Method and apparatus for making ceramic or vitreous articles

Claim 1

A METHOD OF MAKING A CERAMIC OR VITEROUS ARTICLE COMPRISING; SUPPLY A RIBBON OF A CERAMIC OR VITREOUS WORKING MATERIAL WHICH DIFFERS IN THINKNESS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE RIBBON FROM A THIN EDGE OF THE RIBBON GRADUALLY TO A THICKER EDGE OF THE RIBBON, DIRECTING THE RIBBON OF DIFFERING THICKNESS TO A WINDING ZONE WITH THE THICKEST EDGE OF THE RIBBON THE GREATEST DISTANCE FROM THE CENTER OF THE WINDING ZONE, APPLYING PRESSURE TO AT LEAST THE THICKEST PORTION OF THE RIBBON TO REDUCE THE THICKNESS OF THE THICKEST EDGE OF THE RIBBON UNTIL THE RIBBON HAS THE SAME THICKNESS ACROSS THE WIDTH AND THEREBY IMPART CURVATURE TO THE RIBBON AND HELICALLY WIND THE RIBBON IN THE WINDING ZONE, AND ADHERING ADJACENT COURSES OF THE RIBBON TOGETHER TO FORM A UNITARY STRUCTURE.

Claim 2

A METHOD OF MAKING A CERAMIC OR VITEROUS ARTICLE COMPRISING; SUPPLY A RIBBON OF A CERAMIC OR VITREOUS WORKING MATERIAL WHICH DIFFERS IN THINKNESS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE RIBBON FROM A THIN EDGE OF THE RIBBON GRADUALLY TO A THICKER EDGE OF THE RIBBON, DIRECTING THE RIBBON OF DIFFERING THICKNESS TO A WINDING ZONE WITH THE THICKEST EDGE OF THE RIBBON THE GREATEST DISTANCE FROM THE CENTER OF THE WINDING ZONE, APPLYING PRESSURE TO AT LEAST THE THICKEST PORTION OF THE RIBBON TO REDUCE THE THICKNESS OF THE THICKEST EDGE OF THE RIBBON UNTIL THE RIBBON HAS THE SAME THICKNESS ACROSS THE WIDTH AND THEREBY IMPART CURVATURE TO THE RIBBON AND HELICALLY WIND THE RIBBON IN THE WINDING ZONE, AND ADHERING ADJACENT COURSES OF THE RIBBON TOGETHER TO FORM A UNITARY STRUCTURE.

Claim 3

AN APPARATUS FOR MAKING CERAMIC OR VITEROUS ARTICLES COMPRISING; A FIRST FORMING MEANS FOR FORMING A RIBBON OF CERAMIC OR VITREOUS MATERAL INTO A RIBBON WHICH DIFFERS IN THICKNESS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE RIBBON FROM A THIN EDGE PORTION OF THE RIBBON TO A THICK EDGE PORITON OF THE RIBBON, A SECOND FORMING MEANS FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE RIBBON TO SIMULTANEOUSLY CORRUGATE AND REDUCE THE RIBBON TO A RIBBON HAVING THE SAME THICKNESS ACROSS ITS WIDTH AND THEREBY IMPART A CURVATURE TO THE RIBBON AND HELICALLY WIND SAID RIBBON, AND A WINDING MANDREL ADJACENT THE SECOND FORMING MEANS UPON WHICH THE RIBBON MAY BE HELICALLY WOUND TO FORM A CYLINDRICAL BODY.

Claim 4

AN APPARATUS FOR MAKING CERAMIC OR VITEROUS ARTICLES COMPRISING; A FIRST FORMING MEANS FOR FORMING A RIBBON OF CERAMIC OR VITREOUS MATERAL INTO A RIBBON WHICH DIFFERS IN THICKNESS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE RIBBON FROM A THIN EDGE PORTION OF THE RIBBON TO A THICK EDGE PORITON OF THE RIBBON, A SECOND FORMING MEANS FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE RIBBON TO SIMULTANEOUSLY CORRUGATE AND REDUCE THE RIBBON TO A RIBBON HAVING THE SAME THICKNESS ACROSS ITS WIDTH AND THEREBY IMPART A CURVATURE TO THE RIBBON AND HELICALLY WIND SAID RIBBON, AND A WINDING MANDREL ADJACENT THE SECOND FORMING MEANS UPON WHICH THE RIBBON MAY BE HELICALLY WOUND TO FORM A CYLINDRICAL BODY.