Cross-head die with improved flow distribution

A die assembly of the cross-head type for applying an essentially uniform layer of fluid coating material to a continuous filament of substantially constant diameter as it is drawn through said assembly, said assembly comprising:

• a) a cross-head body having front and rear ends, a first, through axial bore substantially concentric about a central, longitudinal axis, a radial bore communicating with said axial bore at an intermediate position therein;
• b) a die member having an external surface matingly engaged with a portion of said first axial bore extending from said front end of said body for at least a portion of the distance to said intermediate position, said die member having an internal surface terminating at a central orifice of predetermined diameter, greater than said constant diameter, positioned coaxially with said central axis substantially at said body front end;
• c) a tip holder having a second through axial bore defining an internal surface, front and rear ends, a central, longitudinal axis, and an external surface including:
• i) a forward portion tapering outwardly from said front toward said rear end of said tip holder;
• ii) an annular groove extending entirely about the periphery of said tip holder immediately rearwardly of said forward portion;
• and
• iii) a body engagement portion extending from immediately rearwardly of said groove toward said tip holder rear end and matingly engaged with said first axial bore from immediately rearward of said intermediate position toward said body rear end;
• d) a tip having a third through axial bore with a central, longitudinal axis and a diameter less than said predetermined diameter and slightly greater than said constant diameter, and an external surface including a rear portion matingly engaged with at least a portion of said second axial bore extending rearwardly from said tip holder front end, and a front portion extending forwardly from said tip holder front end toward said die member orifice;
• e) means releasably holding said tip holder in assembled relation with said body with the longitudinal axis of each of said first, second and third axial bores coaxial with said die member orifice;
• and
• f) means defining a flow passage between said annular groove and said die member orifice, whereby said molten material may flow from said radial bore, about the periphery of said annular groove and through said flow passage to form a uniform coating layer on said filament as said material and filament exit said die member orifice.