Actuator cooling apparatus and method

• US 10,166,709 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Synventive Molding Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synventive Molding Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Tan, Zhuang Rui, Galati, Vito
• Primary Examiner(s): Minskey, Jacob T
• Application Number:
  US15/380,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20170100869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/2733 Inserts, plugs, bushings
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/2848 having an adjustable stroke length
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/7271 Cooling of drive motors
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/2737 Heating or cooling means therefor B29C45/7331 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/2806 consisting of needle valve systems B29C45/2896 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/281 Drive means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/72 Heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/7331 Heat transfer elements, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2905/00 Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, as mould material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0013 Conductive

Abstract

An injection molding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, an actuator, a mold and a cooling device,

• • wherein the cooling device comprises:
  • a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member and a proximal base or member, the distal arm or member or member being mounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement to or with the proximal base or member,
  • the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate.

Claims

1. An injection molding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, an actuator, a mold and a cooling device that cools the actuator, wherein when assembled the clamp plate and the mold are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold is disposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator is mounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold,

wherein the cooling device comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member and a proximal base or member, the distal arm or member being mounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement to the proximal base or member, the distal arm or member being comprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal end surface for engaging the clamp plate under a spring load and a proximal surface in sliding contact with a surface of the actuator for transmitting heat from the proximal surface to the distal end surface,

one or more surfaces of the distal arm being slidably engaged with one or more surfaces of the proximal base, the proximal base transmitting heat to the distal arm via the slidably engaged surfaces,

the actuator comprising a housing body that is thermally conductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold,

the proximal base or member being mounted to the housing body of the actuator in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface of the movable rod or arm is movable through the spring loadable interconnection toward and away from the actuator,

the spring loadable interconnection comprising one or more rods or tubes slidably mounted via one or more springs to the proximal base or member 504 and interconnected to the distal arm or member transmitting heat from the proximal base or member to the distal arm or member,

the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the movable rod or arm into compressed engagement with the clamp plate at least when the manifold is heated to an elevated operating temperature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing body is mounted in thermally conductive contact along an axis A along which the valve pin is driven, the housing body being mounted to one or more actuator mounts that are mounted downstream on the manifold along the axis A,

the surface of the actuator with which the proximal surface of the distal member is slidably engaged being spaced laterally from the axis A, the proximal base or member being mounted in heat conductive contact with and to the lateral surface such that the proximal base or member 04 and the proximal surface of the distal member are spaced laterally apart from contact with the one or more actuator mounts.

5. A method of cooling the actuator of the apparatus of claim 1 comprising assembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the cooling device of the apparatus of claim 1 such that the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate.

3. A method of cooling an actuator in an injection molding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, an actuator having a housing body, a mold and a cooling device that cools the actuator, wherein when assembled the clamp plate and the mold are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold is disposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator is mounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold,

the method being characterized in that:

the cooling device is mounted to the actuator housing body, the cooling device comprising a distal arm or member and a proximal base or member, the distal arm or member being mounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement to the proximal base or member, the distal arm or member being comprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal end surface for engaging the clamp plate under a spring load, the proximal base or member having a proximal surface disposed in sliding contact with a surface of the actuator for transmitting heat from the proximal surface to the distal end surface, one or more surfaces of the distal arm being slidably engaged with one or more surfaces of the proximal base, the proximal base transmitting heat to the distal arm via the slidably engaged surfaces, the spring loadable interconnection comprising one or more rods or tubes slidably mounted via one or more springs to the proximal base or member and interconnected to the distal arm or member transmitting heat from the proximal base or member to the distal arm or member,

mounting the actuator in thermal communication with the manifold,

mounting the proximal base or member to the housing body of the actuator in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface of the distal arm or member is movable through the spring loadable interconnection toward and away from the actuator, and,

assembling the manifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter together in an arrangement wherein the proximal surface slides along the complementary surface and the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the movable rod or arm into compressed engagement with the clamp plate at least when the manifold is heated to an elevated operating temperature.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the housing body has an axis A along which the valve pin is driven, the housing body being mounted in thermally conductive contact along the axis A to one or more actuator mounts that are mounted downstream on the manifold along the axis A,

the method further comprising mounting the proximal base or member to a surface of the housing body that is spaced laterally from an axis A, the proximal base or member being mounted in heat conductive contact with and to the lateral surface such that the proximal base or member is spaced laterally apart from contact with the one or more actuator mounts.

6. An injection molding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, an actuator, a mold and a cooling device that cools the actuator, wherein when assembled the clamp plate and the mold are interconnected and spaced apart from each other, the manifold is disposed between the clamp plate and the mold and the actuator is mounted in thermally conductive communication with the manifold,

wherein the cooling device comprises:

a heat transmitter comprising a movable rod or arm and a proximal base or member, the rod or arm being mounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement to or with the proximal base or member, the movable rod or arm being comprised of a thermally conductive material having a distal end surface for engaging the clamp plate under a spring load and one or more surfaces in sliding contact with one or more surfaces of the proximal base for transmitting heat from the one or more surfaces to the distal end surface,

the actuator comprising a housing body that is thermally conductive and mounted in thermal communication with the manifold,

the proximal base or member being mounted to the housing body of the actuator in an arrangement wherein the distal end surface of the movable rod or arm 502 is movable through the spring loadable interconnection toward and away from the actuator,

the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the movable rod or arm into compressed engagement with the clamp plate at least when the manifold is heated to an elevated operating temperature.

7. A method of cooling the actuator of the apparatus of claim 6 comprising assembling the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the cooling device of the apparatus of claim 6 such that the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate.