US 12,215,926 B2
Fabrication of ceramics from celestial materials using microwave sintering and mechanical compression
James G. Small, Sonoita, AZ (US); and Joel C. Sercel, Lake View Terrace, CA (US)
Assigned to Trans Astronautica Corporation, Lake View Terrace, CA (US)
Filed by Trans Astronautica Corporation, Lake View Terrace, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/177,671.
Application 18/177,671 is a continuation of application No. 17/668,173, filed on Feb. 9, 2022, granted, now 11,598,581.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/149,189, filed on Feb. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0280098 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F27D 99/00 (2010.01); C04B 35/64 (2006.01); F27D 1/00 (2006.01); F27D 19/00 (2006.01); F27D 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC F27D 99/0006 (2013.01) [C04B 35/64 (2013.01); F27D 1/0006 (2013.01); F27D 21/0014 (2013.01); F27D 2019/0003 (2013.01); F27D 2099/0028 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A chamber for sintering mineral material into solid ceramic shapes, comprising:
a cavity configured to contain the mineral material;
a plurality of insulting plates configured to clamp the mineral material and within the cavity;
a first dipole array positioned above the cavity; and
a second dipole array positioned below the cavity,
wherein the first and second dipole arrays are configured to generate microwave energy and apply the microwave energy to the mineral material while the insulating plates clamp the mineral material to sinter the mineral material into a solid ceramic, the first and second dipole arrays being spaced apart by a distance to provide for a standing wave of the microwave energy having maximum at a center of the cavity.