CA1174020A
Expired / Lapsed
CA
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Injection molding manifold member and method of manufacture
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-01-06
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Granted: 1984-09-11
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Expires: 2002-01-06
Abstract
Abstract ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an elongated heated manifold member for injection molding and a method of making it. Channels are cut into the steel body to run parallel to a hot runner passage extending through the body. An electric heating element is centrally located in the channels using small spacer clips to provide a space around the heating element, and the channels are sealed at the ends. A highly conductive material such as a copper alloy is cast into the space around the heating element in a vacuum furnace. This forms an integral unit with the copper alloy fused to both the heating element and the steel body which substantially improve heat transfer in the manifold member. This avoids the creation of "hot spots" which otherwise may result in the heating element burning out, and maintains an even temperature along the hot runner passage which reduces deterioration of the melt due to overheating.
Inventors
- 👤 Jobst U. Gellert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
CA
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:10
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/17; B29C45/26; B29C45/27; B29C45/2737; B29C45/2738; B23; B23P; B23P15/00; B23P15/007; B29C2045/2762
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of manufacturing an integral injection molding manifold member having an elongated body with a hot runner passage extending longitudinally therethrough and at least one electrically insulated electrical heating element extending longitudinally therein adjacent the hot runner passage with a terminal portion projecting therefrom, comprising the steps of: (a) forming the elongated body of a suitable strong conductive metal; (b) machining the body to provide the desired hot runner passage therethrough and at least one longitudinally extending channel in an external surface of the body; (c) locating the electrical heating element in the channel with a terminal portion projecting therefrom, the heating element being secured in a predetermined position in the channel whereby a space is provided surrounding the heating element in the channel and sealing around the channel to prevent substantial leakage; and (d) vacuum casting a highly conductive material into the channel to fill the space surrounding the heating element with the highly conductive material, thereby forming an integral unit with the body.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of manufacturing an integral injection molding manifold member having an elongated body with a hot runner passage extending longitudinally therethrough and at least one electrically insulated electrical heating element extending longitudinally therein adjacent the hot runner passage with a terminal portion projecting therefrom, comprising the steps of: (a) forming the elongated body of a suitable strong conductive metal; (b) machining the body to provide the desired hot runner passage therethrough and at least one longitudinally extending channel in an external surface of the body; (c) locating the electrical heating element in the channel with a terminal portion projecting therefrom, the heating element being secured in a predetermined position in the channel whereby a space is provided surrounding the heating element in the channel and sealing around the channel to prevent substantial leakage; and (d) vacuum casting a highly conductive material into the channel to fill the space surrounding the heating element with the highly conductive material, thereby forming an integral unit with the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step (c) includes locating the heating element in the predetermined position in the channel by sliding a number of spacer clips onto the heating element and crimping them to the heating element to secure them in predetermined positions and orientation prior to location of the heating element in the channel, whereby each spacer clip provides a radially extending finger which abuts against the body to provide the space surrounding the heating element and to retain it in the predetermined position during casting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the terminal portion of the heating element extends from one end of the channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein step (c) includes sliding a sealing washer over the projecting terminal portion of the heating element to a position adjacent the said one end of the channel and sealing the necessary joints with a ceramic sealant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein step (c) includes sliding a sealing washer over the projecting terminal portion of the heating element to a position adjacent the said one end of the channel, applying a brazing paste to the necessary joints, and then brazing in a vacuum furnace.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein two channels are machined in the body to extend generally parallel to the hot runner passage, the channels being interconnected adjacent one end of the body to receive a U-shaped heating element with a pair of terminal portions extending from the channels at the other end of the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, 5 or 6 wherein step (d) includes locating the highly conductive material in the channel beside the heating element, inserting the assembled body and heating element with the channel upwardly open into a vacuum furnace, heating for a sufficient time at a sufficient temperature to melt the highly conductive material and bond it to the body and around the heating element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, 5 or 6 wherein the highly conductive material is a copper alloy. 9. An integral electrically heated injection molding manifold member comprising:
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
Claim 9 continued.... (a) an elongated body portion formed of a suitable strong conductive material with a hot runner passage extending longitudinally therethrough and at least one longitudinally channel extending adjacent the hot runner passage in an external surface of the body portion; (b) an electrically insulated heating element centrally located in the channel with a terminal portion extending therefrom; and (c) a highly conductive portion cast around the heating element in the channel, the conductive portion being fused to the heating element and the body portion to form an integral unit with the body portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A manifold member as claimed in claim 9 wherein the terminal portion of the heating element extends from one end of the channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A manifold member as claimed in claim 9 wherein the elongated body portion has two channels extending generally parallel to the hot runner passage, the channels being interconnected adjacent one end of the body, and the heating element cast in the channels is U-shaped with a pair of terminal portions extending from the channels at the other end of the body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A manifold member as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11 wherein the highly conductive material is a copper alloy. CLAIM SUPPORTED BY SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, 5 or 6 including machining the body to provide at least one filler duct extending between the said external surface and the said at least one channel, fixing an open ended filler tube to the said external surface around the upper end of the filler duct, inserting a predetermined quantity of the highly conductive material into the filler tube, heating the assembled body and heating element in a vacuum furnace for a period of time sufficient to melt the highly conductive material which flows into the filler duct to fill the channel and filler duct, and machining off the filler tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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