Support tray for extruded ceramic ware and method

Abstract

Honeycomb extrudate is made by extruding a plasticized ceramic-forming batch material to form a length of wet honeycomb extrudate, transferring the extrudate to a support tray, and transferring the tray and extrudate to a dryer, the tray being capable of contactingly supporting greater than one-third of the circumferential surface of the wet extrudate. The extrudate is subject to reduced handling damage, e.g. from forces of gravitational and/or lateral acceleration arising during transfer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support tray for a cylindrical honeycomb extrudate having a longitudinal axis and a circumferential surface, the tray comprising:
 a tray body comprising an upper surface having a concave portion configured to receive the cylindrical honeycomb extrudate and is capable of contactingly supporting greater than one-third of the circumferential surface of the extrudate.   
     
     
         2 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the concave portion is configured to be capable of contactingly supporting greater than 40% of the circumferential surface of the extrudate. 
     
     
         3 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the concave portion is configured to be capable of contactingly supporting greater than 45% of the circumferential surface of the extrudate. 
     
     
         4 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray body comprises an axial length, and in a transverse cross-section perpendicular to the direction of the axial length, the concave portion defines a circular arc. 
     
     
         5 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray body comprises an axial length, and in a transverse cross-section perpendicular to the direction of the axial length, the concave portion defines part of an oval or elliptical arc. 
     
     
         6 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein a substantial part of the concave portion is configured to match the shape of the supported part of the circumferential surface of the extrudate. 
     
     
         7 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the concave portion is directly adjacent the circumferential surface of the extrudate along a contact line subtended by an included angle of greater than 120 degrees as measured from a longitudinal axis of the extrudate. 
     
     
         8 . The tray of  claim 7 , wherein the contact line is subtended by an included angle of less than 180 degrees as measured from a longitudinal axis of the extrudate. 
     
     
         9 . The tray of  claim 1 , fabricated of at least one material exhibiting low dielectric loss. 
     
     
         10 . The tray of  claim 9 , fabricated of bonded alumina or aluminosilicate fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The tray of  claim 1 , wherein the tray is configured to be transported bearing the extrudate to a dryer; and
 the tray is configured to support the extrudate while the extrudate is dried.   
     
     
         12 . The tray of  claim 11 , wherein the tray is configured to be subjected to a lateral acceleration of greater than 0.25 g when bearing the extrudate to the dryer, the lateral acceleration being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the extrudate. 
     
     
         13 . The tray of  claim 11 , wherein the tray is configured to be subjected to a lateral acceleration of greater than 0.25 g when bearing the extrudate to the dryer, the lateral acceleration being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the extrudate, and wherein the circumferential surface has a diameter greater than 25 cm. 
     
     
         14 . The tray of  claim 11 , wherein the tray is configured to be subjected to a lateral acceleration of greater than 0.4 g when bearing the extrudate to the dryer, the lateral acceleration being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the extrudate. 
     
     
         15 . The tray of  claim 14 , wherein the tray is configured to support the extrudate having a minimum diameter transverse to the axis of extrusion of at least 25 cm.