Fluid-flow-modification plate and extruder, comprising the same

An extruder, comprising:

• a material-feed chamber;
• a nozzle;
• and
• a fluid-flow-modification plate, coupled to the material-feed chamber and to the nozzle and comprising:
• a monolithic body, having an inlet-side surface and an outlet-side surface;
• a first passage, extending between the inlet-side surface and the outlet-side surface and comprising:
• a first-passage inlet opening, having a first-passage-inlet-opening perimeter boundary, defined in the inlet-side surface of the monolithic bod;
• and
• a first-passage outlet opening, having a first-passage-outlet-opening perimeter boundary, defined in the outlet-side surface of the monolithic body;
• a second passage, extending between the inlet-side surface and the outlet-side surface and comprising:
• a second-passage inlet opening, having a second-passage-inlet-opening perimeter boundary, defined in the inlet-side surface of the monolithic body;
• and
• a second-passage outlet opening, having a second-passage-outlet-opening perimeter boundary, defined in the outlet-side surface of the monolithic body;
• a third passage, extending between the inlet-side surface and the outlet-side surface and comprising:
• a third-passage inlet opening, having a third-passage-inlet-opening perimeter boundary, defined in the inlet-side surface of the monolithic body;
• and
• a third-passage outlet opening, having a third-passage-outlet-opening perimeter boundary, defined in the outlet-side surface of the monolithic body;
• and
• a fourth passage, extending between the inlet-side surface and the outlet-side surface and comprising:
• a fourth-passage inlet opening, having a fourth-passage-inlet-opening perimeter boundary, defined in the inlet-side surface of the monolithic body;
• and
• a fourth-passage outlet opening, having a fourth-passage-outlet-opening perimeter boundary, defined in the outlet-side surface of the monolithic body;
• and wherein:
• the first passage and the second passage intersect each other at a first intersection boundary;
• the third passage and the fourth passage intersect each other at a second intersection boundary;
• the first passage and the third passage do not intersect each other;
• the second passage and the fourth passage do not intersect each other;
• the first-passage-inlet-opening perimeter boundary has a single-point contact with the fourth-passage-inlet-opening perimeter boundary;
• the first-passage inlet opening and the second-passage inlet opening are separated from each other at least by a portion of the inlet-side surface;
• the first-passage inlet opening and the third-passage inlet opening are separated from each other at least by a portion of the inlet-side surface;
• the second-passage inlet opening and the third-passage inlet opening are separated from each other at least by a portion of the inlet-side surface;
• the third-passage inlet opening and the fourth-passage inlet opening are separated from each other at least by a portion of the inlet-side surface;
• the second-passage-outlet-opening perimeter boundary has a single-point contact with the third-passage-outlet-opening perimeter boundary;
• the first-passage outlet opening and the second-passage outlet opening are separated from each other at least by a portion of the outlet-side surface;
• the first-passage outlet opening and the third-passage outlet opening are separated from each other at least by a portion of the outlet-side surface;
• the first-passage outlet opening and the fourth-passage outlet opening are separated from each other at least by a portion of the outlet-side surface;
• and
• the third-passage outlet opening and the fourth-passage outlet opening are separated from each other at least by a portion of the outlet-side surface.