Spring retaining pin for valve stem retention
AssigneeHusky Injection Holding Systems Ltd.
InventorsDouglas Oliver HALL, Patrice Fabien Dezon-Gaillard, Manon Danielle Belzile, Edward Joseph Jenko, John Knapp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method of coupling and decoupling a valve stem to an actuator are disclosed. In one embodiment, the actuator includes a moveable member that is coupled to the valve stem. One of the valve stem and the moveable member is a male coupling portion and the other of the valve stem and moveable member is the female coupling portion. The male coupling portion is nested within the female coupling portion. A retaining pin retains the male coupling portion with respect to the female coupling portion.
Claims50
A valve gated molding material distributor for an injection molding machine for passing melt into a mold cavity, the molding material distributor comprising:
- a nozzle (108) having a valve stem (128);
- an actuator (110) configured to move the valve stem (128) between a first position and a second position, the actuator (110) having a moveable member (138, 134, 194) coupleable to the valve stem (128);
- and
- a retaining pin (136) for coupling the valve stem (128) directly to the moveable member (138, 134, 194).
A method of using a valve gated hot runner comprising a valve stem (128) and an actuator (110), the actuator (110) having a moveable member (138, 134, 194), one of the moveable member (138, 134, 194) and the valve stem (128) comprising a male coupling portion and the other of the moveable member (138, 134, 194) and the valve stem (128) comprising a female coupling portion, the method comprising:
- nesting the male coupling portion within the female coupling portion;
- coupling the nested male and female coupling portions with a retaining pin (136) to retain the male coupling portion relative to the female coupling portion.
A retaining pin (136) for coupling a valve stem (128) to a moveable member (138, 134, 194) of an actuator of a molding material distributor, the retaining pin (136) comprising:
- an actuating end;
- and
- an engaging end, the engaging end having an member engagement portion configured to engage the moveable member (138, 134, 194) and an inner engagement portion configured to engage at least the valve stem (128).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.