Apparatus for flowing gas into plasticized material

Claim 2

Apparatus for injecting or introducing a gaseous foaming agent into a mass of foamable plasticized plastic prior to being molded comprising: a housing; a passage through said housing and connected at its opposite ends to a plasticizer and an accumulating chamber respectively, for the flow of plasticized plastic therethrough; means, including a torpedo and reduced passageways, in said passage for causing turbulence in plasticized plastic flowing therethrough; and gas inlet means into said passage, located at the downstream end of said reduced passageways, and connected to a source of pressurized gas for introducing gas to said flowing plastic for mixing therewith.

Claim 3

Apparatus for injecting or introducing a gaseous foaming agent into a mass of foamable plasticized plastic prior to being molded comprising: a housing; a passageway through said housing and connected at its opposite ends to a plasticizer and an accumulating chamber respectively, for the flow of plasticized plastic therethrough; means, including a torpedo and reduced passageways, in said passage for causing turbulence in plasticized plastic flowing therethrough; and gas inlet means into said passage, located between terminal ends of said reduced passageways, and connected to a source of pressurized gas for introducing gas to said flowing plastic for mixing therewith.

Claim 4

Apparatus for injecting or introducing a gaseous foaming agent into a mass of foamable plasticized plastic prior to being molded comprising: a housing; a passageway through said housing and connected at its opposite ends to a plasticizer and an accumulating chamber respectively, for the flow of plasticized plastic therethrough; means, including a torpedo and reduced passageways, in said passage for causing turbulence in plasticized plastic flowing therethrough; and gas inlet means into said passage, located between terminal ends of said reduced passageways, and connected to a source of pressurized gas for introducing gas to said flowing plastic for mixing therewith.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 2 further including means for maintaining the pressure of said gas above the pressure of the flowing plasticized plastic.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 2 further including: means to measure the pressure of the gas; means to measure the pressure of the flowing plastic; and means to maintain a determined pressure differential between the pressure of said gas and the pressure of said plastic.

Claim 7

Apparatus for injecting or introducing a gaseous foaming agent into a mass of foamable plasticized plastic prior to being molded comprising: a housing; a passage through said housing and connected at its opposite ends to a plasticizer and an accumulating chamber respectively, for the flow of plasticized plastic therethrough; means comprising a dispersion disc having a plurality of passageways therethrough for the flow of plasticized plastic, inlet means for the introduction of gas and gas ducts of smaller dimensions than said passageways for discharging gas to said passage; and means for injecting gas through said gas ducts and into plastic that flows through said plurality of openings; said gas inlets being at least partially surrounded by a portion of said plurality of openings.

Claim 8

Apparatus for injecting or introducing a gaseous foaming agent into a mass of foamable plasticized plastic prior to being molded comprising: a housing; a passage through said housing and connected at its opposite ends to a plasticizer and an accumulating chamber respectively, for the flow of plasticized plastic therethrough; means comprising a dispersion disc having a plurality of passageways therethrough for the flow of plasticized plastic, inlet means for the introduction of gas and gas ducts of smaller dimensions than said passageways for discharging gas to said passage; and means for injecting gas through said gas ducts and into plastic that flows through said plurality of openings; said gas inlets being at least partially surrounded by a portion of said plurality of openings.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said gas inlets are centrally clustered with respect to the area of said disc.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said gas inlets are clustered in the central half of the area of said disc.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 5 further including means for maintaining the pressure of said gas above the pressure of the flowing plasticized plastic.

Claim 12

Apparatus as recited in claim 5 further including: means to measure the pressure of the gas; means to measure the pressure of the flowing plastic; and means to maintain a determined pressure differential between the pressure of said gas and the pressure of said plastic.

Claim 13

Apparatus for injecting or introducing a gaseous foaming agent into a mass of foamable plasticized plastic prior to being molded comprising: a housing; a passage through said housing and connected at its opposite ends to a plasticizer and an accumulating chamber respectively, for the flow of plasticized plastic therethrough; means comprising a dispersion disc having spaced walls defining a cavity; means defining openings passing through said walls and said cavity for the flow of plasticized material therethrough; gas inlet means into said cavity for the introduction of gas thereto; and gas inlets in one of said walls for the passage of gas into plasticized material flowing through said opening-defining means; said gas inlets being at least partially surrounded by a portion of said opening-defining means.

Claim 14

Apparatus for injecting or introducing a gaseous foaming agent into a mass of foamable plasticized plastic prior to being molded comprising: a housing; a passage through said housing and connected at its opposite ends to a plasticizer and an accumulating chamber respectively, for the flow of plasticized plastic therethrough; means comprising a dispersion disc having spaced walls defining a cavity; means defining openings passing through said walls and said cavity for the flow of plasticized material therethrough; gas inlet means into said cavity for the introduction of gas thereto; and gas inlets in one of said walls for the passage of gas into plasticized material flowing through said opening-defining means; said gas inlets being at least partially surrounded by a portion of said opening-defining means.

Claim 15

Apparatus for injecting or introducing a gaseous foaming agent into a mass of foamable plasticized plastic prior to being molded comprising: a housing having an elongated through passage for the flow of plasticized material, a plasticizer connected to said housing and communicating with one end of said passage for supplying plasticized material to and moving it through said passage, structure defining an accumulating chamber for plasticized material connected to said housing and communicating with an opposite end of said passage for receiving plasticized material, a gas inlet opening into said passage, and means in said passage downstream from said gas inlet considered in the direction of material movement through the passage for causing plasticized material moving through the passage to separate and rejoin at a plurality of locations along the passage, said means comprising a central body portion of smaller diameter than the passage and elongated longitudinally of the passage and a plurality of lugs extending from the body portion at locations spaced peripherally about and longitudinally of the central body portion.

Claim 16

Apparatus for injecting or introducing a gaseous foaming agent into a mass of foamable plasticized plastic prior to being molded comprising: a housing having an elongated through passage for the flow of plasticized material, a plasticizer connected to said housing and communicating with one end of said passage for supplying plasticized material to and moving it through said passage, structure defining an accumulating chamber for plasticized material connected to said housing and communicating with an opposite end of said passage for receiving plasticized material, a gas inlet opening into said passage, and means in said passage downstream from said gas inlet considered in the direction of material movement through the passage for causing plasticized material moving through the passage to separate and rejoin at a plurality of locations along the passage, said means comprising a central body portion of smaller diameter than the passage and elongated longitudinally of the passage and a plurality of lugs extending from the body portion at locations spaced peripherally about and longitudinally of the central body portion.

Claim 17

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 further including a baffle within said passage with openings therethrough that permit movement of material longitudinally of the passage and with a plurality of discrete transverse bores within the baffle extending from a peripheral portion thereof and opening into communication with the passage, for introduction of gas.

Claim 18

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said bores open into communication with said passage on the downstream side of the baffle.

Claim 19

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said bores open into communication with the passage at locations at least partially surrounded by a portion of said apertures.