Apparatus and methods for producing a ceramic green body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9340374-B2
Application number	US-201514755017-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2015
Priority date	Sep 8, 2011
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

An apparatus for producing a green body of ceramic-forming material can comprise a support device including at least one air bearing including a support surface with a plurality of apertures. In one example, the support surface is configured to circumscribe greater than 180° of a support area for the green body. In another example, the plurality of apertures include at least a quantity of apertures oriented with a fluid emitting axis extending at an oblique angle with respect to an extrusion axis. In still another example, the air bearing is adjustable. Methods for producing a green body also provide an air cushion between a support surface and the green body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for transporting a cellular structure, the apparatus comprising:
a support device comprising a plurality of support segments of radially adjustable air bearings each comprising a support surface with a plurality of apertures, wherein the support surfaces circumscribe greater than 180° of a support area for the cellular structure, and wherein the radial adjustment is provided by a radially sliding engagement; and
a fluid source configured to be placed in fluid communication with the plurality of apertures to create an air cushion between the support surface and the cellular structure so that the cellular structure may freely float within the support area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support surfaces circumscribe from greater than 180° to about 360° of the support area.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support surfaces circumscribe from about 215° to about 315° of the support area.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support surfaces circumscribe from about 250° to about 280° of the support area.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support surfaces circumscribe about 265° of the support area.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a quantity of the apertures are oriented with a fluid emitting axis extending substantially perpendicular to an extrusion axis of the extruding device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a quantity of the apertures are oriented with a fluid emitting axis extending at an oblique angle with respect to an extrusion axis of the extruding device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a quantity of the apertures are oriented with a fluid emitting axis extending with a directional component that extends at an oblique angle with respect to an extrusion direction along an extrusion axis of the extruding device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a quantity of the apertures are oriented with a fluid emitting axis extending with a directional component that extends parallel to an extrusion direction along an extrusion axis of the extruding device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radial adjustment accommodates green bodies of different cross-sections, diameters or profiles.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radial adjustment accommodates green bodies having different geometrical shapes.

Assignees

• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Eisenstock Gregory
• Ratchford Ryan Daniel

Classifications

• B29C48/03

  characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion · CPC title

• F26B2210/02

  Ceramic articles or ceramic semi-finished articles · CPC title

• B28B13/04

  Discharging the shaped articles ({discharging tubular articles after shaping B28B21/90; } conveying systems for ceramic mouldings B65G49/08) · CPC title

• B65G2207/06

  Air cushion support of articles · CPC title

• B65G49/08

  for ceramic mouldings · CPC title