Auxiliary supports for firing flat ceramic ware - in tunnel kilns have plates formed as lugged circular elements

摘要

An aid for the firing of flat ceramic ware in tunnel kilns consists of a set of generally rectangular plates held vertically apart at the corners by separate spacer feet and stacked to the height of the kiln. The plates are formed as pairs of circular plates each having three equally spaced co-planar projections to receive the spacer feet, through which pass pins to keep the plates assembled. The pairs of one plate are held to those of the laterally adjacent plate by connecting latches, and similar latches can rigidly connect two stacks together. Recrystallised SiC is generally used for the support elements: if normal SiC is used, the elements are made in smaller sections with greater wall thickness. Esp. for china plates fired at about 1400 deg.C. Heat waste is reduced, and both loading and unloading can be partly automated using a conveyor belt parallel to the tunnel kiln track.