Modular mold cooling system

A fluid distribution block comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of ports spaced about the periphery of said housing, said ports being in fluid communication with each other;
• and
• a plurality of feet spaced about the exterior periphery of said housing, each of said feet having at least three orthogonally arranged bores for allowing at least one of a closure plate, a fitting, and another distribution block to be mounted to said fluid distribution block.

An injection molding machine comprising:

• a stationary platen having a first mold half mounted thereto and a plurality of cooling channels therein;
• a movable platen having a second mold half mounted thereto and a plurality of cooling channels therein;
• means for distributing a cooling fluid to said cooling channels in said mold halves;
• said distributing means comprising a first fluid distribution block;
• said first fluid distribution block comprising a housing, a fluid chamber within said housing, and at least three ports spaced about the periphery of said housing;
• each of said ports being fluidically connected to said fluid chamber;
• a first one of said ports being fluidically connected to a source of said cooling fluid;
• a second one of said ports being fluidically connected to said cooling channels in at least one of said stationary platen and said movable platen;
• said first fluid distribution block further comprising connecting means spaced about said housing;
• and
• said first fluid distribution block being mounted to said machine via said connecting means.

An injection molding apparatus including:

• means for molding plastic molten materials;
• means for fluid cooling said molding means;
• said fluid cooling means comprising a source of fluid, supply fluid means for introducing fluid into and removing fluid from said molding means, and a plurality of modular fluid distribution means connected to said supply fluid means;
• and
• each of said modular fluid distribution means comprising a housing, a fluid chamber within said housing, a plurality of ports spaced around said housing and being fluidically connected via said fluid chamber, and external means for connecting said housing to at least one of said molding means, another housing, and a support structure.