Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of fabricating a sintered and selectively plugged honeycomb structure comprising the steps of: providing a green honeycomb structure having a multiplicity of hollow, open-ended cells extending therethrough and formed of a first sinterable material; providing plugs in at least one open end portion of a plurality of said multiplicity of cells, the plugs being formed of a second material which undergoes, with respect to the honeycomb structure as a result of drying and sintering the plugged honeycomb structure, a relative linear expansion sufficiently great to fill and block the cell ends and sufficiently small to prevent fracturing of the cells; and substantially sintering said plugged structure whereby said plugs fill and block said end portions of said plurality of cells.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of fabricating a sintered and selectively plugged honeycomb structure comprising the steps of: providing a green honeycomb structure having a multiplicity of hollow, open-ended cells extending therethrough and formed of a first sinterable material; providing plugs in at least one open end portion of a plurality of said multiplicity of cells, the plugs being formed of a second material which undergoes, with respect to the honeycomb structure as a result of drying and sintering the plugged honeycomb structure, a relative linear expansion sufficiently great to fill and block the cell ends and sufficiently small to prevent fracturing of the cells; and substantially sintering said plugged structure whereby said plugs fill and block said end portions of said plurality of cells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing plugs further comprises forming and drying plugs in the end portions of said plurality of cells with a formable plugging material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of forming further comprises charging said formable plugging material under pressure into said end portions of said plurality of cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said relative linear expansion is at least about 1.5% during said drying and sintering steps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said relative linear expansion is also no more than about 4.5% with respect to said honeycomb structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said relative expansion is at least 2.0% during said drying and sintering steps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said relative linear expansion is also no more than about 4% with respect to said honeycomb structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of substantially sintering said structure also substantially sinters said plugs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said step of substantially sintering comprises heating said structure and plugs to a temperature greater than about 1250° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said substantially sintering step comprises heating said structure and said plugs to a temperature between about 1340° C. and 1450° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the first and second materials during the step of sintering form primarily cordierite crystal phase.