US 6,182,685 B2 · Injector structure for liquid additives

Abstract

An injector structure is disclosed for delivering liquid additives, and particularly colorants, into a polyester production system capable of being cleaned without removal from a production line. The device includes a valve body with an internal channel extending longitudinally therein, a hollow housing for receiving a reciprocating stem, and an insulating jacket for minimizing the affect that heat from a melt extruder may have on the liquid colorant as the liquid colorant flows through the injector. A fluid inlet in communication with the internal channel is provided for delivering fluid from an external source to the valve body. The reciprocating stem, in an open position, allows liquid colorant to flow from the fluid inlet through the internal channel and out of a discharge opening at one end of the valve body. In a closed position, the reciprocating stem blocks the internal channel thereby preventing delivery of the fluid from the fluid inlet to the discharge opening. By reciprocating the stem within the internal channel, any obstructing matter is loosened, thereby allowing an uninterrupted flow of liquid colorant through the injector structure.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An injector structure for delivering liquid colorant into a polyester production system, said injector structure comprising:

a valve body that defines respective upstream and downstream ends, and with said downstream end defining a discharge opening;
an internal channel extending longitudinally inside said valve body and communicating with said discharge opening;
a fluid inlet positioned between said upstream and downstream ends of said valve body and in communication with said internal channel for delivering liquid colorant from an external source to said internal channel;
a reciprocating stem in said internal channel for valving the liquid colorant between said inlet and said discharge opening based on the position of said stem in said channel, and for clearing said channel of obstructions disposed therein when said stem reciprocates in said channel;
means for attaching said downstream end and said discharge opening of said valve body to a container for hot melt phase polymers;
and
an insulating jacket surrounding the portions of said valve body between said fluid inlet and said discharge opening for preventing heat from a hot polymer or its container from adversely affecting liquid colorant in said valve body.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Injector structure for liquid additives

Life of this patent

Injector structure for liquid additives

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19