Apparatus and method for in-line coating of pultrusion profiles

An apparatus for in-line coating of pultrusion profiles comprising:

• a) a pultrusion die for forming a pultruded part of a predetermined shape and having an outside surface;
• b) means for substantially hardening the pultruded part prior to coating;
• c) a coating die having an entrance portion, an exit portion and a coating chamber generally located therebetween;
• d) means for applying a uniform coating to the pultruded part, including the coating chamber where the coating is first applied and a rigid tapered portion of the exit portion of the coating die along which the coating is held under pressure, the taper having a decreasing cross-sectional area in a direction away from the coating chamber such that, primarily as a result of the taper, a substantial increase in the pressure of the coating along the outside surface of the pultruded part is achieved, thereby causing the part to be substantially centered;
• and
• e) means for curing the coating on the pultruded part.

An apparatus for in-line coating of pultrusion profiles comprising:

• a) a pultrusion die for forming a pultruded part of a predetermined shape and having an outside surface;
• b) means for hardening the pultruded part prior to coating;
• c) a coating die having an axial aperture extending therethrough defining a wall, an inlet portion with a means for cooling the inlet portion below the temperature at which the coating will cure, an exit portion with a means for cooling the exit portion below the temperature at which the coating will cure, a coating chamber generally located between the inlet portion and the exit portion that is arranged and configured, in cooperation with a rigid tapered portion of the exit portion, to apply a uniform coating on the outside surface of the pultruded part, the taper having a decreasing cross-sectional area in a direction away from the coating chamber such that, primarily as a result of the taper, a substantial increase in a pressure of the coating along the outside surface of the pultruded part is achieved, thereby causing the part to be substantially centered;
• d) pumping means for pumping coating into the coating chamber;
• e) heating means for curing the coating after the pultruded part exits the coating die;
• and
• f) means for pulling the pultruded part through the pultrusion die, coating die and heating means.