Extrusion die assembly

Claim 2

An extrusion apparatus for extruding a pliable material comprising: means defining an extrusion chamber, means for introducing said pliable material into said extrusion chamber, a die plate defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced extrusion orifices at one end of said extrusion chamber, and air injection means for injecting air radially outwardly from the center of said die plate against the extruded materials issuing from said orifices.

Claim 3

An extrusion apparatus according to claim 1 which includes: means directing streams of air radially inwardly at the extruded materials issuing from said orifices.

Claim 4

An extrusion apparatus according to claim 1 in which: said air injection means includes a diffuser secured to said die plate and an air lance positioned to direct a stream of air against the diffuser, whereby said diffuser diflects the air stream radially outwardly towards said extruded materials.

Claim 5

An extrusion apparatus for extruding a pliable material comprising: means defining an extrusion chamber, means for introducing said pliable material into said extrusion chamber, a die plate closing off one end of said extrusion chamber, said die plate having a plurality of extrusion orifices circumferentially spaced about its center, air directing means positioned to direct air radially outwardly from the center of said die plate at the material being extruded through said orifices, and a plurality of air directing passages circumscribing said orifices and positioned to direct streams of air radially inwardly at the material being extruded through said orifices.

Claim 6

An extrusion apparatus for extruding a pliable material comprising: means defining an extrusion chamber, means for introducing said pliable material into said extrusion chamber, a die plate closing off one end of said extrusion chamber, said die plate having a plurality of extrusion orifices circumferentially spaced about its center, air directing means positioned to direct air radially outwardly from the center of said die plate at the material being extruded through said orifices, and a plurality of air directing passages circumscribing said orifices and positioned to direct streams of air radially inwardly at the material being extruded through said orifices.

Claim 7

An extrusion apparatus according to claim 4 in which said air directing means and said air directing passages are supplied with air from a single source.

Claim 8

An extrusion apparatus for extruding a pliable material containing granular inorganic material and a thermoplastic binder comprising: means defining an extrusion chamber, means for introducing said pliable material into said extrusion chamber, a die plate closing off one end of said extrusion chamber, said die plate having a plurality of extrusion orifices annularly spaced about its center, a diffuser secured to said die plate, an air lance positioned to direct a stream of air at said diffuser whereby said diffuser directs the air uniformly radially outwardly at the material being extruded through said orifices, an inner ring secured to said die plate, an outer ring fixed to said inner ring, both said inner ring and outer ring having circumferential grooves in registry when said rings are assembled, a relatively porous ring positioned between said inner and outer rings in the area of the circumferential grooves, air inlet means arranged to introduce air into the groove in said outer ring for passage through said relatively porous ring, means in said inner ring providing air outlet passages for directing air passing through said porous ring radially inwardly at the material being extruded through said orifices, and means connecting said air inlet means to said air lance.

Claim 9

An extrusion apparatus for extruding a pliable material containing granular inorganic material and a thermoplastic binder comprising: means defining an extrusion chamber, means for introducing said pliable material into said extrusion chamber, a die plate closing off one end of said extrusion chamber, said die plate having a plurality of extrusion orifices annularly spaced about its center, a diffuser secured to said die plate, an air lance positioned to direct a stream of air at said diffuser whereby said diffuser directs the air uniformly radially outwardly at the material being extruded through said orifices, an inner ring secured to said die plate, an outer ring fixed to said inner ring, both said inner ring and outer ring having circumferential grooves in registry when said rings are assembled, a relatively porous ring positioned between said inner and outer rings in the area of the circumferential grooves, air inlet means arranged to introduce air into the groove in said outer ring for passage through said relatively porous ring, means in said inner ring providing air outlet passages for directing air passing through said porous ring radially inwardly at the material being extruded through said orifices, and means connecting said air inlet means to said air lance.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 6 in which said air lance is pivotally supported relative to said diffuser.