Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of molds, dies, and injection barrels using fluid media
First Claim
1. A temperature control liquid circulator system configured for circulating a temperature control liquid through a process that includes a mold, die or barrel, the temperature control liquid circulator system comprising:
- a liquid control loop comprising a liquid supply line plumbed to an inlet side of a cooling cavity associated with said mold, die or barrel and a liquid return line plumbed to an outlet side of said cooling cavity;
a pump disposed in said liquid control loop whereby the temperature control liquid is advanced from said liquid return line into said liquid supply line and through said cooling cavity;
an inline restriction to liquid flow in said liquid control loop, the restriction being configured to lower a pressure of said temperature control liquid in said cooling cavity below ambient pressure and below the vapor pressure of the temperature control liquid in the cooling cavity; and
a gas injector connected to a gas source and coupled to said liquid control loop, said gas injector being configured for introducing seed bubbles of gas into said liquid flow at a location in said liquid flow that will cause the seed bubbles to initiate boiling of the temperature control liquid at a desired location in the cooling cavity even if the temperature control liquid is depleted of dissolved air and would otherwise be subject to delayed boiling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
For controlling temperature in the molding of plastics, metal, ceramic, or die-casting, a circulator supporting a molding machine includes a fixed displacement pump driven by an electronic servo motor for volumetric metering of thermal fluid to or from the molding machine. A pre-set or dynamically controlled volume and flow rate profile matches the heating and cooling requirement of a molding machine and process. Volumetric metering may be based on parameters such as time, machine cycle status, temperature, pressure, and/or flow rate. Fluid may be circulated through the mold at positive or negative pressure at fixed, variable, or pulsed flow. The supply side in a fluid loop may be restricted so as to cause a pressure drop in or upstream of the mold, die or barrel, and seed bubbles may be injected into the fluid flow to excite vaporization and lowering of the fluid temperature.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A temperature control liquid circulator system configured for circulating a temperature control liquid through a process that includes a mold, die or barrel, the temperature control liquid circulator system comprising:
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a liquid control loop comprising a liquid supply line plumbed to an inlet side of a cooling cavity associated with said mold, die or barrel and a liquid return line plumbed to an outlet side of said cooling cavity; a pump disposed in said liquid control loop whereby the temperature control liquid is advanced from said liquid return line into said liquid supply line and through said cooling cavity; an inline restriction to liquid flow in said liquid control loop, the restriction being configured to lower a pressure of said temperature control liquid in said cooling cavity below ambient pressure and below the vapor pressure of the temperature control liquid in the cooling cavity; and a gas injector connected to a gas source and coupled to said liquid control loop, said gas injector being configured for introducing seed bubbles of gas into said liquid flow at a location in said liquid flow that will cause the seed bubbles to initiate boiling of the temperature control liquid at a desired location in the cooling cavity even if the temperature control liquid is depleted of dissolved air and would otherwise be subject to delayed boiling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17)
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9. A method of controlling the temperature of a mold, die, or barrel of a process, the method comprising:
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advancing a temperature control liquid at a first temperature in a temperature control loop into a cooling cavity of the mold, die, or barrel by means of a pump, said cooling cavity being configured with respect to said mold, die, or barrel with means for transferring thermal energy between said temperature control liquid and said mold, die, or barrel while said liquid is present therein, thereby changing said first temperature of said temperature control liquid to a second temperature; reducing a pressure of said temperature control liquid in the cooling cavity below ambient pressure and below the vapor pressure of the temperature control liquid in the cooling cavity; and removing heat from the temperature control liquid in the cooling cavity by injecting seed bubbles into said temperature control liquid that induce boiling of the temperature control liquid at a desired location within the cooling cavity even if the temperature control liquid is depleted of dissolved air and would otherwise be subject to delayed boiling. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification