Corning Incorporated

Brett Alan Terwilliger

Colby William Audinwood

David Robertson Treacy, Jr

Chauncey James Watches

Jacob George

Amit Halder

James Anthony Feldman

Parasuram Padmanabhan Harihara

Jesus Humberto Armenta-Pitsakis

Valerie Jean Clark

A method of drying a green ceramic honeycomb body () comprising: moving the body () through a drying system () comprising interconnected microwave devices (), wherein each microwave device (D, D, D) comprises an entrance () located at an upstream end and an exit () located at a downstream end of the microwave device (D, D, D), the ends defining a downstream direction () and an upstream direction () in each of the devices (D, D, D); removing moisture from the body () by irradiating the body () with microwave radiation within each of the devices (D, D, D); and flowing air against the outer peripheral wall () of the body () while the body () is located in each of the microwave devices (D, D, D). The flowing is conducted such that one or more of a supply flow and an exhaust flow of air is adjusted in at least one of the devices (D, D, D) such that the air flow in the system is at a predetermined magnitude substantially in the upstream () or downstream direction ().

Methods and apparatus for microwave drying of green ceramic honeycomb bodies using adjustable air flow

Microwave drying of ceramic honeycomb logs using a customizable cover that can take the form of a flexible wrap or a rigid cover is disclosed. The cover can be in the form of a wrap disposed directly in contact with the leading edge of the log surface. The cover can also be a rigid cover disposed adjacent but not in contact with the leading edge of the log surface. At least a portion of the trailing edge of the log can remain uncovered either by having windows in the wrap or by the rigid cover only covering the leading edge of the log surface. The customizable cover can be configured to compensate for log shape deformities as well as or in addition to the adverse effect on log shape cause by the drying differential created by passing a log through a microwave drying station leading-edge first.

Microwave drying of ceramic honeycomb logs using a customizable cover

A method of making a honeycomb structure comprises the step of providing a honeycomb body including a first end face and a second end face, wherein the honeycomb body includes a ceramic and/or a ceramic-forming material. The method further includes the step of providing a first non-metallic extension and a second non-metallic extension along a longitudinal axis of the honeycomb body. The first non-metallic extension is positioned with respect to the first end face and the second non-metallic extension is positioned with respect to the second end face. The method further includes the step of exposing the honeycomb body and the non-metallic extensions to microwaves to dry the honeycomb body.

Methods of making a honeycomb structure

A fuzzy logic-based system and method for controlling the drying of material by a microwave applicator. The system includes power output controller that controls applicator output power; material sensor that detects amount of material in the applicator; and fuzzy logic controller that receives a signal from the material sensor indicating the current amount of material in the applicator and adjusts the microwave output power based on the current amount of material in accordance with fuzzy logic rules by sending a control signal to the power output controller. A membership function divides the expected range for the amount of material into multiple regions, each region having precomputed regional output settings. The regional output settings of the regions that include the current amount of material are used to compute the control signal.

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Corning, NY, United States of America

Brett Alan Terwilliger