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Low pressure drop, modular coextrusion feedblock

  • US 4,708,615 A
  • Filed: 10/29/1986
  • Issued: 11/24/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1986
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A modular coextrusion apparatus for preparing laminates of thermoplastic materials, the apparatus comprising:

  • a. a first adapter module having defined therein a passageway adapted to receive a first heat-plastified thermoplastic polymer stream, said module having a first end and a second end which are spaced apart and generally parallel and planar, the passageway having an entrance proximate to the first end of the module and an exit proximate to the second end of the module, the exit having an axis;

    b. a lower conduit module having a first end and a second end which are spaced apart and generally parallel and planar, and a top and a bottom which are spaced apart and generally coplanar, the module having defined therein a passageway adapted to receive the first heat plastified stream and having an entrance, an exit and an axis, the top having defined therein an arcurate channel which has a first end and a second end, the exit of the passageway and the second end of the channel terminating at the second end of the module, the first end of the lower conduit module being in operative contact with, and removably connected to, the second end of the first adapter module and aligned so that (1) the axis of the lower conduit module passageway is coaxial with the axis of the exit of the first adapter module passageway and (2) the passageways are in fluid communication with each other;

    c. an upper conduit module having a first end and a second end which are spaced apart and generally parallel and planar, and a top and a bottom which are spaced apart and generally parallel and planar, the bottom having defined therein an arcurate channel, the arcurate channel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the upper conduit module being in operative contact with, and removably connected to, the second end of the first adapter module, the bottom of the upper conduit module being in operative contact with, and removably connected to, the top of the lower conduit module and aligned so as to form an arcurate passageway having an exit formed by the second ends of the arcurate channels and an entrance formed by the first ends of the arcurate channels, the exit having an axis which is parallel to the axis of the lower module passageway, the entrance having an axis which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the exit.d. a second adapter module having defined therein a passageway adapted to receive a second heat-plastified thermoplastic polymer stream, said adapter module having a first end and a second end which are spaced apart and generally parallel and planar, the passageway having an entrance proximate to the first end of the module and an exit proximate to the second end of the module, the exit having an axis, the second adapter module being in operative contact with, and removably connected to, the assembled upper and lower conduit modules so that the second adapter module passageway and the arcurate passageway way are in fluid communication with each other and the axis of the second adapter module exit is coaxial with the axis of the entrance of the arcurate passageway;

    e. a transition module having a first end and a second end, the module having defined therein a first passageway and a second passageway, each of which has a circular entrance and a generally rectangular exit, the entrances of said passageways being coplanar and the exits of said passageways being coplanar, the circular entrances each having an axis, said axes being parallel, the first end of the transition module is in operative contact with, and removably connected to, the second ends of the assembled upper and lower conduit modules so that the first passageway is in fluid communication with the arcurate passageway, the second passageway is in fluid communication with the lower conduit module passageway, the axis of the entrance of the first passageway is coaxial with the axis of the exit of the arcurate passageway way and the axis of the entrance of the second passageway is coaxial with the axis of the lower conduit module passageway;

    f. a flow rate modifying module having a first end and a second end, the module having defined therein a first generally rectangular passageway adapted to receive the second heat-plastified stream from the generally rectangular exit of the first passageway of the transition module and a generally rectangular divided passageway adapted to receive the first heat-plastified stream from the generally rectangular exit of the second passageway of the transition module, each of said rectangular passageways beginning with an entrance proximate to the first end of the module and ending in a combined exit proximate to the second end of the module, the divided passageway being subdivided into at least two parallel passageways of generally equal cross section, the second end of the transition module and the first end of the flow rate modifying module being (1) in operative contact with, and removably connected to, each other and (2) aligned so that the first rectangular passageway is in fluid communication with the first passageway of the transition module and the rectangular divided passageway is in fluid communication with the second passageway of the transition module; and

    g. a combining and transition module having a first end and a second end which are spaced apart and generally parallel and planar, said module having defined therein a passageway which has a generally rectangular entrance adapted to receive heat-plastified polymer from the combined exit of the flow rate modifying module and a circular exit, the first end of the combining and transition module being in operative contact with, and removably connected to, the second end of the flow rate modifying module and aligned so that the entrance is in fluid communication with the combined exit of the flow rate modifying module;

    h. a plurality of external fastening means which hold the first adapter module, the combined upper and lower conduit modules, the transition module, the flow rate modifying module and the combining and transition module in position with respect to each other and apply an amount of compressive force upon the modules, the compressive force, in conjunction with a sealing surface diameter sufficiently large to minimize joint rotation between adjacent blocks and a seal relief area sufficient to minimize a counteracting force generated by leaking or migrating polymer, providing sufficient sealing stress to achieve a generally leak-free seal between adjacent modules.

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