The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 28, 1991
Filed:
Mar. 03, 1989
John R Brewer, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Joseph M Swenson, Forest Grove, OR (US);
Reginald R Maas, Newberg, OR (US);
Coors Ceramic Company, Golden, CO (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for the manufacture of hollow ceramic beams are described using a plurality of substantially parallel spaced mandrels mounted within a flexible mold bag which is filled with ceramic forming powder and compressed within an isostatic press to produce a compressed body of powder. A sliding spacer shoe slides along the mandrels during filling as the powder is vibrated for compaction to maintain the mandrels in a predetermined spaced relationship. The mandrels are removed from the compressed body and it is machined to the proper dimensions before firing in a kiln to sinter the body into a hollow ceramic beam. The ceramic beam includes internal support partitions formed integral with the outer walls of the beam by web portions of the body produced between the mandrels. A pair of end pads of rigid, high density foam, such as polyurethane, are positioned over the opposite ends of the mandrels to inhibit the flow of ceramic powder into the gaps between the ends of the mandrels during pressing in order to provide uniform compression of powder in the web portions between the mandrels. Release pads of elastomer material are provided between end pads from the compressed body when the pressure is reduced to normal after pressing.