Fluid distributor for rotary blow molding

Claim 2

A blow molding apparatus comprising: a base, a pair of opposed spaced apart plates rotatably mounted on the base for rotation about an axis in synchronism with each other, at least one pair of opposed mold dies having recesses which form a blow mold cavity when the dies are closed against each other, said mold dies being operatively connected to the plates for rotation therewith and mounted between the plates for movement towards and away from each other, to close and open the mold cavity, respectively, power means for closing said mold dies, said power means being operatively connected to the plates to rotate therewith, and a distributor means for distributing oil to and from the said power means, said distributor means comprising: a hollow sleeve coaxial with said axis and operatively connected to the plates for rotation therewith, said sleeve including apertures therethrough, a stationary fluid distributing shaft within the sleeve, first passage means for delivering pressurized fluid into the distributor shaft, second passage means for removing low pressure fluid from the distributor shaft, axially spaced grooves in said shaft selectively mating with said apertures in the sleeve for communicating said power means with said first and second passage means, the tolerance between the surface of the distributor shaft and the interior of the sleeve being too lArge to serve as a fluid seal between the respective grooves, and including O ring seals on the distributor shaft separating the grooves from fluid communication with each other, and bearing means for forming the sole wear surface between the distributor shaft and the hollow sleeve, said bearing means comprising a pair of bearing rings removably mounted on one of said distributor shaft or hollow sleeve so as to form the sole wear surface of that member with the other of said distributor shaft or hollow sleeve.

Claim 3

A blow molding appparatus according to claim 1, said bearing rings being removably mounted on the distributor shaft.

Claim 4

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 1, said bearing rings being split rings.

Claim 5

A blow molding apparatus accordint to claim 1, said bearing rings also containing fluid seals for preventing the flow of liquid thereacross.

Claim 6

A blow molding apparatus comprising: a base, a pair of opposed spaced apart plates rotatably mounted on the base for rotation about an axis in synchronism with each other, at least one pair of opposed mold dies having recesses which form a blow mold cavity when the dies are closed against each other, said mold dies being operatively connected to the plates for rotation therewith and mounted between the plates for movement towards and away from each other, to close and open the mold cavity, respectively, fluid operated power means for closing said mold dies, said power means being operatively connected to the plates to rotate therewith, and a distributor means for distributing fluid to and from the said power means, said distributing means comprising: a hollow sleeve coaxial with said axis and operatively connected to the plates for rotation therewith, first and second axially spaced fluid apertures through said sleeve, a stationary fluid distributing shaft within the sleeve, first passage means for delivering pressurized fluid into the distributor shaft, second passage means for removing low pressure fluid from the distributor shaft, pressure means including a first groove in the distributor shaft for delivering pressurized fluid from said first passage through said first aperture in the sleeve to the power means, and an exhaust means including a second groove in the distributor shaft spaced axially from the said first groove for removing low pressure fluid from the power means through said second fluid aperture in the sleeve, the surface of the distributing shaft bounded by planes perpendicular to the shaft axis and defining the axial limits of the first groove being completely free of any communication from said surface into the shaft to the second passage, and the surface of the shaft bounded by planes perpendicular to the shaft axis and defining the axial limits of the second groove being completely free of any communication from said surface into the shaft to the first passage.

Claim 7

A blow molding apparatus comprising: a base, a pair of opposed spaced apart plates rotatably mounted on the base for rotation about an axis in synchronism with each other, at least one pair of opposed mold dies having recesses which form a blow mold cavity when the dies are closed against each other, said mold dies being operatively connected to the plates for rotation therewith and mounted between the plates for movement towards and away from each other, to close and open the mold cavity, respectively, fluid operated power means for closing said mold dies, said power means being operatively connected to the plates to rotate therewith, and a distributor means for distributing fluid to and from the said power means, said distributing means comprising: a hollow sleeve coaxial with said axis and operatively connected to the plates for rotation therewith, first and second axially spaced fluid apertures through said sleeve, a stationary fluid distributing shaft within the sleeve, first passage means for delivering pressurized fluid into the distributor shaft, second passage means for removing low pressure fluid from the distributor shaft, pressure means including a first groove in the distributor shaft for delivering pressurized fluid from said first passage through said first aperture in the sleeve to the power means, and an exhaust means including a second groove in the distributor shaft spaced axially from the said first groove for removing low pressure fluid from the power means through said second fluid aperture in the sleeve, the surface of the distributing shaft bounded by planes perpendicular to the shaft axis and defining the axial limits of the first groove being completely free of any communication from said surface into the shaft to the second passage, and the surface of the shaft bounded by planes perpendicular to the shaft axis and defining the axial limits of the second groove being completely free of any communication from said surface into the shaft to the first passage.

Claim 8

A blow molding apparatus accroding to claim 5, said power means comprising a piston and cylinder means, one side of the piston in the piston and cylinder means being connectable to the first opening for delivering a pressurized fluid to close the mold while the other side of the piston is connected to the second passage for removal of low pressure fluid therefrom.

Claim 9

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 5, said distributor means further including mold opening means for delivering pressurized fluid to said other side of the piston and for removing low pressure oil from the said one side to move the mold dies apart to open the mold cavity.

Claim 10

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 7, including third and fourth apertures in the sleeve spaced axially from each other and from said first and second openings, said mold opening means including third and fourth grooves in the distributor shaft spaced axially from each other and from the first and second grooves, the third groove being in continuous fluid communication with the first passage, and the surface of thE distributing shaft bounded by planes perpendiculr to the shaft axis and defining the axial limits of the third groove being completely free of communication from said surface into the shaft to the second passage, and the fourth groove being in continuous fluid communication with the second passage, and the surface of the shaft bounded by planes perpendicular to the shaft axis and defining the axial limits of the fourth groove being completely free of communication with the first passage, the third groove being in fluid communication through the third aperture with the said other side of the piston and the fourth groove being in fluid communication through the fouth aperture with the said one side of the piston to move the mold dies apart to open the mold cavity.

Claim 11

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 8, said first and second grooves having an equal circumferential extend and positioned to communicate concurrently with the piston and cylinder means, and said third and fourth grooves having an equal circumferential extend and positioned to communicate concurrently with the piston and cylinder means when the first and second grooves are out of communication with the piston and cylinder means.

Claim 12

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 9, said first and second grooves extending circumferentially approximately 60*, and the third and fourth grooves extending circumferentially approximately 240*.

Claim 13

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 9, including an O-ring seal positioned on the shaft with those said grooves in communication with the first passages on one side thereof and those said grooves in communication with the second passages on the other side thereof.

Claim 14

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 9, said four grooves being positioned axially, second groove, fourth groove, first groove, and third groove, respectively, and including an O-ring seal on the distributor shaft between the fourth and first grooves.

Claim 15

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 12, including a further O-ring seal between the second and fourth grooves and a further O-ring seal between the firts and third grooves.

Claim 16

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 5, including bearing means forming the sole wear surface between the distributor shaft and the interior of the hollow sleeve, said bearing means comprising a pair of bearing rings removably mounted on one of said distributor shaft or hollow sleeve so as to form the sole wear surface of that member with the other of said distributor shaft of hollow sleeve.

Claim 17

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 9, the four apertures through the sleeve being aligned in a common axial plane relative to the axis of the distributor shaft, the first and second grooves having an identical circumferential extent, the third and fourth grooves having an identical circumferential extent and the third and fourth grooves being spaced circumferentially from the first and second grooves.

Claim 18

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 15, said piston and cylinder means including a separate piston and cylinder unit for each mold die of the pair, each unit having a cylinder fixed to its respective plate and a piston rod therein connected to its respective mold die and to a piston in the cylinder, the said one side of the piston being the cap side, and the said other side of the piston being the rod side, said first, second, third and fourth apertures being in fluid communication with their respective sides of both said cylinders of the pair of mold dies for operating both mold dies simultaneously.

Claim 19

a blow molding apparatus according to claim 16, said sleeve including extensions extending axially outwardly beyond both plates, the distributor shaft being located in one of said extensions.

Claim 20

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 17, including cooling means for introducing and removing cooling water to the mold dies, said cooling means including means for introducing and removing water iNto and from the outer sleeve extensions, and means for delivering and receiving water between the said sleeve and both of the mold dies of the pair.

Claim 21

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 18, said cooling means including fixed inlet and outlet water pipes, further water pipes in the sleeve and rotatably therewith, a rotary union connecting the fixed and further water pipes, and a manifold rotatable with the sleeve for communicating the water with water apertures passing through the exterior of the sleeve, and water lines between the said water apertures and the mold dies.

Claim 22

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 19, including a fixed air line passing through said distributor shaft, a rotary manifold in the sleeve for delivering air to the blow molds, and a rotary union between the distributor shaft and the air manifold.

Claim 23

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 15, including a floating bushing seal in at least one of said apertures and means for biasing said bushing seal against the distributor shaft.

Claim 24

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 9, said first and second grooves each extending circumferentially for approximately 240*, and the third and fourth grooves each extending circumferentially for approximately 60*.

Claim 25

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 5, said first and second grooves having an equal circumferential extent about the distributor shaft, which extent is less than the full circumference of the distributor shaft.

Claim 26

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 23, the first and second apertures being aligned axially and the circumferential position of the first and second grooves being identical.

Claim 27

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 23, each of the said first and second grooves extending circumferentially for approximately 240*.

Claim 28

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 23, including a fixed air line extending through the distributor shaft, a rotary manifold in the sleeve for delivering air to the blow mold dies, and a rotary union between the distributor shaft and the air manifold.

Claim 29

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 5, said hollow sleeve including extensions which extend axially to both sides of a center plane bisecting the space between the plates, said power means including a piston and cylinder unit for each mold die of the pair, each cylinder of the unit being fixed to its respective plate and each piston of the unit being fixed to a piston rod which at its opposite end is fixed to its respective mold die, and wherein a single distributor shaft located in one of said extensions includes means for distributing pressurized fluid concurrently to operate both of the piston and cylinder units of the mold die pair.

Claim 30

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 27, including a fixed air line extending through said distributor shaft, a rotary manifold in the sleeve for delivering air to the blow mold dies, and a rotary union between the distributor shaft and the air manifold.

Claim 31

A blow mold apparatus according to claim 27, including cooling means for introducing and removing cooling water to and from the mold dies, said cooling means including means for introducing and removing water into and from the outer sleeve extension and means for delivering and receiving water between the said sleeve and both of the mold dies of the pair, said cooling means including fixed inlet and outlet water pipes, further water pipes in the sleeve and rotatable therewith, and a rotary union connecting the fixed and further water pipes, a manifold rotatable with the sleeve for communicating the water with water apertures extending through the exterior of the sleeve, and water lines between said water apertures and said mold dies.

Claim 32

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 27, including a means for introducing and removing air through the blow mold by an air line passing through the distributor shaft, and including means for delivering and removing cooling water through water lines located in the sleeve extension opposite from that extension having the distributor shaft, said water and air lines being connected to the sleeve for rotation therewith at the point where they pass air and water, respectively, through the exterior of the sleeve.

Claim 33

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 29, including water and air manifolds within the sleeve through which the water and air lines pass, respectively, and rotary unions between fixed portions of the air and water lines and their respective manifolds.

Claim 34

A blow molding apparatus according to claim 5, including an O-ring seal on the distributor shaft between the said first and second grooves.