Directed flow die assembly
AssigneeGenCorp Inc.
InventorWilliam H. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A die assembly is described for causing extrudate to bend without substantially changing the cross sectional shape of the extrudate. The assembly includes a die mounted in spaced relation from a feed channel through which extrudate passes from the extruder including a first part which has a flow channel which has at least one pair of sidewalls which converge from the die in the direction of the extruder. A second part of the assembly has a feed opening for directing extrudate into the flow channel. It provides for varying the length of the pathways which extrudate flows through the flow channel to a pair of opposing sides of the die to cause bending of the extrudate in the direction of the longest pathway as the extrudate exits the die.
Claims41
A die assembly used in connection with an extruder for bending extrudate as it flows from the assembly, comprising:
- (a) a die and means for mounting said die spaced from a feed opening of the assembly to form a flow channel therebetween, the die having a die opening which is positioned such that extrudate flows from an extruder successively through the feed opening, flow channel and the die opening, and
- (b) means for angularly moving the die opening with respect to the feed opening of the assembly for varying the length of the flow channel to variably direct the flow of the extrudate along pathways of varying length through the flow channel to bend the extrudate as it exits the die opening.
The die assembly of claim 5, wherein the length of the flow channel between the feed opening and die opening is such that the lengths of pathways can be varied sufficiently to bend the extrudate.
A die assembly used in conjunction with an extruder for bending extrudate as it flows from an opening in a die mounted on the assembly, comprising:
- (a) a nozzle secured to an extruder and extending therefrom, the nozzle including:
- (I) an elongated cylindrical portion terminating at a ball-shaped distal end portion spaced from the extruder, the portions having a centrally disposed feed channel which extends longitudinally of the portions and terminates at a feed opening in the distal end portion, the feed channel designed to receive extrudate from the extruder;
- (b) means for mounting the elongated cylindrical portion on the extruder;
- (c) a socket mounted on the ball-shaped distal end portion of the nozzle, the socket including;
- (II) a pair of oppositely disposed, coaxially spaced frusto-conically shaped openings extending inwardly of the socket from opposing parallel faces thereof, the conically sloped sides of the openings converging towards each other and the feed opening in the distal end of the nozzle, the openings being connected by a centrally disposed bore in the socket, the opening of the socket farthest from the extruder being the flow channel into which extrudate flows as it exits the feed opening;
- (d) a pair of annular seals coacting between the bore of the socket and the ball-shaped distal end portion of the nozzle for sealing space between them and preventing the flow of extrudate from the feed opening anywhere but in the flow channel;
- (e) means for mounting a die on the socket in covering relation with the flow channel, the die having an opening communicating with the flow channel;
- (f) means for mounting the socket on the ball-shaped distal portion for rotation relative to the longitudinal axis of the feed channel;
- and
- (g) means for rotating the socket to vary the length of a pathway along which extrudate flows through the flow channel and die opening to correspondingly bend extrudate as the extrudate exits the die assembly.
A die assembly used in conjunction with an extruder for bending extrudate as it flows from an opening in a die mounted on the assembly, comprising:
- (a) a socket secured to the extruder and having a generally frusto-conically shaped flow channel which converges inwardly of the socket from a die when the die is mounted on the socket, the socket having a longitudinally extending bore which is normal to a longitudinal axis of the flow channel;
- (b) a nozzle for directing the flow of extrudate into the flow channel, the nozzle including a cylinder mounted in the bore of the socket for rotation around the longitudinal axis of the bore, the cylinder having a discharge passageway which is normal to a longitudinal axis of the bore, the discharge passageway terminating at a feed opening which communicates with the flow channel, the discharge passageway and flow channel being coaxially aligned when the nozzle is in a neutral, unrotated position;
- (c) means for transporting extrudate from the extruder to the discharge passageway;
- (d) means for mounting a die in covering relation over the flow channel, the die having an opening in coaxial alignment with the flow channel;
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- (e) means for rotating the nozzle to vary the length of the pathway along which extrudate flows through the flow channel and die opening to correspondingly bend extrudate as the extrudate exits the die assembly.
An extruder die assembly for configuring extrudate flow, said assembly comprising,
- (a) a feed passage supplying extrudate from an extruder to a feed opening, and having a central feed axis extending longitudinally along said passage,
- (b) a die head having a passage in communication with said feed opening and a front surface, and
- (c) a continuous extrudate pathway defined by said feed opening and die head passage, and having a central die axis extending longitudinally along said pathway, said die and feed axes being transversely movable with respect to one another upon angular movement of said die head passage or feed opening with respect to the other of said feed opening or die head passage, respectively, to correspondingly configure extrudate exiting the die head.
An extruder die assembly for configuring extrudate flow, said assembly comprising,
- (a) a nozzle supplying extrudate from an extruder via a longitudinal feed passage extending therethrough and terminating at a feed opening, said feed passage having a central feed axis extending longitudinally thereof,
- (b) a die head having a die passage in communication with said feed opening and a front surface,
- (c) a die plate mounted on a front surface of said die head and having a die opening therethrough, and
- (d) a continuous extrudate pathway defined by said feed opening, die head passage and die opening, and having a central die axis extending longitudinally along said pathway, said die and feed axes being transversely movable with respect to one another upon angular movement of said die opening or feed opening with respect to the other of said feed opening or die opening, respectively, to correspondingly configure extrudate exiting the die opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.