Cooling device for sintered parts

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling device (10) for sintered components (9), comprising a standing block (14) with a receptacle (16) and a cover block (20) which can be placed on the standing block (14) and which circumferentially covers a component (9) placed in the receptacle (16), wherein at least the cover block (16) is formed with a porous structure (24).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a cooling device for sintered components. State of the art

[0002] Sintered components, such as milled ceramic teeth, are cooled after sintering, which carries the risk of cracking if the components cool down too quickly. Therefore, the furnace is shut down and cooled down while the components are still in the furnace. This, in turn, leads to longer furnace operating times, as it cannot be used for new sintered components during the cooling period.

[0003] Cooling devices for sintered ceramics are not known. Representation of the invention

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a possibility for optimal cooling of a sintered component, which allows a more efficient use of the sintering furnace.

[0005] This object is achieved with a cooling device according to claim 1. Further features which develop the invention are contained in the subclaims.

[0006] A cooling device for sintered components comprises a support block with a receptacle, which is designed in particular as a trough in the support block, and a cover block, in particular a multi-part cover block, which is placed on the support block and which circumferentially covers a component placed on the receptacle. At least the cover block, in particular a multi-part cover block, is designed with a porous structure. This cooling device allows the component to be cooled at a speed ideal for the component, while simultaneously eliminating the need for storage space in a furnace.

[0007] The support block preferably comprises legs to position the support block at a distance from the support surface, in particular at least 0.5 cm, more preferably at least 1.5 cm, 3 cm, 5 cm, or 10 cm, and / or preferably at most 5-10 cm from the support surface. This allows for suitable heat dissipation even under the cooling device, thus ensuring more uniform cooling of the sintered product.

[0008] Preferably, the cover block of the cooling device is formed from two or more block parts. This allows for precise placement of the sintered component using simple tools such as pliers, while still allowing the cooling device to be easily assembled. This applies in particular to a configuration in which the cover block has two substantially symmetrical parts and / or at least two stackable block parts.

[0009] The porous structure is preferably formed as a geometric pattern in cross-section that extends in the longitudinal direction. In particular, it is formed as a polygonal or round pattern, e.g., square, rectangular, diamond-shaped, hexagonal, triangular, or even circular or oval. More preferably, the base block is also formed from the porous structure. These regular structures enable good heat dissipation while simultaneously simplifying the production of the base and lid block.

[0010] The cooling device preferably further comprises a receiving device for inserting a transport tool, particularly in the stationary block. This allows the sintered component to be heated at least in the stationary block of the cooling device and then removed from the furnace with the aid of the receiving device and a transport tool. The receiving devices are preferably designed as holes, projections, hooks, or brackets, which allow the cooling device to be picked up using simple tools.

[0011] The cooling device preferably comprises a silicate ceramic, such as cordierite ceramic. This material is ideally suited for the required heat conduction while also being sufficiently heat-resistant to accommodate the sintered components or to hold them in the furnace.

[0012] External ribs can be formed on at least some sections of the base block and / or the cover block. This further improves heat dissipation. Short description of the characters

[0013] Figure 1 shows an isometric exploded view of an embodiment of the cooling device according to the invention. Description of the preferred embodiments

[0014] A cooling device 10 according to the invention comprises a standing block 14 and a cover block 20. The standing block contains a receptacle 16 for a sintered component or a component shell 9, into which the sintered component or the component shell 9 is placed for cooling. A sinter shell can be used to hold sintered components such as pre-milled dental ceramics. This allows smaller components in particular to be loaded into and removed from the furnace more easily, thus simplifying handling. Furthermore, the shell also serves as a heat accumulator, so that smaller sintered components in particular do not lose heat too quickly when transferred from the furnace to the cooling device 10.

[0015] The cover block 20 can be formed in one piece and preferably also has a recess 17 which is provided for receiving the sintered component or the component shell 9.

[0016] During use, the sintered component is typically placed in a sintering tray 9 and heated together with the tray for sintering. This tray can then be removed from the furnace and placed into the receptacle 16 of a provided support block 14. The cover block 20 is then placed onto the support block 12, and the sintered component is cooled in the cooling device 10. Alternatively, the sintered component 9 could also be sintered in the support block in the furnace, and then the support block 14 could be removed from the furnace. This is then placed on a storage location and closed with the cover block 20.

[0017] In Figure 1An embodiment of the cooling device is shown, the cover block 20 of which is formed from several parts. Here, the cover block 20 has a lower part 21 and an upper part 22, which are placed one after the other on the support block. It is also possible to use several lower parts 21 if, for example, larger sintered components or sintered shells 9 are to be cooled.

[0018] The cover block 20 may also comprise a different division. The cover block may, for example, consist of two halves 22' 22", as shown in Figure 1 indicated by the dashed line. Such halves can be more easily placed on the stand block. The halves can, of course, be provided like a cover block 20 without a lower part 21, but they can also be used with a lower part 21 and / or the lower part 21 can also be divided. Figure 1A combined embodiment is shown, which has two stackable cover block parts 21, 22, each of which is also formed in two parts. The stackability of the cover block also allows for cooling of sintered components or sintering shells of different sizes with the same cooling device.

[0019] The support block 14 here has legs 12, which allow the support block to be placed on any surface. The legs 12 are schematically depicted here as pyramid-shaped stilts, but can also take other forms such as cuboids and simple rods, or even be designed as rails along one side. The number of legs 12 can also vary. Here, four legs 12 are preferred, but any number of legs can be used as long as a secure stand is ensured.

[0020] The material of the base block 14 and / or the cover block 20 comprises silicate ceramic, e.g. a cordierite ceramic, or is made entirely of this material.

[0021] The cover block 20 and preferably also the base block 14 are formed porous, ie there are a plurality of air spaces 24 in the material. This allows the heat radiated by the sintered component to be efficiently dissipated. Preferably, the porous structure 24 is a regular structure, such as the one shown in Figure 1The grid shown has regular air spaces (here with rectangular or square air spaces) that extend along the individual components, for example here along the height of the cover block 20, but also along the width or length is possible. Ribs can also be formed on the outside of the standing block 14 and / or the cover block 20 for better heat dissipation. These can be made of the material of the corresponding block, but can also be made of a different material, e.g. a metal. Metal ribs can protrude into the cover block 20 and / or the standing block 14 or have projections that are received in the cover block 20 and / or the standing block 14. The cover block 20 and / or the standing block 14 can also have through-holes for receiving 16 if the cooling is to be further accelerated. List of reference symbols

[0022] 9 Sintering tray 10 Cooling device 12 Leg 14 Stand block 16 Holder 17 Holder 20 Lid block 21 Lower part 22 Upper part 22', 22" Lid half 24 Porous structure

Claims

1. A cooling device (10) for sintered components (9), comprising a support block (14) with a receptacle (16); a cover block (20) which can be placed on the support block (14) and which circumferentially covers a component (9) placed in the receptacle (16); wherein at least the cover block (16) is formed with a porous structure (24).

2. Cooling device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the stand block comprises legs which position the stand block at a distance from the support surface.

3. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover block is formed from two or more block parts.

4. Cooling device (10) according to claim 3, wherein the cover block has two substantially symmetrical parts and / or at least two stackable block parts.

5. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the perforated structure is formed as a geometric pattern in cross-section extending in the longitudinal direction.

6. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a receiving device for inserting a transport tool.

7. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling device comprises a silicate ceramic.

8. Cooling device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which ribs are formed at least in sections on the standing block and / or the cover block.

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