US 11,883,768 B2
Methods and apparatus for plugging cells of ceramic structures and honeycomb filters
Robert John Locker, Corning, NY (US); Robert Arthur McIntosh, Corning, NY (US); and Joel Andrew Schultes, Corning, NY (US)
Assigned to Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY (US)
Appl. No. 17/264,219
Filed by CORNING INCORPORATED, Corning, NY (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 15, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/041755
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 28, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/028017, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 6, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/712,376, filed on Jul. 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0316242 A1, Oct. 14, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01D 46/00 (2022.01); B01D 46/24 (2006.01); B28B 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 46/0001 (2013.01) [B01D 46/2459 (2013.01); B28B 11/007 (2013.01); B01D 2279/30 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for plugging a subset of cells of a honeycomb structure, the method comprising:
covering a first end face of the honeycomb structure with a mask that comprises a body having an outer edge and a plurality of openings, wherein the outer edge of the body extends outwardly of at least a portion of an outer edge of the first end face and the plurality of openings of the mask is coincident with a plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure;
bringing a film material and the honeycomb structure into contact with each other, the film material having an outer edge that also extends outwardly of at least a portion of the outer edge of the first end face of the honeycomb structure;
applying a force to the film material with a piston to push a plugging material through the plurality of openings of the mask and into the plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure; and
measuring a plurality of pressures within the plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure during the applying step;
wherein the step of measuring a plurality of pressures within the plurality of cells is conducted by evaluating output pressure data from a plurality of pressure sensors disposed on a pressure sensor film, the pressure sensor film disposed between the film material and the plugging material;
wherein the plurality of pressure sensors is disposed in a distribution on the pressure sensor film that corresponds with a distribution of the plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure; and
wherein the plugging material comprises a non-uniform thickness based at least in part on prior-measured output pressure data from the plurality of pressure sensors disposed on the pressure sensor film.