Actuator cooling apparatus and method
AssigneeSynventive Molding Solutions, Inc.
InventorsZhuang Rui Tan, Vito Galati
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An injection molding apparatus (5) comprising: an actuator (10) comprising a thermally conductive housing body (12) mounted in direct heat or thermally conductive contact with one or more mounts (60, 50, 803) that are in turn mounted in direct heat conductive contact or communication with the manifold (20), the cooling device (500, 800) comprising a heat transmitter comprised of an arm, member (502) or leg (800I) that is either: disposed in direct or integral thermal contact with a complementary surface (12Is) of the actuator (10) or, configured to have compressible spring joints (800s).
Claims16
An injection molding apparatus (5) comprising a clamp plate (80), a heated manifold (20), an actuator (10) interconnected to a valve pin (17) drivable along an axis (A), a mold (300) and a cooling device (500, 800) that cools the actuator, wherein when assembled the clamp plate (80) and the mold (300) are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold (20) is disposed between the clamp plate (80) and the mold (300) and the actuator (10) is mounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold (20),
- the actuator (10) comprising a thermally conductive housing body (12) having a drive axis (A) and the housing body (12) is mounted in direct heat or thermally conductive contact with one or more mounts (60, 50, 803) that are in turn mounted in direct heat conductive contact or communication with the manifold (20),
- the cooling device (500, 800) comprising a heat transmitter comprised of an arm, member (502) or leg (800I) comprised of a thermally conductive material having a surface (502a, 800a) for making thermally conductive contact with the clamp plate (80),
- the arm, member or leg (502, 800I) being mounted to the housing body (12) of the actuator in an arrangement wherein the surface (502a, 800a) of the arm, member or leg (502, 800I) is movable toward and away from the actuator (10),
- the arm, member or leg (502, 800I) being configured to have compressible spring joints (800s) disposed along a length (UL) of the arm, member or leg (800I) for urging the surface (502a, 800a) of the arm or leg (502, 800I) into contact with the clamp plate (80),
- the clamp plate (80), the mold (300), the manifold (20), the actuator (10) and the heat transmitter (500) being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein the surface (502a, 800a) of the arm or leg (502, 800I) is in thermally conductive engagement with the clamp plate (80) under a load at least when the manifold (20) is heated to an elevated operating temperature.
An injection molding apparatus (5) comprising a clamp plate (80), a heated manifold (20), an actuator (10), a mold (300) and a cooling device (800) that cools the actuator (10), wherein when assembled the clamp plate (80) and the mold (300) are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold (20) is disposed between the plate and the mold and the actuator (10) is mounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold (20),
- wherein the cooling device (800) comprises:
- one or more highly heat conductive legs (800I) extending a selected longitudinal length (UL) from a base (803) and forming a reception aperture or recess (800ra) within which the actuator (10) is mountable, the one or more legs (800I) being formed to include one or more spring joints (800s) along the longitudinal length (UL) that are resiliently deformable under compression,
- the actuator (10) comprising a housing body (12, 12a) that is thermally conductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold (20),
- the clamp plate, the mold (300), the manifold (20), the actuator (10) and the cooling device (800) being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein the one or more spring joints (800s) are deformed by engagement between a surface of the legs (800I) and a surface of the clamp plate (80), the one or more deformed spring joints (800s) urging a surface of the cooling device (800) into compressed engagement with the clamp plate (80) at least when the manifold (20) is heated to an elevated operating temperature.
A method of cooling an actuator in an injection molding apparatus (5) comprising a clamp plate (80), a heated manifold (20), an actuator (10) having a housing body (12), a mold (300) and a cooling device (800) that cools the actuator (10), wherein when assembled the clamp plate (80) and the mold (300) are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold (20) is disposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator (10) is mounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold (20),
- the method comprising:
- forming the cooling device (800) into one or more highly heat conductive legs (800I) extending a selected longitudinal length (UL) from a base,
- configuring the one or more legs (800I) to include one or more spring joints (800s) along the longitudinal length (UL) that are resiliently deformable under compression,
- forming a reception aperture or recess (800ra) between the one or more legs (800I) and mounting the actuator (12) within the reception aperture or recess such that the actuator is disposed in close proximity to the one or more legs (800I),
- mounting the actuator (10) in thermal communication with the manifold (20),
- assembling the manifold, the clamp plate, the actuator and the cooling device (800) together in an arrangement such that the one or more legs (800I) are loaded urging a surface of the cooling device into compressed engagement with the clamp plate (80) at least when the manifold (20) is heated to an elevated operating temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.