Extruder die clamp

Claim 2

An extruder die clamp for releasably clamping together a die adapter and an extruder having adjacent beveled flanges; said clamp comprising a pair of arcuate clamping members; a pivot member providing spaced apart pivots for one end of said clamping members; and a toggle linkage including first and second links pivotally connected together to form a knee joint and to the other end of the respective clamping members, said toggle linkage, when actuated, being operative to swing said clamping members toward each other into engagement with said beveled flanges to clamp said die adapter and extruder together; said pivot member having means for adjusting the spacing of the pivots thereof, thus to vary the clamping force exerted on said flanges.

Claim 3

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said clamping members have an internal circumferentially extending groove with beveled sides to embrace said beveled flanges to draw them axially together when said clamping members are swung toward each other.

Claim 4

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said pivot member comprises a screw extending diametrically through one pivot with its head abutting said one pivot and having threaded engagement with the other pivot whereby upon rotation of said screw said pivots may be adjusted toward or away from each other.

Claim 5

The clamp of claim 1 wherein said clamp is vertically disposed with said pivot member having horizontal pivots for the lower end of said clamping members; and wherein fixed support means beneath said pivot member supports said clamp when said clamping members are swung away from each other out of engagement with said beveled flanges; said pivot member and clamping members being vertically, laterally, and axially movable with respect to said support means when said clamping members are moved to clamping position thus to allow self-centering of said clamp with respect to said flanges.

Claim 6

The clamp of claim 1 wherein a piston-cylinder assembly has its piston rod and the adjacent end of said cylinder pivotally connected to the respective links whereby said clamp may be opened and closed by fluid-pressure actuation of said assembly.

Claim 7

An extruder having, at its delivery end, hinge means, a flange with a beveled rear face, and a die clamp support means; a die adapter mounted on said hinge means for swinging movement toward and away from said extruder and having a flange, which when said die adapter is swung toward said extruder has a beveled front face; and a clamp supported on said support means actuatable from an open position whereat said die adapter may be swung away from said extruder to a closed position whereat said die adapter after being swung toward said extruder, is clamped against said extruder; said clamp comprising a pair of arcuate clamping members; a pivot member providing spaced apart pivots for one end of said clamping members; and a toggle linkage including first and second links pivotally connected together to form a knee joint and to the other end of the respective clamping members, said toggle linkage, when actuated, being operative to swing said clamping members toward each other into engagement with said beveled flanges to clamp said die adapter and extruder together; said clamp, when In open position, resting upon said support means and, when in closed position, being disengageable from said support, to allow self-centering of said clamp with respect to said flanges; said support means including an equalizer link which is pivotally connected to said extruder and to one of the links of said toggle linkage and which is operative to swing said clamping members equal amounts in the open position of said clamp.

Claim 8

An extruder having, at its delivery end, hinge means, a flange with a beveled rear face, and a die clamp support means; a die adapter mounted on said hinge means for swinging movement toward and away from said extruder and having a flange, which when said die adapter is swung toward said extruder has a beveled front face; and a clamp supported on said support means actuatable from an open position whereat said die adapter may be swung away from said extruder to a closed position whereat said die adapter after being swung toward said extruder, is clamped against said extruder; said clamp comprising a pair of arcuate clamping members; a pivot member providing spaced apart pivots for one end of said clamping members; and a toggle linkage including first and second links pivotally connected together to form a knee joint and to the other end of the respective clamping members, said toggle linkage, when actuated, being operative to swing said clamping members toward each other into engagement with said beveled flanges to clamp said die adapter and extruder together; said clamp, when In open position, resting upon said support means and, when in closed position, being disengageable from said support, to allow self-centering of said clamp with respect to said flanges; said support means including an equalizer link which is pivotally connected to said extruder and to one of the links of said toggle linkage and which is operative to swing said clamping members equal amounts in the open position of said clamp.

Claim 9

An extruder having, at its delivery end, hinge means, a flange with a beveled rear face, and a die clamp support means; a die adapter mounted on said hinge means for swinging movement toward and away from said extruder and having a flange, which when said die adapter is swung toward said extruder has a beveled front face; and a clamp supported on said support means actuatable from an open position whereat said die adapter may be swung away from said extruder to a closed position whereat said die adapter after being swung toward said extruder, is clamped against said extruder; said clamp comprising a pair of arcuate clamping members; a pivot member providing spaced apart pivots for one end of said clamping members; and a toggle linkage including first and second links pivotally connected together to form a knee joint and to the other end of the respective clamping members, said toggle linkage, when actuated, being operative to swing said clamping members toward each other into engagement with said beveled flanges to clamp said die adapter and extruder together; said clamp, when in open position, resting upon said support means and, when in closed position, being disengageable from said support, to allow self-centering of said clamp with respect to said flanges; said pivot member having means for adjusting the spacing of the pivots thereof, thus to vary the clamping force exerted on said flanges.

Claim 10

An extruder having, at its delivery end, hinge means, a flange with a beveled rear face, and a die clamp support means; a die adapter mounted on said hinge means for swinging movement toward and away from said extruder and having a flange, which when said die adapter is swung toward said extruder has a beveled front face; and a clamp supported on said support means actuatable from an open position whereat said die adapter may be swung away from said extruder to a closed position whereat said die adapter after being swung toward said extruder, is clamped against said extruder; said clamp comprising a pair of arcuate clamping members; a pivot member providing spaced apart pivots for one end of said clamping members; and a toggle linkage including first and second links pivotally connected together to form a knee joint and to the other end of the respective clamping members, said toggle linkage, when actuated, being operative to swing said clamping members toward each other into engagement with said beveled flanges to clamp said die adapter and extruder together; said clamp, when in open position, resting upon said support means and, when in closed position, being disengageable from said support, to allow self-centering of said clamp with respect to said flanges; said pivot member having means for adjusting the spacing of the pivots thereof, thus to vary the clamping force exerted on said flanges.

Claim 11

An extruder having, at its delivery end, hinge means, a flange with a beveled rear face, and a die clamp support means; a die adapter mounted on said hinge means for swinging movement toward and away from said extruder and having a flange, which when said die adapter is swung toward said extruder has a beveled front face; and a clamp supported on said support means actuatable from an open position whereat said die adapter may be swung away from said extruder to a closed position whereat said die adapter after being swung toward said extruder, is clamped against said extruder; said clamp comprising a pair of arcuate clamping members; a pivot member providing spaced apart pivots for one end of said clamping members; and a toggle linkage including first and second links pivotally connected together to form a knee joint and to the other end of the respective clamping members, said toggle linkage, when actuated, being operative to swing said clamping members toward each other into engagement with said beveled flanges to clamp said die adapter and extruder together; said clamp, when in open position, resting upon said support means and, when in closed position, being disengageable from said support, to allow self-centering of said clamp with respect to said flanges; said clamping members having an internal circumferentially extending groove with beveled sides to embrace said beveled flanges to draw them axially together when said clamping members are swung toward each other.

Claim 12

An extruder having, at its delivery end, hinge means, a flange with a beveled rear face, and a die clamp support means; a die adapter mounted on said hinge means for swinging movement toward and away from said extruder and having a flange, which when said die adapter is swung toward said extruder has a beveled front face; and a clamp supported on said support means actuatable from an open position whereat said die adapter may be swung away from said extruder to a closed position whereat said die adapter after being swung toward said extruder, is clamped against said extruder; said clamp comprising a pair of arcuate clamping members; a pivot member providing spaced apart pivots for one end of said clamping members; and a toggle linkage including first and second links pivotally connected together to form a knee joint and to the other end of the respective clamping members, said toggle linkage, when actuated, being operative to swing said clamping members toward each other into engagement with said beveled flanges to clamp said die adapter and extruder together; said clamp, when in open position, resting upon said support means and, when in closed position, being disengageable from said support, to allow self-centering of said clamp with respect to said flanges; said clamping members having an internal circumferentially extending groove with beveled sides to embrace said beveled flanges to draw them axially together when said clamping members are swung toward each other.

Claim 13

An extruder having, at its delivery end, hinge means, a flange with a beveled rear face, and a die clamp support means; a die adapter mounted on said hinge means for swinging movement toward and away from said extruder and having a flange, which when said die adapter is swung toward said extruder has a beveled front face; and a clamp supported on said support means actuatable from an open position whereat said die adapter may be swung away from said extruder to a closed position whereat said die adapter after being swung toward said extruder, is clamped against said extruder; said clamp comprising a pair of arcuate clamping members; a pivot member providing spaced apart pivots for one eNd of said clamping members; and a toggle linkage including first and second links pivotally connected together to form a knee joint and to the other end of the respective clamping members, said toggle linkage, when actuated, being operative to swing said clamping members toward each other into engagement with said beveled flanges to clamp said die adapter and extruder together; said clamp, when in open position, resting upon said support means and, when in closed position, being disengageable from said support, to allow self-centering of said clamp with respect to said flanges; said pivot member comprising a screw extending diametrically through one pivot with its head abutting said one pivot and having threaded engagement with the other pivot whereby upon rotation of said screw said pivots may be adjusted toward or away from each other.

Claim 14

An extruder having, at its delivery end, hinge means, a flange with a beveled rear face, and a die clamp support means; a die adapter mounted on said hinge means for swinging movement toward and away from said extruder and having a flange, which when said die adapter is swung toward said extruder has a beveled front face; and a clamp supported on said support means actuatable from an open position whereat said die adapter may be swung away from said extruder to a closed position whereat said die adapter after being swung toward said extruder, is clamped against said extruder; said clamp comprising a pair of arcuate clamping members; a pivot member providing spaced apart pivots for one eNd of said clamping members; and a toggle linkage including first and second links pivotally connected together to form a knee joint and to the other end of the respective clamping members, said toggle linkage, when actuated, being operative to swing said clamping members toward each other into engagement with said beveled flanges to clamp said die adapter and extruder together; said clamp, when in open position, resting upon said support means and, when in closed position, being disengageable from said support, to allow self-centering of said clamp with respect to said flanges; said pivot member comprising a screw extending diametrically through one pivot with its head abutting said one pivot and having threaded engagement with the other pivot whereby upon rotation of said screw said pivots may be adjusted toward or away from each other.

Claim 15

An extruder having, at its delivery end, hinge means, a flange with a beveled rear face, and a die clamp support means; a die adapter mounted on s said hinge means for swinging movement toward and away from said extruder and having a flange, which when said die adapter is swung toward said extruder has a beveled front face; and a clamp supported on said support means actuatable from an open position whereat said die adapter may be swung away from said extruder to a closed position whereat said die adapter after being swung toward said extruder, is clamped against said extruder; said clamp comprising a pair of arcuate clamping members; a pivot member providing spaced apart pivots for one end of said clamping members; and a toggle linkage including first and second links pivotally connected together to form a knee joint and to the other end of the respective clamping members, said toggle linkage, when actuated, being operative to swing said clamping members toward each other into engagement with said beveled flanges to clamp said die adapter and extruder together; said clamp, when in open position, resting upon said support means and, when in closed position, being disengageable from said support, to allow self-centering of said clamp with respect to said flanges; said first and second links being in substantially horizontal position when said clamp is closed; and said support means including an equalizer link which is pivotally connected to said extruder between such other ends of said clamping members and to one of said links, and is in substantially horizontal position when said clamp is closed.

Claim 16

An extruder having, at its delivery end, hinge means, a flange with a beveled rear face, and a die clamp support means; a die adapter mounted on s said hinge means for swinging movement toward and away from said extruder and having a flange, which when said die adapter is swung toward said extruder has a beveled front face; and a clamp supported on said support means actuatable from an open position whereat said die adapter may be swung away from said extruder to a closed position whereat said die adapter after being swung toward said extruder, is clamped against said extruder; said clamp comprising a pair of arcuate clamping members; a pivot member providing spaced apart pivots for one end of said clamping members; and a toggle linkage including first and second links pivotally connected together to form a knee joint and to the other end of the respective clamping members, said toggle linkage, when actuated, being operative to swing said clamping members toward each other into engagement with said beveled flanges to clamp said die adapter and extruder together; said clamp, when in open position, resting upon said support means and, when in closed position, being disengageable from said support, to allow self-centering of said clamp with respect to said flanges; said first and second links being in substantially horizontal position when said clamp is closed; and said support means including an equalizer link which is pivotally connected to said extruder between such other ends of said clamping members and to one of said links, and is in substantially horizontal position when said clamp is closed.