Ceramic Cooling Apparatus With Blower Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooling methods for honeycomb structured bodies during firing are inefficient, requiring a long time and being adversely influenced by external temperatures, which limits manufacturing efficiency and can cause thermal impacts leading to cracks.

Innovation Solution

A cooling apparatus with multiple blowers and a suction mechanism is used to efficiently cool ceramic fired bodies within a firing jig, allowing for indirect cooling and reducing exposure to direct air flows, thereby shortening cooling time and preventing thermal damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If natural radiation cooling is used for honeycomb fired bodies, then the cooling process is simple, but the cooling time is long and manufacturing efficiency is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling process complexityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies pneumatic cooling by introducing air flows into the firing jig to cool the honeycomb fired body. Multiple air inlets are provided at different positions (front, rear, left, right sides) to create comprehensive air circulation that rapidly removes heat from the fired body, replacing the slow natural radiation cooling process with efficient forced convection cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Device complexity

If natural radiation cooling is used, then no additional cooling equipment is needed, but external temperature adversely influences the cooling process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling equipmentVSAvoidcooling process stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses air as a controlled cooling medium introduced through the firing jig structure. The air flow system creates a controlled cooling environment that isolates the cooling process from external temperature variations. The multiple air inlets and the firing jig design ensure consistent cooling regardless of ambient conditions, improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

3Productivity

If direct air flow cooling is applied, then cooling speed increases, but thermal impact may cause cracks in the fired body

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling speedVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into multiple air inlets positioned at different locations (front, rear, left, right sides) of the firing jig. This segmentation allows air to be introduced from multiple directions simultaneously, distributing the cooling load and reducing localized thermal shock that could cause cracking, while maintaining high overall cooling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The firing jig acts as an intermediary between the external air flow and the honeycomb fired body. Air flows through the firing jig structure rather than directly impacting the fired body, which mediates the thermal impact and prevents sudden temperature changes that could cause cracks, while still achieving rapid cooling through the jig walls and structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The cooling apparatus efficiently reduces the temperature of ceramic fired bodies from firing temperatures to 20-80°C in 30-120 minutes, improving manufacturing efficiency and preventing cracks, while ensuring the quality of the honeycomb structured bodies.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of blowers for cooling the ceramic fired body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a suction mechanism for changing the atmosphere inside the firing jig from an inert gas atmosphere to an air atmosphere

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP1832827B1Cooling apparatus for fired body, firing furnace, cooling method of ceramic fired body, and method for manufacturing honeycomb structured body
Publication Date: 2008.08.20 IBIDEN CO LTD
  • EP1832827B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1832827B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP1832827B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention aims at providing a cooling method of a ceramic fired body, which can cool the ceramic fired body efficiently. The cooling method of a ceramic fired body is a cooling method of a ceramic fired body in which cooling is carried out by using a cooling apparatus comprising a transporting member for transporting a firing jig in which a ceramic fired body is housed, wherein the cooling apparatus further comprises a plurality of blowers, and ceramic fired body which is housed inside the firing jig placed on the transporting member is cooled by the blowers.