GB2034013A

GB2034013A - Kiln Firing Supports

Info

Publication number: GB2034013A
Application number: GB7930168A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Acme Marls Ltd
Current assignee: Acme Marls Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-25
Filing date: 1979-08-31
Publication date: 1980-05-29
Also published as: GB2034013B

Abstract

A kiln support for ceramic ware is made up of a number of pillars (11) having ledges (12) for supporting intermediate bats (19). The bats are of generally L-shape and include parallel side edges (20, 21) of unequal length, the rear edge of the bat having first and second rear edge portions (23, 25) joined by a junction edge portion (24) perpendicular to the rear edge portions. Various modified bats are described, particularly for use with circular cross-section upright pillars, each being of generally L-shape with a step formation in the rear edge which may be arcuate, polygonal or of other forms. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Kiln Support This invention relates to kiln supports for supporting ceramic ware during firing and specifically to the construction of shelves or bats for use in such kiln supports.

Kiln supports are conventionally made of temperature resistant ceramic material and comprise a plurality of upright supports carrying horizontal shelves which support the ware to be fired.

This invention is concerned with a type of kiln support hereinafter called "the type specified", in which the upright supports are pillars and each is provided with one or more shelf support ledges, the kiln support also including a plurality of intermediate shelves or bats which can be inserted to be supported at each side edge and at a rear edge by respective ledges and which can be removed without dismantling the remainder of the structure.

Where rectangular intermediate bats are provided and they are slid into place on the ledges, the space available for supporting ware on the intermediate bats is greatly reduced by the fact that a gap, corresponding to the thickness of the upright support pillar, is left at the rear edge of each bat. This problem is usually aggravated because the rear edges of two adjacent bats are supported from a single upright pillar at the centre of the kiln support.

Proposals have been made to make a generally central rectangular cut-out in the rear edge of the bat to enable it partly to surround the upright support on three sides so that the gap does not occur. The remainder of the rear edges of the shelves introduced from opposite sides of the structure can then be placed in close abutting reiation.

Bats with central rectangular cut-outs can be made by using a diamond wheel to form the rectangular cut-out by making a series of adjacent cuts extending inwardly from the edge of the bat to build up the rectangular cut-out. However, this is a lengthy and expensive process.

Alternatively, attempts have been made to produce bats with rectangular cut-outs by pressing in moulds of the desired final shape.

Problems have arisen because the ceramic material used does not flow readily around the cut-out section and weakness can be caused at the most crucial portion of the shelf, namely the portion to be supported by the ledge.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved intermediate bat for a kiln support of the type specified which overcomes or reduces these disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided an intermediate bat for a kiln support having a pair of side edges which are straight and parallel over at least a major part of their length and which are adapted to be slidably supported by a pair of opposed upright support pillars, the side edges being of unequal lengths; and a rear edge including a step formation comprising a first edge portion extending from one side edge, a second edge portion extending from the other side edge and a junction edge portion joining the first and second edge portions.

The first and second edge portions may extend substantially perpendicularly from said one and said other side edge respectively and are preferably straight.

The junction edge portion may be straight and perpendicular to the first and second edge portions or may be polygonal or arcuate or may comprise a straight edge inclined obliquely with respect to the first and second edge portions.

Preferably, the first and second edge portions are of unequal length. The difference in length of the first and second edge portions may be equivalent to the width of an upright pillar.

The junction edge portion may extend into the main shelf region bounded by the side edges and the first and second rear edge portions so as to provide a recessed-junction edge portion at the step formation.

The invention also provides a kiln support of the type specified including a pair of intermediate bats as set out above supported at their respective step formations by a single pillar.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a kiln support structure in plan, illustrating the features of the prior art; Figure 2 is a similar plan view of a prior proposal for reducing the disadvantages of the kiln support shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an isometric view, partly broken away, of a kiln support embodying the invention; Figure 4 is a plan sectional view of a modified kiln support embodying the invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of part of an alternative form of bat; Figure 6 is a similar view of a further alternative; Figure 7 is a similar view of a still further alternative bat, indicating how it may be supported at the junction edge.

The general features of the kiln support shown in the drawings are similar in a number of respects and the same reference numerals will be used to denote similar parts. Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, the kiln support comprises a number of base elements 10, each of rectangular shape and abutted together to form the base of the structure. A number of upright support pillars 11 are then provided disposed at positions at the edges of the corners of the base and also at certain central positions so as to define a plurality of spaces, each of which can receive an intermediate bat or shelf which will then be supported at three spaced positions about its periphery. The use of three spaced supporting positions enables the bat to be supported firmly without there being any tendency for it to rock.

Each upright support pillar 11 has a plurality of ledges 1 2 which are intended to support intermediate bats 1 3. Clearly, the positioning of the intermediate bats is entirely a matter of choice since they can be slid into the support structure at any desired level where the ledges 12 are provided.

The support structure shown in Figure 3 is completed by a plurality of main deck bats 14 which form the main deck of the kiln support. The components can be loosely assembled together or cemented together as desired with the intermediate bats being freely slidable into their supported positions on the ledges 12.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that, in order to slide the shelves into position between the support pillars 1 a and 1 b for example, the width of the intermediate bat 13 is slightly less than the width of the base element 10 or main deck bat 14 which is disposed beneath or on top of the support pillars 11. In addition, in order to enable the rear edge of the bat to be supported on the upright pillar 11 c, a gap 15 is left which is equivalent to half the thickness of the support pillar 11 c (considered without the thickness of the ledges 12).

When considering the support structure as a whole, it will be seen that the intermediate bats 1 3a and 1 3b are inserted in opposite directions towards the upright support 1 C which supports the rear edge 16 of each. Thus, the gap 1 5, on which ware cannot be supported, extends throughout the central region of the kiln support and, together with the gaps 1 7 which are essential to enable sliding in of the intermediate bats, account for a considerable percentage of the area of the kiln support being unavailable for supporting ware at the level of the intermediate bats.

It has been proposed, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, to reduce the size of the gaps 1 5 to insignificant proportions by making generally rectangular cut-outs 18 in the rear edges 1 6 of the intermediate bats. Whilst this enables more kiln space to be used for ware, it is rather difficult to carry out this procedure in practice. In order to make a rectangular cut-out in the rear edge 1 6 of the bat, it is necessary to make a large number of closely spaced parallel cuts using a diamond cutter extending from the rear edge 1 6 into the body of the bat, these cuts coalescing to form the rectangular cut-outs. Clearly, this is an expensive and lengthy procedure.

Unfortunately, the other alternative which is making the bats by pressing using a mould of the desired final form, is not altogether satisfactory since the ceramic material from which the bat is made tends to gather in the region of the cut-out and not to spread adequately around the cut-out, thereby causing weakness at the part of the bat which is supported by the ledges 12.

Turning now to Figure 3 of the drawings, these problems have been reduced significantly by the use of a bat 1 9 of the present invention which has its rear edge 1 6 provided with a rectangular step formation as shown. The side edges 20 and 21 of the bat 19 are straight and parallel but the edge 21 is longer than the edge 20 by a distance equivalent to the width measured at 22 of the upright support pillar 11 C at the rear of the shelf in the direction of sliding movement.

A straight inward cut is made from the side edge 20 extending inwardly at right angles by a distance rather greater than one half of the width of the bat to define a first rear edge portion 23.

From the inner edge of this first rear edge portion 23, a further cut is made at right angles to intersect the rear edge 22 and this further cut forms a junction edge portion 24. The remainder of the rear edge 1 6 can be regarded as a second rear edge portion 25 and, together with the junction edge 24 and first rear edge portion 23, forms the rectangular step referred to above.

Each intermediate bat is similarly shaped. The difference in length between the first rear edge portion 23 and second rear edge portion 25 is approximately equal to the width 26 of the upright pillar 11 C in a direction perpendicular to the direction of sliding movement of the bats.

The bat 19 is slid into position from the forward side of the kiln structure as shown in the drawing. The bat 1 9a is slid into position from the opposite direction until the first and second rear edge portions of one bat meet the second and first rear edge portions respectively of the other bat so as to surround the pillar 11 con all sides. At this position, the rear edge 1 6 of each bat is supported on the ledges 12 of the upright pillar 1 it.

The bat of the type shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, being of generally L-shape, can be made from a rectangular slab of ceramic material by making only two cuts using a diamond wheel, these cuts corresponding in position to the first rear edge portion 23 and junction edge portion 23. Alternatively, the generally L-shaped bat can be pressed from ceramic material. The ceramic slurry or powder used can flow more readily into a mould of the L-shape shown for the bat than into a mould having a rectangular cut-out as described with reference to Figure 2.

Certain of the alternative forms of bat shown in Figures 4 to 7 of the drawings may more readily be made by a pressing operation than the bat 19 shown in Figure 3. These various alternative forms of bat are particularly adapted for use with upright pillars having a non-rectangular crosssection, for example circular cross-section pillars 27.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, a kiln support comprises a plurality of upright circular pillars 27 disposed at the corners of a rectangle with a central pillar 28, also of circular crosssection. This array of pillars can be repeated to build up the desired size of kiln support in a manner similar to that used with rectangular pillars.

Each pillar 27, 28 has one or more shelf supports 29 in the form of circular flanges.

Alternatively they could comprise recesses in the pillars or flanges of non-circular shape.

A bat 30 is shown in Figure 4, inserted between a pair of the pillars 27 by sliding movement until it comes into contact with the central pillar 28. The rear edge of the bat 30 is provided with a step formation so that it partly surrounds the pillar 28.

The step formation comprises a first rear edge portion 31 and a second rear edge portion 32 joined by a junction edge portion 33. The junction edge portion 33 is arcuate and merges into the first rear edge portion 31 so that the rear edge of the bat 30 lies along a tangent to the outer surface of the central pillar 28 at its forward face, conforms the outer surface through about one quarter of its circumference and then extends tangentially away from the central pillar 28 to a right-angled intersection with the second rear edge portion 32. An alternative form of bat shown in Figure 5 is indicated at 34. The step in the rearward edge has an adjacent recess which extends slightly into the main shelf region bounded by the side edges 35 and 36 and the first and second rear edge portions 37 and 38, the recess being indicated at 39.This enables the bat 34 to surround the pillar more closely at its forward face. It also enables the second rear edge portion 38 to project rearwardly less than the corresponding portion 32 of the bat 30, which may make for ease of manufacture.

Figure 6 of the drawings illustrates a further modification in which the step formation of the bat 40 comprises three straight edges, the first and second rear edge portions 41 and 42 being joined by an obliquely inclined straight junction edge 43. The bat 40 may be suitable for use with circular or rectangular cross-section upright pillars or with pillars of other polygonal shapes.

Finally, Figure 7 of the drawings shows a polygonal junction edge generally indicated at 44 which conforms approximately to the outer profile of a circular cross-section upright central pillar 28.

Although in each case the bat shown in the drawings has a pair of rear edge portions extending perpendicular away from the associated side edges of the bat, for reasons of manufacture for example the edges could be obliquely inclined with respect to the side edges and need not necessarily be straight over their entire length.

Claims

1. An intermediate bat for a kiln support having a pair of side edges which are straight and parallel over at least a major part of their length and which are adapted to be slidably supported by a pair of opposed upright support pillars, the side edges being of unequal length; and a first rear edge including a step formation comprising a first edge portion extending from one side edge, a second edge portion extending from the other side edge and a junction edge portion joining the first and second edge portions.

2. A bat according to Claim 1, wherein the first and second edge portions extend substantially perpendicularly from said one and said other side edge respectively.

3. A bat according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second edge portions are straight.

4. A bat according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the junction edge portion is straight.

5. A bat according to Claim 4, wherein the junction edge portion is perpendicular to the first and second edge portions.

6. A bat according to Claim 4, wherein the junction edge portion is inclined obliquely with respect to the first and second edge portions.

7. A bat according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the junction edge portion is polygonal.

8. A bat according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the junction edge portion is arcuate.

9. A bat according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second edge portions are of unequal length.

10. A bat according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the junction edge portion extends into the main shelf region bounded by the side edges and the first and second rear edge portions so as to provide a recessed junction edge portion at the step formation.

11. A kiln support of the type specified including a pair of intermediate bats, each being according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, the bats being supported at their respective step formations by a single pillar.

12. A bat for a kiln support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A bat for a kiln support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A bat for a kiln support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

1 5. A bat for a kiln support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A bat for a kiln support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A kiln support of the type specified and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 8. A kiln support of the type specified substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings as modified by Figure 4.

1 9. A kiln support of the type specified substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings as modified by Figure 5.

20. A kiln support of the type specified substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings as modified by Figure 6.

21. A kiln support of the type specified substantially as hereinbefore described with ,reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings as modified by Figure 7.