Modular manifold assembly
OwnerPanos Trakasinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular manifold system is described. A plurality of generally cylindrical manifold components engage a melt distribution element. The manifold components each have a generally cylindrical body which has an annular cavity formed therein which axially extends with the component body for a predetermined length which separates the component body from a component inner core. A melt runner passage extends axially through the inner core. A heating element in the form of a ceramic insulator sleeve occupies a portion of the annular cavity with a particulate refractory material occupying the remainder of the annular cavity.
Claims40
An injection molding manifold assembly for heating and conveying liquid melt injected from an injection molding machine into one or more mold cavity gates wherein the manifold assembly provides a heated pathway between the injection molding machine and the one or more cavity gates, the manifold assembly comprising:
- a primary heated member, one or more secondary heated members corresponding in number to said one or more mold cavity gates, the primary heated member having a body with a heated internal melt passageway disposed between an inlet end and an outlet end of the body, the inlet end being adapted to engage the injection molding machine and the outlet end engaging means for distributing the injected melt to a plurality of manifold components, each individual manifold component of the plurality of manifold components having an elongated body with a heated internal melt passageway disposed between an inlet end and an outlet end of each said manifold component, each said manifold component inlet end being adapted to engage the melt distribution means and each said manifold outlet end being adapted to engage a respective secondary heated member, each respective secondary heated member having a body extending between an inlet end and an outlet end of said body, the secondary heated member inlet end being adapted to engage said outlet end of a manifold component and the secondary heated member outlet end being adapted to engage a gate of a mold cavity, the elongated body of each said manifold component of said plurality of manifold components having an internal melt passageway generally centrally disposed therein, each manifold component internal melt passageway being adapted to receive pressurized melt at said inlet end thereof and being adapted to discharge said pressurized melt at said outlet end thereof, elongated internal heating means disposed in an elongated annular compartment of each of said manifold components and disposed proximate to said manifold component internal melt passageway, the internal heating means extending substantially along the length of said internal melt passageway and substantially surrounding said internal melt passageway, each of said manifold components having an inner core wall which defines each manifold component internal melt passageway and a manifold component outer wall which defines the outer surface of said manifold component body member, said manifold component inner core and said manifold outer wall defining said annular compartment therebetween, each of said component inner core walls and outer walls being integrally joined together at a manifold component endwall.
A modular manifold assembly for providing a heated melt flowpath for an injection molding system, the heated melt flowpath extending from between an injection molding machine to one or more gates of individual mold cavities disposed within mold blocks, said assembly comprising, a plurality of internally heated modules, each of the plurality of modules having an integral body portion, each of said module integral body portions including an inner core having an internal melt passageway adapted to convey liquid melt therethrough extending between opposite melt inlet and outlet ends of said modules, each of said module integral body portions having an elongated outer wall encircling said module inner core, each of said module body portion further including a module endwall integrally formed with said module inner core and said module outer wall, each of said modules further having an elongated annular compartment axially extending along said module inner core between said module melt inlet end and said module melt outlet end, the elongated annular compartment being defined by said module inner core, outer wall and endwall, heating means disposed in said annular compartment and disposed in surrounding relation to said elongated inner core, said heating means axially extending a preselected length within and occupying a portion of said annular compartment, a compacted unified mass of particulate material occupying the remainder of said annular compartment, a melt runner passage in said elongated inner core interposed between and in flow communication with said module inlet end and said outlet end.
An internally heated injection molding modular manifold component having an inlet for receiving pressurized melt and an outlet for the discharge of the pressurized melt, said manifold component comprising:
- a unitary component casing-core element having an integral outer sidewall, an endwall and an elongated inner core integrally formed together, an outer surface of said elongated inner core and the inner surface of said sidewall defining a generally annular compartment within said component casing-core element;
- heating means in surrounding relation to said elongated inner core, said heating means axially extending a preselected length within and occupying a portion of said annular compartment;
- a compacted unified mass of particulate material occupying the remainder of said annular compartment;
- a melt runner passage disposed in said elongated inner core interposed between and in melt flow communication with said inlet and outlet of said manifold component;
- said elongated inner core extending between said inlet and outlet of said manifold component in a manner such that no welded joints are present in the melt runner passage, said manifold component inlet end including means for engaging an internal melt distribution chamber of a melt distribution assembly, and said manifold casing-core element further including means for providing an air gap between the outer sidewall of said manifold component and an adjoining surface of a mold block.
A manifold assembly for providing a heated melt flowpath in an injection molding system which melt flowpath extends from between an injection molding machine to one or more individual mold cavities disposed within one or more mold blocks, the manifold assembly comprising in combination, means for distributing melt injected from the injection molding machine to the one or more mold cavities, a plurality of internally heated manifold components, each of the manifold components being adapted to engage the melt distribution means, each of said manifold components having an internal melt passageway disposed between an inlet end and an outlet end thereof, each of said manifold components having an elongated, generally cylindrical body extending between said inlet and outlet ends thereof, each manifold component generally cylindrical body having said internal melt passageway disposed within an elongated inner core of said manifold component body, the inner core extending axially between said inlet ends and outlets thereof, each of said manifold components further having an elongated outer wall encircling said manifold component inner core, the manifold component outer wall, said manifold component inner core and a manifold component endwall being integrally formed together to thereby define an elongated annular compartment between said manifold component inner core and said manifold component outer wall, said manifold component endwall including an axially extending portion, an elongated internal heating means disposed in said annular compartment proximate to and substantially surrounding a portion of said internal melt passageway and further occupying a portion of said annular compartment, said manifold component axially extending portion including a delivery portion of said internal melt passageway, said internal melt passageway delivery portion being disposed angularly apart from said manifold component inlet end, the remainder of said annular compartment further including a compacted unified mass of particulate material surrounding both said inner core and said elongated heating means, said melt distribution means including a distribution element having a primary opening adapted to receive the outlet end of a primary heated member and one or more secondary openings adapted to receive therein respective inlet ends of said manifold components, each of the manifold components having one or more raised portions disposed on an exterior surface of each said manifold component body, the one or more raised portions providing a support surface for resisting thermal expansion of said manifold component and for resisting injection molding pressures encountered by each of said manifold components.
A manifold assembly for conveying injection molded plastic melt into a mold from an injection molding machine, through a manifold, the assembly comprising at least two internally heated manifold components, each of the manifold components having a unitary construction in which a manifold component outer sidewall, an endwall and an inner core thereof are integrally formed together and define an annular compartment surrounding a central melt passageway, the central melt passageway being disposed in said inner core, each of the annular compartments further including an electric heating means completely disposed therein, each of said manifold components further having an inlet end with a neck portion associated therewith, each of said manifold component neck portions being adapted to slidingly engage a recess disposed at an outlet end of a manifold component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.