Actuator cooling apparatus and method
First Claim
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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 or with 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 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 distal arm or member is movable through the spring loadable interconnection toward and away from the actuator,the distal arm or member having a proximal surface adapted to be disposed in sliding contact with a complementary surface of the actuator for transmitting heat from the proximal surface to the distal end surface,the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter being assemblable 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;
wherein the mass of the spring loadable interconnection is less than about 5 grams and the area of engagement or contact between the engagement surfaces of the spring loadable interconnection and one or both of complementary surfaces of proximal and distal members is less than about 10 square mm.
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Accused Products
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 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.
7 Citations
21 Claims
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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 or with 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 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 distal arm or member is movable through the spring loadable interconnection toward and away from the actuator, the distal arm or member having a proximal surface adapted to be disposed in sliding contact with a complementary surface of the actuator for transmitting heat from the proximal surface to the distal end surface, the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter being assemblable 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; wherein the mass of the spring loadable interconnection is less than about 5 grams and the area of engagement or contact between the engagement surfaces of the spring loadable interconnection and one or both of complementary surfaces of proximal and distal members is less than about 10 square mm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21)
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18. 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 such that a proximal surface of the distal arm or member is disposed in sliding contact with a complementary surface of the actuator for transmitting heat from the proximal surface to a distal end surface of the distal arm or member, the distal arm or member being mounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement to or with the proximal base or member, the distal arm or member being comprised of a thermally conductive material, 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, 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; wherein the mass of the spring loadable interconnection is less than about 5 grams and the area of engagement or contact between the engagement surfaces of the spring loadable interconnection and one or both of complementary surfaces of proximal and distal members is less than about 10 square mm. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification