US3904352A — Assembly and method for supporting ceramics and t…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 93 words

A setter assembly for supporting, during firing, an article of sinterable powder material which shrinks during the firing, said setter assembly comprising a plurality of spaced refractory plates each having an upper surface for supporting said article during the firing, and at least one refractory rollable element bonded to the bottom surface of each of the plates by a bonding material which is destroyed at a temperature below that at which shrinkage commences in the article being fired whereby when said shrinkage commences said plates cease to be bonded to said rollable elements.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 93 words

A setter assembly for supporting, during firing, an article of sinterable powder material which shrinks during the firing, said setter assembly comprising a plurality of spaced refractory plates each having an upper surface for supporting said article during the firing, and at least one refractory rollable element bonded to the bottom surface of each of the plates by a bonding material which is destroyed at a temperature below that at which shrinkage commences in the article being fired whereby when said shrinkage commences said plates cease to be bonded to said rollable elements.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 61 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the refractory plates are held together by a bonding material which is destroyed at a temperature below that at which shrinkage commences in the article being fired whereby when said shrinkage commences said plates are no longer bonded to each other and are thereby free to move relative to each other.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the refractory plates has at least three of the refractory rollable elements bonded to the bottom surface thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rollable elements are spheres.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the spheres have a diameter no greater than about 1/4 inch.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the refractory plates have deposited thereon refractory powder against which the article being fired rests.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 61 words

A setter assembly for supporting, during firing, an article of sinterable powder material which shrinks during the firing, said setter assembly comprising a refractory support surface, a plurality of laterally spaced refractory plates each having an upper surface for supporting the article to be fired, and at least one refractory rollable element between each of said plates and said support surface.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 61 words

A setter assembly for supporting, during firing, an article of sinterable powder material which shrinks during the firing, said setter assembly comprising a refractory support surface, a plurality of laterally spaced refractory plates each having an upper surface for supporting the article to be fired, and at least one refractory rollable element between each of said plates and said support surface.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 56 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the rollable elements are bonded to the support surface by a bonding material which is destroyed at a temperature below that at which shrinkage commences in the article being fired whereby when said shrinkage commences said rollable elements cease to be bonded to said support surface.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 60 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the plates are held together by a bonding material which is destroyed at a temperature below that at which shrinkage commences in the article being fired whereby when said shrinkage commences said plates are no longer bonded to each other and are thereby free to move relative to each other.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the rollable elements are spheres.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the spheres have a diameter of less than about one-quarter inch.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein the spheres are in equally spaced relationship with each other.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of the plates is supported by at least three of the spheres.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 41 words

A setter assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the support surface is a shallow concave depression whereby after said bonding material is destroyed the rollable elements are induced by gravity to roll toward the center of the support surface.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 83 words

A method for firing an article of sinterable powder material which shrinks during firing comprising supporting the article on a plurality of spaced refractory plates which are supported by refractory rollable elements which are in contact with a refractory support surface and which are permitted to roll with respect to the support surface during the firing, and firing the article while so supported whereby during the shrinkage of the article which occurs during the firing said rollable elements roll on said support surface.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 83 words

A method for firing an article of sinterable powder material which shrinks during firing comprising supporting the article on a plurality of spaced refractory plates which are supported by refractory rollable elements which are in contact with a refractory support surface and which are permitted to roll with respect to the support surface during the firing, and firing the article while so supported whereby during the shrinkage of the article which occurs during the firing said rollable elements roll on said support surface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein The rollable elements are spheres.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the rollable elements are bonded to the support surface by a bonding material which is destroyed at a temperature below that at which shrinkage of the article commences whereby when the shrinkage commences said rollable elements cease to be bonded to said support surface.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 48 words

A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said rollable elements are bonded to said plates by a bonding material which is destroyed at a temperature below that at which shrinkage commences whereby when the shrinkage commences the plates cease to be bonded to said rollable elements.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein each of the plates has deposited on the upper surface thereof a refractory powder against which the article being fired rests.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the support surface is shaped to induce, by force of gravity, the rollable elements to roll toward the center of the support surface.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-09-08	1979-03-10	1979-09-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-09-08	1983-03-10	1983-09-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-09-08	1987-03-10	1987-09-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Assembly and method for supporting ceramics and the like during firing

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