Actuator cooling apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
- a heated manifold that receives an injection fluid material from an injection molding machine, the heated manifold routing the injection fluid to a fluid delivery channel that extends and delivers the injection fluid material under an injection pressure to a gate of a mold cavity,an actuator comprising an actuator housing containing a drive member interconnected to a valve pin having a drive axis in an arrangement such that the valve pin is drivable along the axis between an upstream fully gate open position and a downstream gate closed position,the actuator housing being mounted on a surface of the heated manifold, the actuator housing being spaced a selectable distance forming a gap between the actuator housing and the heated manifold,the apparatus including one or more heat convectors each heat convector comprised of;
a heat conductive leg disposed within the gap, the leg being isolated from direct metal-to-metal contact with the actuator housing and mounted in heat conductive communication with the heated manifold, thus serving to maintain the actuator in a relatively cool condition relative to the heated manifold, anda heat conductive arm extending distally away from the gap such that heat is conducted from the leg to the arm and away from the actuator housing.
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Abstract
An injection molding apparatus comprising a heated manifold, an actuator comprised of an actuator housing containing a drive member interconnected to a valve pin having a drive axis, one or more heat convectors each heat convector comprised of a heat conductive leg disposed within a gap disposed between the manifold and a downstream end of the actuator housing and a heat conductive arm extending distally upstream and away from the gap such that heat is conducted from the leg to the arm upstream and away from the downstream end of the actuator housing.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
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a heated manifold that receives an injection fluid material from an injection molding machine, the heated manifold routing the injection fluid to a fluid delivery channel that extends and delivers the injection fluid material under an injection pressure to a gate of a mold cavity, an actuator comprising an actuator housing containing a drive member interconnected to a valve pin having a drive axis in an arrangement such that the valve pin is drivable along the axis between an upstream fully gate open position and a downstream gate closed position, the actuator housing being mounted on a surface of the heated manifold, the actuator housing being spaced a selectable distance forming a gap between the actuator housing and the heated manifold, the apparatus including one or more heat convectors each heat convector comprised of; a heat conductive leg disposed within the gap, the leg being isolated from direct metal-to-metal contact with the actuator housing and mounted in heat conductive communication with the heated manifold, thus serving to maintain the actuator in a relatively cool condition relative to the heated manifold, and a heat conductive arm extending distally away from the gap such that heat is conducted from the leg to the arm and away from the actuator housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of performing an injection cycle with an injection molding apparatus that is comprised of:
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a heated manifold containing a distribution channel that receives an injection fluid material from an injection molding machine, the heated manifold routing the injection fluid from the distribution channel to a fluid delivery channel that extends and delivers the injection fluid material under an injection pressure to a gate of a cavity of a mold, an actuator comprising an actuator housing containing a drive member interconnected to a valve pin having a drive axis in an arrangement such that the valve pin is drivable along the axis through a selected stroke length between an upstream fully gate open position and a downstream gate closed position, the actuator housing being mounted on an upstream surface of the heated manifold, a downstream end of the actuator housing being spaced a selectable distance upstream of the upstream surface forming a gap between the downstream end of the actuator housing and the upstream surface of the heated manifold, the apparatus including one or more heat convectors each heat convector comprised of; a heat conductive leg disposed within the gap, the leg being isolated from direct metal-to-metal contact with the actuator housing and mounted in heat conductive communication with the heated manifold, thus serving to maintain the actuator in a relatively cool condition relative to the heated manifold, and a heat conductive arm extending distally upstream and away from the gap such that heat is conducted from the leg to the arm upstream and away from the downstream end of the actuator housing, the method comprising; injecting a selected injection fluid from the injection molding machine into the distribution channel of the manifold under a pressure sufficient to route the injection fluid to the fluid delivery channel, and, continuing to inject the injection fluid for a time sufficient to force the injection fluid to be routed into the cavity of the mold. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
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a heated manifold that receives an injection fluid material from an injection molding machine, the heated manifold routing the injection fluid to a fluid delivery channel that extends and delivers the injection fluid material under an injection pressure to a gate of a mold cavity, an actuator comprising an actuator housing containing a drive member interconnected to a valve pin having a drive axis in an arrangement such that the valve pin is drivable along the axis through a selected stroke length between an upstream fully gate open position and a downstream gate closed position, the actuator housing being mounted on an upstream surface of the heated manifold, a downstream end of the actuator housing being spaced a selectable distance upstream of the upstream surface forming a gap between the downstream end of the actuator housing and the upstream surface of the heated manifold, the apparatus including first and second heat convectors each heat convector comprised of; a heat conductive leg disposed within the gap, the leg being isolated from direct metal-to-metal contact with the actuator housing and mounted in heat conductive communication with the heated manifold, thus serving to maintain the actuator in a relatively cool condition relative to the heated manifold, and a heat conductive arm extending distally upstream and away from the gap such that heat is conducted from the leg to the arm upstream and away from the downstream end of the actuator housing. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification