZVS driving circuit and a resonant circuit. The ZVS driving circuit is electrically connected to the heating coil and is used to generate a high-frequency oscillation signal. The resonant circuit is electrically connected to the heating coil and is used to generate a high-frequency electromagnetic field.

[0016] In one embodiment, the control circuit board is connected to a heat sink, and the circulation coil is located at the heat sink.

[0017] In one embodiment, the coolant in the coolant tank is antifreeze.

[0018] In one embodiment, the handheld induction heater further includes at least one cooling fan embedded in the side wall of the housing.

[0019] In one embodiment, the cover is provided with multiple control buttons and at least one indicator light.

[0020] The aforementioned handheld induction heater improves the stability and safety of its use by incorporating a control circuit board connected to the heating coil within the housing, as well as a programmable circuit board that assists in the normal operation of the induction heater. Furthermore, by placing the support tube of the handheld heating unit outside the housing and placing the heating coil at the free end of the support tube, the heating coil can move freely with the support tube. Moreover, the use of an internal circulation tube (internal circulation) for heat dissipation of the induction heater enhances its portability, provides convenience for working at heights, and simultaneously improves work efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a handheld induction heater provided according to some embodiments of this application.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a top view of a handheld induction heater provided according to some embodiments of this application.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a handheld induction heater from another perspective, according to some embodiments of this application.

[0024] Icon labels:

[0025] 100. Shell; 110. Cover;

[0026] 200. Handheld heating element; 210. Support tube; 220. Heating coil;

[0027] 300. Cooling section; 310. Coolant tank; 320. Circulation pipe; 330. Pump mechanism;

[0028] 400. Control circuit board;

[0029] 500. Programmable circuit board;

[0030] 600. Rectifier and voltage regulation module;

[0031] 700. Control button; 710. Start button; 720. Stop button; 730. Changeover switch; 740. Emergency stop button;

[0032] 800, indicator lights;

[0033] 900. Cooling fan. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0035] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0036] Furthermore, where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0037] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0038] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the use of descriptions such as "above" or "below" the second feature indicates that the first and second features are in direct contact or indirect contact via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, "below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0039] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0040] The water cooling system of the induction heater used in the relevant technology includes a combination of external circulation and internal circulation. This method is not conducive to the overall movement of the induction heater. Moreover, the induction coil is fixed. If high-altitude operations are required, it is even more difficult to move the induction heater. Based on this, the current induction heater has the problems of being inconvenient to carry and having low operating efficiency.

[0041] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides a handheld induction heater. (See also...) Figure 1 , Figure 1 The diagram below shows the overall structure of a handheld induction heater according to some embodiments of this application. One embodiment of the handheld induction heater provided in this application may include a housing, a handheld heating element, and a cooling element.

[0042] The housing 100 contains a control circuit board 400 and a programmable circuit board 500. The handheld heating unit 200 includes a support tube 210 and a heating coil 220. The support tube 210 is located outside the housing 100, and the heating coil 220 is exposed at the free end of the support tube 210. The wires at both ends of the heating coil 220 pass through the support tube 210 and are electrically connected to the control circuit board 400. The cooling unit 300 includes a coolant tank 310, a circulation pipe 320, and a pumping mechanism 330. The coolant tank 310 and the pumping mechanism 330 are installed inside the housing 100. The pumping mechanism 330 is configured to allow the coolant in the coolant tank 310 to flow in the circulation pipe 320. At least a portion of the circulation pipe 320 is located inside the support tube 210, and at least a portion of the circulation pipe 320 is located at the control circuit board 400.

[0043] Understandably, the control circuit board 400 located inside the housing 100 integrates multiple circuits (such as drive circuits, resonant circuits, etc.) connected to the heating coil 220, thereby causing the heating coil 220 to generate an induced current and heat the target object (the object being heated, such as metal). The programmable circuit board 500 adds various safety protection functions to the induction heater, such as coolant shortage protection and power-off protection when the housing 100 is opened. Of course, the programmable circuit board 500 provided in this example has an external port, allowing users to reprogram it according to their needs. For example, the heating cycle (how long to heat before automatically cutting off power) can be set according to the actual heating situation to prevent overheating of internal components.

[0044] In this example, a handheld heating element 200 is connected to the outside of the housing 100. Specifically, a support tube 210 is connected to the side wall of the housing 100, and a heating coil 220 is disposed at the free end of the support tube 210. The two ends of the heating coil 220 are connected to a control circuit board 400 inside the housing 100 via a wire harness (also referred to as a heating wire) so that the control circuit board 400 drives the heating coil 220 to generate an induced current. The length of the wire harness connecting the heating coil 220 and the control circuit board 400 is adapted to the length of the support tube 210, so that the heating coil 220 can move and bend with the support tube 210. This arrangement facilitates the movement of the heating coil 220, which is beneficial for working at heights and improves its convenience and work efficiency.

[0045] Since the induction heater generates a large amount of heat during operation, this example provides a cooling unit 300 to ensure its normal operation. The coolant tank 310 and pump mechanism 330 within the cooling unit 300 are installed inside the housing 100. A circulation pipe 320, communicating with the pump mechanism 330 and the coolant tank 310, is not only located at the control circuit board 400 but also partially within the support pipe 210 to promptly dissipate heat from areas with significant heat generation. In one example, the coolant in the coolant tank 310 is antifreeze. Because the cooling unit 300 in this example uses internal circulation, antifreeze is used instead of conventional water circulation to improve its cooling effect. Antifreeze offers good cooling performance and has anti-corrosion, anti-scaling, and anti-boiling properties. Using antifreeze in this example's internal circulation cooling system helps the various components of the induction heater achieve rapid heat dissipation, thus improving the stability of the induction heater's operation.

[0046] The coolant is circulated via a pump mechanism 330, i.e., a water pump, causing the coolant in the coolant tank 310 to circulate within the circulation pipe 320. In addition to the liquid cooling method described above, in one example, the handheld induction heater also includes at least one cooling fan 900, which is embedded in the side wall of the housing 100. Specifically, two or more cooling fans 900 may be embedded in the side wall of the housing 100 to promptly expel hot air accumulated inside the housing 100 to the outside. Utilizing a combination of liquid and air cooling further enhances the heat dissipation of the induction heater, improving its operational stability and ultimately increasing operational efficiency.

[0047] It should be noted that the shape and size of the heating coil 220 in this example can be set according to the target object of the actual operation, and there are no restrictions here.

[0048] In this application, by providing a control circuit board 400 connected to the heating coil 220 inside the housing 100, and a programmable circuit board 500 to assist the normal operation of the induction heater, the stability and safety of the induction heater are improved. Furthermore, by setting the support tube 210 of the handheld heating unit 200 outside the housing 100 and setting the heating coil 220 at the free end of the support tube 210, the heating coil 220 can move freely with the support tube 210. Moreover, the induction heater is cooled by using a built-in circulation tube 320 (internal circulation). The above configurations improve the portability of the induction heater, provide convenience for high-altitude operations, and improve work efficiency.

[0049] Below, please refer to the appendix. Figure 1 - Appendix Figure 3 The specific structure of the handheld induction heater provided in the embodiments of this application will be described. Figure 2 This is a top view schematic diagram of a handheld induction heater provided according to some embodiments of this application. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a handheld induction heater from another perspective, according to some embodiments of this application.

[0050] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the support tube 210 has a preset length; the support tube 210 is a flexible tube or a corrugated tube, and the end of the support tube 210 is disposed through the side wall of the housing 100.

[0051] Specifically, the support pipe 210 in this example provides convenience for high-altitude operations. Therefore, the length of the support pipe 210 can be set according to the working height, such as 1 meter, 1.5 meters, 3 meters, etc., without any limitation.

[0052] To achieve flexibility in the support tube 210 and increase the operating range of the heating coil 220, the support tube 210 in this example may use a corrugated tube or a flexible tube, but there are no limitations.

[0053] The end of the support tube 210 near the housing 100 needs to penetrate the side wall of the housing 100 to allow the wiring harness to pass through the connection control circuit board 400 and the heating coil 220. Additionally, a handle can be provided at the distal end of the support tube 210 for easy hand operation. Furthermore, fasteners can be used to secure the heating coil 220 to the handle to prevent it from shaking during operation, which could increase the difficulty of construction.

[0054] In some embodiments, the cooling unit 300 further includes a liquid level sensor (not shown), which is disposed in the coolant tank 310 and is electrically or communicatively connected to the programmable circuit board 500.

[0055] Specifically, the liquid level sensor can detect the liquid level in the coolant tank 310 in real time or periodically and send the liquid level information to the programmable circuit board 500. The programmable circuit board 500 determines whether the current liquid level is lower than a threshold. If it is lower than the threshold, it performs a coolant shortage protection action. For example, it can issue a command to control the pump mechanism 330 to stop running to prevent the pump mechanism 330 from running dry and being damaged; or it can send a command to the audible and visual alarm unit on the induction heater (which can be the indicator light 800 mentioned below) to promptly remind the operator to deal with the coolant shortage; or it can control the circuit breaker on the induction heater to open and perform a power cut-off operation to prevent the induction heater from overheating.

[0056] To reduce the likelihood of personal injury and equipment damage caused by unexpected situations during the operation of the induction heater, this example can include an emergency stop button 740 on the outside of the induction heater. In the event of an emergency, the operator can press the emergency stop button 740 to stop the induction heater. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the housing 100 may have an opening; the handheld induction heater also includes a cover 110, which fits over the opening of the housing 100. A sensor (not shown) is disposed between the cover 110 and the housing 100 to trigger the sensor when the cover 110 is opened. The sensor is electrically or communicatively connected to the programmable circuit board 500.

[0057] Specifically, to facilitate the installation and replacement of internal components of the induction heater, as well as the replenishment of coolant, the housing 100 provided in this example has an opening at the top, and the opening is covered by a suitable cover 110. In this example, a sensor is disposed between the housing 100 and the cover 110. This sensor can be a microswitch, a phase switch, etc., and can be located on either the housing 100 or the cover 110; there are no restrictions on its placement. In case of an emergency, the operator can immediately open the cover 110, thereby triggering the sensor to emit a signal. This signal is received by the programmable circuit board 500, which will then perform a power-off protection operation upon opening the cover. For example, it can control the circuit breaker on the induction heater to open, thus cutting off the power and stopping the induction heater from operating.

[0058] It should be noted that the connection between the liquid level sensor, sensing element and programmable circuit board 500 can be via a wire harness or via a communication module, and no restriction is imposed here.

[0059] To power the control circuit board 400 and the programmable circuit board 500, the housing 100 is also equipped with a programmable circuit board power supply and a DC power server. To facilitate the access of external power, in some embodiments, the handheld induction heater also includes a rectifier and voltage regulator module 600. The rectifier and voltage regulator module 600 is electrically connected to the control circuit board 400. The rectifier and voltage regulator module 600 is configured to convert external AC power into DC power and to adjust the heating power of the heating coil 220.

[0060] Specifically, the rectifier and voltage regulation module 600 mainly consists of two parts: a rectifier circuit and a voltage regulation circuit. The rectifier circuit converts AC power into DC power, thereby providing a stable DC power supply for the control circuit board 400, which is the foundation for high-power heating. The voltage regulation circuit controls the power by adjusting the voltage. This method is very precise, thus achieving precise control of the heating power of the heating coil 220, which can avoid problems such as damage to the induction heater or safety accidents caused by overheating or overload.

[0061] In some embodiments, the control circuit board 400 includes a ZVS driving circuit and a resonant circuit. The ZVS driving circuit is electrically connected to the heating coil 220 and is used to generate a high-frequency oscillation signal. The resonant circuit is electrically connected to the heating coil 220 and is used to generate a high-frequency electromagnetic field.

[0062] Specifically, the induction heater provided in this example is a high-frequency induction heater based on ZVS (Zero Voltage Switch) technology. It generates eddy currents within metals and conductive materials through high-frequency electromagnetic induction, achieving a highly efficient, rapid, clean, and pollution-free heating process. More specifically, the ZVS drive circuit consists of components such as field-effect transistors, capable of generating high-frequency oscillation signals; the resonant circuit consists of capacitors and inductors, capable of generating high-frequency electromagnetic fields. The inductor can be an air-core inductor or an iron-core inductor. The generated high-frequency electromagnetic field drives the induction coil to produce eddy currents, thereby heating the target object (metallic material). For a detailed understanding of the specific working principle of the ZVS induction heater, please refer to relevant technologies; it will not be elaborated upon here.

[0063] The ZVS induction heater provided in this application does not require direct contact with the target object during the heating process, thus avoiding problems such as oxidation and pollution that may occur in traditional heating methods. Furthermore, the high energy conversion efficiency of the ZVS induction heater reduces energy consumption and waste heat emissions, further improving environmental performance.

[0064] Furthermore, the ZVS induction heater can be applied to various metal processing and welding processes, such as heat treatment, surface hardening, annealing, and tempering. Of course, when connected to different types of graphite crucibles, the ZVS induction heater can also be used for the smelting of various precious metals.

[0065] In some embodiments, the control circuit board 400 is connected to a heat sink (not shown), and a circulation pipe 320 is coiled on the heat sink. Specifically, since the control circuit board 400 generates a large amount of heat, a heat sink, such as heat dissipation fins, can be provided on the control circuit board 400 to facilitate the timely dissipation of heat from the control circuit board 400. A circulation pipe 320 is coiled on the heat sink to promptly remove heat from the heat sink, thereby achieving timely heat dissipation of the control circuit board 400.

[0066] It should be noted that in this example, the circulation tube 320 can also be directly placed on the control circuit board 400 without the need for an additional heat sink. The specific configuration can be determined according to the actual situation and is not limited here.

[0067] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the cover 110 is provided with a plurality of control buttons 700 and at least one indicator light 800. Specifically, the plurality of control buttons 700 provided on the cover 110 are used to turn the control circuit board 400 on or off, and to turn the programmable circuit board 500 on or off; the plurality of control buttons 700 include a start button 710, a changeover switch 730, a stop button 720, an emergency stop button 740, etc., and the indicator light 800 includes a green indicator light 800 and a red indicator light 800.

[0068] The specific operating procedure is as follows: Turn on the power switch of the induction heater; the power indicator 800 (red indicator 800) will illuminate. Rotate the selector switch 730 to the continuous heating state and press the start button 710. Wait a few seconds (e.g., 5 seconds) for a cold start time. Subsequently, the heating indicator 800 (green indicator 800) will illuminate, and the power indicator 800 will turn off. The illumination of the heating indicator 800 indicates that the induction heater is in good working condition. At this time, the mechanism in the cooling section 300 also operates, causing the coolant to circulate in the circulation pipe 320 to remove excess heat from the induction heater, achieving a good heat dissipation effect. Simultaneously, the programmable control board also operates to protect the induction heater. The operator uses the heating coil 220 for induction heating, rapidly heating the target object to achieve the desired heating effect.

[0069] If the heating process needs to be stopped, the stop button 720 can be pressed. At this time, the heating indicator light 800 will turn off and the heating coil 220 will stop heating. However, there is still a lot of heat in the induction heater. Therefore, the cooling unit 300 and the programmable circuit board 500 need to continue to work for a predetermined time (e.g., 10 seconds) before stopping.

[0070] If intermittent heating is required, the selector switch 730 can be turned to the intermittent position. At this time, the heating coil 220 can be intermittently operated by manually pressing the intermittent button on the handle.

[0071] It should be noted that the aforementioned red indicator light 800 is also used to indicate a non-heating state, or to flash to alert staff in dangerous situations, thereby serving as a warning and reminder to staff.

[0072] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0073] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A handheld induction heater, characterized in that, The handheld induction heater includes: The housing contains a control circuit board and a programmable circuit board. The handheld heating element includes a support tube and a heating coil. The support tube is disposed outside the housing, and the heating coil is exposed at the free end of the support tube. The wires at both ends of the heating coil pass through the support tube and are electrically connected to the control circuit board. The cooling unit includes a coolant tank, a circulation pipe, and a pump mechanism. The coolant tank and the pump mechanism are installed within the housing. The pump mechanism is configured to allow coolant in the coolant tank to flow within the circulation pipe. At least a portion of the circulation pipe is located within the support pipe, and at least a portion of the circulation pipe is located at the control circuit board.

2. The handheld induction heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support tube has a preset length; The support tube is a flexible tube or a corrugated tube, and the end of the support tube is disposed through the side wall of the housing.

3. The handheld induction heater according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cooling unit also includes a liquid level sensor, which is disposed inside the coolant tank and is electrically or communicatively connected to the programmable circuit board.

4. The handheld induction heater according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The housing has an opening; The handheld induction heater also includes a cover that fits over the opening of the housing. A sensor is provided between the cover and the housing to trigger the sensor when the cover is opened. The sensor is electrically or communicatively connected to the programmable circuit board.

5. The handheld induction heater according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The handheld induction heater also includes a rectification and voltage regulation module, which is electrically connected to the control circuit board. The rectification and voltage regulation module is configured to convert external AC power into DC power and to adjust the heating power of the heating coil.

6. The handheld induction heater according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The control circuit board includes a ZVS drive circuit and a resonant circuit. The ZVS drive circuit is electrically connected to the heating coil and is used to generate a high-frequency oscillation signal. The resonant circuit is electrically connected to the heating coil and is used to generate a high-frequency electromagnetic field.

7. The handheld induction heater according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The control circuit board is connected to a heat sink, and the circulation coil is located at the heat sink.

8. The handheld induction heater according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The coolant in the coolant tank is antifreeze.

9. The handheld induction heater according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The handheld induction heater also includes at least one cooling fan, which is embedded in the side wall of the housing.

10. The handheld induction heater according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cover is equipped with multiple control buttons and at least one indicator light.

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