Extrusion conformal cooling devices, methods, and systems
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsDaniel Ross Cooper, Ala'aldin Alafaghani
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A die assembly includes an inflow end, an outflow end opposite the inflow end, and an internal cavity extending from the inflow end to the outflow end. The die assembly also includes an internal mandrel disposed within the internal cavity. The internal mandrel has an end proximate to the outflow end of the die assembly. The die assembly also includes an internal cooling channel within the internal mandrel. The internal cooling channel has an outlet at or near the end of the internal mandrel.
Claims37
A die assembly comprising:
- an inflow end;
- an outflow end opposite the inflow end;
- an internal cavity extending from the inflow end to the outflow end;
- an internal mandrel disposed within the internal cavity, the internal mandrel having an end proximate to the outflow end of the die assembly;
- and
- an internal cooling channel within the internal mandrel, the internal cooling channel having an outlet disposed at or near the end of the internal mandrel.
A method of cooling an extruded profile with a die assembly, the die assembly comprising an inflow end, an outflow end opposite the inflow end, an internal cavity extending from the inflow end to the outflow end, an internal mandrel disposed within the internal cavity, the internal mandrel having an end proximate to the outflow end of the die assembly, and an internal cooling channel within the internal mandrel, the internal cooling channel extending from an inlet disposed on an exterior surface of the die assembly to an outlet disposed at or near the end of the internal mandrel, the method comprising:
- feeding a billet of material through the internal cavity of the die assembly, such that the billet of material is extruded through the outflow end of the die assembly to form the extruded profile, the extruded profile having an interior hollow section formed by the internal mandrel;
- and
- supplying a fluid to the internal cooling channel, the internal cooling channel being configured to convey the fluid from the inlet to the outlet of the internal cooling channel, such that the fluid is dispersed at the outlet of the internal cooling channel within the internal mandrel into the interior hollow section of the extruded profile to cool the extruded profile.
A system for cooling an extruded profile, the system comprising:
- a die assembly comprising:
- an inflow end;
- an outflow end opposite the inflow end;
- an internal cavity extending from the inflow end to the outflow end;
- an internal mandrel disposed within the internal cavity, the internal mandrel having an end proximate to the outflow end of the die assembly, the internal mandrel being configured to form an interior hollow section in the extruded profile;
- and
- an internal cooling channel within the internal mandrel, the internal cooling channel having an outlet disposed at or near the end of the internal mandrel;
- and
- a fluid source in communication with the internal cooling channel of the die assembly and configured to provide a flow of fluid through the internal cooling channel, the outlet of the internal cooling channel being configured to disperse the fluid into the interior hollow section of the extruded profile to cool the extruded profile.
A die assembly comprising:
- an inflow end;
- an outflow end opposite the inflow end;
- an internal cavity extending from the inflow end to the outflow end;
- an internal mandrel disposed within the internal cavity, the internal mandrel having an end proximate to the outflow end of the die assembly;
- an internal cooling channel within the internal mandrel, the internal cooling channel having an outlet disposed at or near the end of the internal mandrel;
- and
- a conduit fluidly coupled to the outlet and extending from the end of the internal mandrel, the conduit including an opening.
A system for cooling an extruded profile, the system comprising:
- a die assembly comprising:
- an inflow end;
- an outflow end opposite the inflow end;
- an internal cavity extending from the inflow end to the outflow end;
- an internal mandrel disposed within the internal cavity, the internal mandrel having an end proximate to the outflow end of the die assembly, the internal mandrel being configured to form an interior hollow section in the extruded profile;
- an internal cooling channel within the internal mandrel, the internal cooling channel having an outlet disposed at or near the end of the internal mandrel;
- and
- a conduit fluidly coupled to the outlet and extending from the end of the internal mandrel, the conduit including an opening;
- an auxiliary conduit connected to an exterior surface of the die assembly and extending in a direction of extrusion, the auxiliary conduit fluidly coupled to the internal cooling channel and including an aperture;
- and
- a fluid source in communication with the internal cooling channel of the die assembly and the auxiliary conduit, the fluid source being configured to provide a flow of fluid through the internal cooling channel and the auxiliary conduit,
- wherein the opening of the conduit is configured to disperse the fluid into the interior hollow section of the extruded profile to cool the extruded profile and wherein the aperture of the auxiliary conduit is configured to disperse the fluid onto an exterior of the extruded profile to cool the extruded profile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.