Corning Incorporated

Leslie E Hampton

David S Weiss

G Daniel Lipp

James Gary Anderson

Robert John Locker

Thomas Adam Collins

Zhiqiang Shi

David F Thompson

John W Nelson

Alfred N Mack

Christopher G Alpha

Both a method and apparatus for determining internal discontinuities or inhomogeneities in a green or fired ceramic honeycomb structure is provided. In the method of the invention, an ultrasonic transmitter is positioned adjacent to, but not in contact with, the honeycomb structure. The transmitter propagates an ultrasonic wave, of preferably less than 5 MHz, through the honeycomb structure which is received, filtered and analyzed to determine the presence or absence of internal discontinuities or inhomogenieties. The ultrasonic transmitter generates an ultrasonic wave of less than five megahertz to provide a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio in the ultrasonic wave propagated through the structure. The device of the invention may include an array of ultrasonic transmitters and receivers that generate simultaneously transmit and receive ultrasonic signals throughout the ceramic honeycomb structure as it is moved relative to the array such that the structure is quickly and efficiently scanned for discontinuities or inhomogenieties.

Non-contact ultrasonic testing method and device for ceramic honeycomb structures

An in-line exhaust system for a v-configured transverse-mounted internal combustion engine includes a first passage for a first exhaust gas stream and a second passage for a second exhaust gas stream having a catalyst system disposed therein. An hydrocarbon adsorber structure having an inlet and outlet end, a desorption temperature and comprising a first substantially unobstructed flow region, and a second more obstructed flow region abutting the first region, is provided and positioned so that both the first and second exhaust gas streams are able to flow therethrough. A fluidics diverter is provided and disposed in the second exhaust gas stream upstream, and proximate to the first region, of the adsorber for diverting the second exhaust gas stream away from the said first region. The system additionally includes a burn-off catalyst disposed downstream from the adsorber.

In-line exhaust system for a transverse mounted v-engine

A mineral-insulated cable termination offering hermetic sealing of the cable end at temperatures in excess of 300.degree. C. having a metal spacer or extension sealed to the cable sheath which matches the cable conductor in thermal expansion, and a high-expansion, refractory glass, ceramic, or glass-ceramic seal filling the gap between and sealed to each of the spacer and the cable sheath, the termination offering stable protection for the cable insulation under corrosive high-temperature operating conditions.

Mineral-insulated cable terminations

A metal honeycomb heating element is protectively mounted in an enclosure comprising a one-piece enclosure wall, the heater being supported between a circumferential support member and a circumferential compression ring attached to the enclosure wall. A diametrically balanced compressive force is maintained on the edges of the heating element by the compression ring and support, this force operating to significantly extend the life of the heater element under hot vibration. Heater slot separators and electrode feedthrough structures for extending the life of the heater element are also provided.

Axially assembled enclosure for electrical fluid heater having a

A complex body and method of making same which includes forming an assembly of green bodies, each body having an inlet end and an outlet end and having a multiplicity of cells extending from inlet to outlet end, and sintering the assembly at a temperature and time sufficient to cause interdiffusion of the metals between the bodies to join them and form the complex body.

Method of making complex shaped metal bodies

A release agent for producing sintered metal parts using the release agent. The method includes applying a release agent to contacting surfaces of at least two green metal parts, forming an assembly of the parts, sintering the assembly, and separating the parts which are in contact with the release agent. The release agent is a mixture of alumina and a vehicle having a vaporization temperature of less than about 100.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure, and is nonreactive with the alumina and the green metal parts. When at least one of the parts having a contacting surface is a honeycomb structure, the median particle diameter of the alumina is no greater than about 3 micrometers.

Sintering metal parts with a release agent

A method and apparatus for imparting a predetermined contour to an ophthalmic glass lens. The method comprises positioning a forming manifold in the base of a reshaping chamber, the upper surface of the manifold having a surface contour that is the reverse of the bottom contour surface of the reshaped lens, positioning the lens blank in the chamber, heating the lens blank to a temperature at which the blank deforms, and establishing a continuous, lateral flow of gas on the upper surface of the forming manifold whereby the glass is supported while it sags to the desired shape. The apparatus comprises a reshaping chamber, a source of heat to bring a lens blank to its deforming temperature, a forming manifold having an upper surface contour that is the reverse of the desired contour on the lower surface of the reshaped lens blank, and means to supply a continuous, lateral flow of gas on the upper surface of the manifold whereby the glass blank is supported while it deforms to the desired shape.

Reshaping a glass lens blank suspended on a flow of gas

Methods and apparatus for protecting extruded metal powder green bodies (34) during firing are provided. In certain embodiments, one or more green bodies (34) are housed in a non-gas tight chamber (13) located in the hot zone (24) of a cold-wall vacuum/atmosphere furnace (10). Furnace gas, e.g., hydrogen, is supplied to the interior of the chamber (13). The resulting one-way flow out of the chamber (13) protects the green bodies (34) from the backflow of burn-out products, as well as from contaminants arising from the walls and internal components of the furnace (10). In other embodiments, green bodies (34) are housed in individual non-gas tight containers (36). The containers (36) minimize the amount of furnace gas which comes into contact with the green bodies (34) during sintering and thus minimize the level of exposure of the green bodies (34) to oxidative impurities in the furnace gas. When composed of the same material as the green bodies, the containers (36) also perform a getter function.

Methods and apparatus for firing extruded metals

A novel method is disclosed for producing honeycomb structures with a virtually non-abrasive smoothly rounded edge between opposed end surfaces of the honeycomb structure and a peripheral bounding wall, so as to avoid detrimental cutting and abrading of surrounding supporting and insulating material utilized in vehicular applications.

Honeycomb structure and method of forming

Ceramic honeycomb structures having channels that are selectively sealed at alternate faces of the honeycomb are prepared by applying an end cap made up of green ceramic material to each face of a green ceramic honeycomb body, followed by exposing the openings of certain channels of the honeycombs through the cap at one face and exposing the remaining channels through the cap at the other face. Thereafter, the composite capped structure is fired. The honeycombs are useful in a variety of filtering, separating, or concentrating operations in which a work fluid or component thereof is intended to pass through the walls of the channels.

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Corning, NY, United States of America

Leslie E Hampton