John H Holbeck

US Patent:

60637153, May 16, 2000

Filed:

Dec 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/207778

Inventors:

John H. Holbeck - Calimesa CA
Richard D. Roy - Redlands CA

Assignee:

Degussa-Ney Dental, Inc. - Bloomfield CT

International Classification:

B32B 1501

US Classification:

442 16

Abstract:

A reinforced ceramic fiber enclosure for muffle furnaces and the like defining a cavity therewithin includes a perforate metallic skeleton defining at least a portion of the peripheral wall of the enclosure and fibrous insulation encapsulating the skeleton with fibers of the insulation extending through the perforations of the skeleton. In some embodiments the enclosure is of rectangular cross section with base, top and side walls. The top and side walls generally extend over only a portion of the length of the enclosure, and mounting and support flanges are desirably provided on at least the front end of the skeleton. To make the enclosure, the skeleton is supported on the exterior of a vacuum mold in spaced relationship thereto, and the mold and skeleton are immersed in slurry of ceramic fibers and a bonding agent therefor. The vacuum drawn through the mold causes the fibers and bonding agent to deposit on the mold and encapsulate the skeleton with fibers extending through the perforations of the skeleton.