US 5,021,204 A · Method for selectively charging honeycomb structures

Abstract

A mask apparatus for charging flowable materials into selected cells of a honeycomb structure comprising a solid body having a number of openings extending therethrough which are spaced to coincide with the open ends of the selected cells exposed at the structure's end face, after the mask is positioned across the end face, the flowable material is charged through its openings. In one embodiment, a rigid plate having a number of bores therethrough is provided for charging a plastically formable plugging material into a honeycomb structure in the fabrication of solid particulate filter bodies and other selectively manifolded structures. In a preferred embodiment, a thin transparent polyester film is attached to an open surface of a honeycomb structure and openings melted therethrough. In a second preferred embodiment, a monolithic mask is formed from a flexible elastic polymer and, in addition to openings, has flexible protrusions which assist in aligning the mask on the structure and temporarily plug the cells into which they are inserted preventing them from being inadvertently charged.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method of loading a flowable material into a selected plurality of cells of a honeycomb structure having a multiplicity of mutually adjoining cells, including said selected plurality of cells, which are open ended at and extend into the structure from an open surface thereof comprising the steps of:

covering said open surface with a mask for charging the flowable material into said selected plurality of cells, said mask comprising a body formed of a material impermeable to said flowable material and having a plurality of openings extending therethrough from an outer face thereof to an opposing face thereof positioned juxtaposed said open surface, the openings being sized and positioned across said body to expose therethrough the open ends of said plurality of cells;
and
charging the flowable material from said mask outer face through said openings into the open ends of said plurality of cells.

A method of fabricating a solid particulate filter body from a honeycomb structure having a multiplicity of mutually adjoining cells extending therethrough between a pair of opposing end faces thereof, the cells having an open end at each of said end faces and being formed by thin intersecting porous walls extending across and between the end faces, comprising the steps of:

covering one end face with a mask for charging a plugging material into a first plurality of said cells, said mask comprising a body formed of a material impermeable to said plugging material and having a first plurality of openings extending therethrough from an outer face thereof to an opposing face thereof which is positioned juxtaposed one of said end faces, said first plurality of openings being sized and positioned across said body to expose therethrough the open ends of said first plurality of said cells;
charging a plugging material from said mask outer face through said first plurality of openings into the open ends of said first plurality of cells;
covering the remaining end face of said structure with a mask for charging said plugging material into a second plurality of said cells substantially mutually exclusive of said first plurality of cells, said mask comprising a body formed of a material impermeable to said plugging material and having a second plurality of openings extending therethrough from an outer face thereof to an opposing face thereof positioned juxtaposed the remaining one of said end faces, said second plurality of openings being sized and positioned across said body to expose therethrough the open ends of said second plurality of cells;
and
charging said plugging material from said mask outer face through said second plurality of openings into the open ends of said second plurality of cells.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for selectively charging honeycomb structures

Life of this patent

Method for selectively charging honeycomb structures

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24