US 5,494,426 AGranted

Vibrating wall surfaces for molding deformable materials

AssigneeThermold Partners L.P.

InventorJean-Pierre Ibar

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Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for shaping deformable materials during molding processes. Such an apparatus includes, among other things, a vibrating wall assembly. The vibrating wall assembly fits the contours of at least a portion of a mold's cavity. The vibrating wall assembly includes a pliable wall positioned within the mold. The pliable wall is positioned such that its outside wall surface is adjacent to a portion of the mold's inside wall surface; and its inside wall surface defines a portion of the geometric configuration of the material passing thereover. The pliable wall is designed to deform from its original shape when a positive or negative pressure is exerted on its inside or outside wall surface. This positive and/or negative pressure is generated, at least in part, by the displacement of a displaceable fluid. This fluid is contained within a chamber. The chamber is in communication with a portion of the pliable wall's outside wall surface. Also included is a device which displaces the fluid contained within the chamber. This device controls the amount, frequency and amplitude of the wall assembly's vibration by controlling fluid displacement.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An apparatus, for shaping, or directing flow of, deformable materials by affecting the material's physiochemical properties, said apparatus comprises:

a. a mold, die or transfer channel body, wherein at least a portion of the mold's, die's or transfer channel's inside wall surface defines a cavity into which, or through which, a deformable material will pass,
b. at least a first vibrating wall assembly incorporated into the mold's, die's or transfer channel's body such that the first vibrating wall assembly's inside wall surface defines at least a part of the cavity into which, or through which, a deformable material will pass, said vibrating wall assembly comprising:
i. at least a first pliable wall whose outside wall surface is adjacent to at least a portion of the mold's, die's or transfer channel's inside wall surface, and whose inside wall surface defines at least a part of the cavity into which, or through which, a deformable material will pass,
ii. at least a first chamber for confining a displaceable fluid, said first chamber being in communication with at least a portion of the first pliable wall's outside wall surface,
iii. a displaceable fluid confined within said first displaceable fluid chamber,
iv. at least a first means for displacing the displaceable fluid confined within said first displaceable fluid chamber, and
c. driver for imparting a predetermined frequency and amplitude for generating a vibratory motion of the pliable wall for altering the physiochemical properties of the material to shape and direct the flow of the material, and
d. wherein said first vibrating wall assembly forms a portion of a conduit through which a material passes, said first vibrating wall resonating in a direction perpendicular to the flow of the material in an extrusion molding process or in a process of manufacturing pipes or rods.

5 more elements

An apparatus, for shaping, or directing flow of, deformable materials, said apparatus comprises:

a. a mold, die or transfer channel body, wherein at least a portion of the mold's, die's or transfer channel's inside wall surface defines a cavity into which, or through which, a deformable material will pass,
b. at least a first vibrating wall assembly incorporated into the mold's, die's or transfer channel's body such that the first vibrating wall assembly's inside wall surface defines at least a part of the cavity into which, or through which, a deformable material will pass, said vibrating wall assembly comprising:
i. at least a first pliable wall whose outside wall surface is adjacent to at least a portion of the mold's, die's or transfer channel's inside wall surface, and whose inside wall surface defines at least a part of the cavity into which, or through which, a deformable material will pass,
ii. at least a first chamber for confining a displaceable fluid, said first chamber being in communication with at least a portion of the first pliable wall's outside wall surface,
iii. a displaceable fluid confined within said first displaceable fluid chamber, and
iv. at least a first means for displacing the displaceable fluid confined within said first displaceable fluid chamber, and
c. wherein the first vibrating wall assembly further comprises at least a second fluid displacement means, and at least a second fluid displacement chamber.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/183,462Filed 17 Feb 1994 · continuation in part
Priority: 11 May 1992
Granted: 27 Feb 1996
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B06B 1/161
Operating with systems involving rotary unbalanced masses: adjustable systems, i.e. where amplitude or direction of frequency of vibration can be…
B29C 33/405
Plastics, e.g. foam or rubber: elastomers, e.g. rubber
B29C 33/565
Coatings , e.g. enameled or galvanised; Releasing, lubricating or separating agents: consisting of shell-like structures supported by backing material
B29C 45/54
Using injection ram or piston: and plasticising screw

Family

Serial880,926Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 11 May 1992
Serial124,147Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Sep 1993
Serial138,673Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 19 Oct 1993
US 5,306,129 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,494,426 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.