Fluid cooling of glass molds

Claim 2

A split mold for forming heated thermoplastic materials wherein each mold section comprises, in combination: an insert portion having a front face including a cavity shaped in the form desired for the thermoplastic material to assume and a rear face; an insert holder, substantially surrounding said rear face of said insert portion, having formed therein a plurality of inter-connected fluid passages, said passages having an inlet and an outlet; and a heat insulating sleeve, positioned between said insert portion rear face and said insert holder and in contact with substantially the entire interface area of both, said interconnected passages being positioned proximate to but separated from said heat insulating sleeve, said insulating sleeve being formed of a material having a heat conductivity value of between one hundred and twenty times less and ten times less than the heat conductivity value of the material of said insert portion and said insert holder, said insert portion, heat insulating sleeve and insert holder being secured together as a unit.

Claim 3

A split mold for forming heated thermoplastic materials wherein each mold section comprises, in combination: an insert portion having a front face including a cavity shaped in the form desired for the thermoplastic material to assume and a rear face; an insert holder, substantially surrounding said rear face of said insert portion, having formed therein a plurality of inter-connected fluid passages, said passages having an inlet and an outlet; and a heat insulating sleeve, positioned between said insert portion rear face and said insert holder and in contact with substantially the entire interface area of both, said inter-connected passages being positioned proximate to but separated from said heat insulating sleeve, said insulating sleeve being formed of a material having a heat conductivity value of between one hundred and twenty times less and ten times less than the heat conductivity value of the material of said insert portion and said insert holder, said insert portion, heat insulating sleeve and insert holder being secured together as a unit.

Claim 4

A split mold for forming heated thermoplastic materials wherein each mold section comprises, in combination: an insert portion having a front face including a cavity shaped in the form desired for the thermoplastic material to assume and a rear face; an insert holder, substantially surrounding said rear face of said insert portion, having formed therein a plurality of inter-connected fluid passages, said passages having an inlet and an outlet; and a heat insulating sleeve, positioned between said insert portion rear face and said insert holder and in contact with substantially the entire interface area of both, said inter-connected passages being positioned proximate to but separated from said heat insulating sleeve, said insulating sleeve being formed of a material having a heat conductivity value of between one hundred and twenty times less and ten times less than the heat conductivity value of the material of said insert portion and said insert holder, said insert portion, heat insulating sleeve and insert holder being secured together as a unit.

Claim 5

Apparatus for controllably removing heat from a mass of heated thermoplastic material to thereby form a stable item of a particular configuration, comprising, in combination: a split mold, each section of said mold having an insert portion with a front face including a cavity for containing the mass of thermoplastic material and defining the shape thereof and a rear face, and an insert holder to which said insert is attached, said insert holder substantially surrounding said rear face of said insert portion, said insert holder having formed therein a plurality of inter-connected passages having an inlet and an outlet; a sleeve of heat insulating material positioned between said insert portion rear face and said insert holder and in contact with substantially the entire interface surface area of both, said inter-connected passages being positioned proximate to but separated from said heat insulating sleeve, said insulating sleeve being made of a material having a heat conductivity value between 120 times less and 10 times less than the heat conductivity value of the material of said insert portion and said insert holder; and means for supplying a cooling fluid to the inlet of said plurality of inter-connected passages and for exhausting the heated fluid from the outlet of said plurality of inter-connected passages.

Claim 6

Apparatus for controllably removing heat from a mass of heated thermoplastic material to thereby form a stable item of a particular configuration, comprising, in combination: a split mold, each section of said mold having an insert portion with a front face including a cavity for containing the mass of thermoplastic material and defining the shape thereof and a rear face, and an insert holder to which said insert is attached, said insert holder substantially surrounding said rear face of said insert portion, said insert holder having formed therein a plurality of inter-connected passages having an inlet and an outlet; a sleeve of heat insulating material positioned between said insert portion rear face and said insert holder and in contact with substantially the entire interface surface area of both, said inter-connected passages being positioned proximate to but separated from said heat insulating sleeve, said insulating sleeve being made of a material having a heat conductivity value between 120 times less and 10 times less than the heat conductivity value of the material of said insert portion and said insert holder; and means for supplying a cooling fluid to the inlet of said plurality of inter-connected passages and for exhausting the heated fluid from the outlet of said plurality of inter-connected passages.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 2 further including: means, connected intermediate said inlet and said means for supplying a cooling fluid, for controlling the flow rate of said cooling fluid to thereby precisely control the rate of heat removal from said mold.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cooling fluid is a liquid and further including: means, connected to the outlet of said plurality of inter-connected passages, for cooling said heated fluid, said cooled fluid thereafter serving as the supply for said inlet of said plurality of inter-connected passages to thereby define a closed fluid circulation system.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 further including: means, connected intermediate said inlet and said cooling means, for controlling the flow rate of said cooling liquid to thereby precisely control the rate of heat removal from said mold.

Claim 10

A mold for controllably removing heat from a mass of heated thermoplastic material which comprises, in combination: a mold insert having a front face including a cavity for receiving said mass of heated thermoplastic material and for defining the shape of said thermoplastic material and a rear face; an insert holder, substantially surrounding said rear face of said mold insert, for carrying said mold insert, said insert holder having formed therein a plurality of interconnected cooling fluid passages, said passages having an inlet and an outlet; and a heat insulating sleeve, positioned between said mold insert rear face and said insert holder and in contact with substantially the entire interface surface area of both, said inter-connected passages being positioned proximate to but separated from said heat insulating sleeve, said insulating sleeve being formed of a material having a heat conductivity value of between 120 times less and 10 times less than the heat conductivity value of the material of said mold insert and said insert holder, said mold insert, said heat insulating sleeve and said insert holder being assembled together as a one-piece mold.

Claim 11

A mold for controllably removing heat from a mass of heated thermoplastic material which comprises, in combination: a mold insert having a front face including a cavity for receiving said mass of heated thermoplastic material and for defining the shape of said thermoplastic material and a rear face; an insert holder, substantially surrounding said rear face of said mold insert, for carrying said mold insert, said insert holder having formed therein a plurality of interconnected cooling fluid passages, said passages having an inlet and an outlet; and a heat insulating sleeve, positioned between said mold insert rear face and said insert holder and in contact with substantially the entire interface surface area of both, said inter-connected passages being positioned proximate to but separated from said heat insulating sleeve, said insulating sleeve being formed of a material having a heat conductivity value of between 120 times less and 10 times less than the heat conductivity value of the material of said mold insert and said insert holder, said mold insert, said heat insulating sleeve and said insert holder being assembled together as a one-piece mold.

Claim 12

A mold for controllably removing heat from a mass of heated thermoplastic material which comprises, in combination: a mold insert having a front face including a cavity for receiving said mass of heated thermoplastic material and for defining the shape of said thermoplastic material and a rear face; an insert holder, substantially surrounding said rear face of said mold insert, for carrying said mold insert, said insert holder having formed therein a plurality of interconnected cooling fluid passages, said passages having an inlet and an outlet; and a heat insulating sleeve, positioned between said mold insert rear face and said insert holder and in contact with substantially the entire interface surface area of both, said inter-connected passages being positioned proximate to but separated from said heat insulating sleeve, said insulating sleeve being formed of a material having a heat conductivity value substantially less than the heat conductivity value of the material of said mold insert and said insert holder, said mold insert, said heat insulating sleeve and said insert holder being secured together as a unit.

Claim 13

A mold for controllably removing heat from a mass of heated thermoplastic material which comprises, in combination: a mold insert having a front face including a cavity for receiving said mass of heated thermoplastic material and for defining the shape of said thermoplastic material and a rear face; an insert holder, substantially surrounding said rear face of said mold insert, for carrying said mold insert, said insert holder having formed therein a plurality of interconnected cooling fluid passages, said passages having an inlet and an outlet; and a heat insulating sleeve, positioned between said mold insert rear face and said insert holder and in contact with substantially the entire interface surface area of both, said inter-connected passages being positioned proximate to but separated from said heat insulating sleeve, said insulating sleeve being formed of a material having a heat conductivity value substantially less than the heat conductivity value of the material of said mold insert and said insert holder, said mold insert, said heat insulating sleeve and said insert holder being secured together as a unit.

Claim 14

The mold of claim 7 wherein said heat insulating material is a multi-layer composite material.

Claim 15

The mold of claim 7 wherein said heat insulating material comprises: at least one layer of graphite sheet material; and at least one layer of asbestos fabric material.