Heat transfer system for a continuous lead extruder

Claim 2

In combination with a continuous lead extruder having a plurality of heat transfer zones, a heat transfer system, comprising: means comprising a temperature control circuit for each of the heat transfer zones for continuously circulating a heat transfer liquid through each of the heat transfer zones of the extruder; a cooler for each temperature control circuit; means for each temperature control circuit for diverting heat transfer liquid from the temperature control circuit through the cooler and returning the cooled heat transfer liquid to the temperature control circuit; and control means for controlling the amount of liquid diverted from each temperature control circuit through the cooler to control the temperature of the heat transfer liquid in each temperature control circuit to provide and maintain a selected temperature in each heat transfer zone of the extruder during cooling.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1 and further comprising: a heater; means for each temperature control circuit for diverting heat transfer liquid from the temperature control circuit through the heater and returning the heated heat transfer liquid to the temperature control circuit, said control means for each heat transfer loop also controlling the amount of heat transfer liquid diverted from each temperature control circuit through the heater to control the temperature of the heat transfer liquid in each temperature control circuit to provide and maintain a selected temperature in each heat transfer zone during heating.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein the control means includes temperature responsive means responsive to the temperature of the heat transfer liquid in each temperature control circuit, said temperature responsive means changing the amount of liquid flow through the heater and cooler in response to variations in temperature of the heat transfer liquid in the temperature control circuit.

Claim 5

In combination with a continuous lead extruder having a plurality of heat transfer zones, a heat transfer system, comprising: a. a temperature control loop for each heat transfer zone for circulating a heat transfer liquid through the heat transfer zone in a continuous flow loop; b. a cooling loop for each temperature control loop including a cooler, said cooling loop being connected to its respective temperature control loop for circulating heat transfer liquid from the temperature control loop through the cooler and back to the temperature control loop; c. a heating loop including a heater, said heating loop being connected to each temperature control loop for circulating heat transfer liquid from each temperature control loop through the heater and back to each temperature control loop; and d. control means for each temperature control loop, connected to the temperature Control loop, its respective cooling loop and the heating loop, to connect the temperature control loop to the heating loop for a heating cycle and to the cooling loop for a cooling cycle, said control means, during cooling, controlling the amount of heat transfer liquid passed from the temperature control loop through the cooler to provide and maintain a preselected temperature in the heat transfer zones of the extruder, and said control means, during heating, controlling the amount of heat transfer liquid passed from the temperature control loop through the heater to provide and maintain a preselected temperature in the heat transfer zones of the extruder.

Claim 6

In combination with a continuous lead extruder having a plurality of heat transfer zones, a heat transfer system, comprising: a. a temperature control loop for each heat transfer zone for circulating a heat transfer liquid through the heat transfer zone in a continuous flow loop; b. a cooling loop for each temperature control loop including a cooler, said cooling loop being connected to its respective temperature control loop for circulating heat transfer liquid from the temperature control loop through the cooler and back to the temperature control loop; c. a heating loop including a heater, said heating loop being connected to each temperature control loop for circulating heat transfer liquid from each temperature control loop through the heater and back to each temperature control loop; and d. control means for each temperature control loop, connected to the temperature Control loop, its respective cooling loop and the heating loop, to connect the temperature control loop to the heating loop for a heating cycle and to the cooling loop for a cooling cycle, said control means, during cooling, controlling the amount of heat transfer liquid passed from the temperature control loop through the cooler to provide and maintain a preselected temperature in the heat transfer zones of the extruder, and said control means, during heating, controlling the amount of heat transfer liquid passed from the temperature control loop through the heater to provide and maintain a preselected temperature in the heat transfer zones of the extruder.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the control means includes a temperature responsive means responsive to the temperature in its respective heat transfer zone of said extruder, a three-way control valve having an inlet port and two outlet ports, said inlet port-being connected to the temperature control loop, the first outlet port to the cooler and the second outlet port to the heater, said temperature responsive means being operatively connected to the control valve to control the amount of liquid passed from the inlet port to the first outlet port to maintain a preselected temperature during cooling and to control the amount of liquid passed from the inlet port to the second outlet port to maintain a preselected temperature during heating.

Claim 8

In combination with a continuous lead extruder, having separate heat transfer zones, means for continuously circulating a heat transfer liquid in separate circuits through each of the separate heat transfer zones in said extruder for separately maintaining each of said heat transfer zones at a pre-selected temperature; and temperature control means for separately regulating the temperature of the circulating heat transfer liquid in said separate circuits at a pre-selected temperature to thereby separately maintain the temperature in each of said heat transfer zones, said temperature control means comprising heat exchange means and flow control means for each of said separate circuits, said flow control means controlling the amount of heat transfer liquid diverted from each of said circuits through the heat exchange means for said circuit to maintain the circulating heat transfer liquid at said pre-selected temperature.

Claim 9

In combination with a continuous lead extruder, having separate heat transfer zones, means for continuously circulating a heat transfer liquid in separate circuits through each of the separate heat transfer zones in said extruder for separately maintaining each of said heat transfer zones at a pre-selected temperature; and temperature control means for separately regulating the temperature of the circulating heat transfer liquid in said separate circuits at a pre-selected temperature to thereby separately maintain the temperature in each of said heat transfer zones, said temperature control means comprising heat exchange means and flow control means for each of said separate circuits, said flow control means controlling the amount of heat transfer liquid diverted from each of said circuits through the heat exchange means for said circuit to maintain the circulating heat transfer liquid at said pre-selected temperature.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 6 wherein said temperature control means further includes temperature responsive means responsive to the temperature of the heat transfer liquid circulating in each circuit, said temperature responsive means being operatively connected to said flow control means, said flow control means controlling the amount of heat transfer liquid diverted from each of said circuits through said heat exchange means in response to temperature of the heat transfer liquid sensed by said temperature responsive means in said circuit.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7 wherein said heat exchange means comprises a cooler for each circuit.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 8 wherein said heat exchange means further comprises a heater.