Shelf system with ceramic plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-temperature kiln furniture made of SiC materials tends to stick due to the formation of a glassy layer at contact surfaces, leading to adhesion issues and damage during firing processes above 1450°C in an oxidizing atmosphere, making automated loading and unloading difficult.
Innovation Solution
A ceramic plate with rounded ridges on the upper and underside, minimizing contact surfaces to punctiform or linear points, and hollow profiles with webs that only touch at these points, reducing the contact area and preventing sticking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If ceramic plates with large flat surfaces are used to store materials, then the load-bearing capacity and stability are improved, but the contact surfaces between the plate and material/base increase, leading to large-area adhesion and sticking at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous contact surface into discrete support points by introducing a support structure with multiple legs or protrusions. This segmentation reduces the contact area from a large flat surface to isolated points, preventing the formation of extensive adhesive bonds while maintaining load-bearing capacity through distributed support.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat contact surface to a three-dimensional structured support system. By adding vertical elements (legs, protrusions) that create punctiform contact points, the design reduces contact area while maintaining structural integrity and load distribution across multiple elevated support points.
2Stability of the object's composition
If ceramic plates rest extensively on the base with large contact surfaces, then the stability during firing is improved, but the adhesion between the plate and base increases, causing damage to the material or plate
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into multiple discrete legs or protrusions that contact the base at isolated points. This segmentation maintains stability through distributed support while preventing extensive adhesion to the base, as the contact areas are reduced to small punctiform points rather than large continuous surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact points of the support structure are designed with rounded or curved surfaces instead of flat contacts. This curvature concentrates the contact force on small rounded areas, reducing the actual contact surface area with the base while maintaining stable support, thereby minimizing adhesion and preventing damage during thermal cycling.
3Productivity
If automated loading and unloading systems are implemented, then the productivity is improved, but the requirement for non-sticking surfaces becomes more critical, which is compromised by large contact surfaces at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the contact surface into discrete support points, the design enables automated handling systems to easily detach and reposition ceramic plates without dealing with adhesive forces. The punctiform contact areas prevent sticking, allowing robotic grippers or handling mechanisms to load and unload materials efficiently and reliably.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful adhesive property is extracted or eliminated by removing the continuous contact surface and replacing it with punctiform contact points. This extraction of the problematic large-area contact while retaining the essential support function enables seamless integration with automated loading and unloading systems.
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 solution allows for secure and stable support of materials during firing while preventing sticking, enabling easy detachment and automation of the ceramic plates and hollow profiles after the firing process, even at high temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
the contact surfaces of the ceramic plate with the material to be fired or other kiln furniture (e.g. shelving systems) are reduced to punctiform or at most linear contact points
Implementation Method 2
SiC is converted into silicon dioxide in an oxidizing atmosphere at temperatures above 900 °C, which means that a glassy layer also forms on the surface of the kiln furniture
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention includes high temperature-stable combustion aids with ceramic plates 1 and hollow profiles 4 having webs 2 and 5. The invention further includes a shelf system 7 comprising at least two hollow profiles 4 with at least two webs 5 on one side of the hollow profile 4 and at least one ceramic plate 1 that is arranged on the hollow profiles 4, wherein the hollow profile 4 and the ceramic plate 1 contact one another only in the area of the webs 2, 5. The contact surface of the hollow profiles 4 and the ceramic plates 1 is reduced to a point contact by a mutually inclined paths of the webs 2 and 5 relative to one another.