Conform extrusion process and apparatus

A conform continuous extrusion apparatus for producing an extruded conform product, comprising:

• a) means for continuously advancing an extrusion material, said means for advancing including a continuously advancing channel;
• b) a fixed member, cooperating with said means for advancing to define a material passageway, said fixed member including a blocking abutment in said channel at least partially closing said material passageway;
• c) an extrusion chamber having an exit and an entrance communicating with said material passageway at said abutment;
• d) an extrusion die covering said chamber exit;
• e) cooling means for differential cooling of portion of said chamber, including:
• i) means for delivering coolant to each of a plurality of points in heat exchanging relationship with said chamber, said points being related to respective portions of said chamber, said means for delivering further including a plurality of individual means for carrying coolant about said chamber, each of said carrying means comprising a coolant passageway, and a plurality of individual means for restricting coolant flow, each of said restriction means comprising a valve coupled to a respective one of said coolant passageways to restrict the flow of coolant therethrough,
• ii) means for sensing the temperature of the extrusion material at a plurality of preselected points about said chamber, and
• iii) means, responsive to a difference between the sensed temperature at any of said points and a selected temperature, for controlling the delivery of coolant by said delivery means to null said difference, and
• f) means for cooling the extruded conform product after it exits from said die such that secondary recrystallization of the extruded conform product is inhibited as it exits the die, which product cooling means comprised a first secondary cooling means, further including an additional means for secondary cooling of the extruded product immediately as it exits from said die, disposed between said die and said first secondary cooling means, wherein said additional secondary cooling means further comprises means for i) inert gaseous cooling of the conform product and for ii) isolating said die from coolant emitted by said first secondary cooling means.