RADIANT HEATING DEVICE

摘要

A method of controlling a movable energy source eg a laser or plasma beam or electric arcs when it is being operated to heat a surface 1 (Figure 9) of an object eg an ingot and to maintain the predetermined temperature of the surface, comprises controlling the velocity (Vi) and power of the energy source (4) as it is moved along a predetermined path (3), in accordance with error signals derived from the difference between predetermined and measured temperatures at different elemental areas (21,...,2i...,2n) of the said surface (1). From the temperature error signals correction values are produced. The power of the energy source (4) is varied in proportion to the average deviation between the measured and desired temperature for each of the elemental areas. The correction values for velocity (Vi) are converted into rectangular coordinate signals (Uy, Ux) representative of the components determined by the law of movement of the source and related to rectangular axes (Y,X), these signals being used to control the velocity. The temperature is measured by a scanner unit 17 coupled optically to a temperature sensor 9.