A ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device

Abstract

This invention discloses a temperature-controlled cooling device for ceramic glaze after firing, comprising a furnace body and a furnace cover. The furnace body is equipped with a rotating frame for supporting ceramic products, a controllable air intake component for introducing external cooling air, and a turbulence component for forcing airflow circulation within the furnace. The device also includes a detection component and a control component. The control component adjusts the opening degree of the controllable air intake component based on the temperature signal fed back by the detection component. In this invention, the control component dynamically adjusts the opening degree of the controllable air intake component using a PID algorithm based on the real-time temperature signal fed back by the detection component, and, in conjunction with the variable frequency start / stop and speed control of the turbulence component, can reduce the deviation between the actual cooling curve inside the furnace and the preset multi-segment, linear, or nonlinear process curve. Compared to traditional natural cooling or simple fan cooling, this refined control can effectively match the stress release dynamics of ceramic products of different materials and shapes, thereby reducing the defect rate of the ceramic glaze surface and significantly improving the yield.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ceramic production equipment technology, and in particular to a temperature control and cooling device for ceramic glaze after firing. Background Technology

[0002] In the industrial production process of ceramic products, the glazing and firing process is the core step that determines the final surface quality, gloss, hardness, and weather resistance of the product. After glazing and firing, ceramic products need to be gradually and controllably cooled from a high temperature of around 1200℃ to room temperature. This cooling stage is crucial for the formation of the glaze layer's microstructure and the release of residual thermal stress. If the cooling rate is too fast, the glaze layer and the body will have different shrinkage rates, generating excessive thermal stress within the glaze layer and at the glaze-body interface. This can easily lead to glaze cracking, glaze rupture, a significant decrease in gloss, and even, in extreme cases, product explosion, resulting in a large number of defective products. Conversely, if the cooling rate is too slow, it will severely affect production efficiency and increase energy consumption.

[0003] Currently, traditional cooling methods are mainly divided into two categories: one is natural cooling, which involves allowing the kiln to cool down naturally after it is shut down. However, this method results in a completely uncontrollable cooling rate and extremely uneven temperature distribution within the kiln. Products near the kiln wall cool quickly, while those in the center cool slowly, leading to poor quality consistency within the same batch. The second method is simple forced ventilation cooling, which involves installing fans on the top or side of the kiln to directly blow cold air into the kiln. While this method accelerates the cooling speed, it has serious drawbacks: cold air often flows along the shortest path, forming localized airflow channels, resulting in extremely uneven airflow distribution within the kiln and a tendency for localized overcooling. Furthermore, the starting and stopping of the fans and the adjustment of the airflow are mostly manual or simple on / off controls, failing to achieve precise and programmed temperature regulation. These shortcomings make traditional cooling methods unsuitable for meeting the stringent requirements for glaze quality in high-end products such as art ceramics, high-grade daily-use ceramics, and precision electronic ceramics. Therefore, a post-firing temperature-controlled cooling device for ceramic glazes is needed to meet these requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a temperature-controlled cooling device for ceramic glaze after firing, so as to solve the technical problems existing in the current ceramic glaze cooling process, such as uncontrollable temperature, uneven cooling, and easy generation of thermal stress defects.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a ceramic glaze firing temperature-controlled cooling device, comprising a furnace body and a furnace cover. The furnace body is equipped with a rotating frame for supporting ceramic products, a controllable air intake component for introducing external cooling air, and a turbulence-inducing component for forcing airflow circulation within the furnace body. The device further includes a detection component and a control component. The control component adjusts the opening degree of the controllable air intake component and controls the activation and deactivation of the turbulence-inducing component based on the temperature signal fed back by the detection component.

[0006] Preferably, a support is provided at the bottom of the furnace body, and an electric telescopic rod is provided on the support. The electric telescopic rod is connected between the support and the furnace cover. The furnace cover is sealed and closed at the top opening of the furnace body, thereby realizing the automatic and stable lifting and sealing of the furnace cover.

[0007] Preferably, the turbulence-disrupting assembly includes a stand fixedly mounted on the furnace cover, a motor mounted on the stand, a first gear and a second gear coaxially connected to the output shaft of the motor; a third gear meshing with the side of the first gear, a fourth gear meshing with the side of the second gear; a connecting seat located at the bottom of the furnace cover, an internal toothed ring located at the bottom of the connecting seat, a transmission gear rotatably connected to the center of the connecting seat; an axial flow fan blade coaxially connected to the third gear; and a cylinder located at the bottom of the furnace body.

[0008] The bottom end of the fourth gear is connected to the top end of the transmission gear via a tube that penetrates the interior of the furnace cover and connecting seat. The center of the bottom end of the third gear is connected to the axial flow fan blade via a first shaft that penetrates the interior of the fourth gear, the tube, and the transmission gear. The cylinder is vertically arranged, with multiple air outlets distributed axially and radially on its outer walls, corresponding to the positions of the rotating frame. The axial flow fan blade is located inside the cylinder, below the horizontal level of the lowest air outlet. A controllable air intake assembly is located at the bottom of the furnace body and is connected to the interior of the cylinder.

[0009] Preferably, a driven gear is meshed between the transmission gear and the internal gear ring, and the bottom center of the driven gear is connected to the rotating frame through a second shaft, thereby realizing the function of the motor driving the rotating frame to rotate.

[0010] Preferably, the first and fourth gears are both large gears, while the second and third gears are both small gears. This arrangement allows the axial fan blades to achieve a high rotational speed to generate a strong airflow, while the rotating frame achieves a low rotational speed to ensure smooth rotation of the product.

[0011] Preferably, a baffle is provided on the first shaft, the position of the baffle is fixed by a locking clamp, and the baffle covers the opening at the top of the cylinder to prevent airflow from rushing out directly from the top of the cylinder without being evenly distributed.

[0012] Preferably, the controllable air intake component includes a damper and a servo motor, and the opening and closing angle of the damper is adjustable from 0° to 90°, thereby achieving precise control of the air intake volume.

[0013] Preferably, the bottom end of the connecting seat is provided with an annular limiting groove, the cross-section of which is T-shaped; the top end of the driven gear is connected to a limiting shaft, which is a T-shaped shaft, and the limiting shaft is rotatably adapted to be set in the limiting groove, thereby providing stable guidance and limiting for the driven gear.

[0014] Preferably, the bottom end of the internal gear ring is covered with a cover plate, and the first shaft connecting the transmission gear and the axial flow fan blade, as well as the second shaft connecting the driven gear and the rotating frame, are both installed inside the cover plate and rotated. The position of the cover plate is fixed by a locking clamp fitted on the second shaft to prevent fine particles from falling into the transmission components.

[0015] Preferably, the furnace cover has an exhaust port communicating with the interior of the furnace body. A purification component is installed at the exhaust port, including an activated carbon filter layer and a high-efficiency air filter. The activated carbon filter layer adsorbs odorous substances such as organic matter and adhesive decomposition products that may volatilize from the glaze or body during the cooling process. The high-efficiency air filter intercepts micron-sized ceramic dust that may be carried away by the airflow. The purified gas can be directly discharged into the workshop or the atmosphere, meeting environmental protection requirements.

[0016] Working principle: Before starting the equipment, the furnace lid is raised via an electric telescopic rod, and the ceramic products to be cooled are placed on the rotating frame. The lid is then lowered and sealed. Based on a preset cooling curve and the furnace temperature signal fed back by the detection component, the control unit dynamically controls the servo motor to adjust the opening of the air valve to introduce an appropriate amount of external cold air. Simultaneously, the motor drives the first and second gears to rotate, which in turn drives the third and fourth gears. The third gear drives the axial fan blades to rotate at high speed, drawing in cold air from the bottom of the furnace through a controllable air intake component, creating an upward airflow within the cylinder. This airflow is then blown horizontally onto the ceramic products on the rotating frame from multiple outlets around the cylinder. The fourth gear drives the rotating frame to rotate slowly and uniformly through the transmission and driven gears, ensuring that all parts of the products are evenly exposed to airflow. The heat-exchanged gas is discharged outside the furnace through the exhaust port on the furnace lid and the purification component. This process achieves precise control over the cooling rate and temperature uniformity.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are: In this invention, the control component dynamically adjusts the opening of the controllable air intake component based on the real-time temperature signal fed back by the detection component using a PID algorithm. Combined with the variable frequency start / stop and speed control of the turbulence component, this reduces the deviation between the actual cooling curve inside the furnace and the preset multi-segment, linear, or non-linear process curve. Compared to traditional natural cooling or simple fan cooling, this refined control effectively matches the stress release dynamics of ceramic products of different materials and shapes, thereby reducing the defect rate of ceramic glaze and significantly improving the yield.

[0018] In this invention, multiple axially layered and radially evenly distributed air outlets on the cylinder split the single cooling airflow into multiple, layered airflows that are horizontally directed towards the product. Combined with the uniform rotation of the rotating frame, the temperature uniformity at the same horizontal plane and different heights within the furnace is fundamentally improved, effectively avoiding quality problems such as glaze color difference and localized decrease in gloss caused by uneven temperature.

[0019] This invention achieves both the high-speed, high-volume requirements of axial fan blades and the low-speed, stable rotation requirements of the rotating frame through a combination of large and small gears. This eliminates the need for additional reducers or dual-motor drives, simplifying the mechanical structure and reducing manufacturing costs and control complexity. Furthermore, detailed designs such as baffles, covers, and T-shaped limiting grooves address practical engineering problems like airflow short-circuiting, dust contamination, and gear runout, demonstrating a high degree of integration and reliability.

[0020] The present invention actively treats the organic matter and dust that may be released during the cooling process by setting up a purification component, avoiding the problem of unorganized emission of pollutants when the kiln is opened under the traditional cooling method, improving the working environment and meeting the requirements of modern green manufacturing. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device proposed in this invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the turbulence component structure of a ceramic glaze post-firing temperature control and cooling device proposed in this invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a partial explosion structure of the turbulence component of a ceramic glaze post-firing temperature control and cooling device proposed in this invention; Figure 4 This is a front cross-sectional view of a ceramic glaze post-firing temperature control and cooling device proposed in this invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the controllable air intake component of a ceramic glaze post-firing temperature control and cooling device proposed in this invention.

[0022] In the picture: 1. Furnace body; 2. Furnace lid; 3. Rotating frame; 4. Controllable air intake assembly; 41. Air valve; 42. Servo motor; 5. Aerodynamic component; 51. Frame; 52. Motor; 53. First gear; 54. Second gear; 55. Third gear; 56. Fourth gear; 57. Connecting seat; 571. Limiting groove; 58. Internal gear ring; 59. Transmission gear; 510. Axial flow fan blade; 511. Cylinder; 512. Tube; 513. First shaft; 514. Air outlet; 515. Second shaft; 6. Bracket; 7. Electric telescopic pole; 8. Driven gear; 81. Limiting shaft; 9. Baffle; 10. Cover plate; 11. Purification components. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0024] Reference Figure 1-5 A temperature-controlled cooling device for ceramic glaze firing includes a vertical cylindrical furnace body 1 and a liftable disc-shaped furnace cover 2. The furnace body 1 adopts a double-layer structure, with a nanoporous insulation board or ceramic fiber insulation layer filling the space between the inner and outer walls to reduce heat loss, improve cooling efficiency, and lower the outer shell temperature. A three- or four-legged support 6 is welded to the bottom of the furnace body 1. Two high-precision electric telescopic rods 7 are symmetrically and vertically installed on both sides of the support 6. The upper movable ends of the two electric telescopic rods 7 are fixedly connected to the left and right sides of the furnace cover 2 through connecting lugs, thereby synchronously driving the furnace cover 2 to rise and fall vertically, achieving a sealed cover with the flange at the top of the furnace body 1.

[0025] The interior of furnace body 1 is equipped with: Heat-resistant steel frame rotating frame 3 for supporting ceramic products; Controllable air intake assembly 4 for introducing external cooling air; A turbulence-inducing component 5 is used to force airflow circulation within the furnace body 1.

[0026] In addition, the equipment also includes a detection component and a control component. The detection component can be K-type thermocouples installed at three positions inside the furnace body 1 (upper, middle, and lower). The control component can be a PLC controller. Based on the temperature signal fed back by the detection component, the control component adjusts the opening of the controllable air intake component 4 and controls the start, stop, and speed of the turbulence component 5.

[0027] The spoiler component 5 includes: A support frame 51 is fixedly installed on the upper surface of the furnace cover 2. A motor 52 is installed on the support frame 51, and the output shaft of the motor 52 is vertically downward.

[0028] A first gear 53 and a second gear 54 are coaxially connected to the output shaft of the motor 52, wherein the first gear 53 is located above the second gear 54.

[0029] The third gear 55 meshes with the side of the first gear 53, and the fourth gear 56 meshes with the side of the second gear 54. To optimize speed distribution, the first gear 53 and the fourth gear 56 are both large gears, while the second gear 54 and the third gear 55 are both small gears.

[0030] A connecting seat 57 is provided at the bottom of the furnace cover 2, an internal toothed ring 58 is provided at the bottom of the connecting seat 57, and a transmission gear 59 is rotatably connected to the center of the connecting seat 57.

[0031] Axial flow fan blade 510 is coaxially connected to the third gear 55.

[0032] And the cylinder 511 located at the bottom of the furnace body 1.

[0033] The bottom end of the fourth gear 56 is fixedly connected to a tube 512, the lower end of which is fixedly connected to the top end of the transmission gear 59, and the tube 512 penetrates the interior of the furnace cover 2 and the connecting seat 57. The bottom center of the third gear 55 is fixedly connected to a first shaft 513, which passes through the center hole of the fourth gear 56, the interior of the tube 512, and the center hole of the transmission gear 59 in sequence, and its lower end is fixedly connected to the axial flow fan blade 510.

[0034] The cylindrical body 511 is vertically arranged at the bottom of the furnace body 1, and multiple air outlets 514 are distributed axially and radially on its outer walls. These air outlets 514 correspond to different height positions of the rotating frame 3. The axial flow fan blades 510 are located inside the cylindrical body 511, below the horizontal level of the lowest air outlet 514. The controllable air intake assembly 4 is located at the bottom of the furnace body 1 and is connected to the interior of the cylindrical body 511.

[0035] To prevent airflow from bypassing the outlet 514 and flowing directly out of the top of the cylinder 511, a baffle 9 is provided on the first shaft 513. The position of the baffle 9 is fixed by a locking clamp, and the baffle 9 covers the opening at the top of the cylinder 511.

[0036] Multiple driven gears 8 are meshed between the transmission gear 59 and the internal gear ring 58. The bottom center of each driven gear 8 is connected to the rotating frame 3 via a second shaft 515. To stably guide the driven gears 8, the bottom of the connecting seat 57 is provided with an annular limiting groove 571, which has a T-shaped cross-section. The top of the driven gear 8 is connected to a limiting shaft 81, which is a T-shaped shaft and is rotatably fitted within the limiting groove 571.

[0037] To prevent dust from entering the gear transmission area, a cover plate 10 is fitted over the bottom of the internal gear ring 58. The first shaft 513 connecting the transmission gear 59 and the axial fan blade 510, and the second shaft 515 connecting the driven gear 8 and the rotating frame 3, are both rotatably mounted inside the cover plate 10. The position of the cover plate 10 is fixed by a locking clamp fitted onto the second shaft 515.

[0038] The controllable air intake assembly 4 includes an air valve 41 and a servo motor 42. The opening and closing angle of the air valve 41 is continuously adjustable from 0° to 90°. The servo motor 42 receives instructions from the PLC controller to precisely control the air intake volume. The air intake port of the air valve 41 can be connected to an external pre-filter.

[0039] The furnace cover 2 has an exhaust port that communicates with the interior of the furnace body 1. A purification component 11 is installed at the exhaust port. The purification component 11 includes an activated carbon filter layer and a high-efficiency air filter, which are used to adsorb the organic matter volatilized during the cooling process and intercept fine dust.

[0040] Work process: Before starting the equipment, the operator selects or inputs a preset cooling process curve on the HMI touchscreen of the control unit. After receiving the instruction, the control unit drives the electric telescopic rod 7 to extend, raising the furnace cover 2 to its upper limit. The operator then places the kiln car fully loaded with ceramic products or directly stacks the products on the rotating frame 3. With another operation, the electric telescopic rod 7 retracts, and the furnace cover 2 smoothly descends, pressing against the sealing ring of the furnace body 1 to achieve a seal.

[0041] The control component initiates a monitoring program to read the temperature values ​​of the three K-type thermocouples distributed in the upper, middle, and lower parts of the furnace in real time, and calculates the average value as the actual furnace temperature. The PLC internally runs a PID algorithm to compare the actual furnace temperature with the target temperature of the preset curve at the current time point.

[0042] When the actual temperature exceeds the target temperature and accelerated cooling is required, the PLC sends a pulse signal to the servo motor 42, driving the air valve 41 to open at the calculated optimal opening degree. Simultaneously, the motor 52 is started. The power of the motor 52 is split via a gear system, one path driving the axial fan blades 510 to rotate at high speed, and the other path driving the rotating frame 3 to rotate at low speed.

[0043] The high-speed rotation of the axial fan blades 510 generates negative pressure, drawing external cold air into the bottom of the cylinder 511 through the air valve 41. Driven by the fan blades, the cold air flows upward inside the cylinder 511, but is blocked by the baffle 9, and can only be ejected at high speed from the air outlet 514 on the side wall of the cylinder 511. These airflows horizontally wash over the ceramic products on the rotating frame 3. Because the rotating frame 3 rotates slowly and uniformly under the drive of the driven gear 8, each product is blown by airflow from all angles with relatively uniform flow rate throughout the entire cooling cycle, greatly avoiding local overcooling or cooling dead zones.

[0044] After the cold air undergoes convective heat exchange with the high-temperature ceramic products, the temperature rises and the density decreases, so it naturally rises to the upper space of the furnace body 1 and finally enters the purification component 11 through the exhaust port of the furnace cover 2.

[0045] When the actual furnace temperature approaches or falls below the target temperature, the PLC reduces the opening of the air valve 41, or even closes it completely, while simultaneously reducing or stopping the speed of the motor 52. This reduces or interrupts the entry of cold air, allowing the furnace temperature to drop naturally and slowly or remain constant. The entire process is a fully automatic closed-loop control, ensuring that the actual cooling trajectory closely matches the preset curve.

[0046] When all the exhaust gases pass through the purification component 11, the volatile organic compounds are adsorbed by activated carbon, and the fine dust is intercepted by HEPA filter paper, ensuring that the exhaust gases are clean and free of pollution.

[0047] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device, comprising a furnace body (1) and a furnace cover (2), characterized in that: The furnace body (1) is provided with a rotating frame (3) for carrying ceramic products, a controllable air intake assembly (4) for introducing external cooling air, and a turbulence assembly (5) for forcing airflow circulation within the furnace body (1). The equipment also includes a detection assembly and a control assembly. The control assembly adjusts the opening of the controllable air intake assembly (4) and controls the start and stop of the turbulence assembly (5) according to the temperature signal fed back by the detection assembly.

2. The ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom end of the furnace body (1) is provided with a bracket (6), and an electric telescopic rod (7) is provided on the bracket (6). The electric telescopic rod (7) is connected between the bracket (6) and the furnace cover (2). The furnace cover (2) is sealed and closed at the top opening of the furnace body (1).

3. The ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The turbulence assembly (5) includes a stand (51) fixedly mounted on the furnace cover (2), a motor (52) mounted on the stand (51), a first gear (53) and a second gear (54) coaxially connected to the output shaft of the motor (52), a third gear (55) meshing with the side of the first gear (53), a fourth gear (56) meshing with the side of the second gear (54), a connecting seat (57) located at the bottom of the furnace cover (2), an internal gear ring (58) located at the bottom of the connecting seat (57), a transmission gear (59) rotatably connected to the center of the connecting seat (57), an axial flow fan blade (510) coaxially connected to the third gear (55), and a cylinder (511) located at the bottom of the furnace body (1); the bottom of the fourth gear (56) passes through a tube (512). The top of the transmission gear (59) is connected to the tube body (512), which passes through the interior of the furnace cover (2) and the connecting seat (57); the bottom center of the third gear (55) is connected to the axial flow fan blade (510) through the first shaft (513), which passes through the interior of the fourth gear (56), the tube body (512) and the transmission gear (59); the cylinder (511) is arranged vertically, and multiple air outlets (514) are provided on its outer walls along the axial and radial directions, with the air outlets (514) corresponding to the position of the rotating frame (3); the axial flow fan blade (510) is located inside the cylinder (511) and below the horizontal height of the lowest air outlet (514); the controllable air intake assembly (4) is located at the bottom of the furnace body (1) and is connected to the interior of the cylinder (511).

4. The ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drive gear (59) is meshed with the internal gear ring (58) and a driven gear (8). The bottom center of the driven gear (8) is connected to the rotating frame (3) through the second shaft (515).

5. The ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first gear (53) and the fourth gear (56) are both large gears, while the second gear (54) and the third gear (55) are both small gears.

6. The ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A baffle (9) is provided on the first shaft (513). The position of the baffle (9) is fixed by a locking clamp. The baffle (9) covers the opening at the top of the cylinder (511).

7. The ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controllable air intake assembly (4) includes a wind valve (41) and a servo motor (42), and the opening and closing angle of the wind valve (41) is adjustable from 0° to 90°.

8. The ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom end of the connecting seat (57) is provided with an annular limiting groove (571). The cross section of the limiting groove (571) is T-shaped. The top end of the driven gear (8) is connected to a limiting shaft (81). The limiting shaft (81) is a T-shaped shaft. The limiting shaft (81) is rotatably adapted to the limiting groove (571).

9. The ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom end of the internal toothed ring (58) is covered by a cover plate (10). The first shaft (513) connecting the transmission gear (59) and the axial flow fan blade (510) and the second shaft (515) connecting the driven gear (8) and the rotating frame (3) are both installed inside the cover plate (10) and rotated. The position of the cover plate (10) is fixed by a locking clamp fitted on the second shaft (515).

10. The ceramic glaze firing temperature control and cooling device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The furnace cover (2) is provided with an exhaust port that communicates with the interior of the furnace body (1). A purification component (11) is provided at the exhaust port. The purification component (11) includes an activated carbon filter layer and a high-efficiency air filter.

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