Patent ID: 8912472

Claim:
An apparatus for hardening a spring, said spring having a helical or beehive shape and having an inner and outer surface, said apparatus comprising: a. a rotation support system to support said spring, said rotation support system including a first roller having an outer surface and a drive arrangement to cause rotation of said first roller, said outer surface of said first roller designed to contact said outer surface of said spring and to at least partially support said spring and to cause said spring to rotate about a spring longitudinal axis when said first roller rotates about a longitudinal axis of said first roller, said outer surface of said first roller is formed of non-electrically conductive material; and, b. an induction heating system to heat said spring while said spring is supported on said rotation support system, said induction heating system including an induction coil system, said induction coil system including a spaced region designed to i) receive said spring such that a portion of said induction coil system is positioned on at least one side of said spring, and ii) heat said spring while said induction coil system is positioned on at least one side of said spring and said spring is supported on said rotation support system.