Adjustable plug seal mechanism for heat transfer zone separation in hollow screws for extrusion machines
First Claim
1. A cooperative assembly combination for ameliorated extrusion processing of resinous thermoplastic material comprising in a screw extruder apparatus:
- (i) a barrel;
(ii) said barrel (i) having a first rearward end (A) and a second forward end (B);
(iii) means to provide a feed supply of thermoplastic resinous material to be processed to said first end (A) of said barrel (i);
(iv) means to discharge heat plastified thermoplastic resinous material from said second end (B) of said barrel (i);
(v) a hollow screw disposed within said barrel (i) and adapted to forward heat-plastified thermoplastic resinous material from said first end (A) to said second end (B) of said barrel (i), said screw containing and defining(vi) a longitudinally-extending internal cavity having a generally cylindrical configuration;
(vii) a plug within the internal cavity (vi) adapted to divide said cavity in confined, separated fashion into(viii) at least one heat-exchanging zone;
withsaid heat-exchanging zone (viii) being disposed between said first end (A) and said second end (B) of said barrel (i) and having heat-exchanging fluid inlet and outlet conduits in operative connection with said heat-exchanging zone (viii) within said screw (E);
(ix) means for supplying and shutting off the supply of and venting a desired heat-exchanging fluid under pressure and at a selected wanted temperature into and out of said first heat-exchanging zone (h);
plusthe combined cooperative improvement comprised of;
(x) an expansible plug seal mechanism adapted to be fit and moved within said cavity (vi) of said screw (v),said plug seal (x) having therein included at least one incompletely-enclosed and at least relatively cup-like member (xi) that is of a form and configuration which is so constructed and arranged with a centrally-contained interior void space therein as to be characterized in being;
resiliently deformable and flarable laterally outwardly activated when subject to and spreadingly urged by heat-exchange fluid under pressure when same is present centrally within said cup-like member (xi);
whereby the outer circumferential exterior surface(s) of each of said cup-like members (xi) are pressed against and in conforming sealing engagement with the internal wall surfaces of said cavity (vi) within the screw (v);
thus preventing substantial passage of heat-exchange fluid under pressure past or about the so-engaged and activated plug seal (x).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An easily-movable plug seal that is susceptible to quick and ready longitudinal adjustment in the central, lengthwise bore of an internally differentially heated (or cooled) extruder screw for sequentially diverse and distinct heat controlled zones within the extruder barrel is comprised of at least a single, cup-like member that is adequately flexible and supple to be flared laterally outwardly and urged into tight wall contact to make a sealing engagement against the internal screw bore wall upon pressurization of the interior of the plug seal member by the heat transfer fluid being passed into and applied within the screw.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A cooperative assembly combination for ameliorated extrusion processing of resinous thermoplastic material comprising in a screw extruder apparatus:
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(i) a barrel; (ii) said barrel (i) having a first rearward end (A) and a second forward end (B); (iii) means to provide a feed supply of thermoplastic resinous material to be processed to said first end (A) of said barrel (i); (iv) means to discharge heat plastified thermoplastic resinous material from said second end (B) of said barrel (i); (v) a hollow screw disposed within said barrel (i) and adapted to forward heat-plastified thermoplastic resinous material from said first end (A) to said second end (B) of said barrel (i), said screw containing and defining (vi) a longitudinally-extending internal cavity having a generally cylindrical configuration; (vii) a plug within the internal cavity (vi) adapted to divide said cavity in confined, separated fashion into (viii) at least one heat-exchanging zone;
withsaid heat-exchanging zone (viii) being disposed between said first end (A) and said second end (B) of said barrel (i) and having heat-exchanging fluid inlet and outlet conduits in operative connection with said heat-exchanging zone (viii) within said screw (E); (ix) means for supplying and shutting off the supply of and venting a desired heat-exchanging fluid under pressure and at a selected wanted temperature into and out of said first heat-exchanging zone (h);
plusthe combined cooperative improvement comprised of; (x) an expansible plug seal mechanism adapted to be fit and moved within said cavity (vi) of said screw (v), said plug seal (x) having therein included at least one incompletely-enclosed and at least relatively cup-like member (xi) that is of a form and configuration which is so constructed and arranged with a centrally-contained interior void space therein as to be characterized in being; resiliently deformable and flarable laterally outwardly activated when subject to and spreadingly urged by heat-exchange fluid under pressure when same is present centrally within said cup-like member (xi);
whereby the outer circumferential exterior surface(s) of each of said cup-like members (xi) are pressed against and in conforming sealing engagement with the internal wall surfaces of said cavity (vi) within the screw (v);thus preventing substantial passage of heat-exchange fluid under pressure past or about the so-engaged and activated plug seal (x). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification