Method and apparatus for forming microchannels in a filament wire
AssigneeMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
InventorsMakoto Ishizuka, Daniel Hogan, Kazuaki Ohkubo, Mitsuhiko Kimoto
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Abstract
A microchannel forming device is provided for making microchannels in a wire. The microchannel forming device includes a plurality of dice for receiving a heated wire spaced along a longitudinal axis. Each die has a circumferential surface forming an opening, and teeth projecting normally from the surface and terminating in the opening. As the heated wire is drawn through the opening of each die, the teeth engage the heated wire to form longitudinal microchannels therein.
Claims16
A microchannel forming device for making microchannels in a wire comprising:
- a plurality of dice for receiving a heated wire spaced along a longitudinal axis,
- each die having a circumferential surface forming an opening, and teeth projecting normally from the surface and terminating in the opening,
- wherein as the heated wire is drawn through the opening of each die, the teeth engage the heated wire to form longitudinal microchannels therein.
A method of forming microchannels in a wire comprising the steps of:
- (a) drawing a heated wire through a plurality of dice arranged along a longitudinal axis;
- (b) engaging the heated wire with teeth arranged about an opening formed by a circumferential surface in each of the plurality of dice;
- and
- (c) forming longitudinal microchannels in the heated wire, as the heated wire is drawn through the plurality of dice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.