US3732048A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for casting of ceramics
Assignee: Alcatel Lucent NV
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Filing: 1971-02-08
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-02-08
Abstract
Abstract Ceramic articles are cast in plaster molds using a combination of microwave heating and air ventilation. A mold is filled with a slurry and positioned in a cavity having sources of microwave energy to heat the material to a desired temperature. A ventilation device then supplies cool pulsed air to the external surface of the mold to set the slurry. Excess slurry is emptied, further microwave heating applied and cooler air directed into the interior of the mold to harden the paste. The molds are then removed and dried with hot air for reuse. Homogeneous drying minimizes cracking and the processing time is greatly reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 M Guerga
- 👤 B Hallier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:52
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/78; B; B28; B28B; B28B1/00; B28B1/26; B28B1/267; H05B2206/00; H05B2206/04; H05B2206/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for molding ceramic articles comprising: a heating chamber, a plurality of sources of microwave radiation in said chamber, a source of ventilating air in said chamber, means for regulating the flow of said air, a mold, a platform adapted to support said mold filled with a slurry of ceramic material within said chamber, means for lowering and raising said chamber, means for applying radiation from said microwave sources in the lower position of said chamber for a first predetermined time to heat the material within said chamber to a first predetermined temperature and at a later time to reheat and harden the material, means for interrupting said microwave sources in the raised position of said chamber, means for directing a first flow of air onto said mold in the raised position of said chamber for a period of time longer than said first time and of a temperature lower than said first temperature to set the material, and means for directing a flow of air within said mold in the lowered position of said chamber simultaneously with the application of said radiation at said later time at a temperature lower than said first temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for molding ceramic articles comprising: a heating chamber, a plurality of sources of microwave radiation in said chamber, a source of ventilating air in said chamber, means for regulating the flow of said air, a mold, a platform adapted to support said mold filled with a slurry of ceramic material within said chamber, means for lowering and raising said chamber, means for applying radiation from said microwave sources in the lower position of said chamber for a first predetermined time to heat the material within said chamber to a first predetermined temperature and at a later time to reheat and harden the material, means for interrupting said microwave sources in the raised position of said chamber, means for directing a first flow of air onto said mold in the raised position of said chamber for a period of time longer than said first time and of a temperature lower than said first temperature to set the material, and means for directing a flow of air within said mold in the lowered position of said chamber simultaneously with the application of said radiation at said later time at a temperature lower than said first temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sources of microwave radiation are disposed on opposed surfaces of said chamber to provide relatively even distribution of radiation and heat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of claim 1, including a plurality of successive work stations and means feeding a plurality of molds filled with ceramic material successively to said stations, said stations including two heating chambers each having a source of microwave radiation, said first chamber including means for applying microwave radiation for said first time at said first temperature, a second station including said means for directing said first flow of air external to said molds, said second heating chamber including means for applying microwave radiation at said later time and said means for directing said flow of air within said molds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for regulating said flow of air includes a shutter adjacent said source of air supplying a flow of pulsed air.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3192291A
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US3585258A
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US3519517A
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US3426439A
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US3474544A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |