Apparatus and methods for producing a ceramic green body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9505564-B2
Application number	US-201615153394-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2016
Priority date	Sep 8, 2011
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 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. A method of transporting a cellular structure, the method comprising:
creating an air cushion between the cellular structure and a support area of a support device, the 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 the support area for the cellular structure, wherein the cellular structure may freely float within the support area.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically adjusting the plurality of support segments in response to a change in surface characteristic of the cellular structure.

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

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

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

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support surfaces circumscribe about 265° of the support area.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radial adjustment accommodates geometrically similar green bodies with different sizes.

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

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellular structure is a monolithic structure.

Assignees

• Corning Inc

Inventors

• Eisenstock Gregory
• Ratchford Ryan Daniel

Classifications

• B29C48/03

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

• B28B13/04

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

• B29C48/355

  Conveyors for extruded articles · CPC title

• B65G2207/06

  Air cushion support of articles · CPC title

• B65G53/02

  Floating material troughs · CPC title